Environment Minister Tony Burke has announced Australia’s most at-risk koala populations need to be included on the national list of threatened species. Minister Burke has decided to list koala populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory as vulnerable under national environment law.
In Decision Point issue 56, Environmental Decisions Group (EDG) scientists examine the evidence on what saved houses in the 2009 Black Saturday fires in Victoria. Does prescribed burning save homes and lives? And should this be a general prescription for how we manage landscapes? In issue 56 you’ll find the following stories:
The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010, published in September 2011, is the third in a series of action plans that have been produced at the start of each decade. The book analyses the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status of all the species and subspecies of Australia’s birds, including those of the offshore territories. The book contains some surprises – some alarming, some encouraging. The status of some birds has improved over the last two decades as a result of dedicated conservation management. Some may not have changed status but at least they are holding their own. Many, however, are continuing to decline and a distressing number are new to the list.
The new Glossy Black-Cockatoo Conservation Guidelines launched this week summarise the ecology, threats and appropriate research and management actions for addressing the conservation needs of this threatened species. The conservation guidelines have been developed by the Glossy Black-Cockatoo Conservancy. Formed in 2005, the conservancy is a partnership between government, community groups and business to facilitate improved conservation outcomes and inform management responses to protecting the vulnerable glossy black-cockatoo across the South Wast Queensland and Northern NSW region.
National Threatened Species Day (NTSD) is held on 7 September each year – commemorating the death of the last Tasmanian tiger at Hobart Zoo in 1936.
World Migratory Bird Day was initiated in 2006 and is a global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. On the second weekend each May, people around the world take action and organise public events such as bird festivals, education programmes and birdwatching excursions to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and to help raise awareness around a specific theme. The theme for 2011 is Land Use Changes from a Bird’s-Eye View – A Unique Perspective on the World’s Changing Environments.
Have you been involved in, or would you like to be involved in, the planning, approval or implementation of a translocation project for threatened flora? The Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) Translocation of Threatened Plants workshop on 26-27 May 2011 in Melbourne will provide an excellent insight into translocation, which is one of the many tools available to assist in conserving threatened plant species. It involves the deliberate transfer of plants or regenerative plant material from one place to another. The workshop will include case studies of translocation programs, highlighting lessons to be learnt. The workshop also includes a half-day field trip to translocation recipient sites for Diuris fragrantissima, Pimelea spinescens and the Striped Legless Lizard.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has extended the due date for a decision on whether to add the koala to the list of nationally threatened species. Mr Burke said he had extended the decision until October to take into account any findings from a Senate inquiry into the status, health and sustainability of Australia’s koala population.