Australia's biodiversity

Newsletter on biological diversity conservation actions

Biolinks No. 8
Biodiversity Unit
Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories - March 1995
ISSN 1073 4434

It's time to deliver - biodiversity program to be developed

The international convention is in place. Our national strategy has been developed. It's time to deliver – John Faulkner

THE Federal Environment Minister, Senator John Faulkner, announced that he intends to develop a specific biodiversity program to take the implementation of the National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy forward during an address to the Evatt Foundation in Sydney on 26 October 1994.

Titled, Biodiversity Australia's Natural Asset Senator Faulkner's speech highlighted that our biodiversity is essential to our future and that investing in its protection makes good ecological and economic sense.

Also raised was that the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity is nearly finished. 'It's now twelve months since governments were asked to endorse the draft strategy. I've made it clear a number of times that there is some urgency about getting this strategy up and running', John Faulkner said.

The Commonwealth endorsed the draft in December 1993 and all States and Territories except Western Australia are on board. To consult widely with the scientific community, industry and the general public, Senator Faulkner has moved to establish the Biological Diversity Advisory Council. 'The Council will advise me as well as State environment ministers on approaches to biodiversity conservation. And it will bring a national focus to this most important issue', said Senator Faulkner.

The Minister also drew attention to some of the major threats to biodiversity, and focussing on the clearance of native vegetation said that 'in the last 10 years, we have continued to clear millions of hectares of native vegetation in Australia. Some estimates suggest that the rate of clearance is close to that of the Amazonian rainforests. As far as native vegetation loss goes, we are in the international big league'.

The program to complement the National Strategy needs to progress as a matter of urgency. Issues like retention and restoration of native habitats will be important and there will be a strong focus on community involvement. The program will also make use of the many research and monitoring tools that are now up and running and build on other existing activities.

Countries move to protect the world's biodiversity

Many long nights and early mornings kept enjoyment of the location to a minimum during a busy first Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Nassau, the Bahamas, from 28 November to 9 December last year.

The Conference of Parties (CoP) is the major intergovernmental body to progress development and implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Its first meeting was attended by delegates from some 120 countries.

CoP-1 was successful, with decisions taken on important procedural and operational matters. These will lay the foundation for effective implementation of the Convention.

Major outcomes of the CoP-1 were:

In conjunction with the CoP-1, a Biodiversity Technology Fair was held over four two-day sessions. Australia was one of over 50 exhibitors and our exhibit was regarded as one of the best visually, consisting of a photographic display of some of the diversity in Australia's ecosystems and examples of technologies developed by CSIRO and ERIN (Environmental Resources Information Network). In terms of content, it attracted many visitors and was featured on local television. About 400 information kits were distributed.

For further information contact:

Tas Sakellaris, Biodiversity Unit, on phone (06) 274 1917 or fax (06) 274 1895.

Rising watertables the hidden threat to remnant native vegetation

Based on an article by R.J George et al, 1994

Until recently it was not well known that remnant vegetation and other habitats are rapidly being degraded in south-western Australia by dryland salinity, inundation, nutrient enrichment and weeds. It may even be less well known that watertables are rising beneath the cleared land and many of these remnants at rates between 0.05 and 1.0m each year. Most of the remnants that have survived to date will thus become severely degraded within a generation. Nearly all the remaining remnants will be permanently modified as a result of clearing the surrounding vegetation and the massive changes taking place to the regional hydrologic environments. Those remnants particularly under threat are in the lower parts of catchments.

Clearance of vegetation in this region has been considerable. The wheatbelt, woolbelt and coastal agricultural zones in south-western Australia encompass over 24.693 million hectares, and were previously covered continuously by native perennial vegetation (see Figure 1). Of this area, some 20.124 million hectares has been alienated of which 17.46 million hectares is cleared and replaced by introduced shallow-rooted annual species. About 2.664 million hectares of small and scattered remnants occur on private land. Only a few of these remnants are fenced from sheep and cattle and most have been degraded by changed water flows or rising watertables.

This region also covers much of the South West Botanical Province which has the greatest native floral diversity on Australia. About 9000 species of flowering plants are found in this region, well over a third of the Australian total. Some 70% of these plants are endemic to the region, and are therefore found nowhere else in the world. Levels of endemism in animals are also very high for some groups, particularly frogs and reptiles. A number of mammals, including the banded hare-wallaby (Lagostrophus fasciatus) and the honey-possum (Tarsipes rostratus) are also restricted to the area. In short, the biodiversity of this region is of international significance.

