Dear Burney,
Yesterday in the Daintree Valley we heard of a local grazier who could not
believe how hot it was, "I've lived here all my life and its never been this
hot. Never in my whole life." This fellow along with some of his colleagues
had taken advantage of the dry conditions late last year and our slack
government to set fires which burnt well into the rainforest. In one
instance going through the understorey as far as the ridge line. Still to
see how much of this forest dies.
Here on the Tablelands we have landholders who use the practice every year
to reduce the amount of forest on their properties. This is despite that it
provides little extra grazing and devalues their properties. Forested
properties are much more highly valued than grazing blocks. Can we get our
governments to recognise that deforestation costs? No, but they'll give rate
rebates (in the form of differential rating) to the farmers on the lessened
valuation and not to conservationists. Land taxes are supposed to be based
on the unimproved value of the property. There is a gross lack of integrety
in the system as well as stupidity.
Regards,
Alan
Alan's Wildlife Tours
2 Mather Road
Yungaburra 4884
Phone 07 4095 3784
Mobile 0408 953 786
http://www.alanswildlifetours.com.au/
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