The State of Australia's Birds 2007 - Birds in a Changing Climate

Since 2003 Birds Australia has produced an annual State of Australia's Birds report. The reports collate and disseminate information on trends in bird populations to inform Australians of the status of their birds and help bring about improved understanding and better management of the land for birds and other biota. They also provide feedback to the dedicated thousands who volunteer their time and skills to monitor birds.

This year's report, Birds in a Changing Climate, has been compiled by Penny Olsen for Birds Australia. Climate change is bringing mixed news for Australia's birds. Some species will benefit, others will be disadvantaged over and above the other long-standing threats they face. We don't know how quickly birds can adapt to the changes, but we think that many will and we know that some won't. To facilitate adaptation, connectivity is the catch-cry: reconnecting natural landscapes and habitats and connecting biodiversity to carbon policies and procedures. For further information, see Birds in a Changing Climate.

New guide to sustainable water use around the home

Water Not Down the Drain is a comprehensive guide to sustainable water use around the home. With Australia experiencing one of its driest phases in history, everyone has to think about how they use the water available to them and find ways to reduce their day to day water use. The good news is that with rainwater and greywater, people have more water available to them than they think.

The book is available from www.notdownthedrain.org.au or Borders book stores (check both the magazine and book sections of the store to locate a copy). It is published by the Alternative Technology Association and supported by the Smart Water Fund.

Solar Ark: Worlds most stunning solar building

Sanyo has built an ark for the solar century – an impressive 630 kW solar-collecting building that boasts over 5,000 solar panels and kicks off over 500,000 kWh of energy per year. Even more outstanding is the fact that most of the monocrystalline modules used on the Solar Ark were factory rejects headed to the scrap pile. Located next to Sanyo’s semiconductor factory in Gifu, Japan, the Solar Ark stands as one of the best examples of building integrated PV design to date.

ANPC National Conference 21 - 24 April 2008, Mulgoa NSW

The Australian Network for Plant Conservation and Mount Annan Botanic Garden would like to draw your attention to this conference, and ask you to:

• distribute this advice to members of your organisation (as relevant), or to networks with an interest in plant conservation
• consider submitting abstracts for oral and/or poster presentations (on- or off-theme) for this conference (late abstracts will be considered up to 29 February)
• register for the conference and book accommodation

The conference will bring together plant conservation practitioners from around Australia and New Zealand, and will focus on threatening processes and the responses we can effectively make. The registration, accommodation and abstract form and important information can be found here.

THECA's 2008 Forum 'A Green Future? Biodiversity under Climate Change', 12 April 2008, Brisbane

The Hut Environmental & Community Association's (THECA's) 2008 Forum 'A Green Future? Biodiversity under Climate Change' will explore the impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of South East Queensland, and strategies for mitigation of these impacts, ensuring the long-term future and sustainability of South East Queensland biodiversity.

Further information can be found here.