The impact of clearance on groundwater

The removal of deep-rooted native perennial vegetation and its replacement with shallow-rooted annual vegetation, caused a fundamental change to the groundwater hydrology of south-western Australia. Prior to clearing, recharge rates were in the order of 0.1mm per year, and shallow watertables (< 2m) only occurred at the base of very large catchments or near springs. After clearing, the recharge rates increased by at least two orders of magnitude to 10 to 50mm per year. As a consequence, watertables are typically rising by between 0.2 and 0.5m per year in the >500 mm rainfall zone and between 0.05 and 0.3m per year in the < 500mm per year zone. Rates of watertable rise as high as 1.0m per year have been measured in the western woolbelt. In some case watertables have risen 25m since clearing.

Figure 1
 South-western Australia, including major sites discussed in the text. The boundaries of the Coastal (intensive industries, horticulture, dairy, viticulture, beef, etc.), Woolbelt (mixed farming wool. sheep, meat and grains) and Wheatbelt (cereals. sheep grazing) agricultural zones are based on a combination of (i) agricultural industries, (ii) rainfall and (iii) landforms.

Dryland salinity, and therefore stream salinity, will continue to develop in extent and severity throughout the agricultural areas until a new equilibrium is reached between the input and output of water. If the current recharge rates remain unchanged, it is estimated that up to 25% of many landscapes, and as much as 40% of some specific regions (most of the lower slopes and valley floors) will become salt affected within the next century. All of the remnants occupying those areas, along with the lakes and wetlands in the vicinity, and most of the riverine or estuarine aquatic systems, are at risk.

Remnants their importance and vulnerability

Large vegetation remnants play a major role in maintaining stable groundwater levels. They minimise groundwater invasion and prevent salinity or at least slow the rate of its spread. As such, remnants provide considerable benefits to adjacent farmland. In the Durokoppin and Kodj Kodjin Nature Reserves, for example, groundwater levels were up to 7m lower than in equivalent landscape positions in adjoining cleared areas. In 1992 salinity affected only 0.1% of the farmland in the agricultural catchment with the reserves (22% vegetated). By contrast, over 2.8% of the farmland in an extensively cleared (4% vegetated) adjoining catchment was salt-affected. Recent monitoring, however, indicates that watertables are rising in the middle of the Durokoppin and Kodj Kodjin reserves by about 0.15m per year. It appears that even though both reserves occupy a large proportion of their catchments, they have not been able to prevent groundwater invasion.

It is a common misconception that only small nature reserves in valleys are at risk from rising watertables. This is not the case. Very large reserves can be modified or killed by changing hydrologic environments. Without active intervention most remnants in the valleys of large catchments may eventually be killed by saline groundwater. Those remaining will be substantially altered.

A large area of Nambung National Park, in the coastal zone north of Perth, is likely to become severely degraded by salinity (if it survives the current die-back infestation) if action plans are not prepared and implemented quickly. Prior to clearing sub-surface drainage through the extensive karst (cave) networks maintained the hydrological balance. In addition to the decline of native vegetation, clearing and its offsite effects will also impact on the karst topography itself and its unique fauna which is highly endemic.

Other areas or communities under threat include the salmon gum (Eucalyptus salmonophloia) and gimlet (E.salubris ) woodlands of the eastern wheatbelt. Remnants of these woodlands face the greatest risk of degradation from rapidly rising watertables,which are now generally within 10m of the soil surface and are rising at rates of between 0.05 and 0.3m per year. In the Qualeup-Kulikup area of the woolbelt, groundwater is rising rapidly (<0.5m per year). Saline water already discharges into some lakes and there is little time left for the others. Surface water monitoring conducted to date in the area gives no indication of the crisis facing these reserves and wetlands. Groundwater monitoring is crucial. More generally, remnants in broad valleys, particularly E. salmonophloia, E. camaldulensis, E. wandoo, E. occidentalis, E. rudis and Melaleuca species communities are at risk throughout the south-west.

The need for action

The examples of decline of remnant vegetation on both private and public land mentioned above highlight the need for urgent action. In most cases there is little time to act. Long-term research may not be possible and best-practise solutions may be all that can be practically used as a basis for management plans.

