BellingenNSW<p>The Murray-Darling Basin<br>A $13 billion, 30-year flop: landmark study reveals stark failure to halt Murray-Darling River decline</p><p>"Some A$13 billion in taxpayer dollars and 30 years of policy reform have failed to arrest the devastating decline in the health of Australia’s most important river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, new research shows."</p><p>"Historically, state governments have allowed too much water to be taken from the system, primarily to irrigate crops. This has caused extensive environmental damage such as toxic blue-green algae blooms, dramatic falls in bird and fish populations and undrinkable town water supplies, to name just a few. <br>The damage has been exacerbated by invasive species, climate change, dams that block water flows, and bush clearing which makes water running into rivers more salty."</p><p>"Troublingly, we found that after more than a decade of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, 74% of success indicators were not met. This means there was either no improvement or worsening conditions.The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is due for review in 2026. Clearly, monitoring to date has been inadequate. Our paper outlines ways to fix this, so real outcomes are achieved."</p><p>"Among our suggestions, river ecosystems could be mapped to ensure Australia meets its international obligation this decade to restore 30% of inland water ecosystems and include 30% of these ecosystems in protected areas.And those responsible for implementing the basin plan, primarily state and federal government agencies, should be held accountable when targets are not met".<br>>><br><a href="https://theconversation.com/a-13-billion-30-year-flop-landmark-study-reveals-stark-failure-to-halt-murray-darling-river-decline-244296" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">theconversation.com/a-13-billi</span><span class="invisible">on-30-year-flop-landmark-study-reveals-stark-failure-to-halt-murray-darling-river-decline-244296</span></a><br><a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/rivers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rivers</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/ecosystems" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ecosystems</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/MDB" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MDB</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/murraydarling" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>murraydarling</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/extractivism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>extractivism</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/cotton" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cotton</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/biodiversity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>biodiversity</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/GBF" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>GBF</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/Kunming" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Kunming</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/birds" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>birds</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/fish" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>fish</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/governance" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>governance</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/failure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>failure</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/FishKill" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FishKill</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/IndigenousPeoples" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IndigenousPeoples</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/rights" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rights</span></a></p>