Victorian National Parks Association

What We Do:

The VNPA is Victoria's leading nature conservation organisation. VNPA is an independent, non-profit, membership-based group, which exists to protect Victoria's unique natural environment and biodiversity through the establishment and effective management of national parks, conservation reserves and other measures. The VNPA meets regularly with heads of government agencies and State Government ministers. 

We are currently working towards increasing  the protection of Victoria's marine and coastal environment. Home to more than 10,000 species, more than 85% of the plants and animals found in Australia's southern waters are found nowhere else on earth. Our coastline is one of the most diverse in the world, but unless we take urgent action to increase its protection, our unique marine environment may be gone forever. Today, only 5.3% of Victoria's marine environment is protected in national marine parks and sanctuaries. The marine campaign presents a strong case  to extend the current network of marine national parks and sancturaries, which needs to be underpinned by a comprehensive, state-wide assessement of Victoria's marine habitats, values and threats. It's been 17 years since the last and only state-wide assessment in Victoria.

The campaign also aims to complete a Victorian Marine Plan by 2012 which includes:
• Tighter planning regulations to protect marine and coastal habitats.
• A comprehensive plan to deal with coastal pests and other threats.
• Ensuring that bay and estuary water quality levels are improved and monitored.
• Building climate change resilience in marine and coastal communities by improving levels of resources for management.

Contact:

www.vnpa.org.au

marine@vnpa.org.au

Level 3 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC, 3053

(03) 9347 5188