Remnants will not be able to be retained, even in a modified state, without rapid and integrated programs to reduce the degradation in the agricultural catchments in which they are located. There is an urgent need to identify those remnants which have the highest values and for which cost-effective recovery plans can be developed. Ground water monitoring is needed to identify areas which are at risk and which may be helped by early intervention.

The experience from Lake Towerrinning suggests that active intervention and joint management plans between agencies, the local community and scientists are essential. Lessons learned and actions needed will include:

All stakeholders will need to contribute more to catchment management if the values of remnants in this region are to be retained. Agriculturalists, ecologists and the local community must exchange ideas and work together before the internationally significant biodiversity values and the agricultural future of this region are lost.

Reference:

George R.J.1, McFarlane D.J.2, and Speed R.J. 3 (1994). The consequences of a changing hydrologic environment for native vegetation in south western Australia. Paper presented at the Nature Conservation: the role of networks Conference, Geraldton, 15-20 May 1994.

Department of Agriculture, PO Box 1231, Bunbury, WA, 6230.

Department of Agriculture, 120 Albany Highway, Albany, WA, 6330.

Department of Agriculture, 283 Marine Terrace, Geraldton, WA, 6530.

To be published in: D.A. Saunders, J.L. Craig and E.M. Mattiske (Editors), Nature Conservation 4 the role of Networks. Surrey-Beatty and Sons, Sydney.

Other impacts – clearance and surface water

Prior to clearing native vegetation in the agricultural regions, evapotranspiration accounted for 99% of the annual rainfall on wheatbelt catchments. After clearing, soils become wetter, more acidic and soil structure declined. This increases the volume of streamflow leaving both small and large catchments. In the coastal zone of the Blackwood Catchment, for example, runoff increases from about 20mm per year to over 150mm per year, and water yields of 30% of annual rainfall have been recorded.

Runoff from cleared areas is also carrying a much greater concentration of salt than from uncleared areas. Streams in the wetter zones are experiencing salinity increases of between 12 and 90mg of salt per litre each year. Cleared land in the wheatbelt and woolbelt yields between 0.5 and 2.0 tonnes per ha of salt per annum to the Blackwood River. As a consequence, the Blackwood River now carries about 1.5 million tonnes of salt to the ocean each year.

In addition, recent research indicates that regional rainfall has also been changing. It has been revealed that, as a direct result of clearing, annual rainfalls were being reduced by 1.5mm per year. This 14% reduction in mean annual rainfall is likely to have a significant impact on native flora and fauna, and will compound the problems faced by our decaying remnant ecosystems.

Caperup Nature Reserve – is it too late?

The Caperup Nature Reserve is a Eucalypt wandoo woodland about 200km south south-east of Perth. Recent drilling has shown the reserve has very saline groundwater within two metres of the surface on the western side of the reserve. Most of the catchment adjoining the reserve has been cleared within the last 15 to 20 years, and as a result, salinity has just begun to develop on farmland immediately upslope from the reserve. With rates of watertable rise of between 0.3 and 0.5m per year recorded in the area it is likely the western side of the reserve will begin dying in the next two or three years. Between 40 and 50% of the reserve will probably be affected within the next decade.

Groundwater responsible for salinity in the Caperup Reserve will be difficult to manage as it originates from the Kojonup Fault, a large and regional geologic structure that appears to be channelling saline groundwater into the western portion of the reserve.

Lake Towerrinning – a case study of success

Lake Towerrinning in the woolbelt represents a successful case where immediate and well planned action has been effective in limiting the severity of the effects of agriculture. A small 160ha nature and aquatic reserve, Lake Towerrinning was highly saline, eutrophic, had lost its fringing vegetation and contained little aquatic life by the end of the 1980s. However, the lake was still visited and used by local and migratory birds and retained a moderate, but uncertain conservation value.

In 1991, the Towerrinning catchment group developed an action plan to lower the salinity in the lake. A re-diversion dam was designed to capture water which had been inadvertently diverted to an adjacent catchment. The dam was designed to operate without power or the need for regular maintenance and to more regularly fill and flush the salt (and nutrients) stored in the lake. With approval from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority, assistance of the Shire of West Arthur and local sponsorship by individuals and businesses, the catchment group built the re-diversion dam and the 12 kilometre waterway by the end of summer 1993. In the following summer the outlet from the lake was also modified. Six months after the construction of the re-diversion and waterway, the salinity within Lake Towerrinning had been reduced by over 50%, the waters were clear and the catchment group had been awarded the State and National Landcare Awards for their lake restoration, research and catchment activities. While it is still early days for the lake, this example illustrates the results of establishing a co-ordinated action plan at a local level.

