CANBERRA, ACT, June 6 -- Murray-Darling Basin Authority issued the following news release:
The Murray-Darling Basin is an important and diverse area in Australia. It supports millions of people and generates over $45 billion each year through agriculture and tourism. However, it's crucial to balance water resource use with biodiversity protection.
Research undertaken by Griffith University, on behalf of the MDBA, looked at how well animals, plants, habitats, and ecosystems are protected in the Basin. The study assessed current conservation and management frameworks. The researchers identified protected zones like:
* national parks
* key biodiversity areas
* Ramsar wetlands.
Ramsar wetlands are internationally important for conserving biological diversity, including migratory bird species.
The study found that overall 14% of the Basin is protected, with many protected areas being small and scattered. Protected areas are managed by legislation controlling development, hunting and collection of animals and plants.
Across the Basin's catchments, there is a wide range in the proportion of area that is protected - the lowest proportion was found in the Condamine catchment and the highest proportion in the Murrumbidgee and Upper Murray catchments.
This study will help guide conservation efforts and management decisions.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
