Conservation groups withdraw from Mike Baird’s predetermined biodiversity reforms

The Baird government’s biodiversity law reform agenda has suffered a major setback today with the state’s peak conservation groups withdrawing from top-level stakeholder consultations with the Office of Environment and Heritage, who are drafting the new laws.

The groups are now seeking direct talks with the Ministers for Environment, Planning and Primary Industries. 

Dragons of Sydney Harbour launch captures imagination of young volunteers

Thursday’s heat did nothing to deter 20 enthusiastic young volunteers from taking part in the first of a series of community events at Bradleys Head Reserve aimed at helping the area’s Eastern Water Dragons.

The event was organised as part of Dragons of Sydney Harbour, a new initiative run by the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) in partnership with Taronga Zoo, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Macquarie University and Greater Sydney Local Land Services. It seeks to conserve Sydney’s urban Water Dragons through revegetation and citizen science. 

NPA backs court challenge to controversial Springvale mine extension

The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) have come out in strong support of Environment Groups challenging the controversial extension of the Springvale coal mine.

Environment Groups led by 4nature are taking legal action to get the decision overturned due to its potentially devastating impact on Sydney’s drinking water.

Forestry Tasmania’s failings show NSW barking up the wrong tree

Recent media coverage[1] detailing Forestry Tasmania’s dismal audit by the Forest Stewardship Council clearly highlights the folly of the NSW government’s ongoing ‘remake’ of the Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (IFOAs) says the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA).

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification is the international standard used to identify products from well-managed forests[2]. Certification is highly sought after by the native forest logging industry as it seeks a social license for logging operations that environment organisations across Australia condemn as highly destructive.

NPA would like to congratulate Forestry Corporation on its stellar tourism performance!

NPA Science Officer, Dr Oisín Sweeney, said: “this puts the lie to the greenie spin that people care about nature. Why on earth would we even consider ending the generous public subsidies1 for native forest logging when FC manage forests so effectively for tourism?”

“Destination NSW and Tourism Australia are just plain wrong: nature is not the number one factor attracting international visitors2,3, it’s our world-class logging industry;”

Nationwide call to join November Koala Count to help declining icon

Aussies are being called on to help protect their local koalas by taking part in a national survey of the unique marsupial from 7–22 November.

The annual Koala Count, run by the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) with support from WWF-Australia, employs a free, GPS-enabled smartphone app, NatureMapr, to record sightings. It is the only nationwide survey of the declining species.