Touring biodiversity

by Penny van Oosterzee

Tourism is one of Australia's fastest growing industries. Over the past five years, the nature-based and ecotourism sector (NBE) has emerged as one of the fastest growing sectors of this industry.

That the emergence of the concepts of ecotourism and biodiversity conservation occurred at the same time is not a coincidence. Heralded as an ethical economic solution to the vexing problem of loving nature to death, NBE is a reaction to the often destructive direction of mainstream tourism.

Australia's rich resources of relatively undisturbed natural environments and biodiversity are valuable assets that can support this development. Areas of natural beauty and ecological interest such as the Wet Tropics, the Great Barrier Reef, the inland deserts and the alpine areas are major tourist attractions.

Here is an industry that, at least in theory, has the potential to combine the pleasures of discovering and understanding the Earth's biodiversity with an opportunity to contribute to its protection.

The Biodiversity Unit has commissioned a report to, amongst other things, identify and where possible assess the potential long-term benefits and opportunities of strategically integrating biodiversity conservation requirements with the future needs of NBE. The report is being prepared by Noel Preece and Penny van Oosterzee from Ecoz – ecology australia and Dr David James, an environmental and resource economist from Ecoservices Pty Ltd. Penny and Noel also run Darwin based Discovery Ecotours an award-winning ecotourism company, supporting ecological research.

How do we define these two buzz-words of the decade? We assume that most people reading this newsletter understand the meaning of biodiversity. It is worthwhile taking a closer look at 'ecotourism'. The National Ecotourism Strategy defines ecotourism as:

'Nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretation of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable'.

The reality is that ecotourism and nature-based tourism are largely used interchangeably and that, according to the ESD Working Group on Tourism, tourism as a whole is largely dependent on aspects of our natural and cultural environment. Rather than trying to suggest the NBE is a separate sector of tourism we think it is more helpful to see it as the leading edge of tourism; where the symbiotic relationship between tourism as a whole and the environment becomes most apparent. This has major ramifications for tourism's obligations to the environment and the mechanisms of how Australia protects its valuable biodiversity.

NBE is virtually dependent on Australia's protected area system. The Australian Tourist Commission (ATC), in The Natural Holiday Guide for 1994, for instance, focused on the 'great tracts of Australia's "outdoors" which are protected for the visitor's enjoyment (author emphasis). 'More than 3,000 national parks and reserves have been set aside'.

Currently, biodiversity conservation is also largely carried out through the establishment and management of Australia's system of protected areas. Currently, these areas do not adequately represent Australia's biodiversity, despite clearly stated representation goals.

That biodiversity does indeed generate enormous wealth for Australia's tourism industry is quite obvious. The number of tourists visiting the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is about 2.2 million per year with a total expenditure of $1,159m. Compare this to commercial fishing in the area, the comparable figure for which is $256m.

Tourism to the Wet Tropics WHA generates $337m per year; for Kakadu the figure is $122m per year; for Uluru National Park it is $155m per year; for Kosciusko, $700m per year; and for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, $143m per year.

Most protected areas on the contrary are cash-strapped and management is largely done on the cheap and is often reactive as a result. Overall, 'user pays' fees amount to one percent (1%) or less of the money generated from the use of parks for tourism.

State and regional plans for tourism and ecotourism around the country, while beginning to recognise the fundamental importance of natural areas to their industry, are still largely marketing documents.

Most recognise the fact that sustainability of the natural resources is crucial to the survival of the industry, but do not take the next logical step towards identifying the obligations for the industry to provide resources for management and research.

Most identify only the government sector's responsibility for provision of what are essentially tourism resources.

On the ground, sincere ecotour operators struggle to reach their market through an industry which is largely geared to marketing mass tourism, selling volume and large margins.

