Australia's largest wilderness Australia's marine waters cover double the area of our land. The seascape below the surface is more varied and dramatic than our terrestrial landscapes; canyons, undersea mountains, plateaus and trenches, home to an incredible variety of life. Sadly, overfishing, oil and gas drilling, mining and pollution are destroying marine habitats, leaving them impoverished and on the verge of collapse. Some species have already disappeared. Climate change will make matters worse because it will turn seawater warmer and more acidic and change ocean currents - a key foundation of life in the marine environment.
- Into the blue
- MARINE PARKS...great for our state
- Global warming and oceans
Australia’s marine waters extend over an area almost twice as large as the area of our land. It is also filled with amazing plant and animal life. Sadly, overfishing, oil and gas drilling, mining and pollution are destroying marine habitats, leaving them impoverished and on the verge of collapse.
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The Wilderness Society, along with other national and South Australian conservation groups, is campaigning for the protection of our unique marine and coastal environments through the establishment of Marine Parks and Wilderness Protection Areas.
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Global warming threatens to have profound impacts on each of our lives, and an even greater effect on the millions of plants and animals that we share this planet with. Many species of marine life are particularly vulnerable to changes in water temperature, including Australia's diverse and treasured coral reefs.
more »Marine & Coastal Updates
- New marine sanctuaries for Australia’s south west - June 23, 2009
- The Wilderness Society outlines a vision for conservation and compatible development in the Kimberley - June 22, 2009
- Real Marine Protection one step closer in SA - June 22, 2009 With the release of proposed outer boundaries for a network of multiple-use marine parks in South Australia, The Wilderness Society is stepping up the pressure to ensure the marine parks program delivers real and effective protection for our coasts and oceans, not pretend parks with insignificant sanctuaries
Most of the marine life in Commonwealth waters off south west Australia is unique to the region. Extending from Kalbarri in WA to Kangaroo Island in SA, this huge area of 1.3 million km2 currently has negligible protection - less than 1% in marine sanctuaries (‘no take’).
The Wilderness Society has taken a lead role alongside other major environment groups in producing an important submission outlining what we would like see come out of the WA State government’s election commitment of $9m for a Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy (KS&CS).
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Marine & Coastal Media Releases
- WA Government must set bar high for Kimberley conservation strategy - June 22, 2009
- Thousands of Australians put their Hands Up for the Kimberley! - June 16, 2009
- Cape York a step closer to World Heritage - May 22, 2009
A collaboration of major environmental groups today called for a dramatic change in the conservation management and planning for the Kimberley – saying the current ad hoc approach was putting one of the largest and intact natural areas in the world at severe risk.
Nationwide concern over plans for industrial development in the iconic Kimberley region will be turned into action through a new online initiative by the Wilderness Society.
The Wilderness Society today welcomed the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments’ decision to prioritise Cape York Peninsula for consideration as a future World Heritage site by including it on Australia’s World Heritage Tentative List.
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