The Current Mass Extinction Event
Loggerhead turtle (Wikipedia) |
The world is undergoing the largest mass extinction in 65 million years. Australia has been particularly hard hit with many species at risk.
Protecting Biodiversity in Australia
- More reserves - Expanding and connecting existing public reserve areas. Protection of endangered habitats with new reserves. Improved management of public reserves to control pests. Minimise damage from bushfires via frequent controlled burning or other techniques as recommended. New reserves may be established on degraded farm land. (See Parks) page.
- More enclosed reserves - Enclosing large areas with vermin-resistant fencing. This may include some existing reserves as well as new ones where fencing is feasible.
- Land for Wildlife - Encouraging a network of 'Land for Wildlife' reserves on private land. See Land Tax Changes.
- A Lot Less Logging - Introducing Logging Tax is likely to curtail most logging in native forests in Australia. This will greatly improve protection of forest areas and also the rivers that will benefit from the greater stream flows. Higher taxes on pollution will also discourage pulp mills from operating.
- Opposing Climate Change - See the Climate Tax and Climate pages.
- Cutting the Population Burden - See the Population page.
- Native Pets - The breeding and sale of feral animals such as cats, rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs
for pets should be discouraged. Instead the keeping of approved small native animals in large enclosures should
be encouraged.
Clearly not all small native animals are suitable either as they are too dangerous too difficult to keep. However, a great many small natives could easily be kept in a backyard enclosure. Surplus animals bred in captivity can be released back into the wild boosting overall stocks of native fauna. This would also greatly reduce the numbers of feral animals such as dogs and cats being dumped into the environment.
International Marine Biodiversity
In international waters Australia has very limited scope to act unilaterally. Action to preserve at-risk species or ecosystems will have to be agreed upon by a wide range of countries.
Possibly no-take zones could be negotiated that cover areas of key significance such as known breeding areas.
International Terrestrial Biodiversity
Australian aid projects may be able to assist developing countries to manage remnant pockets of natural landscape. This would be likely to involve sustainable commercial use of these resources rather than trying to establish exclusive parks that do not directly benefit the local people.
Fisheries collapse
23th Aug 2009: "We are at the last chance cafe when it comes to fisheries." - AMCS. more...
Tsunami of species loss
4th Oct 2008: "Whether through habitat loss, pollution, hunting or indirectly by global warming, humans are to blame for what may be the first major die-off in 65 million years..." more...
The Current Mass Extinction
8th March 2006: "...Environmental scientists say they have concrete evidence
that the planet is undergoing the largest mass extinction in 65 million years. Leading
environmental scientist Professor Norman Myers says the Earth is experiencing its Sixth Extinction." more...
At Risk
See this list in Wikipedia: Endangered fauna of
Australia
Stop the pulpmill
"Stopping the pulp mill is crucial because it will be a disaster for climate change. It will be 80 per cent native forest-based, consuming an area of forest equivalent to 100,000 MCGs. Marine life, human health and other industries, including tourism, agriculture and fisheries are also threatened by this polluting development." more
Native Pets
See these sites for information on native pets:
- Convict Creations - Animals that could be kept as alternatives to cats, rabbits, guinea pigs etc.
- ABC Earthbeat - The practicalities of keeping native animals as pets.
- Easter Bilby - Marsupial Pets, feline alternatives that help, not harm.