The challenges of species adaptation in a heating land

Sydney, 12th and 13th November, 2008 

Australia’s plants and animals and ecosystems are already feeling the effects of climate change.  As one of the few wealthy mega bio-diverse countries, Australia is in a position to make a major contribution to protecting the world’s biodiversity.

Loss of biodiversity and ecosystems will not only negatively affect our natural environment, but will significantly impact on the ecosystem services that give us food, potable water, fibre and shelter.

In our ancient and beloved ‘sunburnt country’ our unique biodiversity and ecosystems are under great threat from the potential speed of climate change.

Submission Deadline now 29 August 2008 - you still have time to get your's in!

The secret’s out. Our National Parks are places we should all go and visit and the Government wants to encourage this. But some industry lobbyists are pushing for less eco-friendly outcomes.

The NSW Government has set up a Task Force headed up by Brian Gilligan to advise the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Tourism about increasing visitor numbers and tourism expenditure. The Government believes there are many benefits for NSW in doing this, both to the people and the economy; but this could be a dangerous combination for parks.

The World Environment Day Conservation Awards have become an annual event for NCC and for conservationists and environmental activists across the state to celebrate their extraordinary efforts in protecting NSW’s environment.

The awards recognise the efforts of the grassroots environment movement and celebrate the enormous amount of work, passion and commitment that goes into not only the big victories, but also the tiny wins, the setbacks, and the outright losses.

The State’s peak environment group congratulates the State Government on its decision today to shelve the controversial proposal to pump water from the Kangaloon Aquifer in the southern highlands.

“I congratulate the NSW Government on its very sensible decision not to proceed with drilling Kangaloon’s aquifer to supply Sydney with a few days water supply. This is an important step towards a sustainable water supply for Sydney and it’s encouraging to see the Government listening to the local community’s concerns in this instance,” said Cate Faehrmann executive director of the Nature Conservation Council.

The Nature Conservation Council has announced a new framework for national action on climate change.

Climate change is the greatest environmental threat, challenge and opportunity ever to face humanity. In light of new science on climate change, with observed changes outstripping even the most dire projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it is time to step up the action. Read our position paper, which proposes turning around our emissions by 2010, halving Australia's 1990 emissions by 2020 and aiming for national carbon neutrality by 2040.

The Basalt Tableland Forest located at Mt. Rae, one of the last remaining basalt bushlands in NSW, is under imminent threat of being logged for timber under the Private Native Forestry Code of Practice. Mt. Rae is home to a diversity of flora and fauna, many of which are under serious threat of extinction.