In Queensland, we now have rules on broadscale land clearing,
effectively banning it. Before these rules came into effect, there
was a period where farmers were still allowed to clear land, but knew
about the rules. We too have a clause stating that regrowth can be
cleared, whereas remnant cannot be. Care to guess what happened in
the period between the farmers finding this out, and the rules coming
into force?
That said, I think that we cannot and should not blame farmers for
this situation. We are trying to tell them how to farm their land, an
activity which has sustained our country economically since it began,
and cannot cease if we hope to remain a prosperous nation. Education
has to be the way forward. People have been mentioning the inability
to enforce laws on land clearing. We live in a very big country.
Laws are made in cities far removed from the locations they are
affecting, and these laws will be ignored if it suits. If we can
(tactfully) educate farmers to look after their sustainably, then
everyone benefits.
Chris - Brisbane
On Thu, 9 Dec 2004 19:55:16 +1100, Greg Clancy <> wrote:
>
> As the Ecological Society of Australia's rep. on the Clarence Regional
> Vegetation Committee (North Coast NSW) for four years I have grave concerns
> about the draft Native Vegetation Regulation. The issue of trade-offs (or
> off-sets) was raised then and scattered old-growth habitat trees, providing
> habitat for hollow nesters but also the nests of the Black-necked Stork,
> Osprey, Whistling Kite, Brahminy Kite etc., were going to be traded for
> areas of planted new trees. The problem is how does one determine how many
> seedlings is sufficient to replace one 100 year old tree? How can we be
> sure that these seedlings will be allowed to reach maturity? What do all of
> the birds, mammals etc. do while they are waiting for these seedlings to
> become habitat trees (hollows suitable for fauna take on average 100-150
> years to develop). David Geering says don't worry the hurdles are too great
> to jump so there will in fact be no broadscale clearing. I do not share
> David's confidence that all is well in the kingdom.
>
> It is time that scientists and birdwatchers alike took an active role in
> determining the legislation that will seriously impact (positively or
> negatively) on our birds and their habitat in New South Wales.
>
> Of course, to jump in and write a submission without doing some research
> would be unwise. Carmel Flint has provided some references to allow people
> to check the NCEC claims. Check them and write a submission to help our
> birds.
>
>
> Regards
> Greg
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