Linking hands for life
7th September 2010
The well recognised Landcare hands remind us that care of the environment is our responsibility – it is in our hands. As the list of vulnerable and threatened species grows, we need to work together much more effectively to restore and repair our environment. We also need to learn how to better share our environment with the animals and plants that were here long before us. We need to be Linking hands for life.
A Communities in Landscapes initiative in partnership with:
Caring for our Country - 2010-11 Community Action Grants - Closing date for applications 31 August 2010
The Australian Government's Caring for our Country Community Action Grants 2010-11 round is now open. Applications for 2010-11 Community Action Grants close at 5pm (AEST) on 31 August 2010.
NSW Landcare Group Statistics - September 2010
A report on NSW Landcare group statistics, as of September 2010, is attached.
NSW Landcare Group Statistics - August 2010
A report on NSW Landcare group statistics, as of August 2010, is attached.
Register on the National Landcare Directory by 6/9/2010 to be eligible for a prize!
The new National Landcare Directory has been launched by Landcare Australia Ltd, who is encouraging all groups involved in volunteer community environment projects to register on the Directory.
Please note, if you had registered details on the old Directory, you will need to reenter them on the new Directory if you still want them to appear.
The original NSW Landcare Website has closed down
The original NSW Landcare website (www.landcarensw.org and www.landcare.nsw.gov.au) has closed down.
Draft Australian Framework for Landcare - open for comment until 30 July
The Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is supporting the Landcare community to develop an Australian Framework for Landcare to guide Landcare over the next 20 years.
The development of the Australian Framework for Landcare is your opportunity to have a say about the way forward for Landcare.
The submission period to comment on the draft Australian Framework for Landcare is currently open and will close on 30 July 2010.
For more information, and to submit your comments online, please click here for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
NSW Landcare Group Statistics - July 2010
A report on NSW Landcare group statistics, as of July 2010, is attached.
Is that a cackle, a croak, or a ribbit?
ACT and Region Frogwatch invites you to a Frog Call Identification Evening in July
- Learn about our local frog species
- Learn how to identify different frogs by their calls
- Practise identifying frogs from a chorus - what species and how many are there?
Hosted by the Catchment Groups of the ACT and Region, these evenings will include a presentation as well time to listen to frog call recordings and practise your frog identification skills!
These free evenings are ideal for anyone interested in frogs including those who have previously participated in Frogwatch and want some
further practice identifying the different species.
Taking a punt on endangered species
Squirrel Glider: an endangered population in the Wagga Wagga LGA
Photo Peter Menkhorst © DEC
The Sydney Morning Herald
TOM ARUP
June 19, 2010
PROFESSOR Hugh Possingham's idea is simple - it is called endangered species lottery.
First, the government creams off $20 million from taxes on gambling revenues as a prize. The names of Australian endangered species are written on balls and put in a barrel. On Melbourne Cup day the environment minister draws a ball from the barrel live on television just before the big race.
Landholders who have populations of the winning species on their property are given a slice of the $20 million pie, with more money apportioned for larger populations.
Possingham, a world renowned ecologist and mathematician at the University of Queensland, says the lottery would encourage landowners to look after and even increase these populations of endangered species in the hope of winning money.
It is the most compelling idea Possingham can think of to engage the public with efforts to protect Australia's fast disappearing flora and fauna.
A majority of scientists say on the best available evidence the world is facing two environmental catastrophes. The first is global warming. The second is the rapid loss of biodiversity - the mass extinction of plant and animal species at up to 1000 times the natural rate. But over the last year the public appears to have lost interest in the message.
