By working with Forests NSW to destructively harvesting Camphor Laurels as biofuels to create GREEN ENERGY. They are currently doing this in the TWEED SHIRE, NE NSW, Australia. The NSW Government and the Tweed Shire Council supports and approves of this “WAR on BIODIVERSITY”.

Note from Author:- I first wrote this article when the Bioenergy Habitat destruction was coming into full swing in Burringbar, NSW. Upon talking to locals recently (December 2011), what I had feared appears to be occurring. Those local machine operators who were contracted by the  ENTREPRENEURS  of this BIOENERGY MOVEMENT have apparently  been left high and dry with machinery that they have now limited use for, as the BIOENERGY clearfelling appears to have ceased, with funding withdrawn.

The local people, who were possibly promised much work, and may have been misled into investing heavily in machines for this failing enterprise now are without the envisaged work. Where does this leave them. ? Is it fair to have roped local people into such a disgraceful, unscientific and wastefully destructive enterprise?  Over-capitalizing in machinery for ignorant CARBON FARMING, CARBON MANAGEMENT, CARBON TRADING – CREDITS and OFFSETS etc is just one example of how this new “GREEN INDUSTRY” is potentially harmful in the long run. This can be particularly so for the little investor, the average local man or woman who is misled by ENTREPRENEURIAL HYPE.

Were these people adequately informed that this venture was based on highly  ignorant Land and Water Stewardship? Where do these locals sub-contractors go to from here? Is there support for them, given that they have probably been misinformed about the nature of the enterprise right from the start? Why weren’t these subcontractors and landholders adequately informed about the current LANDCARE information concerning gentle remedial approach to CAMPHOR forest management and native vegetation /habitat restoration and revegetation. If the camphor clear felling by bulldozers resulted in more agricultural land for cattle, where was the net benefit in CARBON MANAGEMENT? and WHERE was the follow up AUTHENTIC LAND AND WATER grazing land management promoted – improved pastures, appropriate fencing, native “vegetation corridors”, seed bank management (both for weeds and native vegetation), creek line restoration following the destruction of camphors along creek lines, sedimentation in creeks by bare soils created by the camphor clear felling. This list is pretty long. I shall stop here.

Some answers need to be given here. Who contracted who? Who spearheaded this waste of money, misuse of people’s  time, energy and local subcontractors’ and landholders’ investments? What happens to the landholders who were so badly informed as to  how to manage the Camphor Laurels on their land?

Perhaps the NSW Labour Party individuals, the Tweed Shire Councillors who supported and signed off on this venture, the Australian Government’s advisors and associated ENTREPRENEURS of this venture can give answers? Perhaps the Senator the Hon.  Penny Wong could find it in her heart to ask some questions as to why this venture was ever allowed to occur in the first place? We are all on a steep learning curve, here in Australia, concerning our LAND and WATER management skills. However, while we, as a country, can hopefully learn from our mistakes, it may be a good thing to at least honour those who have been severely misled, concerning the green harvest opportunities of clearfelling  Camphor Laurel forests with heavy machinery. This is especially so, when science and local knowledge pointed to it being a big mistake, right from the very beginning.

AND NOW.. back to the older 2010 articles:-

Forests NSW :- and their Sustainable Forestry Management statements including  their voluntary certification under the Australian Forestry Standard – AS 4708:2007 (AFS)

When this Australian Forestry Standard is agreed to, it means that the operations of the industry support SUSTAINABLE Forestry Management.

DISHONOUR:-  legal meaning of dishonour – this can include breach of faith, shame, nonadherence, noncompliance and LACK of PRINCIPLE

HOW does this Australian Forestry Standard stand with the environmental non-sustainability of destroying habitat -largely a key threatening process (in a region where many Australian native wildlife animals are already undergoing habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss pressures)?

• Biodiversity Impacts of Bioenergy Production: a modelling approach using GLOBIO Rob Alkemade, Mark van Oorschot, Nichel Bakkenes, Ben ten Brink, Lera Miles, Jorn Scharlemann . www.globio.info

• “How to reach an interdisciplinary research community“- Bioenergy as a Pilot study and “Map of expertise: previous studies related to bioenergy and biodiversity” . This website shows some recent information about Bioenergy and Forestry; Bioenergy and Agriculture. There is an informative PDF also : Impacts of biofuel production on biodiversity in Europe (ECNC; pdf-file, 4,3 Mb) 2008

• model climate law project discussion paper edo : policy and law reform Australian Climate Law .
• “The Value of Voluntary Simplicity” by Richard Gregg , published by Pendle Hill as Pendle Hill essays No 3 (1936)
• National Pollutant Inventory “The NPI  is based on similar international inventories known as pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs), which were developed in response to demand from community groups for greater access to information about industrial emissions in their local environment.“
• Australian Fugitive Emissions – You can find climate change links at this Parliament of Australia Parliamentary Library website.
• Fugitive Emissions at bluecray environmental search engine
• Biofuels and Biodiversity .
• The Convention on Biological Diversity .
• Environmental Justice Society – “environmentally conscious lawyers, doctors, scientists and campaigners who want to empower individuals and communities with the knowledge and resources to rally support and take action to bring negligent companies to account“
• North Coast Weeds Advisory Council – Camphor Laurel Kit – Chapter 4 – LEGISLATION & Chapter 9 – REGIONAL STRATEGIES.

ComLaw Act Compilations – Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 -      “The objects of this Act are:

• (a)    to encourage the additional generation of electricity from renewable sources; and

• (b)    to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in the electricity sector; and

• (c)    to ensure that renewable energy sources are ecologically sustainable.“

Ecologically sustainable is defined in this above act as:-

• “ecologically sustainable means that an action is consistent with the following principles of ecologically sustainable development:
  (a)    decision?making processes should effectively integrate both long?term and short?term economic, environmental, social and equitable considerations;
  (b)    if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation;
  (c)    the principle of inter?generational equity, which is that the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations;
  (d)    the conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision?making;
  (e)    improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms should be promoted.“

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

This “War on Biodiversity” is being carried out by clear felling native  (including endangered) wildlife habitats -  using many bulldozers, heavy machinery, trucks and other vehicles -  working  10 hours  per day, up to 6 days per week on private land. They have caused the habitats that they are clearing and demolishing,  to become bare, steep sloped exposed soil.

Environmental advocacy collage showing BIOENERGY (green energy) habitat destruction where the endangered Rufous Bettong lives, in Upper Burringbar, Tweed Shire, NE NSW (Mt Warning Caldera Region), AUSTRALIA. The Wallaby and Joey (to right) actually live in the “bioenergy” area you see being cleared. That is their home being destroyed in August/September 2010. The frog and snake also live only 500m away.  There are many snakes, frogs, birds, lizards, small marsupials, insects that lived and are still trying to survive in this clearing of habitat that is going on all about them. Three Richmond Birdwing Butterflies were seen 100m from the sites being cleared by bulldozers.

• “Converting stands of camphor laurel to rainforest” – here you will find some excellent information about “Current approaches to Camphor Control” and management-  (John Kanowski and Carla P.Catterall – Griffith University’s Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies and the Northern Rivers CMA). The information given, shows that Camphor Laurel stands can contribute to biodiversity and if managed environmentally sustainably, can lead to increased biodiversity.

