Hi everybody -
For your information, the media release below.
Regards,
Hugo
-------------------------------------
MEDIA RELEASE
October 12, 1999.
COMMUNITY BASED CONSERVATION - THE POWER OF MANY
The members of Australia's oldest national conservation group, Birds
Australia, have dug deep in an attempt to halt one of the country's most
alarming wildlife and habitat losses. Almost $50,000 has been raised by
members of the group and a further $20,000 contributed by the Queensland
Government to establish a program to halt the decline of woodlands and
forest in the Brigalow region, critical habitat for Australian native birds.
Project Coordinator Mr Mick Fendley said the fundraising effort by members
and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service came in response to the
development of a program which brings together government, land owners,
community groups and volunteers to address the problem.
'Of the six million hectares of Brigalow woodlands which existed in
Queensland and northern New South Wales before European settlement, less
that 1 per cent is now protected in national parks or reserves' said Mr
Fendley. 'By working with land owners, government agencies and
environmental groups we can prevent the disastrous loss of habitat which
has taken place in southern Australia.
Australia's woodlands occur in a belt that stretches from the inland slopes
and plains of the Great Dividing Range to the southern Flinders Ranges of
South Australia and the south west of Western Australia. Today 80-90% of
the woodland region has been cleared and according to Birds Australia over
thirty endangered and vulnerable species rely on habitats in the woodland
region. These include the Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Bush Stone Curlew, Diamond
Firetail and southern races of the Squatter Pigeon and Black-throated Finch
and eastern race of the Star Finch. The woodlands were once the stronghold
of the now presumed extinct Paradise Parrot and home to several regionally
extinct species of rare mammals including the Bilby, Northern Bettong and
Plains Rat.
The innovative project will be launched in Queensland with a particular
emphasis on demonstrating the importance of wildlife conservation as part
of sustainable pastoral production to farmers and graziers.
Birds Australia is a non-profit, membership based organisation. Benefits
of annual membership at a cost of $51 include the quarterly magazine
'Wingspan', free entry to Birds Australia Observatories and Reserves and
local activities and information.
------------------------------------------------------------
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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