Ashley Love, Member of NPA and Bellingen Environment Centre
The history of community campaigns to protect koala habitat in the Bellingen-Coffs Harbour areas goes back over 50 years. In the 1970’s Coffs City Council supported residents’ efforts to protect koala habitat at Roberts Hill on the western edge of the city.
Read More “Finally, The Great Koala National Park is announced”
James Sherwood, Conservation Campaigner
Members of the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) gathered in Bongil Bongil National Park on the Coffs Coast in September, to celebrate a landmark moment in nature conservation, the announcement of the Great Koala National Park (GKNP).
Read More “A Landmark Victory for Nature – NPA members celebrate the Great Koala National Park”
Dr Jonathon Howard, NPA Executive member
Jervis Bay Marine Park was established by the NSW Government in 1988. It covers about 215km2 and extends from Kinghorn Point in the north to Sussex Inlet in the south. Its clear waters are due to the joining of warm water from the East Australian Current and cooler water from Bass Strait. Whales and dolphins are common sights in the marine park. It is also a popular diving and snorkelling location with an international reputation. Grey nurse sharks are regularly seen by divers at Jervis Bay. It is truly a ‘jewel in the crown’.
Read More “Jervis Bay Marine Park under threat from invasive mussels”
Kate Carroll, Conservation Projects Officer
Recent field work was undertaken for the Great Southern Forests National Park proposal, documenting some of the iconic species and key flora and fauna of Southern NSW. I was joined by Dave Gallan, Gary Dunnett, Jenny Atton and Qinan Wang in October. We visited the lookouts over McDonald and Yerriyong State Forests of the Milton area then headed to the tableland State Forests: Tallaganda and Glenbog. The trip ended in the far south coast at East Boyd State Forest and Green Cape.
Read More “Great Southern Forest National Park proposal update”
Professor Benjamin J. Richardson and Sarah Brugler, University of Tasmania
We often think of nature conservation as the job of governments. Yet, private landowners can also help to create protected areas. Covenants are a unique legal tool for this purpose, and they are increasingly used in NSW.
Read More “Conservation covenants: A tool for NSW landowners to protect biodiversity”
Joyce (Yueh) Zhang, NPA Intern
China’s Ecological Conservation Redline (ECR) policy includes strict “No Go” zones where development is not allowed. ECR zones cover biodiversity hotspots, key water sources, fragile soils, coastal protection, and other areas critical for national ecological security. In simple words, a red line prioritises protection of what China believes is the most important places for human wellbeing. Official data reports about 3.19 million km² of redline areas nationwide (roughly around one-third of China’s land), with 18% of China’s land covered in fully protected areas.[1] ECR is a vastly different approach to Australia’s strategy of following the Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative (CAR) model, in that it that its primary objective is not conservation, but rather ecological security and sustainable development.[2] The protection of biodiversity is a secondary benefit. Protected areas, including Nature Reserves and National Parks, are still a central pillar of China’s conservation agenda but ECR also includes unique zoning, such as Ecological Function Zones (for critical ecosystem services like water supply). Together with national biodiversity plans, China presents ECR as its model to meet the global 30×30 goal.[3]
Read More “China’s Redline Approach: Can Ecological Redlines provide a pathway to 30 by 30 in NSW?”
You must be logged in to post a comment.