Winter 2017 – Page 3 – National Parks Association of NSW

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.

Snorkelling

Posted by NPA NSWon May 25, 2017May 29, 2017in Winter 2017Leave a comment

^{John Turnbull, NPA Member}

Snorkelling opens the window on a whole new world, without the costs, training requirements and equipment burden of SCUBA. Of course, you can’t reach the depths that you can on SCUBA, but there are several advantages to snorkelling. Some species, particularly colourful algae and tropical fish juveniles prefer the shallows. It’s warmer on the surface, and wetsuits don’t compress so a thin shortie or even a rash vest is often good enough. Families can snorkel together more easily, even when the kids are young, and on a sunny day it’s hard to beat the fun and adventure of discovering a new snorkelling spot.

Barrington Tops National Park

Posted by NPA NSWon May 25, 2017May 29, 2017in Nature NSW, Winter 2017Leave a comment

Featured National Park

^{Roger Lembit, Convenor, NPA’s Park Management Committee}

Barrington Tops National Park and State Conservation Area make up an area of about 83,000 ha of reserved land. Additional forested land is managed by the Forestry Corporation, including Stewarts Brook, Barrington Tops, Bowman and Chichester State Forests. There are strong vegetated links northwards towards Nundle and Nowendoc around the head of the Manning River catchment.

After the Fire: Spring 2016

Posted by NPA NSWon May 25, 2017May 29, 2017in Winter 2017Leave a comment

^{Roger Lembit, Convenor, Park Management Committee of NPA}

On 16th October 2013 I was working in a gully near the end of the Dumbano Fire Trail in the Wollangambe wilderness north of Bell. On completing the site, I returned up the hill to the Trail to see a cloud of orange-grey smoke to the west. On checking in, I found that there was a bush fire in the Marrangaroo Demolition Training Area and I was required to evacuate and abandon work for the week.

Read More “After the Fire: Spring 2016”

Connecting People with Nature: a walks leader’s perspective

Posted by NPA NSWon May 25, 2017May 29, 2017in Winter 2017Leave a comment

^{Brian Everingham, NPA Executive Committee and walks leader}

Gilbert White used to take gentle walks around his parish of Selborne and often was distracted by the little things about him. Indeed he was known to be found kneeling on the ground, often for hours, exploring the behaviour of such creatures as the simple earthworm. His book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, became an early companion of mine, and an inspiration.

Why the Fight to Protect our Environment is a Global Issue

Posted by NPA NSWon May 25, 2017May 29, 2017in Winter 2017Leave a comment

^{Cole Neder, Intern, National Parks Association of NSW}

While New South Wales battles with vested political interest in native forest logging in Australia, the State of Utah’s protected public lands are the centrepiece of a similar disagreement in the United States.