The Bugle - 20 June 2008
In news this week
- Peter Andrews field day a success
- Grasswrens in the Spinifex
- Pets survive encounter with wild-dog traps
- Ambitious Cooloola Coast mapping project finalised
- Wetlands among the drylands
Government updates
- Working on Country funding round now open
- $2.8 million to help Australia's coasts adapt to climate change
- Blueprint themes on agenda at Clermont
- Young Queensland scientists, this one is for you
Reef updates
- Long term protection for the Great Barrier Reef
- Marine park managers fight non-compliance with education
- Third wave of crown-of-thorns fading away
Wetlands updates
Natural resources news
- Education to help prevent future water drips
- Analysing the practice of regional natural resource planning in Australia
- Time to reward tree-mendous work
- Tropical forest sustainability: a climate change boon
- Celebrate 100 years of national parks in Queensland
- AgForward workshop update
- Get a job in NRM!
Regional NRM group stories
Peter Andrews field day a success
On 28 May the Desert Uplands brought Peter Andrews to the region for a field day on 'natural sequence farming' at Lake Dunn Recreation Club, Aramac.
Peter Andrews is a grazier and race horse breeder from Bylong in the Upper Hunter Valley. Peter has gained fundamental insights to the natural functioning of the Australian landscape and has applied these insights in restoring his and other properties to fertility levels that he says existed upon European arrival in this country.
The day, funded by Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM through the Property Management Planning project, was a huge success; with over 60 landholders attending making it one of the Desert Uplands Committee's most successful field days.
The day started with a presentation by Peter where he discussed the principles of 'natural sequence farming', then everyone went out into the paddock to participate in a practical demonstration.
With the continuous opportunity of asking questions and expressing opinions, landholders found the day very informative and enjoyable.
The day was also attended by ABC reporter Julia Harris, and David Thompson from Desert Channels Queensland.
Peter discussed several issues; he said that the Australian landscape has changed significantly, particularly since the adoption of farming and other management practices that are based around the European system of freezing and thawing. The exact opposite occurs here. By reinstating the natural processes and using the latest technologies, production levels should increase to those noted by the early pastoralists in the late 1800s.
Further information can be accessed on the ABC's website.
Grasswrens in the Spinifex
In July volunteers from Birds Australia will survey the Greater Mount Isa region for two rarely seen species of bird, the Kalkadoon and Carpentaria Grasswrens.
These two species are only found in Spinifex grassland, and because Spinifex burns regularly, the survey aims to find out how the birds cope with fire.
Ecologist Dr Graham Harrington of CSIRO and Birds Australia said, "Fire is pro-biodiversity – it creates a diversity of habitats. We are interested in establishing the ideal fire regime for these and other wildlife species. Eventually we would like to find out what happens to the individual birds in a fire. Where do they migrate to and how long before they or other individuals come back."
Throughout July, the volunteers from all over Australia will be assigned fire-scars where they will use recorded bird calls on MP3 players in order to entice the Grasswren species to show themselves.
Southern Gulf Catchments (SGC) is able to produce satellite maps of properties and sites of interest and will contact property managers for consultation and participation.
SGC's project manager Mark Van Ryt said, "This research project would not be possible if it weren’t for the sponsorship of Xstrata and Mount Isa Water and the donated time of Birds Australia and their volunteers."
For further information about the surveys, the Greater Mount Isa Fire Management project or participating in the surveys, feel free to contact Mark Van Ryt at SGC on 4743 1888 or Dr Graham Harrington at CSIRO on 4096 5051.
Pets survive encounter with wild-dog traps
Landholders in the eastern Darling Downs are using soft-jaw foothold traps to control wild dogs, with surprising results.
The traps are designed to restrain animals without breaking skin or bone, so when a local family laid the traps on their farm they came up trumps managing to catch three wild dogs, their pet dog, and their pet cat, all uninjured by their encounters with the soft-jaw traps.
