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Greetings list
members - this may be of interest to some of you. Cheers
Jenny
Conserving the
ACTs Lowland Vegetation
- which way
forward?
- a
free public Forum to discuss how to protect native woodlands and
grasslands for the
long-term
Wednesday 15 March
2006
2pm
to 5.30pm
Optus Theatre, CSIRO Discovery
Clunies Ross Street,
Black Mountain, ACT
Hosted by the Conservation Council of the SE Region and
Canberra
Facilitator: Mr
Stuart McMahon, Manager Community Programs, NSW Parks
and Wildlife Service
(South Division)
Speakers
include:
Dr Phil Gibbons, Senior Project Officer,
CSIRO Sustainable
Ecosystems
(chief architect of NSW ?no net loss?
system)
Dr Rosemary Purdie, ACT Commissioner for the
Environment
Ms Sarah Sharp, Senior Plant Ecologist,
Environment ACT
Speaker (tba) Victorian Department of
Sustainability and Environment
Against a background of increasing land degradation
and declining biodiversity, most States are implementing
legislation to control further clearing of native
vegetation. For example, in NSW and Victoria, systems are based
on the "no net loss" principle. In 2004, the ACTs Legislative
Assembly rejected a private member?s sponsored Bill for native
vegetation protection modelled on the Victorian system - there
was support in-principle for the Bill's aspirations, but the practical
implications of this kind of system in the ACT were identified
as needing more consideration. The ALP has an election
commitment to review the Nature Conservation Act and consider the
practicalities of implementing a "no net loss" system. A community
debate is now timely.
While the ACT still has some
large areas of high quality lowland vegetation, over 75% of native
vegetation in the Canberra area and Murrumbidgee Valley has been cleared, and
continues to be cleared for urban and infrastructure development. The
main focus has been on conserving threatened species and communities
and 'significant' large trees. There is a need to consider
native habitat and biodiversity conservation more broadly, to turn around a
continual loss of native vegetation to a net gain and restoration - in
both non-urban and urban contexts.
This Forum aims to have a broad ranging discussion on
how we can best conserve lowland vegetation in the ACT for future
generations. Speakers will discuss approaches to native vegetation
protection in different jurisdictions, what lessons can be learned, and what
systems could be appropriate for the ACT. There will be an
opportunity for a wide range of interests, including from Governments, community
groups, land managers, researchers and interested individuals to put their
views.
No booking required. Please register from 1.30pm, for prompt
2pm start.
Afternoon Tea will be provided. Parking available at
venue.
Enquiries: Conservation Council of the SE Region and
Canberra
Ph 02 6247 7808
Email:
Website:
www.ecoation.net.au
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