Friday 27 November 2009

Vigilance about environment


White-lipped Tree Frog Litoria infrafrenata
Photo by Rebecca Diete










Striped Possum Dactylopsila trivergata Photo by Rebecca Diete






























Andy,
I took some friends down the Centenary Lakes Boardwalk last night and got these photos.(26/11/09)
Just looking at these I am prompted to ask everybody to stay vigilant in defending the environment and keep the pressure on our Council to take more care than they have done considering the recent habitat destruction in Saltwater Creek. 
The most disappointing feature of this is that no thought at all was given to the importance of this mangrove forest as a habitat and as a consequence no thought of any means to preserve it. We must strive to change the thinking of those who govern us, we have much to lose. 
Brian Venables,Edge Hill.

1 comment:

  1. I've just been fortunate enough to spend some time in and around Cairns with Andy Anderson and saw for myself the vegetation clearance undertaken on Saltwater Creek. Here in the UK this kind of work would absolutely have to be preceded by a full ecological survey and assessement, ideally a full calendar year's worth. This would then allow a robust mitigation strategy to be devised and implemented.

    I'm not at all au fait with the legislative framework in Queensland but I can't believe that the local authority can get away without protecting the environment, even when the work is deemed essential and/or 'minor'. Maybe they simply don't give a damn? The reasons given for the clearance are highly dubious it seems to me - how can mangrove removal be an acceptable method for conserving fish stocks or flood defence? Aren't mangroves and other wetland habitats a natural defence against flooding as well as spawning grounds for fish? Basic ecology.

    Anyway, my advice is to gather as much detailed information on these unprotected sites as you can - species lists, breeding territories, population estimates etc - as it is only hard evidence that will ever stop this kind of pointless destruction of valuable habitat. What's the local university doing for goodness/ sake? Ideal project for students as well as local birders...

    OK, best of luck.

    Tristan Norton
    Winchester, Hampshire, UK

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