Some significant steps are being made, however. In the Northern Territory the Masterplan actively supports plans to significantly expand the national park system. The Queensland ESD Tourism report recognises that industry has some obligation to channel some of the industry revenue into management and establishment of protected areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Victoria propose to establish a Foundation for National Parks which will provide a means for corporate, public and visitor contribution to management of national parks. Our report will provide a raft of recommendations from national policy directions, strategic state and regional policy directions integrating tourism development and biodiversity conservation, recommendations for management, monitoring and research, to recommendations that support the initiatives of small private operators and land-owners

Crickets help assess rainforest diversity

Measuring the enormous species diversity of tropical rainforests by visual means is extremely difficult because of the low population density, camouflage and nocturnal habits of many of the species. But according to a report in Ambio (vol.22 no.8), sound recordings may prove very useful in monitoring the biodiversity of singing animals. Analysis of recordings from an Amazon lowland forest and plotting of song parameters such as carrier frequency and repetition rate showed patterns which could be attributed to cricket species (family Gryllidae).

Amplitude spectrum of overall recordings with microphone directed towards the canopy in primary forest (solid line) and from secondary old growth (stippled). Intensity scaled to loudest peak. Note dense packing of canopy record compared with 'frequency holes' in secondary growth, reflecting different architectural complexity of the vegetation

Thus the species diversity and abundance of a tropical cricket community could be assessed using acoustic records. Experiments revealed a comb-like distribution of carrier frequencies in canopies, while in secondary vegetation there were gaps in the distribution, indicating reduced diversity.

Information taken from Ambiovol. 22 no. 8.

Environmental principles for sustainability

What they mean and how can they be applied

Business, industry, the scientific community and conservation organisations have all recognised the need for these major principles to guide decision-making. Governments have incorporated these principles in policies and management approaches, and they form the basis of the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, the draft National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity, the international Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and Agenda 21, among others.

The major challenge now is to move to effective implementation of these principles and the instruments that they are contained within. Following are definitions of five major environmental principles and some ideas on how they could be put into practice.

Intergenerational equity

Intergenerational equity refers to the concept that the present generation should ensure that health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations. Each generation is both a trustee or custodian of the planet for future generations and a beneficiary of previous generations' stewardship. This circumstance imposes certain obligations upon us to care for our legacy just as it gives us certain rights to use the legacy.

It is generally accepted that we need to:

Intragenerational equity

Intragenerational equity concerns equity within a single generation. In practical terms it may be taken to refer to equity between the earth's inhabitants at any one time. It concerns equity issues within nations and between nations.

Inequity within a generation may involve:

Equity does not necessarily mean equality but social and economic inequalities should only exist when:

Equity considerations should be given a prominent place in discussion of adjustments to achieve better environmental management. This recognises that all members of society do not have equal access to decision making, and the burdens of environmental problems are disproportionately borne by the poorer or less influential members of society. People who are struggling to meet basic needs often do not have the luxury of concern for the environment. Within Australia, equity for Aboriginal people is a key issue. Some groups see wealthy 'North' countries (including North aligned countries like Australia), having an important role in assisting countries of the poorer South to achieve a more equitable share of the earth's resources.

Precautionary principle

Where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. In the application of the precautionary principle, public and private decisions should be guided by:

  1. careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the environment;
  2. an assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of various options.

The precautionary principle is concerned with decision-making under uncertainty. It recognises that sometimes action should be taken to prevent damage even where there is no absolute certainty that damage will occur. This principle should apply where there exists a threat of serious or irreversible damage. The extent of caution depends on the level of scientific uncertainty (including uncertainty over the nature of the problem, its cause or its potential impact) and the range of available measures to prevent environmental degradation. It does not mean that decisions which may lead to irreversible damage should not be taken but requires that uncertain impacts be considered along with other matters such as social and economic benefit. For example, industries discharging emissions would use the best available technology plus a precautionary safety margin which keeps ambient environmental concentrations significantly below critical load.

The costs of present-day activities should not be passed on to future generations

Conservation of biological diversity

Biological diversity refers to the variety of all life forms the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems of which they form part.

Conservation of biological diversity is a core objective of ecologically sustainable development. Biological resources provide us with all of our food and many medicines and industrial products. The conservation of biological diversity underpins human well-being through the provision of ecological services, such as the maintenance of soil fertility and the supply of clean, fresh water. Biological diversity also provides recreational opportunities and acts as a source of inspiration and cultural identity.

Decisions impacting on biodiversity in Australia should be guided by the fact that Australia is one of the 12 regions of 'megadiversity' in the world. Our biota is not only diverse but unique, with a high proportion occurring naturally only here. We therefore have a responsibility not only to Australia but the whole planet in relation to the conservation of biodiversity. Putting this principle into practice requires not only the setting aside of protected areas but also an integrated approach to land and resource management, particularly using bioregional 'boundaries'. The program should include an appropriate mix of regulation, economic incentives and voluntary conservation programs. The development of suitable management systems is particularly important for resource using sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

Internalization of environmental costs

Internalization of environmental costs involves the creation of economic environments so that social and private views of economic efficiency coincide. It is concerned with structures, reporting mechanisms and tools to achieve this end.

