The NT needs new nature laws, now.

The Northern Territory’s iconic natural and cultural landscapes with intact free-flowing rivers, lie at the heart of the largest intact savanna on Earth.

But the Top End's amazing natural and cultural values are deteriorating due to pervasive and increasing threats.

Deforestation for cotton and fracking are sliding species further towards extinction, threatening precious water flows, and are layering on top of existing pressures from hot fires, feral species and invasive weeds. All of which is resulting in ecosystems on the brink of collapse.

With development pressure intensifying in the NT every year, nature needs new Territory laws as ...

The Northern Territory’s iconic natural and cultural landscapes with intact free-flowing rivers, lie at the heart of the largest intact savanna on Earth.

But the Top End's amazing natural and cultural values are deteriorating due to pervasive and increasing threats.

Deforestation for cotton and fracking are sliding species further towards extinction, threatening precious water flows, and are layering on top of existing pressures from hot fires, feral species and invasive weeds. All of which is resulting in ecosystems on the brink of collapse.

With development pressure intensifying in the NT every year, nature needs new Territory laws as a first line of defence to protect the globally significant natural and cultural values—things we all love about the Top End.

With Territorians heading to the polls on 24 August 2024, now is a crucial time for all Australians to make our voices heard on protecting the integrity of the world’s most intact tropical savanna.

Image courtesy of ECNT

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Ask key decision makers to commit to new Territory nature laws that will protect biodiversity, safeguard cultural landscapes and rein in large-scale deforestation. A personalised message will have a bigger impact, simply edit the text in the box below.

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Dear Chief Minister Lawler and Environment Minister Worden,

The NT has some of the Earth’s most precious and unique nature, but the weakest nature laws.

Unrelenting impacts from feral pests, weeds, too much fire and climate change have greatly diminished the Territory’s nature over many decades.

Now, due to massive cotton expansion, fracking, mining and other industrial development, deforestation is rapidly increasing. And it is putting more of the Territory’s precious places and wildlife at risk.

Legal experts have described the NT’s current protections as a patchwork of antiquated laws, that are not designed to address the biggest threats to the Territory’s nature. I am writing to call for a commitment to new nature laws for the Territory that adequately protect the NT’s biodiversity, intact healthy landscapes, and amazing free-flowing river systems.

I am seriously concerned that:
- The NT is the only jurisdiction in the country that does not have specific laws to regulate land clearing. Instead, the NT has weak guidelines that are not enforceable. Land clearing is one of the leading causes of species extinctions and biodiversity loss in Australia and around the world. Deforestation is rapidly increasing in the NT, including in the Earth’s largest, intact tropical savanna.
- The NT does not have specific biodiversity conservation laws—such as a Biodiversity Act. Unlike other jurisdictions, the NT has no laws with specific objectives to secure and protect wildlife populations and the health and diversity of ecosystems.
- There are over 200 native species threatened with extinction in the NT, like the Gouldian finch  and the black-footed tree rat. There is no government biodiversity strategy with clear goals to reduce threats and enhance natural values. 
- The NT is the only place in Australia that does not have a regular state of the environment reporting program. This means there is a woeful absence of transparent monitoring and reporting on the health of the NT’s environment.

Finally, expert legal analysis has revealed that the NT has the weakest environmental community rights in the country. Territorians are not adequately afforded the right to know, the right to participate and the right to object to environmental decisions that impact their community.

This must change.

I am calling on you as a key decision-maker in the NT, to stand up for globally significant natural and cultural landscapes. You can deliver real legal protections for the largest intact tropical savanna on Earth, with incredible free-flowing rivers.

Will you commit to fixing the broken system and commit to new nature laws for the Territory, that will better protect what we all love about the Top End of Australia?

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