• Camphor Kit at NSW North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee

• Far North Coast Weeds – information about Camphor Laurel Management .

• Bioenergy at wikipedia

• Regional Development Australia – Northern Rivers :- and their Timber and Forestry Information for the Northern Rivers, NSW. This information includes the PDF :-  From Pest to Profit. Prospectus for the commercial utilisation of camphor laurel in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.
• “Power Energy From Renewable Energy Sources” – article at Sunshine Sugar stating that  “The project is one of the largest renewable electricity generation projects currently underway in Australia and from mid-2007 at Condong and late 2007 at Broadwater, these two generators will supply the total electricity needs of the towns of Lismore, Casino, Ballina, Byron Bay and Murwillumbah – all from accredited renewable fuel sources.“
• “Green Power” Landline 28th November 2008 (Pip Courtney)
• “Tree Harvests not so Sweet” article at the Northern Star by Dominic Feain 11th January 2010 – Lorraine Vass (President of  Friends of the Koala) was quoted as saying that the Camphor Laurel clearing was increasingly happening and ““It’s becoming very obvious driving around the region, and we are deeply concerned about damage to biodiversity, habitat for significant species, soil erosion and the risk of further weed infestation.”" The article goes on to state that there was an urgent need to reassess Camphor Laurel management and clearing due to the Ecological and habitat issues surrounding the increased clearing rates.

IN CONTRAST to Authentic Land and Water Stewardship and authentic ecologically sustainable land management, the following has been observed concerning the Bioenergy, Green Fuel  and NSW Forestry approach to Camphor Laurel management:-

Very little native wildlife HABITAT is left, where they have carried out their destructive work. They then, prepare the vegetation they have  taken, (via habitat destruction of endangered species habitats), into vaste piles of  “BIOFUEL” – or camphor laurel chip/dust, which is then trucked away to their storage areas for conversion to GREEN FUEL.  This work has been going on for some time now, under the umbrellas of  “save the world from greenhouse gases” and “lessen the Mining of non renewable resources” pressures.

Burning of vegetation is also occurring onsite, with the smell of Camphour Laurel burning weeks on end. Camphour Laurel is known to produce TOXINS that may cause  illnesses and health problems in humans, and probably animals as well. This is a disputed scientific agenda that has become somewhat of a red herring in the case of the management of Camphor Laurel.

• Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) most toxic chemotypes – rejection of key threatening process listing .

Bluecray reminds anyone that is experiencing health issues due to dust, smoke and related water contamination from this War on Biodiversity to consult their Doctor, and register their situation. Native wildlife that experience health problems, including death of their family members, unfortunately, have no one to tell – no one to go to for help – and indeed, no home either. Bluecray suggests that the benefits of current Camphor Laurel populations for native wildlife habitat survival outway the “toxins” considerations, when taken into the context of having either Camphor laurel stands that are regenerating habitat areas in highly disturbed landscapes or clear felled, bare landscapes, with limited habitat value, and disturbed soils immediately vulnerable to increased weed emergence and growth.

The Broadwater Action Group Ltd bravely took the Richmond Valley Council, and the NSW Suger Milling Co-operative Limited to the NSW Land and Environment Court in 2003, attempting to contain this destructive, toxic and high energy form of harvesting biofuels.

Many – most- conservation groups in NSW will be aware of this issue, and some will have documents concerning the issues of clearfelling native wildlife habitat, under the guise of “green energy” and “weed management”.

BIOENERGY AUSTRALIA -  and its  MEMBERS .

National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development at Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts :-Objective 16.2 is “to incorporate ESD principles as a fundamental objective of relevant government authorities involved in economic, environmental and social decision making” . By this objective,  Governments   WILL “incorporate ESD principles into the objectives of relevant legislation as appropriate, particularly for legislation concerning natural resource use and management”

Energy and Water at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre .

biofuelsaustralasia.com.au :- “Farmers welcome move to turn noxious weed into biofuel”

thinkgrowsustain.com :- Future Focus – current information on green tech and green technology projects in Australia:-

• 9. Innovation in harvesting, processing and transporting camphor laurel “It is proposed to harvest and deliver at least the equivalent of 40,000 green tonnes of camphor laurel over a two-year trial period. If successful, the system will be expanded in an endeavour to control the several million tonnes of camphor laurel estimated to be standing on the north coast of New South Wales.“   “With the assistance of a $500,000 grant under the Renewable Energy Commercialisation Program, camphor laurel will be harvested to supply efficient year-round energy production for the power station at Condong sugar mill. The project stems from an innovative idea put forward by State Forests of NSW and is co-funded by the NSW Wales Sugar Milling Co-operative and Delta Electricity.“

• 11. Factory- based “cane trash” separation system .

DISHONOUR:-  legal meaning of dishonour – this can include breach of faith, shame, nonadherence, noncompliance and LACK of PRINCIPLE

The Wallaby in the above photo has been seen living in the area where the work is being done for BIOENERGY. There are many birds that use the area  being cleared. The Spangled Drongos have just arrived, the wrens and scrub birds are building nests. I see these birds each day, and they used the area being cleared as habitat…many species fauna flora, being killed and moved away, stressed, surviving. I have seen at least two Rufous Bettongs 500m from the Bioenergy extraction and processing work. Wompoo and Rose-crowned Fruit Doves have also been seen in the areas being cleared, prior to clearing.

AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY . Programs at the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism . They said ontheir ENERGY page:-

“The Australian Government is committed to the provision of adequate, reliable and affordable energy to meet future energy consumption needs and to underpin strong economic growth, consistent with the principles of environmental responsibility and sustainable development. “

BIODIVERSITY THREAT + HABITAT CLEARING  =   ??

Soil Degradation  + Habitat Loss  =  ??

BIODIVERSITY LOSS  + CARBON STORAGE LOSS  =  ???

THREATENING PROCESS  + DECREASING CARBON STORAGE   = ?????

• Your “GREEN ENERGY” money that you pay is going into NOT WHAT YOU THINK . You Green energy money may  be going into HABITAT CLEARING, BIODIVERSITY LOSS and IMMEDIATE release of Carbon via bulldozers, machinery, habitat clearing and biodiversity loss. This is because of?
• What about the Law. Where is the contract here?  There are farmers, landholders and heavy machinery local contracters who have been very ill advised, concerning this method of “green energy harvests”. There is a certain shame attached to those who have ill advised these local landholders and contracters/subcontractors. Perhaps some of these people should examine the basis of their contract. Especially in the light that this industry will eventually prove to be environmentally harmful. It may prove to be socially and regionally economically harmful to those who, as local individuals, have invested in this form of harvest, under the ill-advised guidance of corporate (overseas and Australian) opportunistic green energy “entities”. These “entities”  have clearly carried and acted out a lack of due regard and care  for those locals,  who have invested in heavy machinery and land clearing, following advise from these opportunistic CORPORATE ENTITIES. Not to mention the lack of care to the environment, wildlife habitats and ecosystems of the TWEED SHIRE.
• Who contracted WHO to do this work? The NSW Government and the Tweed Shire Government have answers here.  The Land and Environment Court could possibly see this type of work in a very clear way? Judges working with contract /common law areas?  How would they view this? I am not a lawyer, but it would seem that there is something not honourable in this approach to BIOENERGY. Somewhere, the process has become NOT what it should be.

