THE WEB The national newsletter for the Threatened Species Network WELCOME TO SUMMER 2007 The Threatened Species Network is a community -based program of the Australian Government and WWF-Australia Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore MP, WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne and Earth Hour Youth Ambassador Sarah Bishop at the launch of Earth Hour on 15 December 2006. Sarah Bishop will walk from Brisbane to Sydney in early 2007 as a way of voicing young Australians’ concerns about global warming. During the two-month, 1000-kilometre walk, Sarah will exchange ideas and make presentations to communities along the way, illustrating the simple things people can do to make a difference. © WWF/Tanya Lake. COMMUNITY ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE By Katherine Howard, TSN Program Officer, WWF-Australia Welcome to the Summer Web! In the last couple of editions we’ve talked about the topic that’s on everyone’s lips – climate change. Here at the TSN we are very excited about an upcoming event called Earth Hour, organised by WWF-Australia and Fairfax Publishing. At 7.30 pm on 31 March, businesses and households all over Sydney will switch off their lights for one hour. Earth Hour is part of a major effort CONTENTS to reduce Sydney’s greenhouse gas pollution by 5% in one year, and will send NATIONAL NEWS a very powerful message that it is possible to take action against global warming. What’s On 2 The threat of climate change needs to be tackled by a two-pronged approach: mitigation and adaptation. We REGIONAL NEWS need to both lower our greenhouse emissions to reduce the extent of climate change (mitigation) and to build SA 3 the resilience of our native species and natural ecosystems to the changed conditions (adaptation).1 The TSN’s Queensland 4 speciality is community-based, on-ground conservation, so we particularly focus on building resilience, but we Arid Rangelands 6 certainly haven’t forgotten how crucial it is to also reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases. Northern Savannas 8 NSW 9 Earth Hour follows a similar event in Thailand in 2005 when 14 million Thai businesses and households Tasmania 10 simultaneously turned off just one unused light. In five minutes this saved more than 700 megawatts of power Victoria 12 2 – enough to shut down one of Thailand’s 14 power stations. WA 14 If you live in Sydney, you can take part by registering your home or business at www.earthhour.org and New Faces 15 committing to turn off your lights for Earth Hour. If you are not in Sydney, feel free to take part and switch off CONTACTS 16 your lights anyway! Not everyone has the time or ability to get out and do on-ground species recovery work, but we can all reduce our own personal greenhouse emissions. Earth Hour will clearly demonstrate the connection between energy use and climate change. Even more importantly, it will show that we as a community can address the biggest threat our planet has ever faced. 1 wwf.org.au/ourwork/species/ntsd2006/ The Web • 1 2 www.worldchanging.com/arhcives/002832.html NATIONAL NEWS The national newsletter for the Threatened Species Network WHAT’S ON TSN Community Grants Program Round 10 of the TSN Community Grants Program will open on 2 April and applications will close on Friday, 1 June. Program guidelines and application forms will be available from wwf.org.au/tsn. If you would like to receive an email notification when the grants open, please contact Katherine Howard at [email protected] or on 02 8202 1233. Earth Hour 31 March On the evening of 31 March, WWF-Australia and Fairfax Publishing aim to get as many Sydney households and businesses as possible to switch off their lights for one hour. Earth Hour will demonstrate in Australia’s largest city the direct connection between energy usage and climate change, and will show what we as a community can do to address the biggest threat our planet has ever faced. For more information go to www.earthhour.org Eco Choices for Sustainable Living Workshop, Marrickville, NSW 24 February An interactive workshop introducing the concept of the ecological footprint as a measure of our impact as consumers and practical advice on how to be a ‘green consumer’ and how to make smart ‘green’ choices in your home, travel, waste disposal and food consumption. For more information contact The Watershed on 02 9519 6366 or at [email protected]. Wanted: Fox DNA The University of Western Australia (UWA) is conducting an Australia-wide study of the genetics of introduced foxes. The project aims to improve knowledge of fox movement patterns and the effectiveness of control programs. UWA is asking the public to collect DNA samples from any foxes that are shot, trapped or found as roadkill. If you would like to contribute to this study, or find out more, go to www.foxDNA.animals.uwa.edu.au or