More than 240 scientists have penned an open letter to the prime minister urging him to strengthen Australia's environment laws.
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An independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is due to begin by the end of this month.
It's been a decade since the last review.
The open letter points to native species extinction rates.
Three native species have been wiped out in the past decade, with scientists warning that another 17 animals could become extinct over the next 20 years.
"Our extinction crisis is primarily a result of habitat destruction, invasive species, altered fire regimes, disease and climate change damage," the letter said.
"Your government has a once-in-a-decade opportunity to demonstrate national leadership and fix our laws in order to protect and restore nature across Australia.
"We urge you to embrace this opportunity, strengthen our laws, invest in nature and build a great legacy by ending our extinction crisis."
Among the group are Australian National University's Liz Hanna, who specialises in health impacts of climate change, University of Queensland conservationist Richard Fuller and La Trobe University bush conservationist Jim Radford.
Environment Minister Sussan Ley said submissions to the review would be encouraged from scientists as well as agriculture and industry groups.
"The review into the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act is an independent process that will give an opportunity for all parties to make formal submissions," she said.
The Greens backed in the scientists, describing Australia's environmental laws as "way out of date" and demanding the minister launch the review this week.
"The EPBC Act has failed not just to prevent extinction but also to ensure environment ministers actually act in the best interests of the environment and follow the advice of their own department," environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said.
Meanwhile, seven communities across the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia have been invited to become part of the Indigenous Protection Area network.
It would increase protected areas by 28 per cent to more than 100 million hectares.
Under the program, traditional owners help protect the land and native species.
Indigenous rangers organisation Country Needs People said the expansion was a powerful recognition that conservation led by indigenous people was central to nature protection in Australia.
The Australian Conservation Foundation applauded the move, saying the program had a proud history of protecting special places from pests, weeds and bushfires.
Australian Associated Press