Camphor Laurel Abundance in the Tweed Shire 2004:- (map3A.pdf) -

Northern Rivers Invasive Plants Action Strategy 2009-2013 for the use of all public and private land managers

NSW Industry and Investment/ NSW DPI  fact sheet 733 – Camphor Laurel PDF and Noxious Weed Declarations showing an extract of the LEGAL REQUIREMENTS from the Noxious Weeds Declaration Data base (This web page provides access to the details of weeds declared in New South Wales, Australia under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993. The information is taken from the Orders published in the Government Gazette. The Order lists the weed, the control class and the control requirements for each species declared in a Local Control Area.)

CLEARING VEGETATION – EDO Fact Sheet 5.3

Native Vegetation Management and Clearing at NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water.

Native Vegetation Act 2003 – Public Register – what is it? NSW Government

the DECCW’s Public Register LINK is HERE .

Many semi trailers of Camphor Laurel “dusty ground fibres” taken away to the Green Energy Storage, each day  – at Condong Mill?? Murwillumbah

In bluecray’s article “Weeds, Biodiversity and Australia’s Land and Water Stewardship Practices (17th November, 2009), you will find some of the principles of Weed Management that are largely ignored by mainstream land and water custodians. There is reference to:-

“Converting stands of camphor laurel to rainforest” – here you will find some excellent information about “Current approaches to Camphor Control” and management-  (John Kanowski and Carla P.Catterall – Griffith University’s Centre for Innovative Conservation Strategies and the Northern Rivers CMA)

The Tweed Shire and NSW Government is allowing mass clearing of Camphor Laurel Vegetation communities and Native wildlife HABITATS across the Tweed Shire, in the name of “GREEN ENERGY”.  The immediate results are bare lands, native flora and fauna losses, multiple localised biodiversity losses, loss of seedbank containing native vegetation, loss of the humus layer that is essential for soil health and loss of ( carbon storing) soil holding tree root systems across steep sloping land, in the foothills of the Burringbar Range.

Some of this destructive habitat loss, being engineered by local land owners, eco clearing consultants, machine operators, the Tweed Shire Council, Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, National Parks and Wildlife NSW, Condong Mill, Sunshine Electricity, Delta Energy, the NSW Government and the Australian Government (to name some of the groups involved in this mass biodiversity and native wildlife habitat destruction)  includes HABITATS of ENDANGERED SPECIES.

As far as I know, ground trials for this type of work began over ten years ago, at least, if not further back. (Still gathering information here). Also, regulation of this type of INDUSTRY (Bioenergy) possibly operates against  the laws concerning destruction of habitats that relate to the well being of endangered species in NSW.

Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator .

Land and Environment Court NSW .

You can access the Vegetation pages for Tweed Shire here, and download the Camphor Laurel Abundance PDF for the Tweed Shire  at  Tweed Shire Council Flora and Fauna Management : Includes PDF’s on Vegetation Management Strategy ; Vegetation Types and Communities ; Camphor Laurel Abundance ; Koala Sightings ; Soil Landscapes, Steep Land and Drainage Lines ; Ecological Values and Rehabilitation Priorities

• “Fence jumping weeds kill NSW’s natural biodiversity” article at WWF – Garden plants that have escaped into the wild make up 69 per cent of Australia’s population of threatening weeds. Of the 127 individual weed species identified as threatening NSW biodiversity, 82 were deliberately introduced as ornamental plants and 56 of these are still available for purchase in Australia“   The editor of WWF article reminds us “The threat posed by weeds to Australia flora and fauna as a single factor is second only to land clearing.”

Camphor Laurel is a CLASS 4 Noxious Weed. More info about Class 4 Noxious Weeds can be found in the bluecray environmental search .

Bluecray has commenced a new campaign concerning this type of approach to ENERGY CONSUMPTION, Marketing and production, due to perceived destructive consequences on local habitat and biodiversity within the Mt Warning Caldera Region of NE NSW and SE QLD.

This article has been written to help explain Biodiversity, Bioenergy, Biofuels the Wisdom therein – and how this all relates to the Mt Warning Caldera Region of NE NSW and SE QLD.  Bluecray will endeavour to show how the current approach to harvesting certain biofuels will promote net increased atmospheric carbon release, net carbon storage loss, on a local level, and direct loss of biodiversity in the immediate and possibly short & long term future.

Bluecray also QUESTIONS the FOLLOWING ways

• that the current, above “green energy” extraction of Camphor Laurel demonstrates an illegal act,
• that the way some land holders in the Tweed shire have permitted these actions, demonstrates either an illegal act, or has been done following professional consultation that has advised illegal acts
• that way that the Tweed Shire Council and the NSW Government has permitted and endorsed these Camphor Laurel Extraction Industries could be shown to be  illegal. Bluecray believes that the extraction process for Camphor Laurels, as done in the Tweed Shire, for BIOENERGY contravenes current laws and agreements in place, within Australia and Internationally.

Bluecray will welcome any discussion about these matters, as many minds make a greater “wit”, and it is With Intelligent Thought, that perhaps the perceivable outcomes of this current “War on Biodiversity” can be led to armistice.

Firstly, to help you with some ecological and environmental background:-

“potential value of weedy regrowth for rainforest restoration” -

Loss of Biodiversity – at bluecray environmental search engine.

Evolution and Development of a Code for Private Native Forestry in New South Wales, Australia – search results at bluecray environmental search engine – some of these links may help you understand the current, evolving state of play concerning Private Forestry practices

It is hoped, that with this series of articles, the people who have been affected  by or advocated against this habitat destroying activity by bioenergy entities, will become better informed as to the legal venues which they can use to create a legal argument that will lead to a moratorium and injunction on this form of Camphor Laurel habitat clearing, until it is further understood within the full scope of BIODIVERSITY and ENERGY use in NE NSW and SE QLD (and beyond).

Some of the people who are operating in this industry could lose  income through this action, and so it should be seen as important that decisions to halt this Camphor Laurel extraction not be taken lightly. In fact, in preference to injunction and moratorium, these people who are engaged in this industry should be employed, rather, to work towards habitat restoration in a legal, and environmentally sustainable way. However, the “might is right” tendencies of the Corporate energy groups may chose not to agree, as their profits, projected agreed quotas and economic viability may be at risk. Corporations and agencies need to think outside the square and work within Authentic Land and Water Stewardship Principles. They could perhaps do some sums and work out a more cost effective, environmentally sustainable way to create fuel from biowaste and living organic matter.

NSW Constitution : about the Land and Environment Court – extract from a Chief Judge (Mahla Pearlman) Land and Environment Court of New South Wales Paper entitled “The Role and Operation of  The Land and Environment Court of New South Wales”

“The Forgotten Forests the environmental regulation of forestry on private land in NSW between 1997 and 2002 by James Prest,  University  of Wollongong 2003:- the paper can be found at Research Online http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/413 .

