Magazine of National Parks Association of Queensland World Heritage The most highly protected areas in Australia PLUS Abuse it...and lose it Reflections on 60 years of National Park experiences ALSO FEATURED Main Range National Park Hastings River mouse Issue 18 December 2017 - January 2018 1 Contents From the President ������������������������� 3 Main Range National Park ������������� 10 FROM THE PRESIDENT World Heritage - an introduction ������ 4 Hastings River mouse ������������������� 12 Abuse it���and lose it - The National Park Experience �������� 13 reflections on 60 years of national Spotlight: Ranger of the Month ������ 14 park experiences ���������������������������� 8 What’s On / Vale �������������������������� 15 Editorial team Advertising enquiries Jeannie Rice and Marika Strand� Please email admin@npaq�org�au or phone (07) 3367 0878� Graeme Bartrim Contributor guidelines Advertising policy President, National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ) NPAQ invites contributions to Protected Advertisements are required to align with articles� Please email admin@npaq�org�au for a relevant NPAQ policies� NPAQ reserves the At university a few years ago one of to make long term decisions�” that any new national parks are to be schedule of future editions� right to refuse any advertisement at any time� Advertisement in Protected does not imply the text books was The Theory of •“It’s time for the conservation declared only if sufficient management Contributors, please include contact details NPAQ’s endorsement of products or services� Island Biogeography published in movement to get a big goal instead of budget is allocated may have perverse and brief personal summary� Articles can be 1967 and written by Robert MacArthur aiming for incremental progress�” outcomes� There are many initiatives submitted via email or hard copy� Digital photos Copyright and disclaimer and Edward O� Wilson� The book to conserve or restore biodiversity, should be minimum 300dpi� discusses the number of species •“Our goal should be to preserve half however it is questionable that long NPAQ retains copyright of Protected� Articles of the planet to protect around 80% of may be quoted provided that appropriate in an isolated environment being term conservation outcomes will be Cover image the world’s species�” acknowledgement occurs in the reproduction determined by rates of extinction achieved� For example, companies, as Wet sclerophyll forest - Mt Barney National and use of material� and immigration� It also recognises It is of great interest to place this required, spend large sums of money Park that different evolutionary paths can goal in context� In 2005, scientists at on biodiversity offsets, often where Photo: NPAQ Image library Articles in Protected do not necessarily reflect NPAQ’s opinion or position� be taken� This book influenced the the University of Wisconsin-Madison the science is poorly understood, and design of conservation areas� As a estimated that 40% of land, globally, outcomes may not be in perpetuity� young student this was of interest and was used for farming (75% of this Legally protected areas remain About NPAQ enough was learned to ensure exams devoted to growing feed for livestock) the best mechanism to conserve were passed� There were of course biodiversity values� Mission statement with an additional 3% occupied by other interests and priorities that a urban development� Questions abound: do we as a The National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ) student with no responsibilities needed As of 2014 it was estimated that community emulate my student promotes the preservation, expansion and good to pursue� management of national parks in Queensland� 15�4% of global terrestrial land was days, i�e� finding issues and potential E�O� Wilson continued his protected� solutions of some interest, but distinguished, and on occasion, focusing greater attention on the Council Staff In October 2010, the Conference controversial career� As Professor immediate, and at times pleasurable, President Graeme Bartrim Business Development Officer Marika Strand of the Parties in Nagoya, Japan, Emeritus at Harvard, Foreign Policy, in distractions? Can we genuinely come Vice Presidents Yvonne Parsons Conservation Officer Laura Hahn proposed that 17% of land and 10% of 2005 he was named one of the world’s to grips with the long term needs of Geoff Miller Project & Office Administrator Jeannie Rice the world’s oceans be protected and one hundred leading intellectuals� His biodiversity conservation? Can we Hon Treasurer Neil Williams that peoples be aware of the values words have often been challenging, utilize the considered thinking of great Hon Secretary Debra Marwedel of biodiversity by 2020� Australia including in his recent 2016 book Half minds such