South Australia’s biodiversity will be better protected, including from climate change, as part of proposed state government legislation that is now open for public consultation.

Biodiversity refers to all the different kinds of life on Earth and how they work together, including the variety of animals, plants, fungi and bacteria that make up our natural world.

Australia is recognised as having the highest mammal extinction rate in the world, and more than 1,100 South Australian native plant and animal species are threatened with extinction.

The major causes of biodiversity loss are human-led activities, such as habitat loss, land-use practices, pollution, invasive species and climate change.

The proposed Biodiversity Act, which is supported by Environmental Scientist and South Australia’s 2024 Australian of the Year, Tim Jarvis, aims to secure, restore and grow biodiversity by:

• Ensuring South Australia can adapt to climate change.
• Working with First Nations Peoples to integrate their knowledge into biodiversity management.
• Establishing a governance framework for data collection and management, as well as biodiversity assessment, monitoring and reporting.
• ncentivising actions to protect or regenerate SA’s biodiversity.

Minister for Climate, Environment and Water Susan Close says protecting biodiversity helps improve people’s quality of life. 

“We need functioning biodiversity for clean air, healthy soil, modern medicine, food on our plates, and to help communities respond to the threat of climate change.

She says a new Biodiversity Act will boost biodiversity conservation in South Australia, while integrating the goals of the Native Vegetation Act, the National Parks and Wildlife Act and the Landscape South Australia Act.

Tim Jarvis, Environmental Scientist and South Australia's 2024 Australian of the Year, says human-led activities are the leading cause of biodiversity loss.

“Which makes it our moral responsibility to do everything we can to halt that trend and protect and conserve our precious ecosystems.

“Restoring biodiversity across the state will also deliver more economic prosperity, as well as boosting the physical and psychological benefits we get from being in nature. 

“No matter how technologically advanced we become, humans rely on the Earth’s biodiversity and we must work together to protect it before the damage is irreversible.”

The deadline for feedback on the opportunities for the new Biodiversity Act is Wednesday 14 February. Visit the state Yoursay website for more information.