Essentially, internalization is a mechanism used to reduce the amount of undesirable economic activity on other sectors and other resources. It can also be used to encourage those who benefit from positive externalities to pay for those benefits. It may be an important consideration between and/or within generations.

Instruments which can be used to internalise externalities include:

The use of market mechanisms is often seen as leading to the most efficient use of resources because of its ability to respond flexibly to changing information and circumstances. The market, however, should take into account all costs and special care should be taken to ensure that efficient use of resources does not cause inequity.

Interconnectedness of the principles

The five principles are all interconnected and typically some rely on others in order to achieve their objectives. An example of the interconnected nature of the principles is achievement of intergenerational equity by conserving biological diversity so that it is available for use and enjoyment by succeeding generations. Hence conservation of biological diversity can be a 'self-serving' principle, but is simultaneously necessary for achievement of intergenerational equity. As well, the irreversibility of biodiversity loss means that application of the precautionary principle is vital for activities which may 'threaten' biodiversity. There are also important links with intra-generational equity considerations. This is most strongly demonstrated among those indigenous peoples who are losing, through the development activities of other groups, the ecosystems on which they totally depend. However, intra-generational equity considerations are not restricted to indigenous peoples. Many may be disadvantaged by, for example, loss in water quality resulting from the activities of other groups within society.

Internalization of environmental costs is also important for meeting the objectives of inter and intragenerational equity. This is because it drives home the costs of resource use and environmental impact to the users and polluters and prevents these costs being passed on to other parties either within this generation or in succeeding generations. Internalization will also lead to better valuation of environmental goods and services, which will contribute to a more ecologically sustainable use of biodiversity.

If we live as if it matters and it doesn't matter, then it doesn't matter.

If we live as if it doesn't matter and it does matter, then it matters.

In their intact state Australia's natural ecosystems are the most efficient means of preventing land degradation such as salinisation and soil loss, and of providing regulated flows of clean water.

Fenner Conference on the environment

Sustainability Principles to Practice

About 200 people attended the Fenner Conference Sustainability Principles to Practice, which was held from 13 to 16 November 1994 at the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra. The Conference was organised by the Department of Environment, Sport and Territories and sponsored by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council.

The primary objectives of the Conference were to:

The principles that the Conference dealt with were intergenerational equity; intragenerational equity; precautionary principle; conservation of biological diversity and account improved valuation and incentive mechanisms.

For further information contact:

Trish Lewis, Policy Analysis Unit, Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories on

(06)274 1896 or fax (06)274 1878.

The death of frogs

There is growing evidence that a virus, (iridovirus, possibly a species of Ranavirus) may be the reason for a world-wide collapse in populations of montane stream-dwelling frogs. At least 14 species of Australian rainforest frogs have been wiped out or decimated in the past 15 years. Similar declines have been reported on four other continents.

Dr Laurance of CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology, Tropical Rainforest Centre believes that this virus can decimate a frog population in only a few weeks. 'The urgent need is to start experimental work to test the susceptibility of frogs under varying environmental conditions' and that 'we also need to continue the field surveys and closely examine the specimens of sick frogs collected from populations which have since disappeared. Once you have worked out that this or whatever other virus is responsible you can develop management strategies to reduce the impact'. These strategies could involve stricter quarantine of areas of surviving frogs and the repopulation of streams from other areas with frogs which are not affected by the virus.

Dr Laurance suspects that the virus may have been brought from overseas with ornamental fish and may be spread from stream to stream by aquatic insects.

The decline has ben identified as an 'extinction wave', spreading from south to north Queensland during the past 15 years. The last known populations of several frog species disappeared from the Big Tableland near Cooktown late 1993 or early 1994.

The new theory represent a major turnaround in possible explanations for the worldwide decline of frogs. Drought, acid rain, ozone depletion, salination, pesticide residues, predation by feral pigs and climate change have all variously been blamed but so far no conclusive evidence has been produced.

