Archive for the ‘Habitat Advocacy’ Category

Wildlife Photography Awards

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

by Editor 20100425.

International Wildlife Photography Exhibition 2010

Winning Wildlife Photograph for 2010, by Tom Schandy

Concurrently on exhibition at both the National History Museum in London and at the Australian Museum in Sydney is a brilliant display of wildlife photography, that recognises the Wildlife Photographer of the Year under a number of international awards.

On exhibition is not only the winning wildlife photographs but also those of the runners-up and the highly commended photographic entries. Entries have also been grouped into age groups so that children and young adults of differing age bracket categories also have their own competition award. This provides an excellent incentive for young people to take a special interest in wildlife and wildlife photography, for it is in our young peopke that the future of wildlife species will be utterly dependent to survive extinction.

The Editor had the opportunity to visit the exhibition held at the Australian Museum in Sydney yesterday and although this current exhibition is all but over, a visit by everyone should be an annual event. The experience is beautiful, inspiring, educational if not a touch sad when realising many of these photos may be of future extinctions. That they are in a museum is a wake up call to humanity and its morality.

Wildlife photography, the wildlife photography awards and the public exhibition of the entrants in each year’s competition contribute vitally in raising mainstream awareness of the plight of threatened wildlife, of poaching, the destruction of their habitats and the increasing risks of wildlife extinctions.

^Australian Museum, Sydney

^Natural History Museum, London

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award 2010

Exhibited at Australian Museum, Sydney

‘Audience Type: General

Event Type: Special exhibition

Opens: 24 December 2009

Closes: 26 April 2010

Location: Level G, Special Exhibition Space

Experience the power, mystique and beauty of nature. See more than 90 dramatic images, from big cats fighting to silent icy landscapes, all in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 exhibition.

With over 43,000 competition entries from 94 countries across the globe, this is a selection of the most powerful images capturing wildlife and nature. Photography categories include:

- Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife
- One Earth
- Animals in Their Environment
- Behaviour: Birds
- Behaviour: Mammals
- Behaviour: All Other animals
- The Underwater World
- Animal Portraits
- Urban and Garden Wildlife
- Creative Visions of Nature
- In Praise of Plants
- Nature in Black and White
- Wild Place
- 10 years and under
- 11-14 years
- 15-17 years.’

Exhibition Owned jointly by:

Exhibition Patron:

Exhibition Sponsor:

Major Sponsor:

Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife

‘This award commemorates the late Gerald Durrell’s work with endangered species and his long-standing involvement with the competition. The award is given to the most memorable image and that which captures the unique character or spirit of the subject. The species featured must be officially listed in the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as critically endangered or endangered, vulnerable or near threatened at an international or national level.’

Winner

Tom Schandy (Norway)‘The look of a jaguar’

In a small, protected area of swamp-forest in the western area of the Pantanal wetland, in Mato Grosso, Brazil, jaguars still roam free from human harassment. They’re notoriously difficult to see, and pawprints are as lucky as most people get. Along the riverbanks, though, it’s possible to spot them. When Tom took a boat down the Rio Paraguay, he saw four jaguars in three days. This male had picked a slightly concealed spot where he could watch for prey such as capybara. Tom observed him for an hour. ‘He was totally calm, even though he was aware of us.’ At sunset, the jaguar rose, yawned and scent-marked. Then he faded back into the dense forest. [Camera equipment used: Canon EOS-ID Mark III + 500mm f4 lens; 1/250 sec at f4; ISO 400; beanbag]

This photograph is available to buy as an official print by going to the National History Museum website

Runner-Up

Juan Carlos Muñoz, (Spain)

‘Elephant onlooker’

This photograph is available to buy as an official print by going to the National History Museum website

‘Not only are pygmy elephants critically endangered, but they also favour thick forest, which meant that Juan Carlos had his work cut out trying to find any. As he travelled by boat down the Kinabantangan River in Sabah, Borneo, the heavens opened. ‘It was so torrential,’ says Juan Carlos, ‘that I couldn’t decide what I was more worried about, the boat sinking as it filled up with rain or how to protect my camera gear.’ Suddenly the undergrowth parted and a male pygmy elephant looked out. Slowly munching on leaves, he serenely watched the ongoing boat chaos through the sheets of rain, giving Juan Carlos the chance to take his portrait before the elephant melted back into the forest. Pygmy elephants are found only on the island of Borneo and were classified as a subspecies of the Asian elephant in 2003. [Camera equipment used: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II + Canon 100-400mm lens; 1/60 sec at f5; ISO 400.]

http://www.nhmshop.co.uk/veolia-environnement-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2009/elephant-onlooker/product.html

One Earth Award

‘This award highlights conservation issues or actions and the interaction between humans and the natural world. Images must demonstrate the power and resilience of our planet and its impact on us. Whether graphic or symbolic, each picture must be thought provoking, memorable and encourage respect or concern for our natural world.’

Winner

Thomas Haney (United States of America)

‘The lone fir’

This photograph is available to buy officially as a print from visiting the National History Museum

‘It was late afternoon when Thomas came upon this scene outside Forks, Washington, while documenting old-growth logging in the Pacific Northwest. Loggers had left a single Douglas fir standing in a clearcut area, perhaps to help reseed the area for future logging. ‘As I walked towards it on the muddy road, criss-crossed with the tracks of logging trucks, I saw the reflection in the puddle,’ says Thomas. ‘It was a powerful image, reminding me of the towering forest that once stood here,’ he says. This area has been logged before, so this tree is likely to have been planted as part of a mono-age crop, vastly different from the multilayered forests that once blanketed the region. ‘Clearcutting has long been a focal point of the environmental movement, and while it seems to be falling out of favour in North America, it’s still the preferred method around the world.’

[Camera equipment used: Minolta Maxxum 7 + Minolta 20-35mm f3.5-4.5 lens, + .3 graduated-split neutral-density filter; 2 sec at f16; Fujichrome Velvia 50].

Highly Commended

Andy Rouse (United Kingdom)

Stalking the tiger

‘Andy and his guide Dicky Singh followed the fresh pug marks down the track. When they caught up with the tiger, they discovered it was Machali, a female very familiar to Dicky. Indeed, she’s something of a local celebrity in Ranthambore National Park. It wasn’t long before jeep-loads of tourists drew up to admire her. The drivers kept a respectful distance, but Machali is well used to such attention from the wildlife paparazzi. It has been suggested that Machali has contributed about $10 million to the local economy. Andy believes that ‘if we are to save this wonderful cat, then it has to have an economic value to a local community, and that’s what I wanted to show with this picture.’ [Camera equipment used: Nikon D3 + Nikon 70-200mm lens; 1/250 sec at f5.6; ISO 800.]

