Topographic Maps of NSW 2022 Series

Bob Snedden, NPA Member, Milton Branch 

The defining feature of topographic maps are the presentation of the form of the landscape topography via the contour lines. Along with this are the vertical and horizontal grid coordinates for the ‘Grid References’ and ‘GPS positioning’. The current 2022 Series fail to do this, rendering the maps unfit for purpose and therefore presenting something of a risk to the user. Those who rely on accurate landform information e.g. Rural Fire Service, NSW NPWS and bushwalkers will be directly affected. After examining 20 maps in the 2022 series covering the south coast region, from one outlet all were found to be similarly deficient. 

Wombats have an important role in helping our forest wildlife recover from megafires

Dr Jonathon Howard, NPA Executive

Every ecosystem has certain species that are critical to the survival of the other species. They are sometime labelled ‘keystone species’. New research is showing wombats may play an increasingly important role in the survival of other species as our environment becomes more fire prone. 

Although New South Wales is home to a spectacular variety of plants, animals, and ecosystems, our biodiversity faces a number of pressures, including those that arise from climate change. 

The NSW biodiversity outlook report 2024 has just been released  

Dr Jonathon Howard, NPA Executive

New South Wales is home to an amazing array of plants, animals and other living things.  Environment and Heritage NSW released its NSW biodiversity outlook report 2024. 

In 2020, the first outlook report covered 10 indicators, with supporting published methods and available data. This 2024 outlook report updates the 2020 indicators and introduces new indicators. Many indicators are also reported at a bioregion scale. The report, based on findings across 13 indicators, is unique in its scale and provides crucial information that can help inform our response to the biodiversity crisis. 

Thinking big, the next phase in campaigning for our Southern Forests

Gary Dunnett, CEO and Kate Carroll, Conservation Projects Officer

Some of NPA’s deepest roots lie in the forests that cloak the landscapes between the Great Dividing Range and the rugged southern coasts.  These are contested regions whose economy relies upon nature-based tourism, while allowing the very worst of industrial clear-felling and woodchipping.  

NPA has been calling for a shift from exploitation to protection of the southeast forests for decades.  The long history of the forest campaigns is documented in David Gallan’s wonderful 2016 documentary ‘Understorey’.  

Those campaigns had significant successes, including the creation of parks such as Southeast Forest National Park.  The parks that were established as part of the original Eden and Southern Forest Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) negotiations were a great beginning, but are not enough to truly secure the biodiversity values of the forests.