The Pursuit of Practical Wisdom by vice-chancellor Steven Schwartz, of Macquarie University. (August 25th 2010).  ”Wise up: Restoring wisdom to Universities” .

A final word here, for this first article of bluecrays’ journey into the world of BIODIVERSITY, BIOENERGY, BIOFUELS and WISDOM:-

Court Cases, Lawyers, Corporations, individual workers, politicians, beaurocratic representatives can all be tied up , very expensively, in COURT ROOM SCENARIOS. Bluecray believes that it is better to educate, advocate, honour individuals’ Constitutional rights and the rights of individuals, under the LAWS of GOD and NATURE, over the seemingly endlessly increasing LAWS of COMMERCE and ENVIRONMENTAL LAW.

It is better to change our ways, accept that we have done wrong, and move ahead speedily, in a creative and harmonious way, than to stop, argue, debate endlessly and waste valuable resources of the people of Australia.

• Rufous Bettong at NSW Threatened Species – Northern Rivers
• Some bluecray educational storyline articles about the Rufous Bettong and Habitat Clearing :- “PK and Litoria look for Rufous Bettong, and on the way, meet up with Goanna” ;  “Rufous Bettong and the Glyphosate Bank“  – this ARTICLE  describes the habitat that the Rufous Bettongs have been seen and heard in, over the past years, adjacent to habitat destruction being conducted by NSW “green energy groups and individual landholders; “Goanna leaves the glyphosate bank, the butterflies leave too” and   “Wildlife leaves glyphosate bank – finds refuge in organic garden“.
• Habitat Loss /Change :- key threatening process (NSW GOVERNMENT) .
  

Bluecray also believes, however, that one of the most powerful and important resources available to the people of Australia, is its BIODIVERSITY and WISDOM thereof.

tread lightly, my friends. Alison Polistchuk

……..about 17 years ago, I was invited to be part of a steering committee for developing protocols re clearing under powerlines in Queensland – the big powerlines that you see transversing the landscape, bringing power to your locality. Back then, environmental considerations were deemed of minimum importance, when it came to electricity, power generation, and land and water stewardship management issues. I suggested back then that heavy machinery operators should be given training in a national standards approach to habitat management issues and understanding of soil/natural vegetation dynamics. The idea fell on deaf ears, and today, the idea is still, apparently considered non essential for heavy machinery operators within the elctricity/power industries. As I write this, the bulldozers are still relentlessly killing and destroying poor Rufous Bettongs’ habitat, and the habitats, homes and food sources of our other precious little native animals. Shame on you, NSW Government. Shame on you, Tweed Shire Council, Shame on you Bioenergy providers.  Mammals – marsupials, are disappearing at an unprecedented rate in Australia, and still the emperors of power play their tunes of glory.

The above picture of habitat destruction in the Tweed Shire, by the extraction of Camphor Laurel creates immediate loss of carbon storage that may take many years to replace. THIS form of harvesting habitat trees under the name of “weed management” is based on high energy inputs with immediate habitat, wildlife and native emergent flora losses. There are documented scientific research articles, as well as in principle demonstrations that show this to be a destructive and wasteful, non sustainable approach to energy resource management.

Conservation of Australia’s BIODIVERSITY at Australian DEWHA

The Precautionary Principle . OnlyOnePlanet

The Rainforest Information Centre .

Australian Government State of the Environment Reporting . and BIODIVERSITY .

Habitat advocate – Habitatadvocate.com.au

Public Interest Advocacy Centre :- “The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is an independent, non-profit law and policy organisation that works for a fair, just and democratic society, empowering citizens, consumers and communities by taking strategic action on public interest issues. ”

Total Environment Centre .

a balance of faeries :- you will find bluecray’s story “A Balance of Faeries” here – telling the true story of how bulldozers and fuels, powered together with mankind’s lack of WISDOM, results in loss of the smaller, essential biological components of our wonderful Australian landscapes. This makes the degraded landscapes lose their biodiversity, and lessens the landscape’s ability to withstand the greater forces of nature- wind, sun, heat, cold, fire, rain, flood etc.

Loss of Hollow-bearing Trees – key threatening process determination:-

(a) it adversely affects threatened species, populations or ecological communities, or
(b) could cause species, populations or ecological communities that are not threatened to become threatened.

“Trees retained during harvest are susceptible to damage from logging operations and post-harvest burning, or can suffer poor health owing to changes in abiotic conditions (Gibbons and Lindenmayer 2002). Consequently, retained trees are prone to early mortality, especially with repeated exposure to harvesting events over their lifespan. Prescriptions for forestry operations also stipulate that young trees are retained for long-term replacement of hollow-bearing trees, typically with one recruit for every hollow-bearing tree. The age structure in natural forests, where recruitment and loss of mature trees is at equilibrium, indicates that only a small proportion of younger trees survive to reach maturity. A ratio of one-to-one will be inadequate in itself to sustain the stipulated minimum densities of hollow-bearing trees in harvested areas. In addition, the average age of hollow-bearing trees in harvested areas will continue to decrease as the few remaining very old trees die. Trees are also retained in areas excluded from harvesting, such as along drainage lines, with the aim of creating a matrix of harvested and non-harvested areas. In the longer term as trees mature in exclusion zones they will help to provide hollows across production forest landscapes, yet their usefulness to fauna is affected by the reduction in hollows and the quality of foraging habitat in the surrounding forest.” from http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/lossofhollowtreesktp.htm

DISHONOUR:-  legal meaning of dishonour – this can include breach of faith, shame, nonadherence, noncompliance and LACK of PRINCIPLE

“Ecologically Sustainable Development: Legal Principles “  a paper by Justice Peter Biscoe, Land and Environment Court of New South Wales delivered on 15 April 2009 to the postgraduate course in Environmental Law and Policy conducted by the Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of New South Wales .

NSW  Sugar Industry Renewable Electricity Generation : a case study presented by the University of Ballarat. This Case Study explains the processes involved in creating the NSW Sugar Industry Renewable Electricity Generation.

• It shows timelines and technical information that is easy to understand. It is well presented and worth a read. Unfortunately, it does not indicate the ecological significance of clearing Camphor Laurel on a large and lengthy scale, as is being done in the Northern Rivers Shires in NE NSW, Australia for renewable electricity generation. There is a link to the environmental impact statement for the Broadwater Biomass Cogeneration Proposal (I couldn’t get it to work, though).
• It also does not show the calculations concerning the energy that is required to create the “green fuel” from Camphor Laurels and the “energy calculations” for the loss of biodiversity and ecological sustainability  from systems being destroyed by camphor extraction.
• It does not show calculations for biodiversity and carbon storage losses such as carbon storage in root systems, trunks, stems etc , soil and seed bank sustainability factors and calculations relating to individual habitat threatening processes, the loss of native flora and fauna in the extraction process and soil degradation calculations.  These calculations, when compared to the time and energy that it will take to repair the camphor extraction sites, once the machinery and trees have gone, would be interesting to see.

