Australian Network for Plant Conservation - 2nd National Forum -
‘Minding our own biodiversity: conservation on private land’
Thursday 30 April – Friday 1 May 2009
Halls Gap, The Grampians, Victoria
Don’t miss this timely forum! Register NOW!
Registrations close Friday 17 April
ANPC's second national forum will focus on conservation outside the formal reserve system, whether on small blocks, production properties, large landscape level efforts or cross-tenure projects. It will highlight the people and places involved and investigate the incentives and support available.
The forum will include presentations, case studies, facilitated discussion sessions and field visits to project sites. Many landholder presenters will give participants the benefit of their on-ground experience.
This is your opportunity to participate, learn, contribute, debate and move this essential component of biodiversity conservation forward.
For further information, program, registration visit ANPC Conferences or contact the ANPC office on 02 6250 9509.
Keep an eye on the website for program updates (there are some gaps in the draft program as many of our Victorian colleagues are currently deployed with bushfire responsibilities).
Private land is the key to linking biodiversity conservation across the landscape.
18 February 2009
BIODIVERSITY: ANPC National Forum on conservation on private land, Halls Gap, Vic. 30 April - 1 May 2009
BIODIVERSITY: Research on the movement of urban kangaroos in the ACT
During early 2009, Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking collars will be fitted to 24 kangaroos in 15 large areas of urban open space across Canberra. This is the first known Australian study of a large wild animal in an urban environment. The intention is to record the home range and movement patterns of urban kangaroos over a two year period. The GPS tracking collars will record the location of the kangaroo every hour. This study, will provide valuable information for the management of kangaroos in the urban environment, the planning of urban kangaroo control programs, and help devise ways to reduce the risk of motor vehicle accidents with kangaroos. For further information visit the ACT Territory and Municipal Services website.
CLIMATE: Latest issue of CO2 News - 18 February 2009
The 18 February 2009 issue of C02 News includes:
News
- Research points to Indian Ocean as cause of drought
- Human health impacts of climate change focus of research
- New Ambassador for Climate Change
- Energy Efficient Homes program launched
- Climate Ready projects announced
- Victorian Government outlines 2009 climate and environmental agenda
- The Managing Waste in a Changing Climate Conference
- Remaking Suburbia — Research and policy directions for sustainable home improvements
- Melbourne Planning Summit
- NSW Sustainable Development Conference
14 February 2009
FIRE MANAGEMENT: Bushfire resources - arson & bushfires, bushfires & nature conservation, development in bushfire prone areas, bushfires & climate
Arson and bushfires
- The Australian Institute of Criminology has published and catalogued a wide range of research on arson and bushfires including crime prevention.
- The role of the South East Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium (FaBCon) is to address the issues of fire and biodiversity within the imperatives of life and property protection. It does this by disseminating knowledge, investigating and implementing research and providing information to assist with fire management decision-making. FaBCon has produced and continues to develop a range of fire ecology research reports and guidelines, strategic fire management reports, landholder bushfire preparation materials and educational materials.
- The NSW Nature Conservation Council (NCC) Hotspots Fire Project looks at how fire can be managed to conserve native plants and animals (biodiversity) and other natural assets - as well as the lifestyle and land uses we value. Through a coordinated program of research, training and education initiatives, Hotspots bundles up the latest developments in ecological fire management and puts them into a management framework for land managers and regional communities. Hotspots is trialling its approach in four regions of New South Wales - the Northern Rivers, Southern Rivers, Hawkesbury-Nepean and Central West.
- Australian Standard AS 3959-1999 Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas sets out requirements for the design and construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas in order to improve their performance when they are subjected to burning debris, radiant heat or flame contact generated from a bushfire. Also includes a methodology for assessing categories of bushfire attack in respect of a site situated in an area that has been designated by a relevant authority as bushfire-prone.
- The NSW Rural Fire Service Building in a Bush Fire Prone Area resources contain information that promotes an understanding of bush fire behaviour, bush fire assessment reports and the legal frame work that governs the planning process for proposed developments on bush fire prone land. The information would be relevant to current and future home owners, developers, planners, councils, fire authorities and other government organisations.
- An example local government planning scheme bushfire risk code and policy can be found in pages 135-143 and 328-329 of the Gatton Planning Scheme.
- Special Climate Statement 17, The exceptional January-February 2009 heatwave in south-eastern Australia, Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology.
- Climate Change and its Impact on the Management of Bushfire, Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (Bushfire CRC) and the Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) Fire Note Issue 4 September 2006.
- Bushfire Weather in Southeast Australia: Recent Trends and Projected Climate Change Impacts, The Climate Institute, September 2007.
WASTE MGMT: Clean-up Australia Day 1 March 2009 (Business Clean Up Day 24 February 2009, Schools Clean Up Day 27 February 2009)
Every year hundreds of thousands of Australians help clean up their environment on Clean Up Australia Day. Visit the Clean Up website to find out how you can help or register a site.
FUNDING, NRM: Closing date for Caring for our Country applications extended and $5 million allocated to bushfire projects in Victoria
The closing date for all Australian Government Caring for our Country 2009-10 business plan proposals has been extended to 3 April 2009.