The wild dogs are destroyed and bounties of up to $70 a head are available through a joint council and Condamine Alliance pest management program in inner Darling Downs.
"The biggest surprise has been the large number of foxes getting caught in the traps – currently 3-4 a week," said Clifton Shire Council project officer Garry Wilson, who coordinates the highly successful Condamine Catchment Integrated Pest Management Program, jointly funded by Condamine Alliance and regional councils.
Mr Wilson coordinates the trapping program in areas where properties may be too small to bait feral dogs without risk to native animals and domestic pets.
He said the program would continue to support dog trappers and bounties and would buy further traps as required.
For more information on the program email Garry Wilson or telephone 4697 4234, or mobile 0428 183 896.
Ambitious Cooloola Coast mapping project finalised
After two years and five project officers, Cooloola Coastcare Association Inc (CCAI) has finalised its very ambitious Cooloola Coast Mapping Project funded by the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG).
"This is only the beginning of an active data source for partners of the project and the community, and can be found on the CCAI website," said CCAI projects coordinator Maree Prior, "You will need Google Earth 4 to operate it."
Twenty-six transects from Rainbow Beach, Cooloola Cove and Tin Can Bay have been selected and mapped.
Information can be found by clicking on the placemarks for a photograph, species area curve and spreadsheet details. For example, if you click on the subject 'Pandanus 2003, 2006' in the left column; the placemarks indicate pandanus, some of which were recorded in 2003/4, and then monitored again and treated in 2006 by Coastcare and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Maree added, "Further inclusions we hope will be weeds, fire mosaics, shorebird roosts with saltmarsh monitoring, seagrass monitoring and any other information that will aid in coastal planning and decision making."
CCAI is the only Coastcare group in the Gympie Regional Council area and its key role is to form partnerships, offer assistance and/or sponsor other groups including community groups, council, schools, business and tourism in natural resource management projects on the Cooloola Coast to raise awareness, preserve and enhance the natural environment for future generations.
For more information please contact Maree Prior on 5486 2084.
Wetlands among the drylands
Queensland Wetlands Program staff, Angela Reed from Brisbane and Donna-Marie Audas from Townsville, were in Longreach last Monday spreading the word to a bunch of eager ears in the Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) conference room.
Learning more about what a 'wetland' is and the management resource internet site WetlandInfo, were representatives from DCQ, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Natural Resources and Water, Georgina Diamantina Catchment Committee and surrounding properties.
The day's activities included a trip to two of Longreach's favourite wetlands, Lily Lagoon and the Thomson River where participants worked together to complete a data inventory form about the wetland they were observing.
For more information on wetlands and wetland management, check out the EPA's WetlandInfo website.
For more information on the work of Desert Channels Queensland, call 4658 0600.
Government updates
Working on Country funding round now open
Applications to Working on Country are now invited for 2008-09. This round will close on 11 August.
Indigenous Australians have long protected and managed land and sea country using traditional knowledge. Working on Country builds on this history of land management, by contracting Indigenous people to provide environmental services.
Their work will help to maintain, restore, protect and manage Australia's environment, the land, sea and heritage.
Working on Country is part of Caring for our Country, the Australian Government's new natural resource management initiative.
Funding for Working on Country is available from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2013, with $90 million to be invested in the program over the next five years. Up to $6 million is available for on-ground work in 2008-09.
Fourteen projects were funded in Round 1, and nine projects were funded in Round 2 of Working on Country.
For full details about how to apply including guidelines, please visit the Caring for our Country website.
$2.8 million to help Australia's coasts adapt to climate change
The Australian Government will provide $2.8 million for three new projects to help Australia's vulnerable coastal communities plan for the effects of climate change.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said adapting to the unavoidable effects of climate change is a priority under the government's climate change policy.
Senator Wong said the projects announced would gather robust scientific information to help coastal communities better prepare for and adapt to the impact of climate change.
