The protection of endangered Black Cockatoo populations in Western Australia will be the topic of discussion for an upcoming symposium chaired by Murdoch University Dean of Environmental Science, Associate Professor John Bailey.
The symposium, Are Black Cockatoos Protected?, is organized by the Urban Bushland Council and will take place on May 4 at 5.30pm at City West Lotteries House.
The symposium will consider how useful and relevant current legislation is in protecting Black Cockatoos from threats to their extinction.
Professor Bailey said that although the three species of local Black Cockatoos are listed as endangered, their habitat is being cleared and threatened by fires, feral bees, feral birds, declining rainfall and other factors.
“It’s important that we consider appropriate legislation for the protection of Black Cockatoos,” he said.
“Legislation needs to not just recognize and protect the cockatoos but also protect their habitats and deal with the various threats that face them.
“Legislation should require all decision makers, public and private, to act in a precautionary way when it comes to biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.
“The loss of biodiversity is a cumulative thing, and so is the conservation of biodiversity. So we need to think long-term and on a regional scale.”
At the symposium community representatives will discuss three land development proposal case studies. These development proposals raised issues regarding Black Cockatoo habitat under the Environmental Protection Act, Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, Planning Acts, and various government policies.
A panel of lawyers will then be invited to comment on each case study in terms of the protection of the three species of local Black Cockatoos.
The panel will discuss issues such as whether the law has failed the Black Cockatoos, whether it is legal to make them extinct and whether changes to laws are needed to save them.
The public is invited to attend the event.
Hi there! Are those cockatoos in car park 2 the same as the endangered ones?
Cheers,
Marcos