Photo by Jill Quirk
The material below comes from the preface of a new report, prepared by Dane Wood on behalf of the Canberra Environment and Sustainability Resource Centre for the ACT Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment. Available from: Canberra Environment and Sustainability Resource Centre, GPO Box 1875, Canberra 2601.
Risks associated with eradicating native plant and animal life
"This report collates recent existing data on the Australian Capital Territory’s biodiversity in order to analyse and scope the capacity of biodiversity in adapting to climate change and global warming. It intends to provide a report that will ultimately assist research and preparation for the ACT State of the Environment Report with the purpose of educating the Canberra and wider ACT communities on the value of biodiversity for the ‘bush capital’ and warning of the risks associated with eradicating native plant and animal life and the consequences related to this."
The data used for this study was drawn from a wide range of sources to ensure the topic was scoped sufficiently to provide accurate results regarding the Territory’s biodiversity and how successfully it has adapted to the changing climate. Statistics regarding flora, fauna, general biodiversity data and bushfire regeneration figures were drawn from the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research (Australian National Botanic Gardens), the bushfire regeneration monitoring on Farrer Ridge report, the Australian Government Bureau of Rural Sciences, Molonglo Catchment Group, Ginninderra Catchment Group, Southern ACT Catchment Group, Countdown 2010 - Local and Regional Authorities and the Canberra Ornithological Group.
Collectively the information we have collected has provided us with sufficient data to produce a report that will inform the Office of the Commissioner of the scope, range and value of the region’s biodiversity within the overall context of climate change adaptation.
We found that in response to bushfires and controlled burning throughout the Australian Capital Territory, the area’s flora was quick to re-establish itself and was closely followed by the return of fauna. This is a positive sign in how the Territory’s biodiversity has adapted over the years to regenerate quickly and has tailored itself to not only suit the changing climate but slow the process of global warming through quick restoration of carbon sequestering flora. Also noticed was the positive impact on the environment by particular native species that have had the opportunity to adapt over millions of years when compared to the less suited domestic species such as cattle and sheep. Kangaroos in particular have proven to be the ideal species to help the natural environment revive and also assist in minimising the hazards which can lead to bushfires. There was sufficient additional literature to support the finding that biodiversity-rich environments not only regenerate faster, but can also play a part in preventing the spread of fire and control fires as a total system.
While the ACT is rich in biodiversity across the scope of flora and fauna, there is cause for concern from the long term perspective of preparation for climate change:
-- Of the 47 species of mammals found in the ACT, less than half are commonly found, with 57.45% of the total declared as uncommon, scarce, insufficiently known or endangered.
-- The reptile population returns similar statistics, with 59.32% of total species declared uncommon, scarce, rare or endangered.
-- Of the amphibians population, 58.82% are uncommon, scarce or endangered, and a further 2 species of amphibians have been declared extinct.
The effects of climate change on the region are expected to include:
-- higher temperatures
-- increased winds in summers months
-- drier average seasonal conditions
-- increased frequency of extreme weather events including storms
-- increased risk of bushfire
Given this, it is particularly relevant to examine the role of biodiversity in adapting to these conditions over time. After the 2003 bushfires the Farrer Ridge Landcare group undertook a study on the restoration of the landscape and found that native flora species recovered quickly. In response to this, there is a need for community education in the role of native species in gardens as a means of maintaining native habitat as the landscape undergoes the changes that will accompany the expected changes in climate.
Bushfire remains a crucial risk in the region. We found that an ecosystem containing a rich biodiversity recovered more quickly and provided greater ecosystem stability during the restoration period than an ecosystem which featured monoculture (such as the pine forests) or where biodiversity was lacking.
This report has concluded that as climate change progresses further, communities within the Australian Capital Territory will notice dramatic changes to the local climate. In order to address this, three key issues regarding the biodiversity of the ACT must be addressed. These are:
-- protecting and nurturing the diverse ecosystems around the ACT
-- better integration of the natural and human environments
-- closely following the 18 year plan set out in the ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007 – 2025.
These points if addressed properly will have a beneficial effect on the local ecosystems and biodiversity and will increase the capacity of our landscapes to adapt to the process of climate change over a period of years."
This is a report well worth reading: short, clear and showing a responsible, knowledgeable and positive regard for our indigenous animals.
Comments
Vivienne (not verified)
Tue, 2009-11-17 10:04
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The myths and lies of the kangaroo killing industry
dido (not verified)
Tue, 2009-12-08 22:13
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Very good post, thanks a
Anonymous (not verified)
Wed, 2010-01-06 18:04
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Get real
Sheila Newman
Wed, 2010-01-06 22:05
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This is the reality
Anonymous (not verified)
Thu, 2010-01-07 00:30
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Dane Wood
Editorial Comment: An unsubstantiated post claimed that a person
was unqualified. As it adds nothing of substance to this debate and as it could be defamatory, we have removed it.
The author is invited to resubmit the comment in a calm manner which does not appear derogatory and personalised. Be aware that formal qualifications may not reflect either honesty or real ability.
Anonymous (not verified)
Fri, 2010-01-08 08:58
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Allegation that post embarrassing to us censored
Tigerquoll
Thu, 2010-01-07 10:47
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ACT Commissioner is unqualified e-puppet anyway
The ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Maxine Cooper, since 9 September 2007 is unqualified to run an organisation that makes so-called expert claims about indigenous fauna such as kangaroos.
Cooper's academic qualifications are not in the natural environmental sciences as one would expect and assume, but in Environmental Planning, Environmental Design, and Urban and Regional Studies.
Cooper is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia and the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ). So in Cooper the ACT peak environment body is being run by a town planner!
That should enhance the bias of the body. Where is the ecological, biological and zoological expertise in Australian fauna?
Noting EIANZ's position statement on biodiversity, EIANZ recommends the adoption of the precautionary principle along with other principles of sustainable development in decisions affecting biodiversity, which sounds good, yet at the same time it also recommends research to "develop the taxonomic knowledge necessary for the...sustainable use of biodiversity".
In the Commission's most recent ACT State of the Environment 2007 report (now two years old), on the issue of conserving biodiversity it claims the threatened Grassland Earless Dragon population at Majura is due to "the recent drought and/or overgrazing by kangaroos or some other reasons". It ignores the bleedingly obvious fact that Majura is a busy Army training ground. Is this blissful ignorance or just playing politics?
The report also states "Land and infrastructure development (on the outskirts of Canberra) is a continuing threat to biodiversity". It suggests solving the problem by finding "potential avenues for the movement of species" - that is make way for development by relocating the biodiversity.
Cooper is another e-puppet placed to make government look as though it actually gives a damn about the environmental and biodiversity, while in reality achieving tuppenny squat. Putting a town planner in charge would be like NSW appointing ex-planning minister Frank Sartor as NSW Environment Minister. Would be a joke if it were not true.
Tiger Quoll
Snowy River 3885
Australia
Anonymous (not verified)
Sat, 2010-01-09 08:40
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Dane Wood qualified?
Sheila Newman
Sat, 2010-01-09 15:32
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Formal qualifications and evidence wildlife, roos
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