Dear Director,
As a supporter of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), I feel passionate about the survival and the welfare of our precious wildlife and I am gravely concerned by our country's record of having the worst mammal extinction rate in the world.
I welcome the move by the government to appoint a Threatened Species Commissioner and for the opportunity to input into the terms of this important role.
The role needs to be a long-term one if it is to have any real impact. It should be more than merely an advisory one and needs to be given the authority to provide urgent advice and recommendations to the Minister that engage both federal and state levels of action.
It is important that the role is independent and be given the freedom to propose radical solutions that can be implemented quickly to turn around the nation's biological crisis.
I would like to see a focus on prevention, as well as cure. The role should not only focus on those species already considered threatened but also identify and implement robust preventative measures to protect those species that are not currently threatened to ensure their long-term protection. It is more economically viable and effective to implement these measures now, rather than waiting until the situation is critical.
It is essential that the Commissioner is equipped with the necessary resources to make a significant and long-term impact on species conservation. This includes a strong well-resourced team of experts, with sufficient funding to implement effective change.
It is not just the Commissioner's role that will be important but also the funding the Government provides for threatened species. I am shocked that, despite being one of the world's mega-diverse nations, Australia is one of the most highly underfunded countries for biodiversity conservation. This dire record needs to be urgently addressed and I would like to see significantly increased and sustained government funding dedicated to saving our unique animal life.
The conservation of species and the welfare of individual animals are intertwined and I would like to see the integration of a compassionate conservation approach, in which the well-being of individual animals is taken into consideration in the development and practical application of protection measures.
Overall, the job of Commissioner needs to go to someone who will be a champion for Australia's wildlife and preserve our most loved animals for future generations.
[Your comments here]
Thank you for the opportunity to input into this important role.
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
