Nature NSW – Page 44 – National Parks Association of NSW

Protecting NSW’s ‘Biodiversity Highway’

Posted by NPA NSWon September 1, 2017September 1, 2017in Nature NSW, Spring 2017Leave a comment

^{Catherine Merchant, member of National Parks Association of NSW}

The controlled movement of stock across Australia via a “veritable maze”[1] of public stock routes is a uniquely Australian phenomenon. This “maze” is particularly evident in NSW where some droving continues. What remains of the Travelling Stock Routes and Reserves network (TSR network) in NSW[2] is a valuable public asset that must be preserved. Its enduring protection has been an important aspect of NPA’s 60 years of conservation advocacy work.

Featured Dive: Shiprock

Posted by NPA NSWon September 1, 2017in Spring 2017Leave a comment

^{John Turnbull, Member, National Parks Association of NSW}

1966. A small, nondescript bend in the river at Port Hacking is coming to prominence as a remarkably diverse area with particularly high conservation values. In the words of Clarrie Lawler, Secretary of Underwater Research Group of NSW at the time, the “combination of a deep submarine cliff, strong currents and unpolluted water have resulted in an extremely rich growth of marine invertebrates with a resulting large population of fishes… During the early months of 1965 (we) began diving this area and were astonished at the profusion of marine fauna given the seemingly ordinary estuarine situation”.

NPA NSW Welcomes New CEO

Posted by NPA NSWon September 1, 2017September 1, 2017in Spring 2017Leave a comment

We are delighted to welcome Ms Alix Goodwin as new CEO of the National Parks Association of NSW.

Alix follows in the footsteps of Kevin Evans, who has held the post since 2009. Kevin finished up on Friday, 4th August, and is moving on to take up exciting new ventures in the beautiful Bellinger Valley area of northern NSW. We greatly appreciate his work and commitment over the past seven and a half years, and wish him all the best for the future.

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Farewell CEO Kevin Evans

Posted by NPA NSWon September 1, 2017in Spring 2017Leave a comment

On Friday 21st July, NPA celebrated Kevin’s 7½ years of amazing commitment to NPA as its CEO. NPA President, Anne Reeves, gave a warm speech of recognition for his achievements.

Kevin came to us from Adelaide Zoo where he had a major role in setting up the then new Panda exhibit. And before that he had a long history of working with animals, particularly birds, including a stint with Taronga Zoo. Kevin’s life long interest in animals, with skills honed by his 28 years experience in a succession of zoologically related employment, means we have been fortunate to have a CEO who has served NPA with amazing commitment as an administrator and campaigner – and a great grasp of animal psychology! Emotional intelligence he calls it.

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Forests not Woodlots

Posted by NPA NSWon September 1, 2017in Native Forest Logging, Spring 2017Leave a comment

^{Margaret Blakers, director of the Green Institute and a long-time environmentalist}

Rosemary Beaumont’s article is timely. The Great Southern Forest is part of a larger picture which will see the fate of over 6 million hectares of Australia’s most loved native forests decided between now and 2021. Either they will be handed to the logging industry for another 20 years, effectively to become woodlots, or the federal government will resume environmental oversight and give the forests a chance.

Which was the World’s First National Park?

Posted by NPA NSWon September 1, 2017in Spring 20172 Comments

^{Bob Crombie, First National Park, October 2014}

When people ask, “Which, of all the world’s national parks, was the first national park?” the obvious approach is to compare dates of establishment. Let’s look at four famous names: Yosemite 1864, Yellowstone 1872, Mackinac 1875, and Royal National Park, 1879. In each, the term ‘national park’ was used to mean a number of different things.