Nature NSW – Page 47 – National Parks Association of NSW

The big blue: Coalition Party infighting is failing our marine environment

Posted by NPA NSWon May 29, 2017May 29, 2017in Winter 20171 Comment

^{Kevin Evans, CEO, NPA}

This article first appeared on the Independent Australia website on 6 April 2017.

Sydney’s blue backyard is central to our way of life, reputation and economy, yet less than 1% of the harbour city’s coastal waters are protected. The NSW government has dragged the anchor on meaningful marine protection in NSW for 6 years, ignoring evidence and stalling their own reform process initiated three Premiers ago in 2010. Key stakeholders fatigued by years of consultation, with no substantive progress to show for it, fear there is little true commitment from this government to strengthen marine protection.

Environmental Performance Report Card

Posted by NPA NSWon May 29, 2017May 29, 2017in Winter 2017Leave a comment

The Environmental Liaison Office (ELO) provides a link to NSW Parliament for hundreds of community groups across NSW. It aims to ensure that the shared concerns and priorities of environment groups are communicated consistently to Government, and provides a mechanism for the views of Government to be communicated to and considered by NSW environment groups.

Message from the CEO

Posted by NPA NSWon May 29, 2017May 29, 2017in Winter 2017Leave a comment

^{Kevin Evans, Chief Executive Officer, National Parks Association of NSW}

This will be my final edition of Nature NSW as I have decided to step down after 7 years as CEO. My partner and I recently purchased a rural property at Gleniffer in the idyllic Bellinger Valley and we are looking forward to spending more time there to restore the conservation values of our land and work with the progressive community there.

Royal & Yellowstone — The World’s First National Parks

Posted by NPA NSWon May 29, 2017May 29, 2017in Winter 2017Leave a comment

^{Janine Kitson, Member of the National Parks Association of NSW}

Based on the NPA course presented to the WEA, Sydney on 4 March, 2017. With special thanks to Robert Crombie, Sutherland Shire Environment Centre.

In 1879 NSW led the world by establishing Royal National Park – then known as ‘The National Park’. This was Australia’s first official national park and one of the first national parks in the world. The first national park in the world was Yellowstone, created in 1872. Sydney’s National Park was renamed ‘Royal National Park’ in 1955 in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s 1954 Australian tour.

School Kids Bring Back the Buzz!

Posted by NPA NSWon May 26, 2017May 29, 2017in Uncategorized, Winter 2017Leave a comment

^{Fran van den Berg and Margot Law, NPA citizen science officers}

We have been having an un-BEE-lieveable time with 60 students from Harrington Park Public School! As part of our new project, Bringing Back the Buzz to the Cumberland Plain Woodland, we piloted new lessons to inspire the next generation of conservationists to consider the role of native flowers and their pollinators in the ecosystem.

Hunting for Hawkweed in Kosciuszko National Park

Posted by NPA NSWon May 26, 2017May 29, 2017in Winter 2017Leave a comment

Cynthia Burton, Conservation Volunteer, Canberra Bushwalking Club

Three Canberra Bushwalking Club (CBC) volunteers were part of a 35 strong, multi-agency, helicopter-assisted, survey team that recently discovered a second significant infestation of the aggressive alpine invader, Mouse-ear Hawkweed (MEHW) (Hieracium pilosella or Pilosella officinarum), on the Main Range of Kosciuszko National Park (KNP). The infestation area was found on a ridge roughly in between the turn-off points to go to Mt Twynam or Watson’s Crags, adjacent to the old 4WD track. The site has been cordoned off and treated, with further monitoring and survey work in adjacent areas to take place in future.