SPACE INVADERS TWO - Invasive exotic species

 Having recently written about wildlife sharing our space, this week I’m prompted to write about space invaders of another sort - invasive species, particularly exotic weeds, and our ongoing contribution to that problem.

 Governments at all levels across Australia spend a small fortune promoting the need to prevent weeds spreading into our environment, formulating weed management plans and educating the public on how to deal with them. However, when it comes to the crunch, the failure to manage weeds is most predominant on land owned and/or managed by those very governments.

 Not only are government agencies failing to manage invasive weeds on public land, they are actively spreading them, often through sheer negligence.

 In just the last month I have encountered two such cases in our own district. The first was a case of recent road maintenance in Yuraygir National Park near Brooms Head, where introduced gravel and rocks have brought with them a variety of weeds including the highly invasive grass species, Setaria. 

 

Photo: John Edwards

 Originally introduced to Australia as a pasture grass, the two metre-tall Setaria is now one of the more invasive species on the North Coast, and at Brooms Head has now invaded over 10 metres either side of the road, extending along the road for hundreds of metres, ably assisted by the excessive soil disturbance that occurred during the process.

The second case is along Rushforth Road where a particularly nasty invasive weed, Singapore Daisy, has been brought in by excavators undertaking repairs to water mains.

  

Photo: John Edwards

Unfortunately, despite extensive government funded advertising telling us how to prevent the spread of weeds, including not dumping garden waste, and ensuring earth-moving machines and slashers are cleaned before moving to new areas, these are two of the biggest problems. However, while dumping is illegal, there are no strict, legally enforceable protocols in place for the latter. Why not?

 The NSW Department of Primary Industries strongly recommends we follow best practice guidelines for weed hygiene, including thorough cleaning of machinery. Is it too much to expect our governments to set an example?

 

-        John Edwards

 

 Originally published under the title "Space Invaders Two" in the Voices for the Earth column in The Clarence Valley Independent ,19 March, 2025.

 

Destructive logging in the Great Koala National Park exposed

 MEDIA RELEASE 

National Parks Association (NPA)

27th March 2025

A report  (The Plan to Keep Logging the Great Koala National Park) produced by the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) and Wilderness Australia shows the depth of destructive logging taking place across several forests within the proposed Great Koala National Park right now, including Sheas Nob, Ingalba, and Orara East State Forests. 

Previous analysis by the North East Forest Alliance has shown that since the Minns Government was elected, 7,185 hectares have already been logged within the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) assessment area. Additionally, 1,924 hectares are currently being logged, with another 3,469 hectares scheduled for the next six months. If delays continue,12,578 hectares could be destroyed, threatening the survival of one of the most important koala populations in NSW. 

NPA CEO Gary Dunnett stated, “The Great Koala National Park proposal was designed around two basic principles: to protect as much as possible of the core Koala habitats and populations of the region; and to focus exclusively on existing National Parks and State Forests.  

‘The reason for concentrating on public lands is that determining their future is the responsibility of the Premier of the day.   

‘This report paints a stark picture of what this means for Premier Minns’ reputation- the longer he delays declaring the new park, the more koalas will be needlessly lost” concluded Mr Dunnett. 

 

 

 

 

BIRDWATCHING AND TOURISM IN AUSTRALIA

 Birdwatching is an important tourist industry in Australia – both for Australians and also for international tourists.

In the year to June 2024 international tourists spent $2.6 billion on travel that involved birdwatching according to Tourism Research Australia.  Over the same period domestic overnight tourists spent $636 million which was a 53 per cent increase from 2021.

These figures include money spent on transport, accommodation, food and activities by birdwatchers, many of whom chase rare species long distances across the country.

Australia is considered the “holy grail” of birding.” according to Murdoch University conservation scientist Dr Rochelle Steven.  As the home to the second highest number of endemic bird species in the world, it attracts birdwatchers from across the globe.

“For someone from the other side of the world, seeing a common rainbow lorikeet is a huge thrill,” she said.

She pointed out that birdwatching as a tourist attraction remains largely overlooked in Australia in comparison to countries such as the UK where they understand the economic value of birdwatching.

Australian companies conducting birdwatching tours are well aware that they are part of a growth industry. David Mead, owner of Great Northern Birdwatching Tours, said his group tours across Cape York, The Gulf of Carpentaria, western Queensland, the Simpson Desert and parts of SA and WA are often booked out a year in advance.

“Far North Queensland is huge for birding – about half of Australia’s bird species can be found here,” he said.

As well as being a major drawcard for tourists, birdwatching is helping support conservation efforts. 

Birdlife Australia CEO Kate Millar said, “Almost one in six Australian birds are threatened with extinction, so recognising the economic value of bird tourism could drive more investment in conservation.”

“If people don’t know or care about our birds, then it’s hard to get the resources to protect them in the future.”

If you want to find out about our local birds, obtain a copy of the Clarence Valley Birdos’ comprehensive “Bird Routes” brochure which is available online and in some tourism outlets.

-        Leonie Blain

 Originally published under the title "Birdwatching and Tourism" in the Voices for the Earth column in The Clarence Valley Independent ,26 February, 2025.