Ministers Garrett and Burke have also announced more than $5 million to support bushfire recovery projects in Victoria. The Australian Government will work closely with the Victorian Government to ensure the funding achieves the best outcomes for these bushfire affected areas. Further information about the process for these funds will be available shortly.
FUNDING, WATER: National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative
On 30 January 2009 the Minister for Climate Change and Water announced that the Australian Government is offering rebates of up to $500 to households for either:
- The purchase and installation of a new rainwater tank which is connected for internal reuse of the water for toilet and/or laundry use; or
- The purchase and installation of a permanent greywater treatment system.
FUNDING, CLIMATE, LOCAL GOVT: Local Adaptation Pathways Program, expressions of interest close 25 February 2009
Through the Local Adaptation Pathways Program, the Australian Government is providing funding to help councils undertake climate change risk assessments and develop action plans to prepare for the likely local impacts of climate change. The funding will help councils integrate climate change risk into their broader decision-making processes. Round 2 grants are now available. Expressions of interest will close on 25 February 2009 and it is expected that these will be short listed by mid March 2009. Short listed applicants will be invited to submit further information.
CLIMATE, PLANNING: Book review - Ecopolis- Architecture and Cities for a Changing Climate, by Paul F Downton
Ecopolis is a book about cities, ecology and climate change written by one of Australia’s leading advocates and pioneers of sustainable architecture. Challenging conventional definitions and limitations of architecture and planning, it proposes a strong trans-disciplinary approach that links built environment professionals, life scientists and the wider community in the design of human settlements as living components of the biosphere.
The book includes what may be the first definition of the purpose of cities in the modern era and introduces the powerful concept of the urban fractal. The author demonstrates the history and lineage of his philosophy through an extensive review of the work of key theorists and practitioners which, in itself, provides a useful reference tool for ecocity theorists.
Identifying key theorists, practitioners, places and philosophies, the book provides a solid theoretical context, and goes on to present a series of design and planning tools for achieving Sustainable Human Ecological Development (SHED). Combining knowledge from diverse fields to present a synthesis of urban ecology, the book will provide a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners in architecture, construction, planning, geography and the traditional life sciences.
CLIMATE, RENEWABLES: Australian Solar Institite announced
Inadequate funding for Australian research institutions and the lure of well funded overseas organisations has contributed to Australia losing solar research expertise throughout the past decade.
The Australian Solar Institute will provide much needed support for the Australian solar community, helping to retain Australian solar expertise and develop the next generation of Australian solar researchers. The Institute will foster greater collaboration between researchers in universities, research institutions, and industry and help forge strong links with peak overseas research organisations.
SUSTAINABLE GARDENS: Book review - Sustainable Gardens, CSIRO Publishing Gardening Guides by Rob Cross & Roger Spencer
Our gardens are a microcosm of nature; the ecological processes that go on in a garden mirror those operating on a global scale. The better we understand and quantify these cycles and processes, the more effective will be our own management strategies.
Sustainable Gardens shows amateur and professional horticulturists how to make informed decisions when designing, constructing and maintaining parks and gardens for reduced environmental impact.
It describes the historical context of the global, national and local environmental issues that confront us and examines the idea of sustainable living as a means of addressing these issues. It draws attention to the new discipline of sustainability science with its emphasis on environmental accounting, and how this is being applied at the global, national, country, household and individual levels to establish benchmarks, set management goals, assess trends and measure progress towards sustainability. The book also discusses how gardens can make a major contribution to a sustainable future through increased food production and a close connection with the local environment.
TRAINING: Enabling Change & Proactive Community Engagement traning courses Sydney, Melbourne, Perth February & March 2009
For full details and booking forms for the training courses below visit the Enabling Change website.
Enabling Change
Designing professional behaviour change projects
Transform your abilities as a change agent with this enjoyable, hands-on workshop. You'll get valuable insights into the psychology of behaviour change, inspiring case studies and a proven step-by-step project design methodology. Whether you're working in the area of climate change, healthy living, road safety or water conservation you'll never think about change, or design change projects, the same way again. Over 2000 Australian government professionals have so far attended this popular workshop.
Sydney: 23-24 February
Melbourne: 5-6 March [Note change of dates - was 4-5 March]
Perth: 9-10 March
Proactive Community Engagement Designing positive, productive community consultation projects
There's plenty of room for improvement in the way government agencies and councils engage their communities in plan-making. This intensive hands-on workshops demystifies the concepts, introduces vital understandings from the psychology of risk communication and guides participants through a simple, effective template to design more effective projects. Last year over 200 professionals, mainly in local government, attended this training, with rave reviews (and an average satisfaction rate of 92%).
Sydney: 26-27 February
Melbourne: 2-3 March [Note change of dates - was 17-18 Feb]
Perth: 12-13 March
BIODIVERSITY: Sydney Inner West Biodiversity Forum, Wednesday 18 February 2009
Come along to the Summer Hill Community Centre, 131 Smith St Summer Hill on Wednesday 18 February 2009 at 7.30pm and hear about biodiversity along the GreenWay corridor in the Inner West of Sydney. Hosted by the Inner West Environment Group (IWEG), the discussion forum will examine the topic: "Bushcare sites in the Inner West and their contribution to local biodiversity and sustainability". There will be speakers from local Councils and agencies followed by open discussions session. Refreshments provided. For location map visit the Inner West Environment Group website.
