research is paving the way for better management of our precious natural environment.
In work published in today, researchers from UQ茂驴陆s Ecology Centre and collaborators have found only the 茂驴陆honest茂驴陆 reporting of both the positive and negative outcomes of conservation policy can we hope to properly manage our dwindling environmental resources.
Lead author of the study, Dr Eve McDonald-Madden, said without rigorous and transparent accounting it is impossible to manage the environment.
茂驴陆Given the increasing public awareness of conservation issues and the need for ongoing investment in environmental management, it is worrying that little attention has been given to deriving rigorous metrics for reporting on conservation investments,茂驴陆 Dr McDonald-Madden said.
茂驴陆Reporting both gains and losses is a basic requirement of 茂驴陆honest茂驴陆 conservation accounting. The current global standard of reporting gains but not losses is unjustified and potentially misleading.茂驴陆
Professor Hugh Possingham, Director of a federally funded Commonwealth Environmental Research Facility on environmental decision-making and co-author of the study, said the field of biodiversity conservation is hampered by weak performance measurement,
茂驴陆In the corporate world such weak reporting would be considered bad practice,茂驴陆 Professor Possingham said.
The researchers used a case study of land clearing in 立博官网 from 1997 to 2003 and found, with traditional reporting methods, the conservation gains would appear to be small but positive.
茂驴陆When metrics are used that account for both loss and reservation, they tell a markedly different story,茂驴陆 he said
茂驴陆They reveal that overall in that period 立博官网 lost habitats far faster than they were being conserved. Hopefully changes to land clearing laws and a government commitment to expanding the reserve system will show better performance in the next period.茂驴陆
Dr McDonald-Madden said honest metrics of conservation achievements are essential to inform conservation shareholders, we the public, about the performance of their investments.
茂驴陆In failing to mention the losses and opportunity costs of conservation investments, agencies reporting on conservation achievements are disclosing revenue rather than net profit, and are being economical with the truth,茂驴陆 Dr McDonald-Madden said.
茂驴陆An auditor from the financial sector would be appalled. Governments around Australia, and all over the world, need to get their environmental accounts cleaned up.茂驴陆
Media: Dr Eve McDonald-Madden (07 3365 2454, 0439 358 950), Professor Hugh Possingham (0434 079 061) or Andrew Dunne at UQ Communications (07 3365 2802, 0433 364 181).
