AILA responds to UN report warning of one million species at risk of extinction

Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history – and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely, warns a landmark new report from the UN.

One million of the world’s species are now under threat of extinction, according to the biggest-ever review of the state of nature on earth.

"We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide," said Sir Robert Watson, the chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which put together the report.
In Australia, there are record numbers of Australia’s wildlife species facing imminent extinction.

Living Infrastructure creates protective habitat for up to 50% of all endangered species in Australia living in or near our urban settlements.

“During the federal election campaign all of the major parties have been silent on the issue of living infrastructure and biodiversity, particularly in and around our cities and towns,” AILA Chief Executive Officer Tim Arnold said.

“There is a lack of sufficient strategy on how to deal with living infrastructure at the federal level of government and the result is issues like those raised in the UN report.”

“This is just another piece of evidence that the time for action is now and a Living Infrastructure Strategy would be one of the tools the federal government could deploy as part of Australia’s solution to this global and domestic crisis.”

“A Living Infrastructure Strategy provides a framework to protect and enhance urban and peri-urban ecological and biological systems.”

“As cities grow in population and increase in density, protecting and managing urban ecosystem services such as water and air quality, biodiversity and ecological communities will require a far more integrated approach.

AILA’s full election platform, Greener, Liveable and Healthier Cities and detail on the call for a Living Infrastructure Strategy is available on aila.org.au.