For further information contact:

Dr Bill Laurance (070) 918820 or Peter Trott (070) 918800

Possible cancer cure from a 'yellow slimy' sponge

New Zealand researchers, working with the yellow slimy sponge, Lyssodendoryx, have identified a chemical which could be useful in combating cancer. The chemical, halichondrin-B, is known to kill certain types of human cancer cells, including some ovarian cancer, colon cancer and certain melanomas. It is believed that halichondrin-B interferes with the cancer cells' division processes. At this stage, it is very expensive to extract even a minute quantity of halichondrin-B from the yellow slimy (one kilogram of sponge yields one milligram of halichondrin-B that's equivalent to the volume of a grain of sugar). However, the money may prove well spent should a cure for some forms of cancer be the end result. Also, work is being done to develop more cost-effective means of extracting the chemical.

This research highlights the need for greater attention to be given to conserving and increasing knowledge about marine biodiversity.

Information for this article was taken from Quantum on ABC-TV, 31.8.94. Reference: G Gardiner

For further information contact:
Stacey, Quantum phone: (02) 950 4331

Country in Flames

Fire management in Australia is a topical and controversial issue. Views often differ widely on the use of prescribed fire, appropriate burning regimes, and their effects on ecosystems, plants and animals.

There is however, general recognition of the power of fire to shape biotas and historic evidence exists that fire has done so in many areas. Much of our native flora and fauna has evolved with fire and relies upon particular fire regimes (frequency, intensity, time of year and scale) for continued survival. Many banksias, acacias, grass trees and eucalypts, for example, require fire to maintain healthy populations. Many of these plants have developed specific adaptions to enable them to survive fire, such as thick, insulating bark or underground buds. Fire stimulates grass trees to flower, and is important in stimulating seed release in many banksias. It cannot be doubted that fire management is critical to biodiversity conservation in Australia.

The Biodiversity Unit supported the Country in Flames symposium, held on 27 August 1994, which addressed biodiversity and fire issues in northern Australia. The symposium was organised and hosted by the North Australian Research Unit, Australian National University, Darwin. Enhanced communication between five sets of people natural scientists, social scientists, Aboriginal people, senior administrators, and legally qualified people was the purpose of the symposium. The need for this communication is heightened in the light of potential transformations to the Australian land tenure system as a result of the High Court's Mabo decision. In those areas where native title has not been extinguished, the law of the land may be indigenous, and this includes the use of fire. Exploring the social and legal implications of this was a focus of the symposium, as well as encouraging the sharing of recent research findings with those who may be able to put them into practice.

Summary of main points from Country in Flames symposium

Deborah Bird Rose

The main points arising from the day's proceedings can be briefly summarised:

  1. The savannas of North Australia are highly flammable ecosystems which have developed over millions of years under the influence of periodic burning. Prior to human occupation of the landscape (now believed to be some 60 000 years, at least) lightning-ignited fires were a natural, indeed formative, part of the system.
  2. The controlled use of fire by Aboriginal people has a long tradition in the landscape. This continues to the present.
  3. As well as use of fire by Aboriginal people in traditional land management, the controlled use of fire is a vital management tool, employed by pastoralists, bushfire control authorities, and conservation authorities.
  4. The ecological, social and cultural uses of controlled fire (particularly Aboriginal) are widely misunderstood in the community at large, including the media, who continue to equate North Australian fire management activities (eg fuel hazard reduction) with the potentially catastrophic fires of temperate Australia. This community perception is very far from the truth. Fires in North Australia tend to be grass borne and generally involve little risk to human life; whereas fires in southern Australia have the potential, under severe climatic conditions, to grow into life threatening firestorms raging in the treetops.
  5. Changing systems of land tenure in North Australia are resulting in changing legal status of Aboriginal people's right to burn. At the same time, the increasing use of land for conservation and reclamation purposes is requiring an increasingly sophisticated use of fire as a land management tool.
  6. Land management involving knowledgeable and controlled use of fire is essential to preserving ecosystem diversity and biological diversity in North Australia. A diversity of fire regimes is best suited to generating the diversity of habitats which enable biodiversity.
  7. The knowledge necessary for the creation and maintenance of habitat diversity is local and detailed. Different domains of knowledge, notably Aboriginal domains and scientists' domains, approach these issues in different and often complementary ways.

