South Australia has well managed water including the River Murray but faces challenges with biodiversity loss and the changing climate according to 41 environment report cards released today.
Environment and Water Minister David Speirs said the report cards track the trend and condition of the environment and provide governments and environmental groups strong information for decisions to be made.
"The report cards we are releasing today give the most complete picture we’ve ever had on the successes and challenges in managing our environment," said Minister Speirs.
"They provide a snapshot of the state’s environmental trends and condition as well as insight into how effectively we are managing our environment across the state.
"What they show us is that there are areas where good management practices are making a real difference, especially when it comes to water management.
"This landscape-scale management provides a strong base for us to build on in the shaping of the new natural resources management reforms which are currently underway."
The report cards cover six themes including; climate, our rivers and streams, including the River Murray, land, coast and marine, and air quality. The report cards track state-wide changes over time, drawing on over 30 years of data.
"The report cards also show clear trends for South Australia’s climate, with rainfall decreasing and temperatures increasing," said Minister Speirs.
"The new government’s recent budget put a focus on continuing our transition toward more renewable energy as well as investing in practical measures to protect our environment against the changing climate.
"This included our $184 million energy solution, including $100 million home battery storage subsidy scheme, $10 million to establish Glenthorne National Park in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, $5.2 million for coastal protection and $2 million for Greener Neighbourhoods."
Minister Speirs added that the report cards show some encouraging trends, such as halting the decline of wetlands along the River Murray which are showing signs of improvement thanks to water delivered under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
"The report cards also show an improvement in mangrove and seagrass cover across the state which is important for protecting our coastline and improving water quality."
For a copy of the report cards visit https://data.environment.sa.gov.au/Trend-and-condition-reports/
