Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences Centre for Ecosystem Science

Submissions

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The Centre for Ecosystem Science is thoroughly engaged with current environmental affairs and topics of ecological significance. We seek to provide a valuable scientific perspective to policy makers and in public forums. Click on the hyperlinks below to see the formal submissions.  

 

  • Submission on Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan (2021) and Draft Amending Plan (2023)
    Wild or feral horses are an invasive species that need to be controlled because of their impacts on environmental values in Kosciuszko National Park. Centre for Ecosystem Science supports most of the management recommendations in the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan, apart from the establishment of feral horse retention areas. Further, we have recommendations in relation to other aspects of feral horse management to ensure an evidence-based management and policy approach is taken. 

 

  • Submission on Regulatory Impact Statement for the Queensland Lake Eyre Basin
    The Lake Eyre Basin rivers have extraordinary environmental and cultural values. They are globally important and among few free-flowing desert rivers in the world. They support some of the more extensive boom and bust responses from waterbirds, fish, flood dependent vegetation, frogs, reptiles and invertebrates anywhere in Australia. In recognition of these significant environmental and cultural values, the Lake Eyre Basin Rivers and their management were awarded the National River Prize in 2014 and the International River Prize in 2015. Both prizes were awarded for the work of the Australian community, notably the people of the Lake Eyre Basin and their governments for protecting these extremely valuable rivers.

 

  • Submission to the Australian Government on delivery of the Basin Plan
    The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is a critically important initiative for delivering sustainability to the rivers and ecosystem services of the Murray-Darling Basin. There are a range of aspects relevant to successful delivery of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan which can continue to be improved. Many of these relate to policies and initiatives which have had differing effects on delivery of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. This submission focuses on focus areas, identified in the request for suggestions to influence successful delivery of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

 

  • Submission on Biodiversity Act Review
    The Centre for Ecosystem Science (CES), UNSW Sydney supports instruments of government, including strategies that improve effectiveness of biodiversity conservation, founded on a strong evidence base. Current rates of biodiversity loss around the world and in Australia are unprecedented. Researchers in CES have established track records in the research and management of Australia’s biodiversity, both within and outside protected areas. In particular, researchers focus on the three main realms of biodiversity (freshwater, terrestrial, marine) in the natural world (https://www.ecosystem.unsw.edu.au/) and welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Biodiversity Act

 

  • Submission on Draft Lake Eyre Basin Strategic Plan
    Professor Richard Kingsford is the Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Sydney and has an extensive working history as a river scientist for government and university sectors. This submission focuses on the overall structure of the Draft Lake Eyre Basin Strategic Plan. There is considerable value in having this overarching plan and this submission analyses the ability of this plan to address the parameters of scale, governance, values, threats and resourcing all of which are pertinent to the success of such a plan. This submission contains a total of 21 recommendations aiming to increase the efficacy of the Draft Lake Eyre Basin Strategic Plan.

 

  • Submission to Regulation of Australian Agriculture – Productivity Commission Draft Report 
    The Centre for Ecosystem Science (CES), UNSW Australia, supports legislative and other instruments of government that effectively regulate threats to biodiversity conservation, founded on a strong evidence base while supporting socio-economic values of society. Current rates of loss of biodiversity around the world, including Australia are unprecedented. The continued loss of biodiversity in Australia indicates a clear need to assess the effectiveness of the legislative and regulatory frameworks that implement biodiversity conservation and management and its interface with other economic activities. CES welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to Productivity Commission’s draft report on Regulation of Australian Agriculture. 

 

  • Submission to drafts of the new Biodiversity Conservation Act, the amended Local Land Services Act and supporting tools in New South Wales
    The Centre for Ecosystem Science (CES), UNSW Australia, supports all legislative and other instruments of government that improve effectiveness of biodiversity conservation, founded on a strong evidence base. Current rates of loss of biodiversity around the world, in Australia and in New South Wales are unprecedented. The continued loss of biodiversity in NSW indicates a clear need to assess the effectiveness of the legislative framework that governs biodiversity conservation. CES welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to draft Biodiversity Conservation Bill 2016 and draft Local Land Services Amendment Bill 2016.

 

  • Submission on the EPBC listing of six migratory shorebird species/subspecies
    The UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science (CES) strongly supports efforts to assess Australia’s migratory shorebirds for listing under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). Migratory shorebirds across the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) are under severe pressure from habitat loss, degradation, hunting and other threatening processes. Our research on intertidal habitat losses from remote sensing and analyses of population data from across Australia indicate that these species are likely to be threatened when confronted with the listing criteria.

 

  • Submission  on the Environmental Impact Statement for the Abbot Point Growth Gateway Project
    We are considerably encouraged by decisions not to dump dredged materials in the Caley Valley wetlands, the primary focus of our previous submission for the Abbot Point Growth Gateway Project. We are also concerned about dredging in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park but support no dumping of dredging in this area. We are also less critical about the level of information provided into this project, particularly in relation to modelling of hydrology.

 

  • Submission to the Inquiry into the National Water Commission (Abolition) Bill 2014
    The National Water Commission has performed and excellent service in coordinating water reform in Australia, as an independent organisation at arm’s length of state and Federal governments. This fundamentally reflects its charter, capacity and the expertise of the organisation, including the commissioners. In the difficult area of water resource management, the organisation was respected by all stakeholders. This resulted from its independent objective and expert investigations, programs and publications.

 

  • Submission on the draft wildlife conservation plan for migratory shorebirds (2014)
    The UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science (CES) strongly supports government efforts to conserve Australia’s declining migratory shorebirds. These efforts recognise our long-term commitment to their conservation, reflected in Commonwealth and state legislation, as well as our bilateral agreements and ongoing international partnerships.

 

  • Submission on the propsed EPBC listing of curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
    The UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science (CES) strongly supports efforts to assess Australia’s migratory shorebirds for listing under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). We agree that the Curlew Sandpiper is eligible for listing as Critically Endangered. Severe declines of populations that have been detected from count data and ongoing loss and degradation of habitats throughout the East Asian-Australasian Flyway warrant this listing.

 

  • Submission on the proposed EPBC listing of Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)
    The UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science (CES) strongly supports efforts to assess Australia’s migratory shorebirds for listing under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). To assist this process, we are pleased to provide a submission on the proposed listing of Eastern Curlew as Endangered. Our submission offers scientific advice, provides several new references and highlights several new issues that are relevant to this listing.