The three projects are:
- $2 million to develop a high resolution 'Digital Elevation Model' for coastal urban areas to map the inundation risks from climate change in priority urban areas such as Perth, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
- $310 000 to develop an interactive web-based tool to enable planners, engineers and policymakers incorporate projections of high sea-level events into their planning codes.
- $479 000 to develop a tool to project how climate change affects variations in offshore wave characteristics by combining climate modelling and spectral wave modelling.
For more information on the funding visit the Australian Government website.
Blueprint themes on agenda at Clermont
Liveability, prosperity and sustainability were the themes at the Regional Community Forum at Clermont earlier this week.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries and Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin said the themes were an essential ingredient of the Queensland Government's Blueprint for the Bush.
"Blueprint for the Bush is now in its second of a 10-year whole-of-government strategy to support the rural and remote areas of the state, through such things as the Food and Agribusiness Export Strategy and building residential aged care facilities," Mr Mulherin said.
"What we want at these forums is community input into what we have done and how the communities see us developing further the State Government's role in rural Queensland."
Ministerial Regional Community Forums have been held since 1999 and are conducted up to four times a year in regions across Queensland.
The public meetings bring together Cabinet ministers and appointed regional leaders to share information and discuss topics relevant to the region.
Young Queensland scientists, this one is for you
Time is running out! You have only six weeks left to lodge an application for a 'science award' and win up to $50 000 to help develop your great agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food or natural resource industries idea.
Jennifer Firn, a University of Queensland student was the winner of last year's Queensland award. She is investigating whether Australian native grasses can reduce the spread of exotic weeds.
This year's awards are bigger and better than before, with 14 winners able to receive up to $20 000 each to undertake a project to explore an emerging scientific issue or innovative activity over a 12 month period.
One of these winners will also receive an additional $30 000 as recipient of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's Award, making the premier prize a total of up to $50 000.
Applications for the 2008 Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators and Scientists Awards close on 14 July and are open to people 18 to 35 years old who are working or studying in the agriculture sector.
For further information and to download application forms go to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) website, email the DAFF science awards administrators, or call the awards coordinator on (02) 6272 5039.
Reef updates
Long-term protection for the Great Barrier Reef
The long-term protection of the Great Barrier Reef will be significantly strengthened under legislative changes introduced into Federal Parliament this week by the federal Minister for the Environment; Peter Garrett.
"The Great Barrier Reef is one of our most significant environmental assets. The amendments to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 will support the protection and ecologically sustainable use of the marine park," Mr Garrett said.
"These legislative changes don't change the marine park's zoning, but they do ensure it delivers a high level of protection for the Great Barrier Reef," he said.
Mr Garrett said the new legislation would do this through:
- recognising the World Heritage status of the Great Barrier Reef
- applying a new streamlined environmental impact assessment process
- an improved enforcement and compliance regime providing a wider range of enforcement options tailored to the circumstances
- addressing gaps in emergency management.
"Together with measures such as the $200 million Reef Rescue Plan and action on climate change, these legislative changes will form part of the Australian Government's robust comprehensive framework for the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Garrett said.
Marine park managers fight non-compliance with education
A new zoning education campaign will be used to raise awareness about zoning in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority communications and education director Karen Vohland said the new campaign was designed to remind people of the need to understand the rules and regulations that help protect the Reef.
"Only 50 per cent of people who go fishing on the Great Barrier Reef remember to take their zoning maps with them on fishing trips. This campaign aims to encourage people to grab a free zoning map before heading out on the water," Karen said.
"Once people enter the Marine Park, they are responsible for knowing what they can and can't do in a given location, much like following traffic regulations," she said.
"If you don't know where you can go and what you can do, grab a free zoning map."
Keep an eye out for television and press advertising in Queensland coastal communities during holiday periods and the eight billboards along the Bruce Highway.
Free zoning maps are widely available from bait and tackle shops, visitor information centres, ship chandlers and Environmental Protection Agency and Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol offices. Alternatively call 1800 990 177 for a free map.
Third wave of crown-of-thorns fading away
The latest report of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Long Term Monitoring Program (LTMP) has both good news and bad news about the Great Barrier Reef (GBR).
