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supporting
The scale of habitat loss that would be caused
by the proposed Toondah Harbour develop-
ment might pale in comparison to that in other
parts of the flyway, but if this development goes
ahead, Australia will be sending a clear message
to the international community that even the
most important wetlands in the world are not
safe from destructive development.
For the Far Eastern Curlew, this does not
bode well. Migratory shorebirds in the EAAF
and across the world are in desperate need of
stronger international collaboration and con-
servation, not actions that erode and under-
mine one of the most important international
environmental treaties. 0
It’s crazy to think that the Australian Govern-
ment could be responsible for setting such a
dangerous precedent at a time when they are
otherwise leading in international efforts to save
the Far Eastern Curlew. The development of the
International Single Species Action Plan for the WE CAN’T AFFORD
TO SANCTION
THE DESTRUCTION
OF THE WORLD’S
MOST IMPORTANT
WETLANDS
SEPTEMBER 2017 • BIRDLIFE
Moreton Bay,
Queensland, Australia.
Photo Paintings/Shutterstock
Conservation of the Far Eastern Curlew, recently
endorsed by the EAAF Partnership, was led by
the Australian Government.
Remaining habitat for Far Eastern Curlew across
the EAAF is precious, and must be protected. A
development within the Moreton Bay Ramsar
site, one of the most important places for this
species in the world, will not only be bad news
for those Far Eastern Curlews who call More-
ton Bay home, but Far Eastern Curlews and
other threatened waterbirds across the world.
We cannot afford to wind back protection and
sanction the destruction of the world’s most
important wetlands.
BirdLife Australia supporters have been actively
calling on the Queensland and Australian Gov-
ernments to make the right decision and respect
Ramsar, rather than sanction a development in a
Ramsar-listed wetland. If they don’t, then for the
Numeniini, already facing the possibility of two
extinctions, bad things could happen in threes.
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