EDO Scientific advice and fact sheets : here you will find helpful info regarding “how to review an air quality assessment & how to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with development proposals, with a focus on coal mines.”

photo of  how your green energy is made by NSW  Sugar Industry Renewable Electricity Generation – Burringbar, Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia

WAKE UP!!!

Wilderness Society “Would you burn their homes to power yours?” “An absurd loophole in the federal legislation means that burning forests is eligible for the same Renewable Energy Certificates as power generated from the sun and wind.” All over the world, people are beginning to realise that the use of Bioenergy, Biofuels and Habitat Clearing for Energy Consumption is causing mass destruction of BIODIVERSITY.

The Australian Federal Government will eventually come to realise – and already SHOULD KNOW – that this type of Habitat Clearing will have net biodiversity loss in the near and far future. The “credentialled” advisors and consultants, eco clearing “tradespeople” and environmental advisors who recommend such Habitat Clearing carry with them liability that will eventually lead them to having to rectify and compensate for the damage that they have profited by.

Profits from misleading the general public and landholders about the biofuel industry, under the guise of clearing rubbish vegetation, noxious weeds and providing clean green fuel will not be enough to pay for the eventual regeneration works that will be required to remediate the habitat destruction that has been promoted by their unscientific, adhoc industry. Once a habitat, that has taken over thirty years to evolve,  is cleared it cannot be repaired in a few years. It can take a lifetime. In the case of clearing endangered species habitat, complete repair may never occur again, ever, as the endangered species may have disappear forever before the repair is done. This is part of the precautionary principle’s essence. Taking due care.

The above photo is of PK, looking out from the Hinterland, over the Gold Coast, SE QLD, Australia

The creation of an environment that is both sustainable for our Childrens’ Future and yet high in life quality is often deemed to be the domain of Engineers, Scientists & Politicians.  And, these days, Science, Politics and Engineering appear to be intrinsically linked.

Coastal Development & Sea Levels – some Australian Links:-

• National Sea Change Taskforce: Link to – Conference at Byron Bay 2-3 March 2010 “The program will focus on the complex issues currently facing coastal LGAs including sea level rise, the legal implications of climate change and ageing populations………Byron Bay has been selected to host the event because of its relevance in terms of coastal hazards, development pressures and issues associated with climate change impacts”

• The 18th NSW Coastal Conference 2009 – 3rd-6th November 2009 to be held at Ballina,  Mt Warning (Wollumbin) Caldera Region, NE NSW. The Theme is “Staying Afloat – Rising to the Challenges”. The Conference involve government sectors, planners, consultants, engineers, community and user groups & will present awards for outstanding achievement in coastal zone management activities. ABC  North Coast News has nice updates for local info, including this Coastal Conference.
• Planned retreat, climate change & biodiversity – Byron Bay :- this is a workshop by the EDO Northern Rivers on 3rd December 2009

• Sea level Rise Policy Statement by NSW Government (late October 2009), and
• the Draft Coast and Flood Risk Assessment Guidelines – that are now open for submissions at the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (Urban & Coastal Water Reform Branch). Closing date for comments are December 11th 2009
• National Sea Change Taskforce : “national body to represent the interests of coastal councils and communities experiencing the effects of rapid growth and development” – includes Conference, Committee, Publications & links to the Federal Parliamentary Coastal Inquiry (report released 26th October 2009)
• EDO NSW (Environmental Defender’s Office) has the following publications available:-   Climate change and the legal framework for biodiversity protection in Australia: a legal and scientific analysis &   Climate change and the legal framework for biodiversity protection in NSW: a legal and scientific analysis
• Draft Queensland Coastal Plan : at Queensland Department of  Environment & Resource Management . Submissions due by 30th November 2009.

This is a photo for environmental advocacy : showing how coastal development and infrastructure is still going ahead, near the beachfront, at Byron Bay. The houses on the beach side of the photo have already lost their dune frontage to the encroaching sea, and the Council and Landcare are spraying the vegetation (albeit Bitou Bush!) with herbicide, for future regeneration, thus facilitating more habitat destruction in the name of healing.

• “Administrative Law in an Environmental Context” search results at bluecray Environmental search engine

The TWEED COAST is also experiencing engineered non sustainable development:-

Maps for the Tweed Coast Area near Casuarina, Kings Forest, Cudgen, Cudgen Creek , Wooyung – in fact much of the coastal area of the Tweed Shire!

Meanwhile, at Kingscliff,NE NSW:-  large developments (that will further fragment our native wildlife habitats) are planned nearby (Kings Forest, Cobaki Lakes ) and the sea is moving inwards – “Hungry Mother Nature bares her teeth” -  infrastructure damage at Kingscliff on the NSW North Coast -  by coastal erosion (2010): SMH article by Saffron Howden

Kingscliff battles beach erosion (story 11th august 2010):- at ABC local + other local beach coastal erosion stories from NE NSW (Tweed and Byron shires)

Here are some more google search results for NEWS about Coastal Zone Management and Climate Change - remembering that much of Australia’s Population is centred on or about our Coastline. And now, back to

ENGINEERS…..

Engineers! Do you think that the word comes from building engines? oops… wrong.
the etymology of the word engineer has the word coming from…………………go ahead, guess first, then look and see if you were close!

Definitions and etymology of the word “ENGINEER”

• Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
• The Free Dictionary online dictionary
• engineering at wikipedia
• engineering etymology at spiritus-temporus.com
• etymology of engineer at the online etymology dictionary

Article at Sydney Morning Herald about the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia’s ideas to abolish councils, make drivers pay and transform public transport subsidies (October 23rd 2009 – SMH Paul Bibby, Urban Affairs)

Photo of Engineering the Hinze Dam Catchment for the SE QLD Water Grid – or, as I like to call it “Stream Stealing“ 2009**(see below)

google search results for Association of Consulting Engineers Australia .

e - earth
n – noise
g – grandeur
i – illogical
n- non-sustainable
e – every day
e – easy
r – repeating
s – stuff

Now, thanks to the world engineers, and the ancestral contribution of engineers long gone, we have fantastic and celebrated networks of “stuff” all over the world.

Stuff that is slowly making our world a sick place.

• Petro chemical bi-products that do god knows what to our ecosystems and food chain, when combined in their ever increasing lethal dose combinations.
• Climate change, monoculture to the n’th degree, genetic engineering that is making our planet dependent on food sources that have no true genetic source from adaption and selection processes but rather laboratory type “births” and “heritage”.
• This list is endless. Always behind the grand schemes in humanities slow slide into extinction, are engineers. Planning and engineers often go together.

Now, again, as I am sure bluecray has confronted some of your more intrinsic values, I do not want to target engineers, who are after all people like you and me, with some kind of  “let’s get rid of the engineers” post.

Collage of Engineering & Biodiversity – Byron Bay Style (October 2009)

Far from it. why, My uncle was a well known, highly regarded engineer and I admired and respected him greatly.  Some of my best friends are technical and computer engineers. I love to ride my motorcycle, which is itself an engineering wonder, along roadways engineered by many people. This ancient computer that I use here is an engineering wonder, as is the internet connection and associated satellite and electrical paraphenalia that is required to put my words onto the screen that you are currently watching and reading.

