habitat July 2012 - Australian Conservation Foundation

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Biodiversity Bilbies on burrowed time A thriving population of bilbies have been unearthed at James Price Point, reports James Norman, smack bang in the middle of the proposed Browse gas hub. When a mining company sets its sights on industrialising a region newly listed with National Heritage status it’s worth checking (and counter checking) their claims about potential impacts on local biodiversity. Such is the case at James Price Point in the Kimberley where Woodside, BHP Billiton, BP, Chevron and Shell are attempting to build the joint venture Browse gas hub. The Woodside Browse LNG Precinct Environmental Impact Assessment stated there ‘was scant evidence of Greater Bilby activity’ in the region – so a group of researchers from Melbourne University supported by the Australian Conservation Foundation decided to test this claim. The Greater Bilby is listed under the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999 as a vulnerable species as its habitat has substantially declined in recent years. Concerned about the legitimacy of Woodside’s impact assessment, ACF joined forces with The Wilderness Society and Environs Kimberley late last year to inform Tony Burke, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, of Woodside’s work program and clearing operations. The research team installed night cameras close to James Price Point, in an area earmarked for bulldozer clearing for Woodside’s exploration work. The footage revealed photographic and video evidence of active adult and juvenile bilbies, as well as over 40 burrows with fresh diggings – clearly indicative of a resident population*. As far as we are aware this is the only recorded population on the Dampier Peninsula bioregion – an area of 83,460 km2. The last confirmed report of a live bilby on the Dampier Peninsula was in 1991, making this recent find highly significant. The elusive furry residents discovered at James Price Point are the only breeding population currently known of in the Dampier Peninsula bioregion. Minister Burke’s response to the bilby sightings has not provided any more certainty for the protection of this threatened species; “Woodside are aware of the need to consider impact on matters of national environmental significance, such as the Greater Bilby and have indicated that they will consider referral of activities that are likely to significantly impact on the species”. * The findings of this research have been compiled into a report ‘Evidence of the Greater Bilby, Macrotis lagotis at the site of the proposed James Price Point Browse LNG Precinct’. The report presents the findings from a community survey conducted in collaboration with the Goolarabooloo traditional custodians. For more information visit www.acfonline.org.au/kimberley 10 habitat July 2012
Fight or fl ight for Carnaby Cockatoo Western Australia’s biodiversity is world-renowned but its conservation laws are inadequate. Jess Beckerling explains. The spectacular southwest of WA is recognised as an international biodiversity hotspot because of its very high species diversity. Many of its flora and fauna species are found nowhere else, yet approximately 80 per cent of its natural vegetation has been destroyed or heavily degraded. WA has magnificent forests, beaches and wildlife, yet it has some of the weakest out-of-date conservation laws in the world. WA’s Wildlife Conservation Act was written in 1950, during the post war industrial boom, before Indigenous people had the right to vote, and in a time when DDT was liberally applied to children’s heads as a lice treatment. Many policies have thankfully changed radically since the 1950s and it’s time its conservation laws changed too. Black Cockatoos have long inspired a particular emotion in WA. The Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is the totem for Noongah people and they have strong spiritual significance. It’s easy to see why – they are funny, clever, loving and strikingly good-looking Yet their numbers are in steep decline. We have been warned of likely extinction, but despite this their habitat is put in harms way. Last year alone saw the numbers of Carnaby Black-Cockatoo decline 37 per cent. The main threat to their survival is lack of nesting hollows and food supply. Nesting hollows take over 100 years to develop and they are in short supply due to logging and land clearing. Last year approximately 20,000 hectares of jarrah forest died from drought stress and prescribed burns, drastically affecting their ability to nest, breed and find food. With such startling decline of an endangered species one would expect to see state government make changes to clearing and logging practices to ensure rare and highly valuable old trees with nesting hollows are protected. Instead the cockatoo faces claim that logging has no impact on their nesting hollows or food supply. It comes back to the need for protective legislation. The WA state government is focussed on the economic opportunities of the mining boom. It is failing to address the social and environmental implications of its policies and the environmental and social values its people wish to preserve. Native forests are the last refuges for many threatened species whose habitats have already been dramatically reduced, fragmented and altered. It’s time we protect our biodiversity and establish laws that reflect our concern for the survival of our wildlife and wild places. If we don’t, the Carnaby Black-Cockatoo will become a totem for a species lost. You will do better with a bankmecu home loan package 6.39% p.a. 6.69% p.a. * comparison rate First Homebuyers Package Buying your first home? Check out our fully featured home loan package that’s just for first homebuyers. Construction Package Looking to build a new home or buy off the plan? Our construction package has a host of benefits other loans don’t. Renovators Package About to embark on a big renovation? Check out our fully featured renovators home loan package. What are you waiting for? Go to bankmecu.com.au/loans or call us on 132 888. An annual package fee applies to all packages. mecu Limited ABN 21 087 651 607 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence Number 238431 trading as bankmecu. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply and are available on application. Loans subject to normal lending criteria and approval. Interest rates expressed as annual percentage rates. Variable loan rates correct as at 02/03/2012, however are subject to change at any time. Check bankmecu.com.au for the latest rates. *The comparison rate is based on a secured loan of $150,000 over 25 years. Warning: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given, and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. 33338HAB habitat July 2012 11
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habitat July 2012 - Australian Conservation Foundation

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