What is the Environmental Water Trust?
The Environmental Water Trust has been established under the auspices of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW as a national independent non-government charitable organisation to facilitate investment in the long term environmental health of Australia’s rivers and wetlands.
The Environmental Water Trust has established the Environmental Water Fund under Commonwealth environment and taxation law to accept tax deductible funds and water rights.
Modelled on the highly successful non-government land conservation funds and trusts in Australia, the Environmental Water Trust will seek to provide a crucial non-government vehicle for river and wetland conservation, just as the land trusts have done for the terrestrial estate. The success of non-government water trusts in the US provides another model encouraging this venture in Australia.
Why is this so important?
“The crisis in water demands all the effort we can muster for our rivers and wetlands. River red gums are dying because they no longer get flooded as often as they used to and many other plants dependent on rivers are similarly affected. Our native fish populations are about 10% of natural levels, largely because of our impacts on rivers. Waterbird numbers are declining on many wetlands for the same reason and many large colonies of waterbirds do not breed as often as they used to because there is less flooding.
Governments alone will not succeed without engaging all sectors, including many people who live along our rivers and have watched their decline. I see a crucial role for a strong national philanthropic water trust to leverage the widespread public concern and play a part, including owning environmental flows.”
Richard Kingsford
Professor of Environmental Science
Director of the Australian Wetlands and Rivers Centre
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of New South Wales
What do we plan to do?
The Environmental Water Trust seeks to assist in the restoration of environmental flows to rivers and wetlands. It will work with the community, water users and governments to achieve these crucial environmental outcomes.
Not this:-
Dead red gums in Macquarie Marshes (A Hankinson)
but this:-
Macquarie Marshes, Halls Block (A. Hankinson)
How will we know we are doing the right thing?
The Trust has appointed a Scientific Advisory Panel to advise it on its decisions and programs.
To ensure resources will be applied efficiently and effectively the Environmental Water Trust will also collaborate with both governments and non-government organisations , in particular the newly formed national Water Trust Alliance, a group of non-competing similar organisations, of which the Environmental Water Trust has become a foundation member.
Contact details
Environmental Water Trust
Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Level 2
5 Wilson Street
Newtown NSW 2042
PO Box 137
Newtown NSW 2042
Chair:- Bruce Donald
bruce.donald@ozemail.com.au
(Title photograph:- Castlereagh wetlands 2009 - (V.Shepherd) )