For more photos visit:

^Australian Museum, Sydney

^Natural History Museum, London

^© The Habitat Advocate Public Domain

Tags: Wildlife Photography Awards
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Earth Day 22nd April

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

by Editor 20100422.

About Earth Day Network

Powerful Owl chick (Brown Mountain, East Gippsland Australia)

[The following summary information has been extracted from the Earth Day website -editor]

‘Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment.

Earth Day Network
1616 P Street NW, Suite 340
Washington, D.C., 20036
Tel: +1 202.518.0044 | Fax: +1 202.518.8794

http://www.earthday.org

Email general inquiries to: info@earthday.net.

Earth Day Mission

‘To broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment.

Reach

‘We pursue our mission through a combination of education, public policy, and activism campaigns. Earth Day Network has a global reach with more than 20,000 partners and organizations in 190 countries. More than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.

Goals

To Promote Civic Engagement — EDN works with partner organizations to provide opportunities for all citizens to become active at the local, state, national and global levels.

To Broaden the Meaning of “Environment” — EDN is committed to expanding the definition of “environment” to include all issues that affect our health, our communities and our environment, such as air and water pollution, climate change, green schools and environmental curriculum, access to green jobs, renewable energy, and a new green economy.

To Mobilise Communities — For the past four years, Earth Day Network has helped create a solid environmental platform for the National Latino Congreso. In 2010, we partnered with the Congreso to pass a strong climate change resolution.

To Implement Groundbreaking Environmental Education Programs — Earth Day Network’s GREEN Schools Campaign seeks to green all of America’s K-12 schools within a generation. Green schools save money, conserve energy and water, and have better performing and healthier students. The National Civic Education Project is empowering students to solve local environmental problems. .

To Help Bring Clean Water and Sanitation to the World — Earth Day Network’s Global Water Network allows individuals, organizations, or businesses to help fund water projects in rural areas around the globe.

To Inspire and engage college students to become environmental leaders — EDN’s campus outreach seeks to grow the size, diversity, and strength of the environmental community in colleges and universities around the world.

To Support Earth Day Events and Actions around the World — From greening schools in post-Katrina New Orleans to improving water and sanitation services in a refugee community in Ghana, EDN supports and coordinates thousands of Earth Day events worldwide each year. Earth Day, April 22, is the largest secular holiday in the world, now celebrated by more than one billion people.

Core Issues

Advocacy

Earth Day Network seeks to bridge the gap between concerned citizens and their leaders. Action is needed between individuals and organizations with local elected officials to discuss environmental issues. In this way we can push for change in Congress and the White House.

Climate Change

The Earth’s climate is significantly changing at a faster than normal rate. One thing remains clear: mankind’s actions are behind these changes. Fortunately humans are presented with the opportunity to make changes necessary to fight this phenomenon.

Promoting a campaign for reducing consumption of energy at school and at home, and reducing the use of the cars as a way of transport.

Conservation & Biodiversity

Diversity is nature’s greatest gift, but it is threatened around the world by human expansion and activities. Action is needed to help conserve the world’s biodiversity.

5th Ecosystem Services Forum

Education

Earth Day Network is a globally recognized leader in the fields of environmental education and green schools. Our Education programs carry a successful history of providing educators, students and the general public with resources and solutions to create a healthier, more sustainable planet.

Adopt a Meter2 of Land

Anacostia River Environmental Education Fair

Energy

Americans are roughly 5 percent of the world’s population and consume 25 percent of the world’s resources. Almost 50 percent of the energy we produce comes from coal. The time to build a clean energy network is now. Action must be taken to develop renewable energy and we must begin a responsible transition off of coal and oil.

Food & Agriculture

It is important that humans begin supporting organic or small farms, local production and sustainable techniques while harvesting increased yields and protecting the topsoil. The time for action is now, before the world’s rich farmland washes into the sea, and before chemical pesticides and fertilizers cause any more harm to our drinking water and our oceans.

Green Economy

We believe that the choice between the economy and green energy is a necessity to expanding the green sector and opening up a vast trove of jobs. Green industries are the future, and will put Americans back to work, producing real, exportable goods.

Green Schools

Earth Day Network’s successful history of working with teachers, PTAs, students and school administrators has led us to develop a long term, national campaign on green schools. Our National GREEN Schools Campaign, in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and The Clinton Foundation, aims to green all of America’s K-12 schools within a generation!

A school becomes “green” through a variety of means. By having more sustainable, energy-efficient, low-resource-using school buildings and school yards, our nation saves energy, reduces carbon emissions, and saves money.

By integrating environmental and sustainability education into our K-12 curriculums, our school’s students are more equipped to be leaders in the emerging green economy. We are achieving our Green Schools Campaign goals through green school policy reform, green makeovers for schools nation-wide, teacher grant programs & resources available on our Educators’ Network…

Recycling & Waste Reduction

The garbage dumps and junkyards of the world are filling quickly, with goods that might have been reused, recycled or composted. The world’s first old computers rot in scrap yards overseas, leeching toxic chemicals into the ground. Action must be taken to reduce the amount of waste we produce.

Sustainable Development

As the world’s human population grows, so does our footprint. We must find ways of living and growing in harmony with nature, and with the earth’s finite resources. Action is needed to promote green building, organic agriculture and responsible environmental practices.

