PETITION TO THE HONOURABLE THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF NSW

Please print copies of this petition, collect signatories and mail them to us at
Rainforest Information Centre,
Box 368
Lismore 2480

PETITION TO THE HONOURABLE THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF NSW

The petition of certain citizens of New South Wales states that:

In some areas we now have very clear scientific information about how to protect endangered species. This is the case in north-east NSW. In 1998, expert panels of scientists commissioned by the NSW and Federal Governments identified the minimum area of habitat that must be protected so that populations of endangered species could survive.

For example, these panels found that in order to ensure the survival of our endangered species, protected reserve areas in north-east NSW should include at least:

1224 breeding pairs of Masked Owls, yet only enough habitat for one fifth of these has been protected.
3781 breeding females of Spotted-tail Quolls, yet only enough habitat for 898 females which is less than one quarter of these has been protected.
9,240 breeding family units of Yellow-bellied Gliders, yet only enough habitat for one fifth of these has been protected.

These are among the many that are also endangered in the temperate wood-lands of central and western NSW. Less than 8% of these woodlands remain. Extinction rates are amongst the highest in Australia, with 17 mammal extinctions to date and many other species experiencing severe declines. It is obvious that large reserves are also required immediately in this region to protect endangered woodland species. The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 lists 80 animal and 300 plant species in danger of extinction in NSW.

Your petitioners pray that the House will call on the Government to reserve those of the remaining forests and woodlands necessary to avoid the extinction of masked owls, tiger quolls, yellow-bellied gliders and other endangered species.

If you wish to receive action alerts as this campaign develops (so you too can add to a throng of emails to politicians just before the elections in March) please include your email address.

NAME ADDRESS AND EMAIL SIGNATURE

Please return petitions to Rainforest Information Centre, Box 368 Lismore 2480