NEW WILDLIFE RESERVE IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
MEDIA RELEASE - 8 OCTOBER 2001
In a world where our natural environment seems to be under constant attack
from overgrazing, land clearing and salinisation, Birds Australia is
delighted to announce the launch of its second major habitat reserve -
Newhaven - in the southern part of the Northern Territory, Australia's
heartland.
Senator Robert Hill, Minister for the Environment, is to officially launch
the new Reserve on Tuesday 9 October at a ceremony attended by
representatives of Birds Australia, the government of the Northern
Territory and the local community, including the traditional landowners.
The purchase of the 260,000 hectare former Newhaven Station as a habitat
reserve was enabled by a major appeal in 2000 to Birds Australia members
and supporters, as well as by a substantial grant from the Natural Heritage
Trust.
"Newhaven Reserve is a wonderful example of how governments and
non-government conservation organisations can work together to safeguard
critically important parts of our natural heritage" said Jim Downey, Birds
Australia CEO. "We look forward to further cooperation with the
Commonwealth Government, Territory Government, Aboriginal traditional
owners and others in the local community in managing our new reserve for
the protection of rare plant communities and threatened birds and other
animals."
Rare or threatened birds that have been seen at Newhaven include the
Princess Parrot, Grey Falcon, Striated Grasswren and Grey Honeyeater, as
well as the mysterious Night Parrot. Threatened mammals include the
Mulgara, Black-footed Rock-Wallaby and the elusive Marsupial Mole.
Newhaven will be Birds Australia's second reserve. It's first, Gluepot
Reserve in South Australia's Murray Mallee region, was acquired in 1997.
Gluepot is open to the public as well as being an important centre for
environmental research on mallee habitats. It is intended that Newhaven
will similarly become a major research centre for natural habitats in
central Australia and is likely to be opened to the public in 2002, after
essential management actions have been completed.
---------------------------
Hugo Phillipps
Communications Coordinator
Birds Australia
415 Riversdale Road
HAWTHORN EAST 3123, Australia
Tel: (03) 9882 2622, fax: (03) 9882 2677
Email: <>
Web site: <http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au>
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