Water

Earth Day Advisory Committee

Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa Alaoui of Morocco: President, Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment

Debbie Allen: American Actress, Choreographer, Television Director, Television Producer; Member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities

Ford W. Bell, DVM: President, American Association of Museums

Antonio H. Benjamin: Justice, High Court of Brazil (STJ); Co-President of the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) and Deputy-Chair of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law

Sir Richard Branson: British Entrepreneur; Founder and Chairman, Virgin Group

Lester Brown: Founder, Earth Policy Institute; Founder, Worldwatch Institute

Beverly J. Camhe: Producer, Beverly Camhe Productions

Richard Cizik: Evangelical Leader

Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Environmental Artists

Cerphe Colwell: Radio Legend

Phillipe Cousteau Jr.: Co-Founder, President and CEO, EarthEcho International; Ocean Environmentalist, Educator and Documentarian

Mia Couto: World-renowned Mozambican Writer and Biologist, Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park

Leonardo DiCaprio (Co-Chair): American Actor and Film Producer; Environmentalist; Founder, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation; Board of Trustees, National Resources Defense Council; Board Member, Global Green USA

S. Richard Fedrizzi: President, CEO and Founding Chairman, United States Green Building Council

Jose Maria Figueres: Former President of Costa Rica; Sustainable Development and Technology Expert

Oliver Fleurot: CEO of Public Relations, Corporate and Financial Communications and Events Management, Publicis

Al Gore: 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; 45th Vice President of the United States

Paul Hawken: Director, Natural Capital Institute (NCI)

Denis Hayes(Chair): President and CEO, Bullitt Foundation; Coordinator of the first Earth Day in 1970

Joe Holland: United States Olympic Nordic Combined Skier and three-time National Nordic Combined Championship Winner

David L. Hunke: President and Publisher, USA Today

Benjamin T. Jealous: President and CEO, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Yolanda Kakabadse: President, Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano (FFLA)

Donna Karan: Fashion Designer and Creator, DKNY; Founder, Urban Zen Foundation

Katie Lee: Cookbook Author

Sheri Liao: President, Global Village of Beijing

Daniel Libeskind: Architect and Artist; Founder, Studio Daniel Libeskind

Maya Lin: Environmentalist, Artist, and Architect

Mindy S. Lubber: President, Ceres; Director and Investor, Network on Climate Risk

Dame Ellen MacArthur DBE: World Record Holder for solo sailing around the Earth and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Julia Marton-Lefèvre: Director General, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Bill McKibben: American Environmentalist and Writer; Founder, 350.org

Edward Miles: Senior Fellow, Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Oceans (JISAO); Co-Director,Center for Science in The Earth System, JISAO

Mrs. Gaylord Nelson: Wife of the late Senator Gaylord Nelson, the Founder of Earth Day

Shaquille O’Neal: Professional Basketball Player, National Basketball Association (NBA)

Raymond C. Offenheiser, Jr.: President, Oxfam America

Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri: Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

John Podesta: President, Center for American Progress

Carl Pope: Executive Director, Sierra Club

David A. Randall: Recipient of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and the Meisinger Award of the American Meteorological Society

Ambassador Mohamed Sahnoun: Ambassador, Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary General; Board Member, International Institute for Sustainable Development

U.S. Senator Bernard Sanders: United States Senator, from the State of Vermont

Larry Schweiger: President, National Wildlife Federation

Martin Scorsese: American Film Director, Screenwriter, Producer, and Actor, Sikelia Productions;

Founder and Chairman, World Cinema Foundation; President, Film Foundation

Pete Seeger: Environmental Activist; Performing Artist

Jigar Shah: CEO, Carbon War Room

Ben Silverman: Executive Producer, The Office; Creator, The Biggest Loser; Founder and CEO, Electus

James Gustave Speth: Professor, Vermont Law School; Dean, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Co-Founder, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Eric A. Spiegel: President and CEO, Siemens Corporation; Member, Business Roundtable

Achim Steiner: Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Rabbi Warren Stone: Environmental Chair, Central Conference of Rabbis

Barbra Streisand (Co-Chair): American Singer, Composer, Film and Theatre Actress, Director, and Producer; Founder and President, The Streisand Foundation; Kennedy Center Honoree

Mark Tercek: President and CEO, The Nature Conservancy

Ted Turner: Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Turner Foundation; Founder and Chairman, United Nations Foundation; Founder, Turner Endangered Species Fund; Founder, Cable News Network (CNN)

James West: CEO, Alamy Limited

Keith Williams: President & CEO, Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

Edward O. Wilson: Harvard University Research Professor Emeritus; Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize; Scientist and Environmentalist

Abdelkbir Zahoud: Secretary of State, Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment of Morocco.

What are your national and local governments doing to contribute to the goals of Earth Day?

[The following summary information has been extracted from the Convention on Biological Diversity website -editor]

http://www.cbd.int/countries/profile.shtml?country=au

Note: this information is dated to 2005, so Australia is five years out of date.

In Australia:

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

‘As a large island continent Australia contains a diverse range of biogeographic regions. The arid interior occupies approximately 70% of the continent, with tropical monsoon areas to the north and a Mediterranean and temperate climate to the south. Australia’s marine habitats are just as diverse, ranging from extensive coral reefs to seagrass plains, giant kelp forests and the sand-bottomed habitats that cover much of the continental shelf. Australia is endowed with a unique and diverse biodiversity, with an estimated 80% of endemic wildlife, including flowering plants, fungi, mollusc, insects, fishes, frogs, reptiles and mammals. This high level of endemism has earned Australia its place among the world’s 12 megadiverse countries. A particularity of Australia is its marsupials, having evolved into a great diversity of species filling an extraordinary range of niches, which in other countries are largely occupied by placental mammals. As of February 2001, there were 1,478 species and 27 ecological communities listed as either endangered or vulnerable at the national level. Vegetation clearing remains a significant but diminishing threat to terrestrial biodiversity. Threats affecting Australia’s coral reefs include the effects of sediments, agricultural chemicals and nutrients, fishing and tourism, oil spills, and climate change.

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

‘Terrestrial protected areas covered 10.52% (80.89 million hectares) of the country in 2004 whereas marine protected areas, including ‘no take’ zones’, covered 64,600,000 hectares or 7% of Australia’s marine jurisdiction.