contact Dr Oliver Berry on 1800 633 097. Australian Bush Heritage Fund Volunteer Ranger Program Ongoing opportunities For people with time, energy and skills to contribute, Bush Heritage runs a Volunteer Ranger Program at Carnarvon Station Reserve and Goonderoo Reserve in central Queensland; Charles Darwin Reserve and Eurardy Reserve in south-western Western Australia; Ethabuka Reserve and Cravens Peak Reserve in far western Queensland; and Tarcutta Hills Reserve in southern New South Wales. Opportunities also exist for volunteer rangers to support management work at the Mareeba Tropical Savannah and Wetlands Reserve in northern Queensland. For more information, contact Joelle Metcalf at [email protected]. TO FIND AN EVENT OR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY NEAR YOU, CHECK OUR ONLINE CALENDARS AT wwf.org.au/act/events and wwf.org.au/act/volunteer. The Web • 2 REGIONAL NEWS SOUTH AUSTRALIA PYGMY LIZARD RECEIVES FAMOUS VISITOR By Vicki-Jo Russell Sir David Attenborough, during a visit to Australia in October to film his next epic natural history series, Life in Cold Blood, came to South Australia’s mid-north to see first hand three of Australia’s unique reptiles, including the pygmy bluetongue lizard. The world-renowned broadcaster and naturalist announced his support for the efforts of Flinders University, the Recovery Team (of which the Threatened Species Network SA is a member), and funding and research partners to bring the pygmy bluetongue lizard back from extinction. Previously found The role of private from Adelaide to land managers in the Burra district the survival of this in South Austral- species is para- ia’s north-east, the mount. As the critically endangered species is found pygmy bluetongue is only on public land, now known on just it relies entirely on 22 sites within the the public’s support, mid-north region. which to date has These small cryp- been commendable. tic lizards are found The best action land only in native grass- managers with these land remnants and lizards on their spend the majority properties can take of their lives down is ‘to do and change Sir David Attenborough talks to local spider burrows. press. © Julie Schofield. nothing’. Land man- agers who want to Researchers from Flinders University have change land practices found that young pygmy bluetongues live in are encouraged to spider burrows with their mother for up to six contact the Recovery weeks and in some cases over winter, suggest- Team to talk through ing a level of parental care unusual in reptiles. any potential impli- It is this unique feature that convinced Sir Pygmy bluetongue. © Mark Hutchinson. cations. A guideline David to choose it for inclusion in the series. outlining best practice has been developed to support land managers in The pygmy bluetongue is the only lizard species decision making. in South Australia to have been considered extinct. Fortunately, this charismatic critter was given a The Recovery Team aims to down-list the species to en- rare second chance at life when it was rediscovered in dangered through the further support and engagement 1992 in the stomach of a dead brown snake on a road of land managers and local government, identification near Burra. of opportunities to extend and connect existing popu- lations and ongoing searches for new populations. The pygmy bluetongue is threatened by the destruction of its grassland habitat. Ploughing of native grasslands For further information contact Julie Schofield, PBT alters the vegetation and destroys the lizard’s burrows. Project Officer, on 08 8841 3403. Today, just 2% of the native grasslands of south- eastern Australia remain. Pests and weeds, grazing at high rates, ripping, pesticides, fertilisers, frequent fire and trafficking are also risks to this species. The Web • 3 REGIONAL NEWS QUEENSLAND RAINFOREST COUNTRY, THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA – IT’S EVERYONE’S BUSINESS By Rebecca Richardson The Scenic Rim of south-east Queensland combined with the Border Ranges region of north-eastern New South Wales is extraordinarily diverse. It is the most biologically diverse area in southern Queensland and the whole of New South Wales; as a result it has been recognised by the Commonwealth Government as a biodiversity ‘hotspot’. is a major cause of habitat loss and fragmentation. Although most remaining natural areas are protected, centuries of land-use change have placed these natural areas under considerable pressure from threats such as weeds, fire and feral animals. The region is currently the subject of a multi-species rainforest recovery plan. This recovery plan will be used to guide funding programs and on-ground action to help restore and manage the region’s rainforest species and communities. Landowner and wider community involvement is crucial to the development and implementation of the plan.