June 24, 2020 - Like many Australians, this summer’s horrific fires had a profound impact on Dr Dimity Williams. Not only did she experience angst about the fires in Victoria burning her ‘happy place’ ...
Biodiversity
Natural ecosystems support our health by filtering our air, providing fresh water and food, regulating our climate, directly improving human health and protecting against the spread of disease and pests.
They also foster our mental wellbeing and serve as places of recreation and sources of nature-based jobs in tourism and other vocations. Furthermore, with over one third of all medicines known to humans being derived from nature, protected ecosystems are a form of innovative capital for future medical advances. Ecosystems are the foundations of biodiversity, the infinite variation in life forms. Human resilience in the face of sudden and catastrophic shifts to the planet’s life-support systems is strengthened by this variety of life on earth.
Doctors for the Environment Australia is focused on the complex interaction between human health and our natural environment and is therefore interested in environmental degradation, particularly the loss of biodiversity and the impact this is having, and will continue to have, on human health and social stability. A global environment that supports biodiversity is better able to support human health. This is a topic of utmost urgency, and of great political and cultural complexity. It is also deeply fascinating as we continue to better understand the ways in which time spent in nature can help both prevent and cure common lifestyle related diseases.
Biodiversity Resources
POLICY PAPER AND POSITION STATEMENT ON BIODIVERSITY
The health case for ending native forest logging and establishing the Great Forest National Park in Victoria
DEA’s Biodiversity Policy (Nov 2019)
DEA’s Biodiversity Position Statement (Nov 2019)
FACTSHEETS ON BIODIVERSITY
Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be passed from an animal to a human. There has been increase in zoonotic diseases over the past 30 years, posing major risks from diseases like COVID-19 (August 2020)
Forests and native vegetation like grasslands, wetlands and woodlands support our health and the environment in which we live. (Jan 2019)
Land clearing has wide ranging and harmful implications for human health (Jan 2019)
PRESENTATIONS ON BIODIVERSITY
PowerPoint presentation that details why environmental sustainability is core business for health professionals and an essential part of health education. (July 2018)
DEA SUBMISSIONS RELATED TO BIODIVERSITY
2019-20 Review of the EPBC Act (April 2020)
EPBC Act Review Interim Report – DEA response (July 2020)
Australia’s faunal extinction crisis (August 2019)
Canberra Times: Now is not the time to weaken our environmental protections
June 10, 2020 - Australia’s environmental track record is among the worst of all countries, write A/Professor Katherine Barraclough, Victorian Chair of DEA, and Fiona Armstrong, Executive Director of the Climate and Health Alliance. ...
Media release: Open Letter- prominent health leaders and groups warn ‘failing’ nature laws will lead to further public health crises
May 25, 2020 - Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty and former Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Stanley are among more than 180 health professionals and leading health groups who have signed an open ...
Submission into the 2019-2020 Independent Review of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act
May 13, 2020 - DEA believes that the flaws in the EPBC Act are too significant to be addressed by amendments alone. A new generation of environmental law is needed to restore past damage ...
Open Forum: Blue-banded bliss
March 2, 2020 - Dr Marion Carey writes that with an estimated 40% of insect species now threatened with extinction, we can all do more to notice and appreciate our wonderful native bees and ...
Media release: Doctors’ open letter to the Premier of Tasmania: logging is a health hazard
February 17, 2020 - Dear Premier Gutwein, Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) is alarmed at the resumption of old growth logging in the North West of Tasmania, as it imperils community health. We ...
Biodiversity Policy
November 12, 2019 - Natural ecosystems support our health by filtering our air, providing fresh water and food, regulating our climate and protecting against the spread of disease and pests. They also foster our ...
Biodiversity Position Statement
November 12, 2019 - Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) is focused on the complex interaction between human health and our natural environment and is therefore interested in environmental restoration and the protection of ...
Australia’s faunal extinction crisis (August 2019)
August 28, 2019 - This Senate Committee on faunal extinction has a very important role because presently it is the only parliamentary voice in a position to make a statement on the interlocking and ...
Canberra Times: Faunal extinction is a huge part of the climate emergency
August 21, 2019 - A normal week, another loss of koala habitat for new housing estates, of forest to provide jobs in the logging industry, of land clearance for gas development and agriculture. As ...
Underground Water Impact Report for the Surat Cumulative Management Area (July 2019)
July 11, 2019 - Doctors for the Environment Australia believes that this report must be seen in the context of possible harm to the sustainability of Queensland and Australia, and in this regard we ...
Draft Marine and Coastal Policy (July 2019)
July 10, 2019 - This submission was sent by DEA to the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning to comment on the final Marine and Coastal Policy which outlines how the marine and ...
Modernisation of Victorian Regional Forestry Agreements (July 2019)
July 2, 2019 - DEA has made a submission on the Victorian Government’s review of its Regional Forestry Agreements (RFA). RFA’s are agreements between State and Federal governments which enable logging to occur without ...
Mineral Resources (Galilee Basin) Amendment Bill 2018 Submission
January 25, 2019 - The Queensland government is considering a new bill – the Mineral Resources (Galilee Basin) Amendment Bill 2018 – that would effectively stop all coal mining in the Galilee Basin. DEA ...
Why We Need Forests and Native Vegetation for Our Health
January 10, 2019 - Forests and native vegetation like grasslands, wetlands and woodlands support our health and the environment in which we live. From purifying our air and water to providing food, medicines and ...
How Land Clearing Harms Our Health
January 10, 2019 - Forests and native vegetation like grasslands, wetlands and woodlands are vital to our wellbeing yet in Australia we are currently seeing an explosion in land clearing. This has wide ranging ...
Submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications – Australia’s faunal extinction crisis
September 5, 2018 - Doctors for the Environment Australia is pleased to comment on this Enquiry for the extinction crisis reflects the rapid decline in biodiversity and ecological services, nationally and internationally, with grave ...
Environmental Sustainability & Healthcare: What do Health Professionals Need to Know?
July 18, 2018 - Every doctor needs to view this superb presentation by Katherine Barraclough at ANZ Association for Health Professional Educators. It details why environmental sustainability is core business for health professionals and an essential ...
Proposed changes to timber harvesting in NSW’s coastal forests (July 2018)
July 16, 2018 - Former Premier of NSW Bob Carr is dismayed by Berejiklian’s environmental vandalism. In this submission DEA details just one aspect of this destruction – forest clearance. See below for the DEA submission to ...
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are important
April 6, 2018 - The United Nations sets these goals not just for developing countries but for all countries including Australia. Although Australia has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, our ...