The Youth Guide to Biodiversity, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), is designed as an educational resource for schools, youth groups and other curious young learners. It explains biodiversity and considers why biodiversity is important, how humans impact it, and what we must do to conserve the world’s biological resources. At the end of the guide there are inspiring examples of youth-led initiatives and an action plan to help people develop their own biodiversity projects and conservation activities.
The United Nations has proclaimed 22 May The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The 2013 theme Water and Biodiversity was chosen to coincide with the United Nations designation of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation. Water is essential for life. No living being on planet Earth can survive without it. It is a prerequisite for human health and well-being as well as for the preservation of the environment.
The Nature Conservancy publication Innovation for 21st Century Conservation expresses the profound belief that retaining Australia’s unique and rich terrestrial and marine species and varied ecosystems is an urgent challenge that requires innovative partnerships across sectors, and illustrates a richness of examples of such innovation.
Ocean ecosystems are probably the least understood, most biologically diverse, and most undervalued of all ecosystems. Building upon the foundations of the The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) reports, TEEB for Oceans and Coasts will seek to draw attention to the economic benefits of ocean and coastal biodiversity and healthy ecosystems and emphasise the unrealised benefits of preserved and enhanced whole ecosystem structures, functions and processes to the well-being of humans and nature.
The Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) is seeking articles for the June–August 2013 issue of Australasian Plant Conservation (APC), the bulletin of the ANPC. The issue will be on the theme ‘Fire and threatened biodiversity’. If you are intending to submit an article or wish to discuss possibilities, please contact the APC Editor by 26 April.
The latest issue of Decision Point magazine features science on how we can accommodate biodiversity in and around our cities and suburbs. Articles include how we can grow Australian cities to minimize their biodiversity impacts, development in the urban fringe that takes biodiversity into account, the many ways nature benefits us, road crossings and their value for wildlife, and urban orb weaver spiders.
The City of Boroondara, located in inner-eastern Melbourne, has a surprising diversity of indigenous flora and fauna, and biologically significant sites. Community feedback is being sought on a new plan for protecting urban biodiversity in Boroondara. Community consultation on the draft strategy will run until 6 May 2013. Boroondara was one of the first Melbourne councils to adopt a Biodiversity Strategy in 2003, and was winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Sustainable City of the Year 2012.
Commonwealth Environment Minister, Tony Burke, has announced in a media release that the western Sydney dry rainforest and moist woodland on shale will be protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Minister Burke said that the listing of this critically-endangered ecological community was vital to protect it from threats.
The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is one of the gems of metropolitan Adelaide. Located in the Port River and Barker Inlet, the sanctuary is just 20 minutes from the city centre and features a 10,000-year-old mangrove forest. A resident pod of about 30 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) call the river home, while another 300 visit the area regularly.
The Hut Environmental and Community Association (THECA) 12th Bushcare Forum will explore issues in restoring and managing biodiversity for the long-term future and for resilience in the South East Queensland region. Please contact THECA as soon as possible if you are interested in making a presentation on the forum themes. Participant registration forms will be available in June 2013.