World famous bird habitat
protected forever
Joint media release
21 May 2010
A world-famous bird watching property in
Queensland was today added to Australia's
National Reserve System, protecting the
habitat of hundreds of bird species.
Not-for-profit group
the Australian Wildlife Conservancy purchased
the 14,000 hectare Bowra Station near Cunnamulla
for conservation, with $1.2 million from
the Australian Government through Caring
for our Country and generous private donations.
Environment Protection
Minister Peter Garrett joined celebrations
at the new Bowra Sanctuary today, on the
eve of the International Day for Biological
Diversity.
"This remarkable
bird refuge is one of a kind and I'm especially
delighted we could help protect it for future
generations," Mr Garrett said.
"The diversity
of Bowra's bird life is staggering featuring
more than 200 different species, ranging
from the pink Major Mitchell's cockatoo
to top predators such as the grey falcon.
"Bowra's woodlands
and deep waterholes are alive with rare
species, including the vulnerable yakka
skink, a range of river turtles and the
tiny stripe-faced dunnart.
"This outback oasis
feeds water to the iconic Warrego and Paroo
rivers and lies in one of the most poorly
conserved bioregions in the country, so
protecting it is a big achievement."
Australian Wildlife
Conservancy founder Martin Copley said they
received generous assistance from Birds
Australia, the Bird Observer's Club, Birds
Queensland and AWC supporters around Australia
to help protect Bowra.
"Bowra is known
internationally as a 'must see' for bird-lovers
visiting Australia and we look forward to
it being a showcase for bird conservation
into the future," Mr Copley said.
"Education and
research will be a big focus for the new
sanctuary - we're about to launch a baseline
scientific survey of Bowra's habitat and
wildlife, and we'll use the results to develop
practical strategies to tackle feral animals,
weeds and fire management.
"One of the things
that first drew us to Bowra was its remarkable
condition - it's been carefully managed
for decades by the one pastoral family,
and we're continuing to draw on their local
knowledge and experience."
Former owners Ian and
Julie McLaren said Bowra has been home to
five generations of the McLaren family,
so the decision to sell was tough. "Our
family has cared for this spot for generations,
and we've always known it was something
special. Deciding to sell was hard, but
offering it to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy
felt like the right way to go," Mr
McLaren said.
For more information visit australianwildlife.org.au/Bowra.aspx
or environment.gov.au/parks/nrs
+ More
Research improves understanding
of threats to Antarctic wildlife
Media release - 20 May
2010 - Environment Protection Minister,
Peter Garrett, today launched the book ‘Health
of Antarctic Wildlife: A challenge for Science
and Policy’ at Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney.
“The Book Health of
Antarctic Wildlife not only looks at the
human impact on Antarctica but also how
our activities over the rest of the globe
are affecting this remote and extraordinary
continent,” Mr Garrett said.
“The research provides
a fascinating insight, showing for example,
that the health of Antarctic seals and birds
are potentially being compromised by humans
introducing diseases, global warming, illegal,
unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing
and even by pesticides transported by global
atmospheric circulation.”
Edited by Australian
Antarctic Division scientists Dr Martin
Riddle and Dr Knowles Kerry, the book represents
over a decade of work by 28 contributors,
and provides a broad assessment of disease
and other threats to the health of Antarctic
birds and seals, with a focus on ensuring
that our presence in Antarctica does not
add to the natural challenges faced by these
animals.
The Minister echoed
the remarks of US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, who at a joint session of the Antarctic
Treaty Consultative Meeting and Arctic Council
in 2009 to celebrate the 50th anniversary
of the Antarctic Treaty, highlighted the
importance of continued commitment to better
managing the impacts of human activity on
Antarctica, including Antarctic tourism.
“The number of visitors
landing in Antarctica has expanded from
12,000 in 2000/2001, to around 36,800 in
the 2009/2010 Antarctic summer season. This
growth in the industry, along with the continuing
presence of people conducting scientific
research and changing attitudes to the environment,
bring into question how human activity should
be managed to protect the Antarctic environment,”
Mr Garrett said.
“As a consequence of
the research that went into this book, Australia
has developed our own procedures - building
on the principles of the Madrid Protocol
- to reduce the chance of disease introduction
and spread by human activity and we encourage
other nations to adopt similar precautions.”
“Australia is very aware
of the increased international activity
in Antarctica, including in the Australian
Antarctic Territory, and we are committed
to ensuring that the management of such
activities continues to improve, and our
interests are advanced."
“The Government has committed to continue
to fund the intercontinental Airlink, to
continue to undertake Antarctic Treaty inspections,
and to the development of a new 10 year
Science Strategic Plan which seeks to deliver
the maximum benefits to the Antarctic environment
and Australia.”
The book is targeted
at scientists, policy makers and administrators
involved in protecting and promoting the
health of Antarctic wildlife from around
the world.
Pictures and Vision available at: ftp://ftp.aad.gov.au/Public/News_Media_Files/Human_Impacts/