Percentage of Forest Cover

Of the estimated 33% forest cover of Australia at the time of European settlement, there is now 21% remaining.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

‘The overall goal of the Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity (1996) is to protect biological diversity and maintain ecological processes and systems. There are 6 main objectives, with priorities covering the identification and description of: main ecosystems, existing knowledge about biodiversity, and threats. The strategy also provides the framework to develop a mechanism and management plans for: biodiversity in general, protected areas, information and support of conservation projects, major introduced pests, control of access to genetic resources, bioregional planning and management, private lands to complement the protection provided by the public estate in protected areas, and for local governments to assume a significant role in the conservation of biodiversity.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan National Strategy (English)

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (English)

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

‘Australia has substantially moved towards specific, time bound and measurable outcomes in regional planning under the National Action Plan on Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT). Regional plans are playing an important role in protecting and enhancing Australia’s unique biodiversity, the viability of rural and regional communities and the future of agricultural industries. Resource Condition Indicators, coordinated by the Australian Government’s Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group (MEWG), are being developed primarily to measure the performance of investments made under funding programs and to contribute to overall assessments of resource condition. The EPBC Act provides for the identification and listing of threatened species and ecological communities, the development of recovery plans for listed species and communities, the recognition of key threatening processes, and where appropriate, reducing the impact of these processes through the development and implementation of threat abatement plans. The international movement of wildlife and wildlife products for commercial purposes is also regulated under the EPBC Act and legislation to meet CITES obligations. The threat of pollution on the conservation of biodiversity is being addressed through the National Pollutant Inventory, whose goals include the maintenance and improvement of ambient air quality as well as marine, estuarine and fresh water quality.

Initiatives in Protected Areas

‘Between 2002 and 2004, terrestrial protected areas increased by 0.44% of the total land area. Designation of marine protected areas has accelerated over the reporting period with one of the most significant increases occurring because of the rezoning of the entire Great Barrier Reef, which became law in July 2004. The proportion of the Marine Park protected under ‘no-take’ zones was increased from less than 5% to more than 33%, and now protects representative examples of each of the 70 broad habitat types identified across the Great Barrier Reef region. By the end of 2002 the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA) covered approximately 64,600,000 hectares or 7% of Australia’s marine jurisdiction.

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

‘Several Australian initiatives address this article, such as the Indigenous Protected Areas Program, in which the Department of the Environment and Water Resources and indigenous communities work together to: develop management plans, and hold indigenous knowledge workshops through the Natural Heritage Trust. The Australian Government has also taken measures to engage indigenous people in the key goals of Australia’s Oceans Policy by involving them in the use, conservation and management of Australia’s marine jurisdictions. This led to the development of pilot ‘Sea Country’ Plans as a potential vehicle for indigenous involvement in marine resource use and management processes. There are currently six plans being developed, allowing indigenous people to consider their sea country management priorities, needs and interests. Finally an Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) has been established under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The Committee advises the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources on the operation of the Act, taking into account the significance of indigenous peoples’ knowledge of the management of land and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.’

The Habitat Advocate supports the principles of the Earth Day Network.

Tags: Earth Day
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2010 International Year of Biodiversity

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

This article provides an extract summary of the IUCN website – Editor.

‘Eyes in the oasis’

‘Every morning, Lee would drive 50 kilometres (32 miles) across the Kalahari Desert dunes that separated two dry riverbeds in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. The only sign of life – or rather, death – was near a small pan, a mini-oasis in the middle of the dunes, where oryx bones lay scattered all about in various states of decay. One day, Lee stopped to photograph the bones. As he did so, he sensed that he wasn’t alone. ‘I got the feeling I was being watched,’ he said. ‘I slowly turned to face a most beautiful young male leopard, looking intently at me from behind a small bush. I could see how the deep-red dunes would be perfect camouflage for him.’ A moment later, the leopard fled, ‘obviously as shocked to see me as I was to see him.’

[Camera equipment used: Canon EOS-1D Mark III + Canon EF 600mm lens; 1/250 sec at f5.7; ISO 200.]This photograph is available to buy as a print.

http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Eyes-in-the-Oasis/

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The United Nations (UN) has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity.

Why?

To seek to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by the end of 2010
To celebrate and promote biological diversity – the variety of life on Earth
To boost awareness of how important biodiversity is for humanity
To highlight how seriously biodiversity and nonhuman species are threatened with extinction, and the implications for human wellbeing.

The UN’s Approach to Protecting Biodiversity

Sound management of natural resources to support peaceful communities
Encouraging well-balanced economic growth
Reducing poverty

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IUCN

The IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network – a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries.

The IUCN helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice.

The IUCN posits 5 sound reasons why humans need to maintain health biodiversity

To maintain food sources
For medicinal benefits associated with diverse plant and animal life
To mitigate the effects of climate change
To provide employment
To enable peoples vulnerable to the effects of climate change improve their livelihoods and increase their resilience to climate change impacts.

The Importance of Biodiversity for its own sake [posited by Editor]

To respect natures processes and ecosystems
To prevent continuing extinctions
To prevent extreme climate change

To boost global awareness of the importance of biodiversity for humanity

‘The IUCN together with its Members and partners wants to see biodiversity at the top of the global agenda, leading to stronger action from all sectors of society including government and industry to safeguard it.’ ‘Humans are an integral part of biodiversity and have the power to protect or destroy it.’ ‘In the western world, we have become so far removed from biodiversity that we’ve forgotten how much we use it in our daily lives from the food we eat to the clothes we wear to the medicines we use.’

When we Bluefin tuna, we rarely think of the species that the tuna depends on to thrive, or that this species is a serious risk of being fished into extinction. When forestry agencies fell a mature tree to make a table or woodchips, mammalian habitat is lost.

To highlight how seriously biodiversity is threatened

Human activities continue to destroy the natural world at an unprecedented rate through habitat destruction, over-harvesting, pollution, poaching, and induced climate change. We’re facing a global species extinction crisis. We need to do better at making the scientific, social, economic and cultural case for keeping diversity, and show just how much it supports nearly every aspect of human life and progress. Through our International Year of Biodiversity focus, we’ll be doing just that, starting with a look at IUCN’s projects relating to forest biodiversity in February.

.

Risks to Biodiversity, Ecosystems and nonhumans species is at crisis point

‘The escalating extinction crisis shows that the diversity of nature cannot support the current pressure that humanity is placing on the planet.’

‘Every day biodiversity is being lost at up to 1,000 times the natural rate. The extinction of individual species, but also habitat destruction, land conversion for agriculture and development, climate change, pollution and the spread of invasive species are only some of the threats responsible for today’s crisis.’

‘Coral reefs provide food, storm protection, jobs, recreation and other income sources for more than 500 million people worldwide yet 70% of coral reefs are threatened or destroyed.’

‘17,291 species out of 47,677 assessed so far are threatened with extinction.’

‘Of the world’s 5,490 mammals, 79 are Extinct or Extinct in the Wild, with 188 Critically Endangered, 449 Endangered and 505 Vulnerable.’

‘1,895 of the planet’s 6,285 amphibians are in danger of extinction, making them the most threatened group of species known to date.’

