It’s hard not to be discouraged about the state of our global environment, isn’t it?
Like you, Save Our Woodland volunteers have times when we are about ready to give up hope – when we wonder if any one is paying attention or cares.
Thankfully between us, there is always at least one volunteer – not always the same one – who is ready to help us pull up our bootstraps and remind us to just get on with it.
Having said all that, we find great joy in any glimmer of hope that we are not alone, that other Australians are paying attention and care. So…
We were thrilled to read the results of a recent survey.
In late 2022, Australian Geographic conducted an online survey of more than 4,000 people across Australia.
They had a representative sample across age, gender and location, benchmarked against Australian census data.
They asked people about their attitudes to nature, how much they participated in “pro-biodiversity” behaviours such as native gardening and sustainable consumption, and how concerned they were about biodiversity loss.
They also explored people’s opinions about the state of the environment, government performance and relevant policies.
Many people were not aware of the full extent of biodiversity loss, with 60% believing that the state of the Australian environment is “good” or “very good”.
Yet the vast majority of people still cared deeply for Australia’s environment. More than eight out of ten people were concerned about biodiversity issues (85%) and said it was important that nature in Australia is looked after (83%). As many as six out of ten (63%) people were “very” or “extremely” concerned.
Encouragingly, almost everyone (97%) wanted more action to conserve biodiversity. More than half wanted “a lot” or “a great deal” more action (58%). This shows that even when awareness is limited, people value nature and recognise the importance of protecting our natural environment.
Most people agreed everyone in Australia has a role to play (68%).
More than half already engaged in actions to protect nature, such as being a sustainable consumer and managing pets or gardens for nature.
Most Australians (97%) want more action to protect nature, even if they don’t know the full extent of the biodiversity crisis. That’s the startling finding emerging from a national survey of 4000 voters.
Biodiversity matters. We rely on nature for healthy food, clean air and water.
Roughly half of the global economy depends on natural systems. But Australia is losing biodiversity at a cracking pace.
Over the past 200 years, a species has become extinct every second year on average.
This includes one in ten of Australia’s mammal species.
Thousands of species that were once common and widespread are now rare.
Biodiversity refers to the richness and diversity of plants, animals and other living things in nature. Australia has one of the most unique and diverse natural environments in the world.
However, the state of the Australian environment is declining. The effects of climate change, land clearing, invasive species, pollution and more are causing irreparable damage.
The pace of loss and its consequences are even greater than previously thought. For example, biodiversity loss reduces the availability of clean water and air, and may limit future discoveries of potential treatments for many diseases and health problems. The loss of wild pollinators threatens the production of food crops globally.
Save our Woodlands was established to protect and expand the remaining 15% of NSW, Australia’s woodlands. These woodlands are critical habitats for many vulnerable, threatened and endangered species.
YOU can help us prevent even more of our precious woodlands from being cleared for development, to instead be protected as a sanctuary for woodland species.
YOU can also help us rid NSW woodlands of the invasive weeds that are choking out native plants required by endangered species.
YOU can help us provide “pathways”, and access routes for firefighters so that we don’t lose any more NSW woodlands to bushfires.
Save Our Woodlands is an environmentally conscious group of volunteers dedicated to preserving threatened birds, animals and ecosystems in the woodlands of New South Wales, Australia.
Only 15% of our woodlands remain, the rest has been cleared for agriculture.
Save Our Woodlands Inc. secures and protects woodlands in NSW and pays landholders, in perpetuity, to conserve, enhance and re-establish native woodlands on THEIR land, and to manage these woodlands, so they are maintained.
BUT we need YOUR help. Together we can bring about change. Please consider donating.
People tend to think that woodlands are “just bush,” consequently, over 85% of the native woodlands in New South Wales, Australia have been replaced by agriculture.
Donate $10 per month & help protect critical habitats. By doing so YOU will prevent further species from extinction.
Our work is only possible with your support.