I have also met engineers who have transformed great stretches of waterways from past mistakes, by bringing in earth movers to recreate riffles and bends where once, engineers had created straight stretches of water flow, that needed constant upgrading and earthworks. It wasn’t until they came back, decades later and recreated the natural meanders and riffles, that the streams  began to “breath” and work as a sustainable  ecosystem.
The purpose of this article is just to get you thinking, like all other bluecray articles that I have written. And to help you make decisions to change the way you live, so that our Childrens’ future is brighter and happier.

Environmental Advocacy Collage : “Choices – Discernment-Integrity – Love“

Just a few thoughts that may help you get back to some more basic loving principles for improved life quality on the planet. And to help you to inspire others to do the same, by setting an example,  slowing down your life, and trying to get some honest love back into your modern day engineered intellectual capacities.

People tend to hand over power readily to engineers. Their brilliance, their contraptions,the ease that their inventions appear to give our lives. Their ever increasing powerful technologies can eventually overwhelm us to thepoint where our simple life values of food, shelter, companionship, love, clothing etc become a massive encumberance that chains the whole planet down to doom.
And so, why target ENGINEERS?

Because everywhere I look these days, they appear to hold a much greater sway over the way things go in life, compared to the other necessary, more basic natural relationships in life.

“It’s All Upsidedown“

Earth moving equipment – a massive industry

Agricultural and Horticultural machinery and chemicals – a massive industry
Telecommunications – a massive industry
Mining - a massive industry
Medical  technology – a massive industry
Genetics - a masssive industry
Transport – a massive industry
Building construction – a massive industry
Military and arms production – a massive industry

and lets not forget the movies, the music industry and entertainment industries in general…..
endless endless lists…..endless endless “stuff”

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Just how much stuff do we need to feed ourselves, clothe ourselves, protect ourselves and create a quality life?
Just how much stuff do we need to create out of toxic processes to prove to ourselves that our collective wisdom is still in the dark ages???

Modern thought,  with its electric lights and enthusiastic middle men selling more and more products,  is still in the dark ages.

• We misdirect our personal egos towards an ever increasing consumption whilst millions starve elsewhere.
• We are surrounded by climatic, geological, idealogical and industrial disasters. Habitat Clearing and toxic food chains are just the tip of the “iceberg”.
• Do you care to take some personal responsibility for this, and question your personal wisdom?
• Maybe you would prefer to shop, talk and justify your way out of it. If you get really good at this, you can enter politics!!

The engineers will help you. They are, as you read, designing new machines, building new war state of the art contraptions to fill our skies with. They are, as you read, creating new fangled better than the business oppositions’ blackberries, rasberries, tokenberries and genetically engineered betterberries for your healthy berries.
All of this stuff – you and I may benefit from, no doubt, in some way or another. All of this stuff will also, in some way or another, cause untold problems in yours and mine lives, and in the lives of others – all over the planet.
Engineers are largely responsible for the way in which cities have been formed all over the planet:-

• Great dams, irrigation pumping and now water grids that alter our water catchment flows;
• long pipes, roads and electronic networks that, in the end, never DID make our lives that much easier; but alot faster, more complex, more stressful, and more toxic.
• and now, make your own list…..for those in NSW, why not start at…

………………..well, Part 3A of the NSW Planning law?

Now of course, some of this science and grand engineering has its benefits – IF USED WISELY. Moderation is a wonderful word. Moderate use of many substances and technologies is a most amazing thing. However, to keep up with the “Jones’s” – our technologically savvy “neighbours” with their engineered enhanced lifestyles and ahead in the sands of  modern enlightenment, we think we must go faster, harder, smarter, “cooler”.

It is this simple (!!) :- Moderation is a tricky quality to embrace. My Father was a master at it. He led by example. I am not so good at it. I tend to be a bit complex. Nature and nature’s needs in nature shift amazingly slow, complex though they are.. There are some “rushes” of activity depending on natural cycles, but in general, our needs in nature are the same as they were before we created, with the assistance of our engineers and their ideas, grand cities, buildings and infrastructures. Now, caught in the “City of Light”, we no longer see our shadow selves. Our egos, meanwhile, are still running rampant!

Collectively? We lack DISCERNMENT. We lack INTEGRITY. We lack GENEROSITY. We lack VISION. Collectively, I always felt that if enough people wanted war, then WAR we would have. If enough people wanted more than we can eat or carry on our backs, then that is how we would feast and travel. AND, engineers have just kept giving us answers to these requests.

“Wisdom in Engineering“

What about LOVE engineers? The philosophers, the musicians, the artists, the writers?  The engineers that do amazing engineering works, but do it for humanity and have a holistic approach to their work. The little guy down the road who lives a simple life in his organic garden, sharing the food with others, and quietly planting out trees and shrubs for the native wildlife. OR, does he even really exist anymore? Well, yes he DOES! Mainly “he” is living below or just above the poverty level, and his quality of life is just fine, thank you!
Collectively, we are sliding back into a time of “the beast”. Ego driven want,  un-enlightenment and hedonism all appear to be alive and well. And engineers have contributed to our false sense of securities and fantasy that it is ok to continue supporting clever regimes that lack transperancy, integrity, statesmanship and the vision of a loving future for our children.
And so, where do I stand in all of this, after displaying how I see this trend of sanitized, but in reality, toxic engineered insanity?
Like Fukuoka, I believe that the spirit holds the key. That engineering is in essence – like science- a wonderful thing, and has much use. But not ALL of it – just SOME of it. Discernment is not a luxury. It has now become a necessity. Good luck!!

Oh, and just one more thing – imagine a world without all this stuff – except some beautiful basics, with a moderate amount of engineered assistance? Like hand grown and hand crafted textiles, hand crafted buildings, hand crafted vehicles, hand crafted musical instruments, hand grown and prepared foods. Simplified energy use and requirements – add just a few engineers, with discernment, and LOTS of LOVEand everyone will be gainfully employed, sheltered, clothed and fed, and entertained. I know this sounds like I am oversimplifying things.  Perhaps I am….And  the world turns to a new day, and life is most likely, is as it is meant to be……

and, Collectively, we still haven’t found our way back to the GARDEN.

Now something else to look at:-

Dale Jamieson at google search

“A Companion to Environmental Philosophy” by Dale Jamieson ISBN       1557869103

Natural Sequence Farming : search results at bluecray ENVIRONMENT SEARCH

National Sustainability Initiatives at the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts. This website page includes links to the related areas of :-  EPBC Reporting, Indicators & Local Agenda 21, as well as to  Ecologically Sustainable Development LINKS .

The Ecologically Sustainable Development LINKS page includes (as at November 2009) :-

• Conferences and Events
• Sustainability Networks and Discussion Groups
• State Government Sites
• Australian Government Environment Sites
• Local Government Sites
• Non-Government Organisations

Coastal Design Guidelines for NSW (from 2003 ): at NSW Department of Planning (Coastal Protection).

The Sea Level Rise  Policy Statement  by the NSW Government 2009 & and Draft Policy information- :

• The NSW Department of Planning worked with the Department of Environment Climate Change to finalise the draft statement (21st February – 3rd April were submission times).