‘With the current biodiversity loss, we are witnessing the greatest extinction crisis since dinosaurs disappeared from our planet 65 million years ago. Not only are these extinctions irreversible, but they also pose a serious threat to our health and wellbeing.’

‘From time immemorial, nature has fed us, cured us, and protected us. But today the roles have switched. We need to feed nature, we need to cure it and protect it if we want to secure a healthy and prosperous future for our children.’

‘Climate change is set to be one of the major drivers of species extinctions in the 21st century: approximately 20 to 30 per cent of plant and animal species are likely to be at increasingly high risk as global mean temperatures rise.’

.

IUCN Species Most Vulnerable to ‘Climate Change Extinction’

A recent IUCN report identifies the following 10 species are most vulnerable to ‘climate change extinction‘.

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Arctic Foxes

The Arctic Fox [Alopex lagopus or Vulpes lagopus]

Also known as the White Fox, Polar Fox or Snow Fox.

The total population estimate for 1997 is around 60 adults in Sweden, 11 adults in Finland and 50 in Norway.

[Source: Tannerfeldt, M. (1997). Population fluctuations and life history consequences

in the Arctic fox.. Stockholm, Sweden: Dissertation, Stockholm University].

The Arctic Fox is one of the top land-dwelling predators of the Arctic region. It is thought to be one of the first mammals to have colonised Sweden and Finland following the last ice-age.
As the Arctic region warms, tundra habitat may slowly be replaced by boreal forest from the South. Forest habitat is unsuitable for Arctic Foxes.
Red Foxes prey on and are superior hunters to Arctic Foxes. Northward encroachment of Red Foxes into the Arctic Fox’s range has already been documented and is likely to continue as the tundra warms.
Arctic Foxes prey largely on lemmings and voles. Milder and shorter winters are predicted to cause declines in the regularity of these rodents’ population cycles, as well as decreases in their overall numbers.
These factors are likely to cause declines in Arctic Fox numbers and range size. Arctic Foxes highlight the impacts of climate change on the ways that species interact with each other, both through competition and via changes in predator-prey relationships.

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Koalas

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia.

According to the IUCN, as CO2 levels increase, the nutritional quality of eucalyptus leaves

is declining and the koala faces malnutrition and ultimate starvation.

[Editor: What Australian would have thought our precious and assumed plentiful Koalas could be threatened? Well the Tasmanian Tiger was once plentiful across Tasmania. None of us should take our wildlife for granted]

‘Koalas are iconic animals native to Australia. They are true habitat and food specialists, only ever inhabiting forests and woodlands where Eucalyptus trees are present.’
‘Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels will reduce the nutritional quality of Eucalyptus leaves, causing nutrient shortages in the species that forage on them. As a result, Koalas may no longer be able to meet their nutritional demands, resulting in malnutrition and starvation.’
‘Increasing frequency and intensity of droughts can force Koalas to descend from trees in search of water or new habitats. This makes them particularly vulnerable to wild and domestic predators, as well as to road traffic.’
‘Koala populations are reported to be declining due to malnutrition, the sexually-transmitted disease chlamydia, and habitat destruction.’
‘Koalas have very limited capability to adapt to rapid, human-induced climate change, making them very vulnerable to its negative impacts.’

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Emperor Penguins

The Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)

The tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica.

For much of the year, Emperor Penguins live on thick sea ice in the Antarctic, which they use for mating, chick rearing and moulting.
In some regions of the Antarctic, seasonal sea ice extent and thickness have reduced in recent decades following climate change. Continued warming will lead to further reductions in sea ice, impacting Emperor Penguins, with more northerly colonies being most at risk.
The biomass of Antarctic krill has decreased in recent decades correlating with decreases in sea ice. Changes in krill abundance are likely to negatively affect Emperor Penguins and many other Antarctic species.
Emperor Penguins highlight the possible impacts of rising sea temperatures and melting sea ice due to climate change. These changes directly or indirectly affect many other species in the Antarctic marine ecosystem.

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Ringed Seals

The ringed seal (Pusa hispida), also known as the jar seal

Ringed seals are slaughtered by Artic natives [Inuit] and often killed by the fishing gear of commercial trawlers.

Now climate change is a serious threat to their extence because much of their habitat is dependent upon pack ice.

‘Ringed Seals live primarily in the high Arctic and are heavily dependent on Arctic ice, almost never coming onto land.’
‘Warming spring temperatures and early ice breakup are causing nursing young to be prematurely separated from their mothers and to be exposed both to the elements and to predators.’
‘To cope with global warming, Ringed Seals will need to shift their territories to track suitable ice conditions. Increases in disease and disturbance by humans are also likely challenges.’
‘Marked decreases in Ringed Seal abundance are likely to have cascading effects in Arctic food webs. They are the most important species in the diet of Polar Bears.’
‘Ringed Seals highlight the direct impacts of climate change on polar habitats, including the effects ice loss has on other ice-adapted species.’

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IUCN participation and Goals for 2010

Failure of the 2010 Biodiversity Target

Adopted in May 2002 during the sixth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 2010 Biodiversity Target aimed to achieve, by 2010:

‘a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth’.

Unfortunately, we now know that this aim is far from being met. As we are facing an ever-increasing biodiversity crisis, we need a new, clear and realistic target to respond to it.

Negotiations on the new post-2010 framework will be taking place throughout this year, paving the way for the 10th Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in October.

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1. 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity [Japan]

To follow up on the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro where world leaders adopted the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Convention has three main objectives:

To conserve biological diversity
To use biological diversity in a sustainable way
To share the benefits of biological diversity fairly and equitably.

The Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity will take place from 18 to 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan.

This meeting is set to be a milestone for the Convention. It is during this event that the Parties of the Convention are expected to adopt a new set of post-2010 biodiversity targets. They will also agree upon an international regime to regulate access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits that we gain from their use.

To keep up to date visit: http://www.cbd.int/cop10/

COP10 [Nagoya] Issues for in-depth consideration

Inland waters biodiversity
Marine and coastal biodiversity
Mountain biodiversity
Protected areas
Sustainable use of biodiversity
Biodiversity and climate change

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2. COP10 Meeting of the Access and Benefit Sharing Working Group [Colombia]

From 22-28 March 2010, around 600 delegates representing Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), non-governmental and international organizations, and partners, gathered in Cali in Colombia to give the final push to the negotiations on the international regime to regulate access to genetic resources and the distribution of the benefits derived from their use.

