PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) has welcomed the state government’s introduction of the Western Australia Biodiversity and Science Institute (WABSI), saying it would see a more effective and coordinated approach to acquiring and interpreting biodiversity knowledge to support sustainable resource development in the region.

Premier and Science Minister Colin Barnett on Thursday launched the WABSI, which was aimed at protecting, conserving and ensuring the sustainable management of the state’s flora and fauna.

The institute would also facilitate the development and uptake of scientific knowledge to protect the state's terrestrial biodiversity and would support the development of a database for use as a public resource.

“Western Australia is home to one of the world's richest diversities of plant and animal life, including eight of Australia's 15 terrestrial biodiversity hotspots,” Barnett said.

“Science is crucial to ensuring our rich and unique biodiversity assets are here for future generations to enjoy.  At the same time, the main drivers of our economy – mineral exploration and processing, broadacre agriculture and tourism – intersect with the state's biodiversity, as does urban development.”

The institute would manage more than A$60-million of current, fully funded research and will aim to attract significant new research funding to Western Australia, including from the Australian government. The funding comprises A$40-million from national and international sources, A$15-million from industry and A$5.5-million from the state government.

CME acting CEO Nicole Roocke said on Thursday that the formation of WABSI demonstrated Western Australia’s commitment to the Australian government’s ‘one-stop-shop’ environmental approvals policy, which would refer federal approval assessments and decision-making to states and territories under bilateral agreements.

“While the conservation lobby may criticise the delegation of federal approvals as "watering down" environmental standards, WABSI is evidence of Western Australia’s commitment to strong science-based decision-making,” Roocke said.

She pointed out that the CME and resources sector companies had played a key role in the establishment of WABSI, adding that the collaboration has facilitated the development of a research plan focused on the knowledge needs of the resources sector and incorporating all key research providers within Western Australia.

“The resources sector has been a major contributor to existing knowledge of terrestrial biodiversity in Western Australia and will continue to be a key partner through WABSI.”