The good news is that the third recorded crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) outbreak is waning after more than 14 years. The outbreak has worked its way down the Reef since the early 1990s. COTS outbreaks account for the largest proportion of coral mortality detected by the AIMS surveys.
Fewer starfish were seen the AIMS surveys of the GBR in 2007 than in any year for the past two decades and last year was the first since 1985 in which there were no outbreaks of the starfish in the Swain Reefs off Yeppoon.
The bad news is that COTS remains a mysterious phenomenon and it is not known when the next wave will begin. The LTMP team is continuing to conduct intensive surveys in the area where the waves of outbreaks start, to detect them in the early stages.
AIMS staff have monitored COTS populations since 1986, when the second recorded COTS wave was underway, and have been at the forefront of scientific investigation of this phenomenon.
The first recorded wave took place during the 1960s and 1970s and little is known about it.
The full LTMP report can be downloaded from the AIMS website or is available as a CD from AIMS. It is designed to provide information on population trends in key groups of organisms, particularly crown-of-thorns starfish, corals and reef fishes along the length of the GBR.
Wetlands updates
Wetland Rehabilitation Guidelines for Great Barrier Reef Catchments soon to be released
WetlandCare Australia has recently completed their 'Wetland Rehabilitation Guidelines for Great Barrier Reef Catchments'. This product was developed with funding through the Queensland Wetlands Programme, a joint initiative of the Australian and Queensland Governments.
The guideline is over 80 pages long and contains a wealth of information about how to manage and rehabilitate wetlands in coastal Queensland. To accompany the guidelines a series of case studies and fact sheets have also been produced.
For more information on the Wetland Rehabilitation Guidelines or to request a copy, please contact Cassie Price at WetlandCare Australia on telephone 02 6681 6169.
Natural resources news
Education to help prevent future water drips
Water: Learn it for life! is an exciting new water education program for Queensland schools that has been developed by the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW).
This Waterwise Queensland initiative aims to create greater awareness of water as a valuable resource and to promote long-term change in attitude and behaviour in relation to water use by embedding the learning in school curriculum.
Developed by Queensland teachers, the Water: Learn it for life! curriculum resource will teach students about the water cycle, water conservation, water recycling and purified recycled water.
Aligning with the Queensland curriculum the resources offer teachers a complete set of lesson plans and class activities that are organised into four separate year level groupings and supported by comprehensive background information.
A new edition of Whizzy's Incredible Journeys - Pick-a-Path book is also now available. This versatile publication uses narrative fiction to engage students in learning about water conservation and the water cycle.
For more information please visit the NRW Waterwise Queensland website or email the Waterwise team.
Analysing the practice of regional natural resource planning in Australia
A workshop to critically review regional natural resource planning under the Natural Heritage Trust and National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality was held on 11 June in Brisbane, jointly convened by the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) and CSIRO.
The workshop brought together selected expert government, regional NRM body and non-government practitioners to critically review regional natural resource planning and delivery over the past decade in an effort to deepen understanding and discern future research questions and regional planning directions.
Presentations were given by participants on a variety of topics including:
- negotiating the regional NRM program – reflections from the second phase of the Natural Heritage Trust to Caring for our Country
- engagement and participation
- delivery and governance
- stakeholders on the border of regional NRM
- learning and improving.
The constructive, critical reflection amongst participants at the workshop will be used to produce a summary report of key issues and insights from the workshop. Stay tuned for the workshop report in the near future!
Further information about the workshop can be obtained by emailing Cathy Robinson at CSIRO or telephone 3214 2328, or email Claire Carter from NRW or telephone 3224 2323.
Time to reward tree-mendous work
Do you know an individual, school, business or community organisation involved in helping our environment, by planting or maintaining native vegetation?
If you do, why not get a nomination in for a Queensland Arbour Day Award before Friday 1 August.
