Conservation: Relaxed laws imperil Australian wildlife : Nature : Nature Publishing Group.

Conservation: Relaxed laws imperil Australian wildlife

Euan G. Ritchie published in Nature 498, 434 doi:10.1038/498434d

Published online

Policy and legislative changes by Australia’s state governments are eroding the vital protection of the country’s unique biodiversity.

Reserves are being opened up to ecologically disruptive activities, such as grazing by domestic livestock, logging, mining, recreational hunting and fishing, and commercial development. Protected habitats on private and leasehold land are imperilled…