Biodiversity
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In 1993, the United Nations declared the 22 May International Biodiversity Day (IBD) as a way of increasing the awareness and understanding of biodiversity issues.
The theme for this year's IBD celebrations is 'Biodiversity and Agriculture'.
Agriculture is a key example of how human activities have a profound impact on the ecosystems of our planet.
IBD - Biodiversity and Agriculture seeks to highlight the importance of sustainable agriculture to help:
More information regarding the United Nation's International Biodiversity Day
Biodiversity has been described as the 'web of life', 'the variety of living things' or 'the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, their genes and ecosystems of which they are a part'.
Biodiversity encompasses every living thing that exists on our planet and the environment in which they live. From the depths of the Pacific Ocean to peaks of our tallest mountains, biodiversity forms part of an intricate and interdependent web of life in which we are all a part.
Australia is home to between 600,000 and 700,000 species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. About 84 per cent of our plants, 83 per cent of our mammals, and 45 per cent of our birds are endemic - that is, they are only found in Australia.
The marine environment is home to thousands of marine species, some of which are unique to Australia and all of which contribute to making Australia the most biodiversity rich developed country in the world.
Human beings are dependent for their sustenance, health, well-being and enjoyment of life on biodiversity.
We derive all of our food and many medicines and industrial products from the wild and domesticated components of biological diversity. We depend on the ecosystems which provide us with many services such as clean water and clean air.
Biodiversity is also the basis for much of our recreation and tourism.
With the population exceeding six billion and growing by about six million a month, the need to increase the world's food production while protecting biodiversity has become critical.
The aim of sustainable agriculture is to manage this balance of producing enough food for a growing world population without causing irreversible damage to local ecosystems and biodiversity.
As a major agricultural exporter, Australia feeds not only its own population but also some 50 million people in other countries. These exports are vital to our economy and make an important contribution to the world's food supply.
Through a commitment to sustainable agriculture and strong environmental stewardship, Australia will able to support a thriving and profitable farming sector while protecting our valuable and unique biodiversity for future generations.
The Australian Government, through the Departments of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, is committed to supporting and promoting sustainable agriculture.
There are a number of government programs that helps support land managers protect biodiversity without reducing the productivity of their land or agricultural business.
A selection of these are highlighted below
Urgent action is needed to better protect Australia's unique natural environment and improve the sustainable management of our natural resources.
That's why from 1 July 2008, the Australian Government is committing $2.25 billion in funding over the next five years for a new program, Caring for our Country.
Caring for our Country has one clear goal: An environment that is healthy, better protected, well managed, resilient and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate. These services include protected biodiversity and natural icons, clean water and air, healthy soils and sustainable food and fibre industries.
Caring for our Country focuses on six national priorities:
More information on Caring for our Country
The National Land Care Program is a longstanding program within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry which supports the landcare movement and the sustainable use and management of natural resources.
The program has been highly effective in encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable management practices, and improve their productivity, profitability and the condition of our natural resources, both on and off farms. Landcare is also strong in regional towns and metropolitan centres.
More information on Landcare
The Future Farming Industries CRC is developing new and adaptable farming systems for Australia by creating new land-use systems which will make agriculture more productive, adaptable to climate variability, sustainable and diverse.
The use of perennial plants is a primary focus of the CRC's research because their deep-root systems are more adaptable to climate variation and can lower water tables in low-lying, saline areas.
Much of the CRC's research is built upon the foundations of its predecessor, the CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, which made significant headway in creating new ways to make saline lands more productive and sustainable.
More information on The Future Farm Industries CRC
The Environmental Stewardship Program is an Australian Government initiative that provides practical and financial assistance to private land managers to help them undertake long-term protection, rehabilitation and improvement of important environmental assets on their property. It will offer contracts, of up to 15 years, to landholders who can provide environmental services on a cost-effective basis.
The Environmental Stewardship Program provides a practical way for eligible land managers to protect threatened biodiversity and eco-systems on their property without reducing its productivity.
More information on Environmental Stewardship Program
In the recent Federal Budget, the Australian Government announced it would invest $15.3 million over four years to reduce the impact of weeds on farm and forestry productivity and biodiversity. This funding will help:
More information on Weeds in Australia
The Australian Government will invest $200 million to help protect and preserve the Great Barrier Reef for future generations, through work to improve water quality and mitigate the impacts of climate change on the Reef.
This funding will help provide incentives and assistance to landholders and farmers to adopt cost-effective practices that improve reef water quality, by reducing pesticides, nutrients and sediment in farm and catchment runoff.