Any individual, group or organisation that has planted trees in the 2 years from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2008 is eligible to be nominated for an award in the appropriate category.
There are five award categories covering individuals, schools, local councils, business and community groups, the awards include six regional winners and the chance of a cash prize.
All interested people should visit the Queensland Arbour Day website for the details. For more information email Sarah Bishop or call 3902 4404.
Tropical forest sustainability: a climate change boon
Improved management of the world's tropical forests has major implications for humanity's ability to reduce its contribution to climate change, according to a paper published this week in the international journal, Science.
The authors, Dr Pep Canadell from CSIRO and the Global Carbon Project, and Dr Michael Raupach from CSIRO, say the billions of tons of carbon dioxide absorbed annually by the world's forests represents an 'economic subsidy' for climate change mitigation worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
However, concerns about the permanence of forest carbon stocks, challenges in quantifying changes in the size of those stocks, and concerns about the environmental and socio-economic impacts of reforestation programs, have limited the adoption of policies designed to foster forestry activities.
"With political will and the involvement of tropical regions, forests can contribute to both climate change protection through carbon sequestration and also enhanced economic, environmental and socio-cultural benefits," Dr Canadell says.
Forestry activities have the economic potential to offset 2-4 per cent of projected carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.
An estimated 13 million hectares of the world’s forested areas, almost exclusively in the tropical regions, are deforested annually.
Visit the CSIRO website for more on this story.
Celebrate 100 years of national parks in Queensland
The vivid splendour of our offshore islands; the whispering solitude of our remote bushland; the unique animals, the mighty trees and the rare plants of our wild places, these are Queensland's national park regions.
They're older than everyone; they're home to creatures and plants that are seen nowhere else in the world; they're places to walk, to explore, to listen and to wonder.
All of them are unique in ways that give them a special place in our hearts and lives and this year we celebrate them, through events, exhibitions, tours, information and a better understanding; maybe even by simply taking a walk on the wild side.
Visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website to find about the past, present and future of Queensland's national parks, visit Queensland's very first national park, Witches Falls, check out the memorabilia in a special Queensland Museum display, or take a tour of the parks and forests waiting to welcome you the length and breadth of the state.
For more information about the Centenary of Parks celebrations happening in your area visit the EPA's Centenary of Parks website or email the Centenary of Parks team.
AgForward workshop update
The AgForward team present a range of workshops to landholders, including GPS essentials, computer mapping, vegetation management, and AgForest's native forest field days.
Upcoming workshops include:
- 22 July: Camooweal - Computer mapping
- 22 July: Georgetown - Vegetation management workshop
- 23 July: Georgetown - Computer mapping
- 24 July: Hughenden - Computer mapping
- 24 July: Georgetown - Vegetation management (one-on-one assistance)
- 29 July: Daintree - GPS essentials
- 30 July: Daintree - Vegetation management
To register for the workshops contact Bree Robertson on 3238 6039. To register for the AgForests Field Day contact Rohan Allen on 0408 769 918.
More information on these workshops can be found on the AgForward website (under 'Workshops').
Get a job in NRM!
Are you interested in working with Queensland's regional natural resource management bodies? Then head to the Regional Groups' Collective website or NRMjobs website where current job opportunities are now available. Be sure to check back regularly to ensure you don't miss out on the job of a lifetime!
Here's a sample of what's on offer:
Organisation: Central Highlands Regional Resources Use Planning Cooperative (CHRRUP)
Title: Executive Officer
Salary range: $58 876 - $78 646
Location: Emerald
Closing date: 27 June 2008
The successful candidate will be able to build strong relationships, has empathy with landholders and regional community members, has good decision making skills, and can formulate and facilitate the implementation of new strategies. Experience in project and personnel management will be highly regarded.
A position description and selection criteria are available by emailing CHRRUP administration or telephoning 4982 2996.
Thought for the week
My mother said to me, "If you become a soldier, you'll be a general; if you become a monk, you'll end up as the Pope." Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.
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Last updated 11 July 2008