Magazine of National Parks Association of Queensland Back to basics: Biodiversity and park management PLUS Cooloola bioblitz Jumping spiders ALSO FEATURED Eungella National Park and Fire Conondale National Park Issue 25 Spring 2019 1 Contents From the President ������������������������ 3 Conondale National Park ���������������� 8 FROM THE PRESIDENT Back to Basics: Value Planning in Cooloola BioBlitz ������������������������� 10 Park Management ������������������������� 4 Jumping Spiders ������������������������� 12 Eungella National Park and Fire ������� 6 The National Park Experience �������� 13 Ecological Values of Eungella National Spotlight: Ranger of the Month ������ 14 Park ��������������������������������������������� 7 What’s On ����������������������������������� 15 Editor Advertising enquiries 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 Welcome to the Spring edition of community prioritises� with like-minded people and to schedule of future editions� right to refuse any advertisement at any time� Advertisement in Protected does not imply Protected� Kenneth Hayne AC QC, former demonise those with a different point Contributors, please include contact details NPAQ’s endorsement of products or services� This edition features a description Justice of the High Court and royal of view� and brief personal summary� Articles can be of the consequence of fire in one commissioner, recently gave a speech It seems that we live in an age when submitted via email or hard copy� Digital photos Copyright and disclaimer should be minimum 300dpi� national park as well as consideration at the Melbourne Law School and information developed through science NPAQ retains copyright of Protected� Articles of where we are at in terms of our made thoughtful comment around carries limited weight� As Jonathan Cover image may be quoted provided that appropriate biodiversity� Two conclusions out of government finding it difficult to Haidt has suggested, the scientific acknowledgement occurs in the reproduction this are that parks provide habitat for address certain issues, instead often method and peer review has proven Newly found spider species Thomisidae Edgar� and use of material� Photo: Robert Whyte threatened plants and animals and that turning to royal commissions� He to be a reliable (but not perfect) way of Articles in Protected do not necessarily reflect they require care and maintenance to questioned the efficacy of our current getting close to the truth of a matter� NPAQ’s opinion or position� ensure long term biodiversity viability� system: The prevailing scientific view is that our We also look at the Cooloola BioBlitz, "Does reference of these matters biodiversity is in decline and protected About NPAQ jumping spiders, and Conandale suggest that our governmental areas have value in arresting this� National Park, as well as our ranger structures can deal effectively only The challenge for our community is to Our Purpose profile� with the immediate spot fire and manage this along with a number of other priorities whilst maintaining an The National Parks Association of Queensland Neil Young, nearly 50 years ago, in cannot deal with large issues?" (NPAQ) promotes the preservation, expansion, his song, After the Gold Rush, sang eye to the long term� Maybe there is good management and presentation of National Suggesting that the issue may be our "Look at Mother Nature on the run in much to bring us together; the average Parks, and supports nature conservation in focus on the divide, rather than what koala supporter probably values the Queensland� the 1970s"� brings us together: benefits of agriculture and mining� And Council Staff As much of the country experiences "Policy ideas seem to be framed the average farmer most likely values President Graeme Bartrim unprecedented drought and spring Conservation Principal Laura Hahn only for partisan or sectional our unique wildlife� Vice Presidents Yvonne Parsons fires, and some areas are faced advantage with little articulation of Operations Manager Marika Strand with the reality of trucking in water to Jacqueline Rose’Meyer how or why their implementation supply the townspeople, it is worth Hon Treasurer Neil Williams Contact details would contribute to the greater considering how we as a community Hon Secretary Debra Marwedel good�" Office Unit 9/36 Finchley St, Milton QLD respond to pressing long-term Councillors David Ball Post PO Box 1040, Milton QLD 4064 environmental issues� Along with social trends in information Suzanne Cooper Phone (07) 3367 0878 consumption: Julie Hainsworth Web www�npaq�org�au Our news refers to the impacts of "Too often the information that Kalam McTaggart Email admin@npaq�org�au climate change daily; the decline in our is available is neither read nor Karan Pandey ABN 60 206 792 095 state's biodiversity is well defined� Yet, understood� And even if the Colleen Thornton as with a number of long-term issues that require our urgent attention, there information has been read and Want to get involved with NPAQ? appears to be minority community understood, debate proceeds by NPAQ welcomes people from all walks of life and offers a variety of ways to be involved: support for genuine expenditure reference only to slogans coined by • Have fun in the bush – come • Step up – become a National • Connect with us – Facebook, or redress� This is a mystery, as partisan participants�" along on a bush walk or Parks Conservation member Instagram and Twitter in surveys Queenslanders tend to Jonathan Haidt, author of The or a National Parks Protector other activity • Stay in touch – read regular express their love for national parks Righteous Mind has added to this • Donate – support our work • Get your hands dirty – updates on our website and support there being more of them� discussion suggesting that “We are participate in on-ground • Volunteer on exciting projects • Share a bush adventure with It is easy to say our politicians need easily divided into hostile groups, each conservation efforts • Subscribe to Protected and children – download NPAQ’s • Join us – become a member Neck of the Woods via email Kids in National Parks guide to show leadership or that they are one certain of its righteousness�" He advocating for sectional interests, but, has also suggested that with all the Above: Girraween after fire. Photo: Paul politicians do spend a fair bit of time benefits of the internet, social media Donatiu� Banner: Undara Volcanic National SUPPORT NPAQ AND HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE Park. Photo: Marika Strand� BECOME A MEMBER, DONATE OR VOLUNTEER trying to work out what a majority of the has made it easier for us to connect www.npaq.org.au/get-involved www.facebook.com/NPAQld @nationalparksassocqld www.npaq.org.au 2 Connect and Protect 3 BACK TO BASICS: Biodiversity and Park Management Graeme Bartrim, President, National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ) Julia Bartrim, Member, National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ) The Queensland Parks and decades (the total number of species The conflict between commercial way of proportionate action� Why is change is controlled� We have abrogated responsibility� Wildlife Service is currently updating globally is estimated to be 8 million)� development and the ongoing this? • On a busy 4 lane freeway Longer term thinking, planning and Management Plans for the Park The key threatening processes in maintenance of a RAMSAR wetland We as a community seem to surrounded by industrial estate a leadership is required to change this� estate� This is a large and important descending order are: changes in at Toondah Harbour in Moreton Bay understand the situation yet be sign informs drivers of a phone It is heartening that the CSIRO/NAB task and funding for implementation land and sea use, direct exploitation, brings it home to us in Queensland� unprepared to pay the cost to improve number to call if injured wildlife Australian National Outlook considers will likely become an issue� climate change, pollution and invasive Nationally there are presently 1,800 it� A few examples of our interaction are observed� People who work choices that are to be made with a alien species� Although to date a small number species listed as threatened� with wildlife may help shed some light with injured wildlife do a wonderful focus on industry, urban, energy, land of Management Plans have been An ABC Four Corners episode, None of this is new, although on this question; job, and it is well meaning but the and culture out to 2060� Although it revised, it is anticipated that two broadcast on June 24, provided an perhaps more urgent in our own state: • In a large new housing estate where overwhelming cost to our wildlife is acknowledges that many issues are not addressed in depth, it does raise themes will emerge as more plans are Australian perspective, reinforcing Queensland's Nature Conservation bushland has been cleared streets the initial clearing and vehicles� that our biodiversity is in decline the need for investing in biodiversity completed: Act lists 731 plants and 224 animals are named after native birds, for • Politicians often defend a and that our legislative framework is and ecosystem health and linking as Threatened (Extinct in the Wild, example;