The Issues paper: A Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia and its appendices identify and explore issues around Australia’s changing population. The paper is intended to facilitate the expression of community views about the challenges and opportunities created by changes in Australia’s population. Submissions to the issues paper are invited. Submissions will help to inform the Australian Government as it develops a Sustainable Population Strategy in 2011. Submissions close Tuesday 1 March 2011. To find out more visit Australian Government – Sustainable Population Strategy.
With around 85% of Australia’s population living in the coastal zone, rising sea levels and storm surges will have significant impacts on many of our coastal towns and cities. Understanding the risks to infrastructure and private property is particularly important for highly populated urban areas. The Australian Government has developed a series of initial sea level rise maps to illustrate the potential impacts of climate change for key urban areas. The maps have been prepared by combining a sea level rise value with a high tide value. They illustrate an event that could be expected to occur at least once a year, but possibly more frequently, around the year 2100. To find out more and view the maps visit OzCoasts Climate change: Sea level rise maps.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on 2 February. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971. The international theme for World Wetlands Day 2011 is “wetlands and forests – forests for water and wetlands” in celebration of the United Nations International Year of Forests. The Australian Government produces a web-based Calendar of Events for World Wetlands Day each year and has also produced a primary school classroom kit. To find out more visit Water for the Future – World Wetlands Day.
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Visit the International Year of Forests 2011 website to find information regarding events being organised throughout the International Year as well as interactive web tools and resources to promote dialogue on forests. You are also invited to provide information through the website about how you plan to celebrate “forests for people” during 2011, so that your stories and initiatives can be showcased.
The Urban Forestry Community brings together stakeholders from all over the world looking to promote Urban and Peri-urban Forestry and Greening (UPFG). This interactive Community platform provides users with the opportunity to discuss, share knowledge and learn about good practices, related to optimizing the role of trees and forests in and around cities to alleviate poverty.
The Australian Flora Foundation was established in 1981 with the aim of fostering scientific research on the biology and cultivation of Australian plants. It was thought that by encouraging research, a greater awareness of the value of the Australian flora would be developed resulting in explicit measures for their conservation and utilisation. Funds for research are raised through the membership of the Foundation, donations from various sources and the interest from bequests. Grants are available for projects which commence from December 2011. The Foundation expects to support between two and four projects at $5000 – $12,000 each in 2012 with possible extension into 2013. Preliminary applications are due by 21 March 2011. To find out more visit Research Grants for funding in 2012.
Minister for Social Inclusion, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, has announced the composition of the Australian Government’s Not-for-Profit Sector Reform Council. To help drive the Government’s plans to reform the sector, the Council will examine the scope of a national one-stop-shop regulator, provide advice on streamlining tendering and contracting processes for Government-funded not-for-profits, consider harmonisation of federal, state and territory laws on fundraising and support the implementation of the National Compact: working together.
Celebrate the launch of DECCW NSW’s new professional development website, the Education for Sustainability Professional Learning Hub, with a free half day workshop. For registration or enquiries contact Belinda Billing email belinda.billing@environment.nsw.gov.au phone 02 8837 6392 or visit www.efslearninghub.net.au Read the rest of this entry »
The NSW Government has released the Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036 to guide Sydney’s growth and development over the next 25 years. It draws on two documents – the 2005 Metropolitan Strategy – City of Cities: A Plan for Sydney’s Future, and the Metropolitan Transport Plan 2010, Connecting the City of Cities. It was drafted after incorporating public comment on the NSW Government’s $50 billion Metropolitan Transport Plan and the first five-yearly review of the Metropolitan Strategy.
The aims of this Birds Australia workshop in western Sydney on 8 February 2011 are:
To find out more see the workshop flier.