The Canberra community can help shape a new action plan to protect mature native trees which are a crucial component of environmental diversity in the ACT. “Canberrans take great pride that they live in the Bush Capital, as we share our great city with an array of incredible wildlife and native trees,” Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti, commented “Branches, hollows and canopy in our native mature trees, which can live to be 500 years old, provide food, shelter and other benefits for many birds and animals, including threatened species like the Superb Parrot, Little Eagle and Brown Treecreeper. Sadly, there has been significant and continuing decline in the number of mature native trees over the last two centuries, in particular in our urban areas, due to land clearing, loss of connectivity, and climate change.”
Minister Vassarotti explained that the ACT Government is working to reduce the loss of our native trees, which is critical to protecting ACT’s biodiversity into the future, and I am glad today to release the ACT’s draft Action Plan to Prevent the Loss of Mature Native Trees. The Minister added that the Action Plan outlines proposed actions to prevent further loss across the territory, including educating private developers and leasehold landowners of the importance of maintaining mature native trees in the landscape.
“The Action Plan will be implemented alongside other ACT Government initiatives that will help to protect and enhance trees across the territory. This includes revisions to the Tree Protection Act, implementation of the Urban Forest Strategy and Living Infrastructure Plan. We need your help in identifying where thousands of new trees should be planted across the ACT. This will be informed by new work underway focusing on biodiversity connectivity.” Ian Walker, ACT Conservator Flora and Fauna “Additionally, draft Variation 369 to the Territory Plan proposes residential developments have more trees, planting areas and soft landscaping than is currently required. This new requirement for trees on residential blocks can include existing mature trees or the planting of new trees.”
“Protecting mature native trees, particularly when developing new suburbs and estates, is a first step in the Action Plan. The ACT Government is committed also to ensuring younger trees have the opportunity to reach maturity.” Minister Vassarotti commented “Considering the likelihood of increased storm events under climate change, we all need to do our part to re-establish the environment’s natural diversity and improve ecosystem resilience. I encourage all Canberrans to review this new Action Plan and provide their feedback.I would like to thank the ACT Scientific Committee – who played a key role in ensuring this draft Action Plan contains the most rigorous and up-to-date ecological research and advice.”
