Environmental biosecurity is in everyone’s interest. We are an integral part of our environment, and all of us benefit from the many ecosystem services it provides. These services are globally recognised under four categories: Provisioning (food, fibre, natural resources), regulating (carbon storage, water purification, pollination), cultural (First Nations, recreation) and supportive services (photosynthesis, nutrient cycles, water cycle). The environment is an irreplaceable, majestic and greatly-loved asset providing immeasurable benefits for the entire to nation to enjoy. It is because of this that we all have a role to play in protecting and enhancing the health of our environment.
Effective environmental biosecurity is only possible if we work together. It requires partnership and collaboration between governments, industry and the community working together to reduce the risk to Australia’s ecosystems from exotic pests, weeds and diseases. The Environmental Biosecurity Office engages with stakeholders from across Australia to build our capacity to prevent, detect and respond to environmental biosecurity risks. Our aim is to develop strong environmental biosecurity networks, improve awareness and education and encourage active participation in protecting our unique environment. Recent engagement activities by Environmental Biosecurity Office include:
- Hosting the Environmental Biosecurity Webinar series (2020 & 2021).
- Supporting Australia’s membership of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
- Hosting the International Symposium on limiting the spread of contaminant pests (2020).
- Sponsoring the Australian Biosecurity Symposium (2019 & 2021).
- Engaging citizen science networks in environmental biosecurity efforts.
- Secretariat support for the Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group.
- Driving collaboration through the Environmental Biosecurity Project Fund.
Environmental Biosecurity Webinar Series
The 2022 webinar series is titled ‘Prevent. Detect. Respond. Protect’ and will explore a range of case studies, policies, initiatives and research from across the biosecurity system that work together to protect our environment, cultural heritage and way of life from the impacts of invasive pests, weeds and diseases.
Webinar speakers come from Commonwealth, and state and territory governments, non-government organisations and community groups. Presentations cover perspectives dealing with operations on the ground and hands-on programs through to legislation and policy perspectives, including national level strategic thinking.
After each webinar, related materials and recordings are made available on the webinar series info hub with participants invited to continue conversations in an online forum.
If you would like to participate, please register on the Eventbrite page and you will be emailed joining information prior to each webinar.
Environmental Biosecurity Roundtables
From 2016-2020 the department held bi-annual Environmental Biosecurity Roundtables in Canberra and elsewhere around Australia. The events attracted attendees from around the country representing all tiers of government, land and NRM organisations, researchers, conservation groups and leading plant and animal health bodies. During the events participants shared knowledge, built valuable networks and discussed how we can work together to protect Australia’s environment, way of life and clean, green reputation from the threat of exotic pests and diseases.
Due to COVID restrictions and quarantining, the roundtables were not possible to organise as person-to-person meetings from 2020. However, growing use and familiarity with online meeting software saw the birth of the Environmental Biosecurity Webinar series. The series has proven to be a huge success and has managed to reach a substantial number of stakeholders and interested parties from across the nation and internationally. Although the webinar cannot replace person to person meetings the webinar series has demonstrated that online meetings can deliver high value contact, establish and build relationships and provides a highly accessible facility for even those in the most remote locations to participate in the national discussion.
Reports on previous environmental roundtables
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