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The Nature Conservation Council, Total Environment Centre and National Parks Association have condemned proposals by the NSW governnment that could allow developers to destroy populations of threatened species under the state's controversial biocertification scheme.

The scheme's 'like for like' principle for offsets has been abandoned  so that an endangered frog, bird or animal can be offset by a tree somewhere else in the state. The Sydney Morning Herald reported the plan, "... includes provisions for cash payments for building on the habitat of certain animals if no suitable offset can be found". (Biodiversity plan poses threat to rare species by Ben Cubby . SMH 02/08/2010)  Read the joint media release here.

The Nature Conservation Council, Total Environment Centre and National Parks Association have condemned proposals by the NSW governnment that could allow developers to destroy populations of threatened species under the state's controversial biocertification scheme.

The scheme's 'like for like' principle for offsets has been abandoned  so that an endangered frog, bird or animal can be offset by a tree somewhere else in the state. The Sydney Morning Herald reported the plan, "... includes provisions for cash payments for building on the habitat of certain animals if no suitable offset can be found". (Biodiversity plan poses threat to rare species by Ben Cubby . SMH 02/08/2010)  Read the joint media release here.

Demonstration to stop the National Park land grab
12 noon, Wednesday June 2nd
Outside Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Bring: Banners, placards and your friends

If passed, the proposed National Parks and Wildlife (Sus. Tourism) Bill 2010 will facilitate exclusive, large-scale private development in our National Parks. The NSW government's proposed Bill will shift the focus of National Parks from conservation, and prevent future court appeals against inappropriate developments in our National Parks.

There should be bi-partisan support to strengthen National Park laws, not to give the Government and big developers a free hand over development.

Urgent action needed

The NSW Government's amendments to the National Parks and Wildlife Act have passed in the lower house of parliament.

Although environment groups have been negotiating in good faith with Environment Minister Frank Sartor senior legal advice has confirmed that the revised Bill is still a major threat to the future of national parks.

Act now and tell the NSW Government and the State Coalition you want national parks to remain public and protected, for nature and quiet enjoyment, forever.

Aboriginal traditional owners have joined with more than 100 people from local community groups, locals and residents to protest the logging at Mumbulla State Forest in South East NSW.

Three traditional owners led a peaceful protest this week saying,
“ We, the traditional owners of Mumbulla Mountain, are distressed that woodchip logging is taking place on part of our sacred land. The land should be handed over to us to care for it, our sacred sites and the animals that live here. We need to preserve it for our culture and our future generations”.

Forestry breaches have been reported to the NSW Department of Environment by protesters this week.

A push for further development in Western Sydney is rapidly threatening the area's natural environment. Nature Conservation Council member group, the Western Sydney Conservation Alliance (WSCA), has been lobbying all levels of Government over several years to assist in the creation of the Cumberland Conservation Corridor across large areas of Western Sydney. The WSCA believes the Corridor gives native flora and fauna the best chance at survival by providing essential connections between bushland areas.

Penrith Council's draft stage one Local Environmental Plan(LEP) proposes a 504ha RU4 rural subdivision zoning across high conservation value bushland that the NSW Government has identified as Western Sydney Priority Conservation Lands.

Tony Kelly is the new NSW Planning Minister and he may make the decision to approve and gazette the Council's LEP at any time. Urge him to reject Penrith Council's LEP and protect all the Western Sydney Priority Conservation Lands within the Penrith LGA with an E2 Environmental Conservation zoning by sending the WSCA's cyberaction .

You can watch a short Youtube clip explaining the issue here . 

The NSW Government has reversed its decision for the immediate creation of new Red Gum National Parks along the Murray and other south-western rivers, recently announcing logging will continue in some areas for up to five years.

The move jeopardises the protection of globally significant wetlands and threatened species that are facing severe long-term threats to their survival.

The National Parks Association of NSW has indicated the decision will "not leave a forest worth protecting". (SMH, NSW to protect Riverina red gums, 02/03/10)

Click here to read a joint media release from the Nature Conservation Council and six other environmental groups on the decision . 

The reopening of talks between the State Government and the Shooters' Party is a dangerous development. The NSW Government must not make a backroom deal that sells out our precious National Parks and wildlife for its own political gain.

The stakes are too high. We must not allow hunting in all our National Parks, not just those close enough to Sydney to be on the Government's radar.

Read more ...

Some tropical climate species may be unable to adapt to climate change and are therefore at an increased risk of extinction, according to research conducted by Monash and Melbourne universities.

The study found plants and animals that are are highly specialised may have a low genetic diversity that does not allow adaptation to future climate changes. The findings further highlight the importance of limiting human-induced global warming and taking urgent steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The concern is that habitat specialists make up most of our earth's biodiversity, suggesting that this inability to adapt will affect many species, including groups of insects and potentially other groups such as mammals and fish as well," said Dr Carla Sgro from Monash university's Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research.

Bidjigal Reserve in Sydney’s Hills District has been described as a place of “rugged natural beauty and full of hidden treasures; a time capsule of ancient ecosystems, aboriginal shelters and colonial history”.

But this natural haven is under threat from a proposal by Go Ape! for constructing a High Rope Adventure Course through the Ted Horwood , Excelsior and Bidjigal reserves. The development will include extending pathways, clearing areas of numerous trees for landing zones and the construction of fencing and locked gates within the reserve.