Report
New national polling commissioned by the National Parks Australia Council, a coalition of state-based conservation groups like TNPA, confirms that the vast majority of Australians do not want to see prime protected areas like National Parks compromised by commercial or large-scale development.
Some key points from this recent survey of 1,122 Australian adults are that there is widespread support for the traditional rationale for national parks as places to protect nature and for the low key appreciation of nature, and very little support for development within parks:
- 91% of respondents agree that national parks and conservation areas are desirable to protect nature.
- Most important uses of national parks:
- 88% of respondents listed protection of nature, saving threatened species, quiet enjoyment of nature, connection to country and low impact, low cost recreation.
- Only 9% of respondents listed commercial tourism, outdoor adventure, infrastructure (e.g. downhill mountain bike tracks) and large scale commercial development.
- 78% of respondents support not having development in parks and protected areas.
- 62% of respondents are less likely to visit a national park if it had high impact commercial tours (e.g. helicopters, glamping).
- 71% of respondents are less likely to visit a national park if it had luxury large scale developments.
The Tasmanian National Parks Association offers an independent voice for Tasmania’s national parks and reserves, to ensure they are managed for the conservation of the values for which they were proclaimed.