Climate Change

Parks cover more than 4 million hectares of Victoria. They protect many important environments but sit in a broader landscape that is changing. They play a crucial role in protecting biodiversity, providing clean air and water, regulating climate, maintaining healthy waterways, preventing soil erosion, maintaining genetic resources, providing habitat for native species and pollination.

Parks play an important role in removing carbon from the atmosphere, storing it in vegetation and soil is critical.

Climate change is recognised by the Victorian government as presenting major risks to our environment, our way of life and our economy.

Parks are at substantial risk from climate change.  Increased incidence of extreme bushfire weather and conditions, storms and water shortages are already with us. Other emerging risks threaten the flora and fauna, opportunities for recreation, the tourism industry and our cultural heritage.

While uncertainty remains about the scale and timing of climate change impacts, and the best methods to reduce the greenhouse emissions that are driving the warming of the planet, park managers must adapt to cope with impacts that are already occurring.

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