as E�O� Wilson? Asst Hon Secretary Jacqueline Rose’Meyer Contact details is a participant in this� In 2014 the Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life� In Councillors David Ball Australian Government Department Wishing you a happy and peaceful Office Unit 10/36 Finchley St, Milton this book, or in commentary around, it Suzanne Cooper Post PO Box 1040, Milton QLD 4064 of Environment, whilst reporting that Christmas and looking forward to Wilson states: creating and seizing opportunities in Julie Hainsworth Phone (07) 3367 0878 clearing and fragmentation remain Daniel Kelly Web www�npaq�org�au •“The principal cause of extinction key threats to biodiversity, was able the coming year� Denis McMullen Email admin@npaq�org�au is habitat loss� With reduced area to report much progress in achieving References: Alexsis Wilson ABN 60 206 792 095 the number of species that can be nationally protected areas of 16�25% sustained, declines�” land and 36�2% waters� However, Australian Government Department of Environment (2014) Australia’s Fifth National Want to get involved with NPAQ? •“When people are encouraged to in 2016 the Biodiversity working Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity� NPAQ welcomes people from all walks of life and offers a variety of ways to be involved: take a close look at the remnants of group, whilst providing examples of Department of the Environment, Canberra� • Have fun in the bush – come • Step up – become a National • Connect with us – Facebook, nature, in its complexity, beauty and progress, also stated that the nation’s Biodiversity Working Group convened under the along on a bush walk or Parks Conservation member Instagram and Twitter majesty and when they understand biodiversity conservation strategy had Meeting of Environment Ministers (2016) Report on the Review of the first five years of Australia’s other activity or a National Parks Protector • Stay in touch – read regular that the natural environment is the “not effectively influenced conservation Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030� • Get your hands dirty – • Donate – support our work updates on our website home of their deep history, many activities”� Jeremy Hance (June 2016) Could we set aside participate in on-ground • Volunteer on exciting projects • Share a bush adventure with become the most ardent supporters of In Queensland (where national parks half the earth for Nature? The Guardian� https:// conservation efforts • Subscribe to Protected and children – download NPAQ’s reserves�” occupying 17% is a stated target) www�theguardian�com/environment/radical- • Join us – become a member Neck of the Woods via email Kids in National Parks guide •“We are still too greedy, short- acquisition of new national parks has conservation/2016/jun/15/could-we-set-aside- half-the-earth-for-nature SUPPORT NPAQ AND HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE sighted and divided into warring tribes slowed and government budgets are restrained� The seemingly logical view Photo: Fungus at Mossman Gorge, Daintree National Park BECOME A MEMBER, DONATE OR VOLUNTEER www.npaq.org.au/get-involved www.facebook.com/NPAQld @nationalparksassocqld @NPA_Qld 2 Connect and Protect 3 WORLD HERITAGE - AN INTRODUCTION Peter Ogilvie Former NPAQ councillor, former QPWS Manager of World Heritage and former member of the Australian Negotiating Team for the Convention on Biological Diversity World Heritage status brings a The World Heritage Convention This resulted in a marriage of of the Convention� IUCN handles natural heritage, natural beauty and aesthetic particular location as close as The extraordinary action to two, until then, totally separate To date, 193 countries have and the other two deal with cultural importance; possible to being unique in the true dismantle, relocate and reassemble movements – the conservation ratified the Convention� This is quite heritage� All organisations are (viii) to be outstanding examples sense of that word� To achieve that important Nubian monuments of nature and the preservation of extraordinary, considering that there involved if it is a mixed nomination representing major stages of earth’s status, the site has been assessed along the Nile River as a result of cultural sites – as represented are 196 countries (approximately) in (both natural and cultural)� history, including the record of life, on a global scale against a number the Aswan High Dam construction by the two key international the world� The interpretation of any significant on-going geological of criteria and found to have (completed in 1970) was a crucial organisations IUCN and ICOMOS� convention tends to be refined processes in the development outstanding universal value� Administering the World Heritage stimulus to developing a global The establishment