This is the ninth and final meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) before the tenth Conference of the Parties of the Convention (COP10). The Working Group has been mandated to finalize its work and deliver an ABS international regime to be adopted at COP10 in Nagoya, Japan later this year. The clock is thus ticking but despite the pressure, delegates seem positive about a favourable outcome of the meeting.

http://www.iucn.org/cbd/?4972/Final-Meeting-of-the-ABS-Working-Group-kicks-off-in-Colombia

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3. Million-dollar boost to people and biodiversity [West Africa]

Part of the IUCN Forest Conservation Programme this IUCN initiative works to improve the livelihoods of people in West Africa receiving a major boost in the form of a CHF 1.9 million grant from Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).’

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/iucn_action_22/around_the_world/?4787/Million-dollar-boost-to-the-people-and-biodiversity-of-West-Africa

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4. The Satoyama Initiative [Japan]

‘Led by IUCN Member the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and the United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies, the Satoyama Initiative focuses on conserving villages and farmlands, together with the sustainable practices and traditional knowledge that they represent.’

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/iucn_action_22/around_the_world/?4699/People-and-nature

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5. Protecting life-saving knowledge [Bangladesh]

‘In the remote area of south-east Bangladesh, known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts, IUCN Bangladesh is making sure that traditional health knowledge and practices are revived and secured for future generations.’

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/iucn_action_22/around_the_world/?4703/protecting-knowledge

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6. Guggul Tree Conservation [India]

IUCN’s biologist Vineet Soni has enlisting the help of tribespeople of the arid regions of Gujarat and Rajasthan, in India to secure the rare ‘Guggul Tree’ [Commiphora wighii], at risk due to overharvesting. Its resin has been a key component in the ancient Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine as an effective treatment for bone fractures, arthritis, inflammation and obesity, and is now widely used in modern medicine for heart problems. Vineet has led a group of friends have founded the Indian Council for Plant Conservation to conserve threatened plant species of Rajasthan through community involvement, running workshops to help make local people aware of the importance and conservation of plants.

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/iucn_action_22/around_the_world/?4702/People-for-plants

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7. Elephant Foster Parents [Sri Lanka]

‘In Sri Lanka, three elephants are killed every week as a result of human-elephant conflict, leaving behind defenceless orphans. To address this, IUCN State Member The Department of Wildlife Conservation has launched a novel foster parent scheme, where contributions from donors are used to shelter helpless young elephants in a transit home until they have reached an appropriate age to be released into the wild.’

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/iucn_action_22/around_the_world/?4511/Elephant-foster-parents-in-Sri-Lanka

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8. A future for Wild Cats [Colombia]

Colombia has six native wild cat species including the jaguar, puma, and ocelot. As in many other countries, the species are threatened by habitat loss, loss of prey and killing by livestock farmers. Lack of information on their populations, their prey and ecosystems have until now prevented the design of effective conservation strategies.

But thanks to multi-stakeholder efforts, the National Conservation Programme for Felids in Colombia is now underway. This has established conservation guidelines for all species by region and aims to form an integrated nationwide initiative to establish the abundance and distribution of these species and their prey, and how to tackle conflicts between the wild cats and farmers.

Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/iucn_action_22/success/?4512/A-future-for-Colombias-wild-cats

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9. CoP15 to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

At Doha, Qatar, 25 March 2010 regulatory bodies from around the world met to discuss agreeing on conventions to ensure the continued survival of species threatened by wildlife trade.

Trade regulation for bluefin tuna, African elephants, tigers, sharks, polar bears and coral have all been under discussion in Doha.

During the conference, IUCN called for a more holistic approach to elephant conservation, urging Parties to rise above divisive issues raised at this meeting in favour of more decisive action on the known problems facing African elephants in many parts of their range including decreasing habitat as a result of the needs of growing human populations and managing human-elephant conflict.

Before the next conference in 2013 in Thailand, CITES has a huge challenge to meet in specifically addressing the key challenges and gaps identified at this conference so that discussions at CoP16 can truly support sustainable trade in all wild species.

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/resources/news/?4979/Time-for-closer-collaboration-on-wildlife-trade

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10. Talks to dismantle trade in tiger poaching [Southern Asia]

Tigers are listed in CITES Appendix I, which includes species threatened with extinction and allows non-commercial trade only in exceptional circumstances, such as for research. Globally, on a species level, tigers are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.

At COP15, poaching and illegal trade in tigers was discussed with countries being asked to provide information to the CITES Secretariat and Interpol to help develop anti-poaching strategies.

Estimates from 2007 indicated that there were as few as 3,400 tigers in the wild throughout Asia. Numbers have decreased since then. In the early 1900s there were more than 100,000. Tigers are primarily poached for their skins with other body parts being used for decorative purposes or for traditional medicines.

“If we use tiger numbers as a performance indicator then we must admit that we have failed miserably and that we are continuing to fail. How have we let this happen?” says CITES Secretary-General Willem Wijnstekers. “Although the tiger has been prized throughout history, and is a symbol of incredible importance in many cultures and religions, it is now literally on the verge of extinction.

2010 is the Chinese Year of the Tiger and the International Year of Biodiversity; this must be the year in which we reverse the trend. If we don’t, it will be to our everlasting shame.”

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/resources/news/?4923/Talks-to-dismantle-trade-in-tiger-poaching

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11. Call for Post-2010 Strategic Plan on Biodiversity

The IUCN is calling for a clear post-2010 Strategic Plan on Biodiversity.

We have failed to meet the target adopted through the Convention on Biological Diversity to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.

According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 60% of ecosystem services worldwide have become degraded in the past 50 years, and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ gives us alarming facts on species extinction rates, which are increasing continuously.

IUCN is calling for a short, focused and action-oriented Strategic Plan to be adopted at the meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan, in October.

“Simply aiming at halting biodiversity loss is no longer sufficient; we also need to restore and maintain the populations, habitats and ecological cycles that enable biodiversity and ecosystem services – such as food, water or medicine – to persist “ says Jane Smart, Director of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group. “To achieve this, we need engagement on all possible levels, with the economic sector, the development community through to the public sector and civil society. It is critical that the role of biodiversity as the foundation of life, livelihoods and development is understood by all.”