Taken together, the papers and discussions illuminate the paradoxical quality of this period in the life of the nation and the world. In one respect, so much is known by scientists and by observant people who interact with ecosystems that it is no longer possible to say that there is not enough information on which to base the decisions now facing us. In another respect, large domains of information are held by discrete groups of people who have little interaction with each other, so that there is a communication void amongst precisely those people who should be interacting with each other. I refer most specifically to Aboriginal natural ecologists and university-trained scientific ecologists. In yet another respect, considering the degree of agreement about what is known to be happening with Australian ecosystems, there is a lack of communication with the general public. Concomitantly there appears to be remarkably little social action toward containing or curtailing the spirals of loss which are having such dramatic and irreversible impact on the present and future biodiversity of this continent.

Extracts from the introduction to the proceedings of the symposium, by Deborah Bird Rose

Proceedings from this symposium will be available from March 1995, through the Community Information Unit of DEST on 008-803772 and the North Australia Research Unit on 089-220066.

The launch of ERIN On-line Service (EOS)

SENATOR John Faulkner, Minister for the Environment, Sport and Territories, officially launched ERIN On-line Services (EOS) on the 19 October 1994. The launch was attended by some 100 people from government, industry, research and the community.

The Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN), established in 1989, aims to provide geographically-related environmental information required for planning and decision making. The ERIN databases store information about the environment ranging from endangered species to drought and pollution. ERIN's new On-line Service, EOS, provides decision makers with access to this vast reservoir of information, and the analytical tools to interpret it.

The launch of EOS comes in the wake of the release of The Networked Nation a major report by the Australian Science and Technology Council, which examines Australia's options for a networked future. The report presents a vision of the future, in which, 'by 1996-97, governments will be using Internet-type services to disseminate public information and to respond to enquiries from the public'. In 1994, the Environment Portfolio, through EOS, is making a leading contribution to that future.

Information is available through EOS on:

In the words of Senator Faulkner, EOS is providing a platform 'which will improve our understanding and management of the Australian environment'.

For further information contact:

Wayne Slater
Director, ERIN
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (06) 274 1111
(06) 274 1333
Internet: wayne@erin.gov.au

A vision for a greener city

The role of vegetation in urban environments

Greening Australia's third biennial national conference, A vision for a Greener City: the role of vegetation in urban environments, was held in Fremantle, Western Australia on 4 to 6 October 1994.

The aim of the conference was to increase awareness of the importance of vegetation in creating more liveable areas in metropolitan or rural cities or towns, and to improve planning and management practices related to vegetation in urban and surrounding environments.

International and national keynote speakers set the vision for greener cities through the conference's three themes of:

The conference was sponsored by the Australian Nature Conservation Agency and the Commonwealth Department of Housing and Regional Development through the Better Cities Program, the WA Water Authority, the WA Department of Agriculture, the City of Fremantle, the WA Department of Environmental Protection, the WA Waterways Commission and Australian Paper.

Proceedings are available from Martina Scheltema, Greening Western Australia on (09) 481 2144 or fax (09)481 0024. Greening Australia's postal address is 1118 Hay St, West Perth WA 6005. The cost is $35 plus postage for Greening Australia members and $45 for non members.

Significance of Australia's biodiversity

Th Biodiversity Unit, DEST, has produced an illustrated text entitled Australia's Biodiversity: an overview of selected significant components. The text provides a picture of some of the immense variety of living organisms that inhabit this continent and its waters, and shows how this diversity is significant. A brief overview of the evolutionary development of Australia's biodiversity is first provided as this sets the scene for understanding its distinctiveness. Significant features of the biodiversity of terrestrial, inland aquatic, and marine environments are then explored, followed by those of Australia's external territories. In particular, the highly endemic nature and richness of Australia's biodiversity is outlined, and the many ancient origins and specific adaptations to Australian environments are documented. A number of areas in Australia of particular significance for their biodiversity are then briefly described.

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this paper, free of charge, please contact the Community Information Unit. The address and phone number are below.

LOCALINKS: a conference on local environmental action

Melbourne 10-12 May 1995

This conference will bring together people already involved in local action for environmental sustainability, those who are interested in making a start and others who can help. It will be an opportunity for local government, community groups, and businesses to showcase their achievements and share ideas to stimulate debate and further action.

LOCALINKS will include a core of stimulating plenary sessions, workshop sessions,

displays and short talks presenting local experiences. Topics will include:

For further information including a brochure, full program and a registration form contact:

Context Pty Ltd. on (03) 380 6933 or fax (03) 380 4066.

For further information contact:
Community Information Unit
Department of Environment, Sport and Territories
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (008) 803 772 (toll free)

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