• Sea level Rise Policy Statement by NSW Government (late October 2009), and
• the Draft Coast and Flood Risk Assessment Guidelines – that are now open for submissions at the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (Urban & Coastal Water Reform Branch). Closing date for comments are December 11th 2009

** Regarding my term “stream stealing”:- the concept of Stream Capturing, as per the geological process that was created causing the Rhine River to take the waters of the Danube River, via a slow and gradual centuries long process, thus diverting waters away from one catchment to another has implications for how the water of these two Catchments is distributed throughout parts of Europe.

“Stream Stealing”, or taking the water from the catchment and removing it to another catchment is akin to diversion that may have future consequences for that catchment later on. The Murray-Darling system attests to this on a grand scale. The water was purloined (see etymology HERE), and the consequences in the future are already here, to see – in black and white. The Government is now having to rethink where and how this Murray Darling Water actually goes, over time. This is for the sake of future generations and future environmental habitats. Much damage has already be done.

The concept of altering catchment water flows, taking water from one series of catchment ecosystems to completely different catchment systems, can have consequences further down stream.

Many engineers and scientist show, via quantitative and qualitative measures, that Dam Building and altering Catchment flows can be managed in an environmentally sustainable way. However, there are still serious doubts, in my mind,  as to water flows for a catchment’s well being down stream, and ecosystem health when water is removed from one catchment to serve a purpose in another.

The Qld Water Grid of South East Queensland is doing this. Dams and irrigation networks do this. Construction and earthworks within developments can do this. Altering water flows from one catchment, to provide another catchment with that water has historical implications. Only time will tell, and as the benchmarks can keep changing, the ecosystem health consequences further down the catchment, and into the sea may not show up for many decades. “Stream Stealing” is an insidious form of Habitat destruction by “clearing the habitat” via habitat water theft.

This type of activity is stealing from natural ecosystems and habitats (that have little voice in the matter), to serve human consumption and industry.

Capture:-definition and etymology .

Stealing:-definition and etymology .

“Clearing the Habit of Habitat Clearing” – at Journey for Wisdom in the Land

The Beechmont Plateau was largely a cleared section of the Mt Warning Caldera Region during the 20th century. Photos from the 1930′s show the plateau as having large bare expanses from habitat clearing,  clear felling and extensive timber getting.

Many weed species (eg privet, lantana ) and some remnant wet and dry sclerophyll forest  have now revegetated the plateau and its escarpments, which was intensively farmed by the dairy industry up until  deregulation began just before the turn of this century. Fires are a regular hot weather feature on the escarpments and some sections of the plateau. I have spent many nights watching fires burn out of control about the plateau, and quite a few houses have been destroyed by fire and landslides over the years . Indiscriminate clearing and burning off is still taking place.

In this photo, Phantom Koala watches a “farmer” on Beechmont Plateau burn trees that have been cleared

The plateau and its escarpment is under pressure from development as more land is currently being subdivided and sold for housing estates and smaller rural pursuits. This may or may not be a good thing for biodiversity and the water aquifers, depending on the land and water stewardship that prevails into the future.

The Beechmont Plateau is flanked by the open and closed sclerophyll forests and rainforests of the Land Warfare Centre (Canungra), to the west, the Lamington National Park with its Upper Coomera River Catchment to the west and south. These include biodiverse rainforest Gondwana Heritage habitats and ecosystems. To the east lies more diverse Gondwana Heritage wonders of the Springbrook Plateau and much of the Nerang River Catchment and (the Hinze Dam Catchment). This water of the Nerang river Catchment is now part of the SE QLD WATER GRID. The basaltic aquifers of the region are largely unmonitored.

Environmental Advocacy Collage : Beechmont Plateau, SE QLD, Australia

Back in the early 1990′s two gifted environmentalists, Iris Flenady and Ros Woodburn created, a beautiful educational package for schools to use, concerning Remnant Vegetation Restoration and Habitat Rescue. This Book, “Rescuing Remnants” is worth a look at, and bluecray recommends its use in helping teachers grasp Remnant Vegetation Educational plans and methods.

On a more scientific level, Robert Kooyman‘s works, in association with other authors gives us a rich insight into the complexities of Native Vegetation in the Mt Warning Caldera Region of NE NSW and SE Qld. More about some of Robert Kooyman’s work can be seen here at Rainforest Rescue .

Opportunities for combined agroforestry, carbon sequesration and biodiversity within the Scenic Rim (Mt Warning (or WOLLUMBIN) Caldera Region of Australia).

Having attended an agroforestry workshop over a decade ago, in the “high country” of the old Beaudesert Shire, I became convinced back then, that these three components:- agroforestry, biodiversity and carbon sequestration can work very well within the Mt Warning Caldera Region, if put together using the soundest of authentic Land and Water (Environmental) Stewardship principles. The New South Wales Good Wood guide is a splendid start to understanding the types of trees that can be grown within this region. Should you be interested in further discussions concerning this article, please do not hesitate to contact me at bluecray.org

NSW Good Wood Guide :-

Agroforestry LINKS at bluecray.org

Beechmont at wikipedia

The work done by the Rescuing Remnants volunteers , beginning almost two decades ago has created stands of native endemic, largely rainforest plantings that can show the level of Carbon sequestration that is possible in the region of the Mt Warning (Wollumbin) Caldera.

If the stands of trees that have been planted would be measured, (which would be rather easy) they could readily show what level of Carbon sequestration is possible on this and the neighbouring Springbrook Plateaus.

These plantings are a valuable heritage that is directly related to Iris and Ros’s dedication and to the National Parks and Wildlife people, numerous volunteers, landholders, teachers and school children who participated in the Rescuing Remnants program. Some of the Remnant to Remnant plantings are on private land, some on public land. Many are now forming small forested “islands” of rich biodiversity and valuable seed for the birds and other fauna of the area to spread across the Plateau and surrounding region, by natural means. This is a wonderful example of Land and Water Stewardship.

I am not too sure if this program is still running, but I had had some involvement with it years back, and it was a highly valuable education resource for both the school at Beechmont and the community at large. It was dependent on the dedication of the School, community and National Parks to mention some key “players”.

A nice reference for this area is “TAMING the PLATEAU – HISTORY of the BEECHMONT DISTRICT”. compiled and edited by Robert Longhurst. ISBN 064612353X

Rescuing Remnants Beechmont – search results at bluecray Environmental Search Engine. There is not much on the internet about the Rescuing Remnants program. I will ask about it next time I am on the Plateau and see what is happening concerning any recent/ongoing community work with the program, and fill in details as soon as I can.

A beautiful area to the west of the Beechmont Plateau, is the Back Creek Gorge (see google search for Back Creek Gorge conservation association) ( + Killarney Glen – now in the Canungra Land Warfare custodianship?), which the Fitzgerald Family worked hard to preserve and conserve for many years.

