The "woody weeds" issue has been one that has been at the forefront of western
graziers complaints for some years and has been used as excuse to carry out
clearing which they were allowed under there western leases. Burning was the
preferred method especially for Mallee with repented burns until eliminated.
Fortunately or unfortunately the shift in recent times has been to so called
Woody Weed. In in recent times (November 2005) the actual number of species
classified as Woody weeds has increased to double that of a few years ago. This
now includes most wide spread scrub species including Eucalptus species such as
Coolabah.
Recently the Western CMA has given approval for 30,00 hectares to be cleared as
part of property owners PVP (Property Vegetation Plans) and as part of the
condition to be kept cleared. The underpinning argument for eliminating the
Invasive Natives Scrubs (INS) (new name for Woody Weeds) is to improve the
bio-diversity and return the country to its so called original condition. One
of the targets for Western CMA is to create one million hectares of grazing
land in the next 15 years. So under the guise over the next few years INS will
be continually be used as a basis for more clearing.
The aspect I find funny is the West 2000 project did a study on Woody Weeds
and found out they were very rich in bio-diversity, but never do you find this
study mentioned by landholders who commissioned the study. Its easy to see why,
especially if you have ever sat in a clump of flowering "Emu-bush" alive with
honeyeaters, especially black and White-fronted and the odd Pied, but of cause
this is an introduced plants so its all an illusion on my part as the
propaganda would have us believe these areas infected with Invasive Native
Scrub are a biological desert, but if we clear!!!!
Regards.
Neville W. Schrader OAM
2 Elizabeth St.,
Parkes NSW 2870
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
=============================
|
