QUT Centre for Justice, in conjunction with the Environmental and Social Governance Research Group, Protect the Bush Alliance and Australian Earth Laws Alliance invites you to the upcoming panel discussion titled, “Environmental Protection in Queensland: Why is conservation by NGO’s essential?”
Friday 9 August 2024
QUT Gardens Point Campus (Gibson Room – Z Block, Level 10)
5.30pm – 8.00pm – Drinks and canapes will be served from 5.30pm – 6.15pm.
Queensland’s protected areas estate, comprising national parks, Indigenous-owned and managed parks and private nature refuges, currently covers around 14.5 million hectares. Over the past 12 months, the Queensland Government has announced several new additions and acquisitions as part of its Protected Areas Strategy. Despite this commitment, Queensland’s protected areas represent the lowest percentage of any state or territory in Australia, currently sitting at just over 8%.
Around a third of Queensland’s protected areas estate are private nature refuges, wildlife reserves or other privately managed areas. Some of the Queensland Government’s recent acquisitions have been funded at least in part by private donors and coordinated by non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This raises important questions about the role of private entities and NGOs in the conservation of Queensland’s unique biodiversity.
National parks and nature refuges are protected because of their environmental and cultural importance. However, many of them remain available for mining, logging, tourism or other commercial activities, and environmentally destructive activities continue to occur on lands adjacent to protected areas, undermining their conservation value. The potential for corporations and other private actors to benefit from Queensland’s environment arguably warrants greater consideration.
At this event you will hear from experts in conservation, environmental law and policy who will explore the issues surrounding the management of protected areas estate. They will consider questions including:
- Do NGOs do a better job of protecting the environment than the government?
- How can protected areas be better managed to ensure their conservation and cultural values?
- Which areas should be prioritised for protection and who should get to decide?
- Should commercial activities be permitted in protected areas and, if so, how do we strike an appropriate balance between economic benefits and environmental protection?
Speakers:
Keynote speaker: Dr Rebecca Spindler, Executive Manager of Science at Conservation at Bush Heritage Australia.
Following Dr Spindler’s address, a panel discussion will be chaired by Dr Michelle Maloney, Co-Founder and National Convenor, Australian Earth Laws Alliance.
The event will be co-hosted by QUT’s Environmental and Social Governance Research Group and the Centre for Justice, Protect the Bush Alliance, and the Australian Earth Laws Alliance.
The Environmental and Social Governance Research Group is a research collective at the School of Law, Queensland University of Technology. Its members experts in international and domestic environmental law, climate law and human rights, and they conduct multidisciplinary research aimed at bringing about institutional, legal and structural change to protect our environment.
QUT Centre for Justice aims to empower and enable citizens, consumers and communities through solutions-oriented research. Our vision is to democratise justice by improving opportunities for health and well-being, at both an individual and global level, and enhancing the inclusiveness of work and education while widening access to justice.
Protect the Bush Alliance (PTBA) is an alliance of over 20 environmental NGOs and community groups in Queensland and Australia representing over 30,000 people. The goal of the Alliance is to implement strategies to prevent the continuing loss of areas of high conservation values to inappropriate development.
The Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) is a national not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to increase the understanding and practical implementation of Earth centred governance in Australia, with a focus on law, economics, education, ethics and the arts
Register here
Comments are closed.