To meet these goals, perverse incentives, like subsidies that harm biodiversity, need to be removed and new regulations and financial incentives need to be put in place, clearly reflecting the value of natural resources. Greater interaction between science and policy, and cohesion between multilateral environmental agreements and other organizations are also essential for the implementation of the new biodiversity targets, according to IUCN experts.’

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/resources/news/?4962/Healthy-biodiversity-is-no-luxury—its-the-foundation-of-all-life-on-earth

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12. Bringing the Bison Back [North America]

The next 10 to 20 years could be extremely significant for restoring wild populations of American bison to their original roaming grounds. But for this to happen, more land must be made available for herds to roam free, government policies must be updated and the public must change its attitude towards bison.

A new publication by IUCN, American Bison: Status Survey and Conservation Guidelines 2010, reports on the current status of American bison, in the wild and in conservation herds, and makes recommendations on how to ensure that the species is conserved for the future.

“Although the effort to restore bison to the plains of North America is considered to be one of the most ambitious and complex undertakings in species conservation efforts in North America, it will only succeed if legislation is introduced at a local and national level, with significant funding and a shift in attitude towards the animal,” says Dr Simon Stuart, Chair of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission.

Five hundred years ago, tens of millions of American bison roamed free on the plains of North America, from Alaska to northern Mexico. Now the American bison – which includes both plains and wood bison – is listed as Near Threatened on IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species™. As of 2008, there were approximately 400,000 bison in commercial herds in North America, some 93 percent of the continental population. But little progress has been made in recent decades to increase the number of animals in conservation herds, which are managed carefully for their genetic diversity and ecological roles. In 2008, there were 61 plains bison conservation herds in North America containing about 20,500 animals, and 11 conservation herds of wood bison, containing nearly 11,000 animals.

“While substantial progress in saving bison from extinction was made in the 20th century, much work remains to restore conservation herds throughout their vast geographical range,” says University of Calgary Environmental Design Professor and co-editor of the study, Dr Cormack Gates, who is also co-Chair of the IUCN Bison Specialist Group. “The key is recognition that the bison is a wildlife species and to be conserved as wildlife, it needs land and supportive government policies.”

The survival of bison populations is affected by many factors, including limited habitat and severe winters. Yet the greatest challenge is to overcome the common perception that the bison, which has had a profound influence on the human history of North America, socially, culturally and ecologically, no longer belongs on the landscape.

“The decimation of the American bison in the late 1800s inspired the first recovery of bison and an entire conservation movement that protected wildlife and wild places across North America,” says Keith Aune, Senior Conservation Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society. “The IUCN Status Survey and Conservation Guidelines provide a new framework for inspiring a second recovery of bison and restoring functional grassland ecosystems.”

Bison have the best chance of full recovery as wildlife by being allowed to roam freely across hundreds of thousands or even millions of hectares. Making this possible poses one of the biggest challenges for restoring bison herds as both public and private landowners will need to give their support.

“The bison is the largest land mammal in North America, and yet it is perhaps the most neglected icon,” says Steve Forrest, WWF Northern Great Plains Manager for Conservation Science. “These guidelines provide a roadmap for bringing the bison back to its rightful place as a keystone of the great plains.

http://www.iucn.org/iyb/resources/news/?4750/Bringing-Bison-Back-to-North-America

Bison on the American Prairie Reserve

Photo: Steve Zack, Wildlife Conservation Society

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Tags: 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, International Union for Conservation of Nature
Posted in Arctic Foxes, Bison, Cheetahs, Habitat Advocacy, Habitat Calendar, Koalas, Ocelots, Penguins, Seals and Sea-lions | No Comments »

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‘A voice for native habitat’

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

by Editor 20091217.

This website’s focus: ‘a voice for native habitat’

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Fresh stump of a 500 year old-growth Eucalytus regnans,
killed by John Brumby’s VicForests at Brown Mountain, East Gippsland.
© 2009 Environment East Gippsland

Native Habitat

The term ‘native habitat’ can be described as an ‘ecosystem’ – the biological and physical components of a natural environment.This website focuses on the ecology of flora and fauna and regards an ecosystem as the natural home or ‘habitat’ of flora and fauna. Native habitat is an holistic ‘natural home, natural life’ view of nature.We take fauna-centric and flora-centric views of the natural landscape, not an anthropocentric (human needs) view.

The intended direction of this website is to raise public awareness about the values of native habitat, about the degradation and loss of native habitat and about its scarcity value.Industrial-scale exploitation has reduced much of the world’s native habitat to remnant islands.

We challenge land management policies and practises that are inconsistent with custodial respect for the health, integrity and existence rights of native habitat.We challenge the many human threats that continue to destroy remnant native habitat and which collectively are accelerating local extinctions.

Flora and fauna cannot speak, do not have relocation choices like humans, cannot protest their plight, cannot lobby politicians, and cannot stop the bulldozers.

Once they’ve gone, they’ve gone forever.

The Habitat Advocate is an advocacy for wildlife and habitat conservation, for better applied ecology and for changing harmful destructive human cultures.
The Habitat Advocate is a voice for native habitat. This is our creed and our motto.

bonniedoon_p1102976

Bonnie Doon Reserve, Katoomba, Blue Mountains, Australia,

threatened by State-sanctioned arson, propagandised as ‘hazard reduction’

by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service

[Photo 6-Dec-08]

Habitat Philosophies

These terms shall be elaborated upon and explored during the development of this website endeavour…

· A voice for native habitat

· Embracing Complexity

· Ecocentric Ethics

· Species Justice

· Human Pathogen

· Anti-destructionism

· Habitat Sovereignty

· Deep Ecology

· Socio-Ecology

· Wholeness Principle

· Fresh Learning

· Sustainable Prosperity

· Fostering Knowledge Exchange

· Local Community Partnering

· Independent Citizen Journalism

· Custodial Humility

Tags: a voice for native habitat, native habitat
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Gully Report No.8 – The Bell Report of 1993

Wednesday, June 30th, 1993

An upland swamp in The Gully sustained by irregular rain but more critically by reliable underlying groundwater that permeates year round filtered through the sandy loam substrate atop impervious sandstone bedrock. Photo by Editor years ago.

“The Bell Report” dated June 1993 was the first professionally academic study and report (environmental and archaeological) into Katoomba Falls Creek Valley, which subsequently is referred to as ‘The Gully’ by former residents and their descendants, of whom we greatly respect.

