The Wilderness Society Australia’s Post

🎊 ICYMI: There has been a significant victory for environmental conservation in Queensland with the withdrawal of the Toondah Harbour development proposal at Moreton Bay. This proposal, which aimed to construct 3,000 apartments, a 400-berth marina, and a hotel, posed a grave threat to the delicate balance of the internationally protected Ramsar-listed wetland. Earlier this week it was announced that Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek deemed the removal of 58.7 hectares from this vital ecosystem as "unacceptable" due to its adverse impact on threatened and migratory species, including the critically endangered eastern curlew, loggerhead and green turtles, dugongs, and dolphins 🐬🌱 The withdrawal of the Toondah Harbour development is a testament to the tireless efforts of a community-driven campaign that spanned nearly a decade, supported by dedicated scientists, conservationists, our friends at BirdLife Australia and local Landcare groups. While we celebrate this significant win, we know the local community are remaining vigilant as the possibility of alternative developments looms. It's a poignant reminder of the ongoing need for robust nature laws to safeguard critical environments like Toondah Harbour 💚 Learn more about the impact of our environment laws on Landcare: https://lnkd.in/g6XPpdDt #ProtectOurEnvironment #landcare #toondahharbour #naturelaws 

🌊 Exciting news for Florida's waters! Gov. Ron DeSantis just signed a law to combat red tide outbreaks, extending the Florida Red Tide Mitigation Initiative. Here are some key takeaways: - Continuation of efforts to tackle red tide outbreaks - Department of Environmental Protection to expedite regulatory reviews for mitigation methods - Partnership between Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and Mote Marine Laboratory - Easing of regulations to support red-tide mitigation efforts Let's work together to protect our beautiful coastlines and marine life. Kudos to the ongoing commitment to environmental preservation! 🌿💧 #FloridaRealEstate #RedTideMitigation #EnvironmentalPreservation #FloridaWaters #GovRonDeSantis #ProtectOurCoastlines

How can we expect people to respect nature and Ireland's key #biodiversity areas when the fines are such a pittance? It seems that in this case, it was just handier to pay the €8,000 fine than look for ministerial permissions. Penalties for the wanton destruction of valuable ecosystem services must be sufficient to deter people from these criminal activities. The fines should represent the true economic, environmental and social losses sustained from irresponsible ecological damage. #NaturalCapitalAccounting https://lnkd.in/eJN5zmSw

Our nature laws are failing to stop developers from bulldozing savanna woodlands and forests. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/gwz-WbRd Right now, Claravale Station wants to bulldoze over 6000 hectares of woodland savanna in the NT - home to vital habitat for threatened ghost bats. Yet Claravale’s plans have not been assessed for harm to threatened species under our national nature laws. That’s despite the requirement to refer projects with likely significant impacts for assessment. It’s something we see over and over again. But there’s a way to end this. The Albanese Government can stop Australia’s deforestation crisis. How? By introducing a few key measures at the current stage of EPBC reform, including: ❌ Requiring land clearing proposals to be referred for assessment ❌ Removing “continuous use” exemptions ❌ Removing exemptions for native forest logging Read more at The Guardian: https://lnkd.in/gwz-WbRd

It’s crunch time for nature protection in Australia. 💪 The government is working on new nature laws that must stop the alarming destruction of our forests, wetlands and #wildlife. We’ve had behind-the-scenes access to these new laws, and they don’t go far enough. 👎️ 👀 Today the public consultation has started again and it might be our last chance to take a peep before they go to the country’s decision makers. Learn more about our asks to protect nature: https://acf.to/3TRw77f #auspol

Six conservation groups filed a petition with the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) on March 5, 2024 to request the implementation of legal protections for five populations of the western burrowing owl as a threatened or endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act. If the burrowing owl is granted such protections, it will have far-reaching impacts on development projects in south and central-western California; the San Francisco Bay Area; and the Central, Coachella, and Imperial Valleys. 🔗Read more about this story and our other notable updates mentioned below in this week's Sustainable Development & Land Use Update: https://hubs.li/Q02DM4-y0 ✔️ Affordable housing construction underway in San Francisco ✔️ California lawmakers exempt their new office building from state environmental law ✔️ San Diego built more housing last year than it did in the past 17 years #SustainableDevelopment #Housing #LandUse #California

Wildlife loss has caused nature groups to launch a legal bid! One in six UK species are currently at risk of extinction and a legally-binding target was set by the Conservative government to stop nature loss by 2030. To learn more on this see: https://lnkd.in/eRXrzF2f  #rndtaxrelief #rndtaxcredits #rnd #patentbox #technology #innovationuk #ukbusiness

Trying to decide how to vote this Friday? Are you confused about how the EU elections might impact nature protection and conservation in Ireland? We have created a detailed guide on how to make an informed decision when you vote this Friday. Find it here: https://lnkd.in/eqfw7wia 🌐 What happens in EU politics can have a big impact here at home. Who we elect to represent us in the EU really matters! 🌊 Did you know our Marine Protected Areas are managed under EU laws like the Birds and Habitats Directives? 🌿 Ambitious nature laws, like the Nature Restoration Law, can be game-changers for our environment if enacted. Some EU politicians are trying to block this crucial law, showing just how much influence our representatives have. EU laws and local council decisions directly affect nature protection. So, let’s make sure we vote for those who prioritize the environment! Stay tuned to our socials for more information on how you can cast a vote for nature this Friday, June 7th. Read our guide today: https://lnkd.in/eqfw7wia 📣 Make your voice heard on June 7th! #VoteForNature #EU #Ireland #NatureProtection #MPAs #NatureRestorationLaw

Pls s/s. We must protect our wildlife, and precious lands, plus our laws, because if we do not, noone will. We need you to speak up, and save 29 protected species. Protected means what? Nothing? Law is law, and to build this hwy, and bulldoze precious, PROTECTED by law species, is not upholding the law.

ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE: Draft groundwater/WOTUS discharge permitting guidance In County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund (April 2020), the U.S. Supreme Court decided that certain discharges of pollutants from point sources that reach "waters of the United States" require NPDES permits even where the discharge travels via groundwater or other subsurface flow when the discharge is the "functional equivalent" of directly adding the pollutant to such federally regulated water bodies. EPA has now issued draft guidance "to describe the Maui decision’s functional equivalent standard, considerations for determining which discharges through groundwater may require coverage under an NPDES permit, and the types of information that may be useful to NPDES permitting authorities in developing appropriate permit conditions." Stay tuned.