Australian Network for Plant Conservation – 2nd National Forum -
‘Minding our own biodiversity: conservation on private land’
Thursday 30 April – Friday 1 May 2009
Halls Gap, The Grampians, Victoria
Don’t miss this timely forum! Register NOW!
Registrations close Friday 17 April
ANPC’s second national forum will focus on conservation outside the formal reserve system, whether on small blocks, production properties, large landscape level efforts or cross-tenure projects. It will highlight the people and places involved and investigate the incentives and support available.
The forum will include presentations, case studies, facilitated discussion sessions and field visits to project sites. Many landholder presenters will give participants the benefit of their on-ground experience.
This is your opportunity to participate, learn, contribute, debate and move this essential component of biodiversity conservation forward.
For further information, program, registration visit ANPC Conferences or contact the ANPC office on 02 6250 9509.
Keep an eye on the website for program updates (there are some gaps in the draft program as many of our Victorian colleagues are currently deployed with bushfire responsibilities).
Private land is the key to linking biodiversity conservation across the landscape.
During early 2009, Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking collars will be fitted to 24 kangaroos in 15 large areas of urban open space across Canberra. This is the first known Australian study of a large wild animal in an urban environment. The intention is to record the home range and movement patterns of urban kangaroos over a two year period. The GPS tracking collars will record the location of the kangaroo every hour. This study, will provide valuable information for the management of kangaroos in the urban environment, the planning of urban kangaroo control programs, and help devise ways to reduce the risk of motor vehicle accidents with kangaroos. For further information visit the ACT Territory and Municipal Services website.
The 18 February 2009 issue of C02 News includes:
News
Conferences & Events
Arson and bushfires
Bushfires and nature conservation
Development in bushfire prone areas
Bushfires and climate
Every year hundreds of thousands of Australians help clean up their environment on Clean Up Australia Day. Visit the Clean Up website to find out how you can help or register a site.
The closing date for all Australian Government Caring for our Country 2009-10 business plan proposals has been extended to 3 April 2009.
Ministers Garrett and Burke have also announced more than $5 million to support bushfire recovery projects in Victoria. The Australian Government will work closely with the Victorian Government to ensure the funding achieves the best outcomes for these bushfire affected areas. Further information about the process for these funds will be available shortly.
On 30 January 2009 the Minister for Climate Change and Water announced that the Australian Government is offering rebates of up to $500 to households for either:
For further information visit the Water for the Future website.
Through the Local Adaptation Pathways Program, the Australian Government is providing funding to help councils undertake climate change risk assessments and develop action plans to prepare for the likely local impacts of climate change. The funding will help councils integrate climate change risk into their broader decision-making processes. Round 2 grants are now available. Expressions of interest will close on 25 February 2009 and it is expected that these will be short listed by mid March 2009. Short listed applicants will be invited to submit further information.
Ecopolis is a book about cities, ecology and climate change written by one of Australia’s leading advocates and pioneers of sustainable architecture. Challenging conventional definitions and limitations of architecture and planning, it proposes a strong trans-disciplinary approach that links built environment professionals, life scientists and the wider community in the design of human settlements as living components of the biosphere.
The book includes what may be the first definition of the purpose of cities in the modern era and introduces the powerful concept of the urban fractal. The author demonstrates the history and lineage of his philosophy through an extensive review of the work of key theorists and practitioners which, in itself, provides a useful reference tool for ecocity theorists.
Identifying key theorists, practitioners, places and philosophies, the book provides a solid theoretical context, and goes on to present a series of design and planning tools for achieving Sustainable Human Ecological Development (SHED). Combining knowledge from diverse fields to present a synthesis of urban ecology, the book will provide a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners in architecture, construction, planning, geography and the traditional life sciences.
Inadequate funding for Australian research institutions and the lure of well funded overseas organisations has contributed to Australia losing solar research expertise throughout the past decade.
The Australian Solar Institute will provide much needed support for the Australian solar community, helping to retain Australian solar expertise and develop the next generation of Australian solar researchers. The Institute will foster greater collaboration between researchers in universities, research institutions, and industry and help forge strong links with peak overseas research organisations.