Thread by @SamanthaRatnam

Last year the Greens set up an inquiry into Victoria's extinction crisis and the first public hearings kick off today.

Between 10:30am - 3pm we'll hear from Dr Gillian Sparkes, @DELWP_Vic, @ParksVictoria and @ZoosVictoria. You can tune in here: parliament.vic.gov.au/video-and-audi… #springst

There were already 700 plants, animals and insects at risk of extinction in VIC last year and the summer bushfires made that worse, destroying over 50% of the habitat for 185 rare and threatened species.

Hopefully this inquiry spurs the government to act now and stop extinction.

Victoria's Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability (Dr Sparkes) is up first.

She says her state of the environment report in 2018 assessed a massive 170 environmental 'indicators' and made 20 recommendations. #springst

Dr Sparkes says biodiversity was "unsurprisingly" a big issue. In the biodiversity chapter of the report 75% of indicators were found to be deteriorating or unclear.

A major report recommendation is to establish a Chief Biodiversity Scientist to improve research. #springst

Deputy Chair @CliffordHayesMP asks if the decline of our ecosystem can be haltered.

Dr Sparkes says we are doing a lot in Victoria via policy and investment. Adds that we all know affirmative climate action is really important and a key driver of biodiversity decline. #springst

I've just asked Dr Sparkes why this action doesn't seem to be turning things around.

She says a biodiversity report was released in 2017 and a report on the targets in that report will come out in 2023. Adds this will tell us whether we're reversing the decline. #springst

Given the precariousness of the situation 2023 seems a long way off. I've just asked if this date should be brought forward.

Dr Sparkes says there are other reports being undertaken in the meantime (i.e. a marine and coastal environment report). #springst

We know climate change and habitat loss are major threats to biodiversity loss. I've just asked Dr Sparkes about the impact of native forest logging on plant and animal species in Victoria.

She says she welcomes the phase out of native forest logging by 2030. #springst

A side note: If the government put an end to native forest logging now it would *save* $191.9 million by 2030. Money that could be used to help regional economies in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. #springst

.@AndyMeddickMP says biodiversity loss is caused by a number of drivers - including exploitation of species, habitat loss, pollution and climate - and asks if the Commissioner has a plan to tackle all of them.

Dr Sparkes takes the question on notice as her hour is up. #springst

Next up is the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

Kylie White (Deputy Secretary of Environment and Climate Change) begins by painting a dire picture. Says Victoria's natural environment has been under sustained pressure for 200 years. #springst

White says earlier this year the Victorian Government committed $22.5 million to support biodiversity as part of the state's bushfire response, and have added $29 million in the recent budget to continue that work. #springst

In mid-2020 the government also announced a review to strengthen our Wildlife Act (created back in 1975).

White says it's time to modernise the Act and make it best practice for the management and protection of our wildlife. #springst

While biodiversity projects are happening under the Biodiversity Strategy and other gov't programs, it's often unclear if they're achieving desired outcomes.

I've just asked if DELWP has considered a more clear and transparent program similar to NSW Save our Species. #springst

FWIW: The NSW Save our Species program has a clear, transparent website which lists each threatened species, the threats facing them, the funding allocated to each project and how it is spent, which partners are a part of the project and what the outcome is. #springst

James Todd (Executive Director of the Biodiversity Division) responds by saying their Biodiversity 2037 plan uses approach that is about maximising outcomes for biodiversity. Says communities can read more on NatureKit website. #springst

(One of my concerns is that there isn't enough accountability. We have an important focus on actions but not enough on outcomes. We should look to the NSW program which seems to have an in-built accountability component by stating the outcome of each project.) #springst

.@BevMcArthurMP asks DELWP if it supports PFAS-contaminated soil being dumped in Bacchus Marsh.

White says the Environment Protection Authority has approved an environmental management plan and calls it the "appropriate" regulatory tool being used in this instance. #springst

.@CliffordHayesMP asks the Dep't what they're doing to help connect pockets of native bush to make wildlife corridors for isolated species.

Todd says fragmentation has contributed to biodiversity decline and cites a legacy of large-scale clearing since colonisation. #springst

Todd adds that the recent state budget includes funding for the restoration of existing habitat and connecting habitat (i.e. some funding will go towards storing carbon through nature). #springst

The four-year funding for the biodiversity strategy runs out in June next year and there was no new funding in the budget. I've asked what impact this will have on the department's conservation work.

Todd says $20m will be available next year. #springst

Just before we break for lunch I've asked Dr Mark Norman (Chief Conservation Scientist at Parks Victoria) how much of their funding is dedicated to conservation works.

Dr Norman says $20m went to conservation projects in the last financial year. #springst

And now we're on break for lunch! Thanks to all who have been tuning in to the Greens-established #ExtinctionInquiry.

We'll be back at 2pm. #springst

We're back and next up is Dr Jenny Gray (Chief Executive of Zoos Victoria).

Dr Gray starts by citing the UN 2020 Report which found that we're losing biodiversity right around the planet. Between 2000 and 2020 the IUCN Red List Index has declined by almost 9%. #springst

Dr Gray says Zoos Victoria has a major focus on community conservation and is usually running eight campaigns at any given time.

These can be as simple as encouraging Victorians to track moths and ensure the future of critically endangered possums. #springst

Dr Gray's five lessons on saving biodiversity:

1. It's possible to reverse the trend
2. A conservation planning approach is needed
3. Partnerships work
4. Destructive practices need to be addressed
5. People really care

#springst

Dr Gray says there are three things we can do to preserve and protect our biodiversity. 1/ Assess: Value and invest in knowledge, measure against a common standard. 2/ Plan: Biodiversity 2037 is a good platform. 3/ Act: Build a culture of collaboration. #springst

Dr Gray praised the Biodiversity 2037 plan. I've asked her what is needed next to make it happen.

She says support and resources. Adds that all the conservation and wildlife entities need to compete for small amounts of money. Says this is worst practice. #springst

.@AndyMeddickMP says Zoos Victoria is doing amazing work breeding threatened species to help get them back out into their habitat. But wants to know what happens to them when they're back in the wild. Says they're at risk of being preyed upon by predatory species. #springst

Dr Gray responds that there are promising projects on the horizon including recent funding to erect a predator exclusion fence spanning more than 10-kilometres at Wilsons Promontory. She says it will be an opportunity to "tidy up" invasive predators. #springst

.@stuartgrimleyMP asks what the biggest threat to critically endangered species in VIC is.

Dr Gray says habitat clearing. Says we keep saying "let's just take one more line of trees" without realising that wildlife need large tracts of land. Habitat must be protected. #springst

Zoos Victoria has a lot of important programs in partnership with local orgs but it's often difficult to see what outcomes are being achieved.

I've asked Dr Gray if she thinks a NSW Save our Species-style program would be useful to ensure transparency. #springst

Dr Gray says "absolutely" but acknowledges that the existing Biodiversity 2037 plan could do this by adopting similar accountability measures. #springst

Aaaand today's hearings have now concluded! Thanks to everyone who followed along.

Our inquiry will continue over the coming months. Hopefully the solutions provided will enable Victoria to lead Australia in the fight against extinction. #springst