Published Tuesday, 25 November, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
International conference to set future direction of Australia’s national parks
The Bligh government will host a major conference to bring together leading experts on protected area management from 24–28 November on the Sunshine Coast.
Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister Andrew McNamara said experts from across the Asia-Pacific region would share knowledge to help shape the future management of national parks and other protected areas across Australia.
“ The Australian Protected Area Congress (APAC08), at Novotel Twin Waters Resort, is themed Protected Areas in the Century of Change,” Mr McNamara said.
“Through field trips, prominent keynote speakers, workshops and a panel discussion, APAC08 will encourage debate and future thinking about protected area management.
“The conference will explore the values, benefits and increasing importance of protected areas for Australia in a world that’s changing more rapidly than ever before.
“It presents a unique opportunity for government, research institutions and community conservation groups to share the most up-to-date knowledge and thinking on terrestrial, freshwater and marine protected areas.
“This is particularly important this year as we celebrate 100 years of national parks in Queensland,” he said.
The international conference will be the culminating event of the year of celebrations of 100 years of national parks in Queensland.
“Apart from their intrinsic value, there is a growing awareness that protected areas also have a substantial economic value.
“A recent study showed spending by tourists who visited Queensland national parks as part of their holiday amounted to over $4.4 billion or 28 percent of total tourist spend in the state.
“Given the EPA spends $27 million as a direct contribution to tourism-related products and services, and a further $40 million indirectly, the research demonstrates that this investment in Queensland’s parks and forests is a vital investment.
“In recognition of the importance of our protected areas and to help celebrate the first 100 years of national parks in Queensland, Premier Bligh announced earlier this year a plan to expand our national parks estate to 7.5 percent of Queensland by 2020. This is a 50 percent increase on the current estate.
“In addition, the total conservation tenure in Queensland will expand from 8.3 million hectares to 20 million hectares by 2020.
“Since that announcement in March, an additional 250,000 hectares has been added to the estate.”
Keynote speakers include Nik Lopoukhine, Chair of the World Commission on Protected Areas IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), Shirley McPherson, Chair of the Indigenous Land Corporation, David Sheppard, Director IUCN’s Global Program on Protected Areas, Penelope Figgis, Regional Vice Chair for Australia/New Zealand, World Commission on Protected Areas and Bob Abbot, Mayor of Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
APAC08 is hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency with partners World Wildlife Fund, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, University of Queensland, and Tourism Queensland.
The conference is sponsored by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre
For a full list of speakers and more information about APAC08 go to www.apac08.org.au
Media contact: Wendy Nye 3336 8004
Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister Andrew McNamara said experts from across the Asia-Pacific region would share knowledge to help shape the future management of national parks and other protected areas across Australia.
“ The Australian Protected Area Congress (APAC08), at Novotel Twin Waters Resort, is themed Protected Areas in the Century of Change,” Mr McNamara said.
“Through field trips, prominent keynote speakers, workshops and a panel discussion, APAC08 will encourage debate and future thinking about protected area management.
“The conference will explore the values, benefits and increasing importance of protected areas for Australia in a world that’s changing more rapidly than ever before.
“It presents a unique opportunity for government, research institutions and community conservation groups to share the most up-to-date knowledge and thinking on terrestrial, freshwater and marine protected areas.
“This is particularly important this year as we celebrate 100 years of national parks in Queensland,” he said.
The international conference will be the culminating event of the year of celebrations of 100 years of national parks in Queensland.
“Apart from their intrinsic value, there is a growing awareness that protected areas also have a substantial economic value.
“A recent study showed spending by tourists who visited Queensland national parks as part of their holiday amounted to over $4.4 billion or 28 percent of total tourist spend in the state.
“Given the EPA spends $27 million as a direct contribution to tourism-related products and services, and a further $40 million indirectly, the research demonstrates that this investment in Queensland’s parks and forests is a vital investment.
“In recognition of the importance of our protected areas and to help celebrate the first 100 years of national parks in Queensland, Premier Bligh announced earlier this year a plan to expand our national parks estate to 7.5 percent of Queensland by 2020. This is a 50 percent increase on the current estate.
“In addition, the total conservation tenure in Queensland will expand from 8.3 million hectares to 20 million hectares by 2020.
“Since that announcement in March, an additional 250,000 hectares has been added to the estate.”
Keynote speakers include Nik Lopoukhine, Chair of the World Commission on Protected Areas IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), Shirley McPherson, Chair of the Indigenous Land Corporation, David Sheppard, Director IUCN’s Global Program on Protected Areas, Penelope Figgis, Regional Vice Chair for Australia/New Zealand, World Commission on Protected Areas and Bob Abbot, Mayor of Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
APAC08 is hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency with partners World Wildlife Fund, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, University of Queensland, and Tourism Queensland.
The conference is sponsored by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre
For a full list of speakers and more information about APAC08 go to www.apac08.org.au
Media contact: Wendy Nye 3336 8004