Publication (Media): Blueprint to Protect Freshwater Biodiversity

Publication Type:	Media Release
Publication Name:	Blueprint to Protect Freshwater Biodiversity

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Georges, Arthur (2001) Blueprint to Protect Freshwater Biodiversity - Jul 15 2001, CRCFE, Canberra - Media Release.

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Blueprint to Protect Freshwater Biodiversity

Modern research is strange sometimes -- on one hand, science is making breakthrough discoveries at warp speed, yet we are still in the dark about some of the most fundamental elements of our world.

“We are still remarkably ignorant about the plants and animals that live in our rivers. This biodiversity is an essential ingredient in the recipe for healthy rivers that provide us with clean, fresh water,” according to Associate Professor Arthur Georges, Program Leader with the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology.

“Biodiversity is vital for our continued health and prosperity. Apart from its role in helping to provide fresh drinking water, biodiversity in rivers also helps to alleviate floods, remove pollutants, trap sediments, and moderate toxic algal blooms,” added Associate Professor Georges.

He is amazed that we know so little about the plants and animals that live in our rivers, including fish, tortoises, frogs, waterbirds, platypuses and bugs.

“We need a seachange in people’s thinking to look beneath the water’s surface and see the hidden treasures living and growing underwater, many of them uniquely Australian,” Associate Professor Georges urges, “Freshwater biodiversity needs to be valued as highly as on-land biodiversity.”

Many animals and plants living in our rivers are under threat from the impact of dams, invasive pests, increasing salinity, pollution and poor land and water management.

“People may not realise we are fast losing the biodiversity from some rivers because it all happens under the surface…How many people know that 50% of our wetlands have already been lost? These are rich store houses of biodiversity. Or that 16% of our amphibians and 9% of our freshwater fishes are extinct, threatened or vulnerable?” he asks.

Biodiversity of rivers is also important for its economic value. The patent for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a technique that dramatically boosted the biological revolution, sold for $US300 million. This technique rests upon molecules from heat-resistant microbes in thermal springs. The economic benefits to society are invaluable.

“Protecting the freshwater biodiversity we have left, and restoring what we have lost, should be a priority for government, scientists and the community. This was the theme of the recent Fenner 2001 Conference, ‘Biodiversity in Freshwaters: Same Landscape, Different Perspective’, held in Canberra 5-7th July,” Associate Professor Georges, one of the conference organisers said.

The Fenner Conference brought together 185 scientists, policy-makers and managers, from Australia and abroad, to exchange the latest ideas, perspectives and approaches on biodiversity conservation and management in inland waters.

The priorities for protecting aquatic biodiversity are to:

1. Establish a network of River Reserves, similar to National Parks, to protect some of our most undamaged rivers, with the main aim of preserving their aquatic biodiversity. Current uses in these rivers could be maintained but further development prevented.

“The main cause of biodiversity loss is habitat degradation, so the establishment of such heritage river reserves would be the most effective response,” Associate Professor Georges commented.

The Paroo River and Coopers Creek are examples of relatively undamaged rivers in Queensland, and the Ovens in Victoria. Other important and relatively undamaged rivers worthy of attention include the east Alligator in Northern Territory, the Clarence in New South Wales and the Fitzroy in Western Australia.

2. Develop a coordinated approach to manage the impact of invasive exotic species on our freshwater biodiversity.

Associate Professor Georges believes that “we grossly underestimate the impact of invasive species such as carp. Introduced species are the single most important factor in biodiversity loss in lakes overseas, and among the top three in rivers.”

“Carp are recognised by the community as a problem species, and are a major biodiversity threat. Declared noxious in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, carp are freely distributed throughout New South Wales as Koy. Koy is an ornamental strain of carp that rapidly reverts to wild-type when released into our rivers. The strain has infested some rivers in Tasmania, the Canberra region and NSW. They should immediately be declared noxious in all Australian jurisdictions.” Associate Professor Georges said.

“Trout are here to stay, but should we stock them as a recreational fish in our national parks, where they eliminate some species of native fish, such as Mountain Galaxius, and where they impact upon stream frogs?” he added.

3. Increase research and action to discover what freshwater biodiversity is left, where it resides and how best to maintain it.

“We have numerous strategies and plans but they need to be translated into action. Without action we will be left with the best documented extinctions in history.” Associate Professor Georges said.

Vision and interviews available

Digital still images of Associate Professor Georges, rivers, fish, turtles and other animals and plants are available.

For interviews contact Professor Georges on 0418 866 741.

For media assistance, call Lynne Sealie on 02 6201 5168; email: lsealie@enterprise.canberra.edu.au

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