The AOC  provides  a national focus through the AOC Conservation Director for the conservation of our native orchid species. The AOC provides liaison with Government on national conservation issues of relevance, e.g. CITES 

Orchids Australia regularly contains articles on contemporary conservation issues. Below  you may select and read a number of these articles previously published in the Orchids Australia magazine:

Troubles Continue in Tasmania by Alan W Stephenson
Habitat - Protection or Destruction by Alan W Stephenson
Why Save Orchids Under Threat?  by Jim Heath
Part 3a and Other Conservation Impediments by Alan W Stephenson

EPBC ACT FIRST REVIEW

The Commonwealth Environment Minister has announced that he has setup a panel of experts to independently review the EPBC Act. Members of the public have been invited to make written submissions to the review panel by 19th December 2008. The final review report will be presented to the Minister by the panel on 31st October 2009. Relevant information about the review process and how to make a public submission can be found on the following website www.environment.gov.au/epbc/review or by phoning 1800 003 513.

On 31^st October 2008 the Minister for the Environment Heritage and the Arts commissioned an independent review of the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the central piece of environmental legislation of the Australian Government. Section 522A of the EPBC Act requires it to be reviewed every 10 years from its commencement.

This is the first review of the EPBC Act since its commencement on 16^th July 2000. The review will assess the operation of the EPBC Act and the extent to which its objectives have been achieved.

Community participation in the review is encouraged. There will be opportunities for public input over the course of the review. The first stage of the public input process has commenced and written submissions are now invited. The closing date for submissions is 19^th December 2008.

Public consultation sessions will also be held across the course of the review. Details will be made available on this website closer to these times. Interested parties are also invited to register to receive news and updates of the review. 

I strongly urge all AOC members to lodge a submission and also register to receive updates. This is the ideal time to register your interests and concerns regarding orchid conservation as a further 10 years for the second review will see numerous other species listed as Vulnerable, Endangered or Extinct.

The review is being undertaken by Dr. Allan Hawke. 

Alan W Stephenson

Conservation Director

Australian Orchid Council (AOC)

       [CITES Info. here ]

[ Cooperative Orchid Conservation - link]

[Aust. Government Dept. of the Environment, Water Heritage & the Arts - link]