The Bell Report’s correct title is ‘Katoomba Falls Creek Valley Environmental Study‘ and was published in printed form as an A4 sized spiral binder of some 87 pages in length and in budget black and white.

This landmark environmental study included the first Environmental Management Plan outline for the Valley/Gully based upon the findings of the detailed study. The ground-based/evidence-based field study was undertaken over twelve weeks in 1992 by qualified and experienced environmental consultants F. & J. Bell & Associates Pty Ltd who was based in the Sydney suburb of Sutherland. The principal consultant was the late Dr Fred Bell BSc MSc PhD MEIA (1932-2009). [Ed: MEIA stood for Member of the Environment Institute of Australia, which was subsequently renamed to the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ). More info: ^https://www.eianz.org/]

Dr Fred Bell sadly passed away in 2009. More about Fred can be garnered by an obituary article written in The Sydney Morning Herald of that year – refer to our ‘Further Reading‘ appendix at the end of this article.

This first study into The Gully by Dr Fred Bell was commissioned by local Katoomba-based environmental activist group ‘The Friends of Katoomba Falls Creek Valley Inc.’ (‘The Friends’). It was thanks to this local resident group of Katoomba successfully applying for a $10,000 NSW Government grant for this landmark environmental study to be undertaken. Members of The Friends subsequently referred to this report affectionately just as ‘The Bell Report‘ after its lead author Dr Fred Bell. Further details are explained on Page i of the Executive Summary.

Assisting Dr Fred Bell received considerable field and investigative research contribution in this study specific to the local Aboriginal archaeological connection to The Gully by anthropologist Dr Val Attenbrow BA (Hons), PhD, who compiled Section 14 in Part 2 of this study. However, given the sensitive nature of that research which we hold we consider it prudent not to publish this or Part 2 of the study on this website.

Dr Fred Bell was known to ‘The Friends’ founder and leader, the late Neil Stuart BSc. (1937-2016), both environmental science graduates from The University of Sydney during the 1960s, who perhaps knew each other prior. Neil lived on the edge of the valley/The Gully.

For the benefit of the local community in and around The Gully catchment, we herein reproduce only Part 1 of this report of this study in its 87 page entirety, section by section. In the context of the many studies and reports into The Gully, this Bell Report was the eighth such plan/report. We replicate it below on this website in the public domain under Creative Commons copyright license type ‘Attribution-Non-Commercial’ [CC BY-NC]. This means that anyone is free to download it and print it and use it for non-commercial purposes in the interests of the natural rehabilitation of The Gully in Katoomba.

[SOURCE: ^https://creativecommons.org/licenses/]

The Bell Report of 1993 (Part 1)

0. Executive Summary, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-0-of-10-Executive-Summary.pdf

1. Introduction, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-1-of-10-Introduction.pdf

2.Natural Environment, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-2-of-10-Natural-Environment.pdf

3.Cultural Environment, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-3-of-10-Cultural-Environment.pdf

4.Land Use, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-4-of-10-Land-Use.pdf

5.Community Perceptions, Values and Aspirations, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-5-of-10-Community-Perception-Values-and-Aspirations.pdf

6.Special Aspects of the Environmental Management Plan, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-6-of-10-Special-Aspects-of-the-Environmental-Management-Plan.pdf

7.Actions for Restoration and Management of the Public Land, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-7-of-10-Actions-for-Restoration-and-Management-of-the-Public-Land.pdf

8.Actions for Management of Catchment outside Public Land, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-8-of-10-Actions-for-Management-of-Catchment-outside-Public-Land.pdf

9.Environmental Management Programme, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-9-of-10-Environmental-Management-Programme.pdf

10.References, >https://www.habitatadvocate.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Gully-Report-8-1993-Ch-10-of-10-References.pdf

Postscript

Upon this study (Part 1 and Part 2) being presented by Dr Fred Bell to The Friends of Katoomba Falls Creek Valley Inc. (The Friends) in June 1993, The Friends formally submitted the complete report to the General Manager of Blue Mountains City Council soon after.

Council did absolutely nothing with it and just filed it. Despite many years of The Friends seeking dialogue to act on the study’s recommendations and to establish a local community-based management consultative process with Council, Council shunned and ostracised The Friends continually over 28 years (1988-2016).

There have been some nineteen plans/reports into The Gully at the time of writing this article. Very little has been done on the ground in The Gully over the decades by Council despite Council being the supposed custodian of all the public/community lands within the Gully.

The Habitat Advocate

Archive for the ‘Habitat Advocacy’ Category

Wildlife Photography Awards

International Wildlife Photography Exhibition 2010

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award 2010

Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife

Winner

Runner-Up

One Earth Award

Winner

Highly Commended

Earth Day 22nd April

About Earth Day Network

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Reach

Goals

Core Issues

Earth Day Advisory Committee

What are your national and local governments doing to contribute to the goals of Earth Day?

In Australia:

The Habitat Advocate supports the principles of the Earth Day Network.

2010 International Year of Biodiversity

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IUCN

The Importance of Biodiversity for its own sake [posited by Editor]

To boost global awareness of the importance of biodiversity for humanity

To highlight how seriously biodiversity is threatened

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Risks to Biodiversity, Ecosystems and nonhumans species is at crisis point

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IUCN Species Most Vulnerable to ‘Climate Change Extinction’

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Arctic Foxes

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Koalas

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Emperor Penguins

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Ringed Seals

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IUCN participation and Goals for 2010

Failure of the 2010 Biodiversity Target

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1. 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity [Japan]

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2. COP10 Meeting of the Access and Benefit Sharing Working Group [Colombia]

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3. Million-dollar boost to people and biodiversity [West Africa]

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4. The Satoyama Initiative [Japan]

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5. Protecting life-saving knowledge [Bangladesh]

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6. Guggul Tree Conservation [India]

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7. Elephant Foster Parents [Sri Lanka]

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8. A future for Wild Cats [Colombia]

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9. CoP15 to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

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10. Talks to dismantle trade in tiger poaching [Southern Asia]

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11. Call for Post-2010 Strategic Plan on Biodiversity

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12. Bringing the Bison Back [North America]

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Further Reading

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‘A voice for native habitat’

This website’s focus: ‘a voice for native habitat’

Gully Report No.8 – The Bell Report of 1993

The Bell Report of 1993 (Part 1)

Postscript

Further Reading:

Habitat Topics

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