The World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests are  found along the border of NE NSW and SE QLD, and a map of their location can be downloaded at Australia’s World Heritage page at the Australian Government’s Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Gold Coast City Council, SE Queensland

Scenic Rim Regional Council, SE Queensland

Dry Sclerophyll Forest &  Wet sclerophyll Forest : search results at bluecray Environmental search engine

The geology of this plateau largely explains what type of vegetation units once were present, and why open and closed forests, wet and dry rainforests occur where they do. I shall endeavour to write more on this at a later date.

basaltic soils SE QLD : bluecray environmental search engine results

rhyolitic soils SE QLD : bluecray environmental search engine results

The Rainforest Information Centre .

See also “Carbon Trading in the USA” at ABC Landline archives October 2009. This story illustrate what happens when the “free market” is allowed to take over what is essentially an environmental issue that needs to be kept out of the hands of those people whose ego’s and greed is running amok, and placed back into the hands of caring land and water stewards.

AND LASTLY, here are some links to other stories that I have written about education and biodiversity that you may find interesting:-

Stewardship – the Balances

Australia’s Drop in the Ocean – the Draft Carbon Pollution Reduction  Scheme Bill – and a brief outline as to WHY Australia’s economy would be best suited to being based on BIODIVERSE FOREST establishment across as much of the continent as possible, and employing endemic, provincial, genetically diverse seed and propagation materials for the Forests.

A Balance of Faeries – revisited:- a story about clearing fragile remnants where Koalas and other vulnerable species live, and why recovery of those remnants may never occur unless immediate authentic land and water stewardship  action is taken.

Growing by Organics – food gardens and sharing

Totem Based Education for Biodiversity :a brief outline of how Schools can introduce into the School “HOUSE” system an environmental education template for species recovery and habitat understanding at a basic and localised level.

some Bluecray Murray Darling Links

Goanna leaves the Glyphosate Bank

PK and Litoria look for Rufous Bettong

“Clearing the Habit of Habitat Clearing” – at Journey for Wisdom in the Land

But firstly , a few words about  bluecray experiential views, philosophies and  responses to land clearing, habitat clearing, inappropriate natural resource management and human consumption in the face of mass extinction.

• Many types of people and views make up our world of human knowledge. Basic human and animal rights are a huge issue globally.

• Some of us think about the above matters (threatened species, habitat clearing, natural resource mismanagement, animal and people advocacy etc) and we have deep concern, seek education, yet we feel that we can do nothing or very little – this is ok – perhaps it is our concern that is important. Never underestimate “concern”, and the passive impact it has on others.

• Some of us work towards action, compromise, practical step at a time issues. For example, realising to halt  development (that is environmentally unsustainable) all at once is not the way. Working slowly and surely towards a better world is valid.  Working with developers – not against them, working with poor land stewards, slowly helping them change their understanding has validity.

• Some of us have no idea that the level of habitat destruction has become critical to our own survival as a species in this world. That, again, is the individual’s path.  Do not think that they have any less a valid right to life and viewpoint than others. They are entitled to their life and the consequences there of, just as we all are.

• Some people see that the consequences of habitat clearing, poor land stewardship and the power of inappropriate persuasion by wealthy “movers and shakers” has become a consequence for many of our children and the future which is to be their life. They speak out about this, and take actions of various types that are aimed at deep change within humanity’s consciousness and spirit.

• Negotiation and honesty is a cornerstone to becoming a better society.

• Tolerance, love, forgiveness, redemption and compassion are powerful tools when dealing with poor land management, inappropriate land custodianship and ignorant land stewardship. These things can open up doors that anger, misdirected ego and intolerance have previously held shut.

In the scheme of things, action (Environmental Action and Activism) to change the world can come in three forms:-

• Identifying the critical issue, passively supporting change for the better in your heart, but recognising that beyond that, you can do little else, except heal your own inbalances and heart.

• Identifying the critical issues, actively supporting the change for the better and recognising that  balance, focus and the “heart” and “energy” behind those actions are to be considered as foundations to those actions.

• Identifying the critical issue, understanding the passive and the active response, then going beyond. Going to and working with, the underlying issue that has caused the initial problem is in this category. Going to the spirit of things, addressing them in a way that can help cause a massive shift in mass consciousness awareneness, thus facilitating change without really becoming involved in the individual issue.

Phantom Koala and the Goanna

“Dearest PK“ asked Goanna wise
“why don’t the Trees now reach to the Skies-
why is the Rain so late to fall?
I know many things but with these, I  stall.“

PK slowly shifted to see
who questioned him so from beneath his tree
“Why Goanna, you smarty, didn’t you know
The government let them clear  the trees,  so….
The rain doesn’t come, the wind blows hard
and everyone’s mowing down their back yard
They’ve channelled the water away from the streams
and ruined the chance of our childrens’ dreams.“

This disturbed the Goanna who said, “But PK, surely not everyone acts in this way?“
Well,  PK just laughed and pulled at some leaves
“It’s what’s in ones heart – that’s what to believe
Does it make sense to kill? does it make sense to steal?
Does it make sense to eat  much much more than your meal?“
“Well, that is what they do – the clearers of land, they kill all the trees and they make out they’re grand. Then they take all the water and pump it away
and they tell us that industries show us the way.
They hop on their jet stream and swan round the world
praising themselves with their grand flags unfurled
saying ‘We have the answer – we are the best‘
(though to you and me both – we know they’re the pest).“
Goanna thought deeply on PK’s last words and dreamily saw that it was quite absurd
“So why do they panic and call each day drought, why do the leaders still hold so much clout?“
“Oh Goanna! Dear friend, you wise brave old soul
because they can’t see from their justified hole. They’ve dug down so deeply, their egos as spades – that the only thing left between them and the hades-

is redemption and love. We must give them a hand, to clamber back up and to save our sweet land“

“Phantom Koala and PART 3A of the NSW Planning Law”

This Goanna photo was taken at Upper Burringbar, Mt Warning Caldera Region, NE NSW, Australia

KOALA at QLD Departmentof Environment and Resource Management : Koala plan, Maps, Information Sheets, Koala Species Outline, Local Government Involvement, Mapping of New Koala Habitat Areas

KOALA PROFILE at NSW Threatened Species pages : KOALA – listed as VULNERABLE

“A Balance of Faeries” 1989 by al at bluecray.org – a story about habitat clearing, Koalas and the consequences. When this story, “A Balance of Faeries”,  which is a true story happened, the land which was cleared – Koala Habitat, was also part of the home to the biggest GOANNA that I have ever seen. It was about eight feet in length. This massive Goanna would have been very very old indeed!

Alan Moir cartoons at Sydney Morning Herald – summing up wealthy corporate and political gamesmanship – these cartoons will make you both laugh and think!

Melissa Merry: “Blogging and Environmental Advocacy: A New Way to Engage the Public?”

Koala School

Friends in my garden October 2009

The Striated Pardalot (top RHS) is a frequent visitor these days. His beautiful “tchip tchip” call can be heard through the bush, as I write this.

The Python, which is in the background?   I almost stood on him as I walked outside. Both the Python and the Brown Snake were sunning themselves and waiting for the small marsupials that abound here, to run along their pathways.

The White-Tail Spider was inside the house. He was nestled between the black keys of my piano, when I went to play, so I took a small brush, and brushed him into a glass, then took him outside. I like to take the “biting/hunting” spiders (wolf, white-tail, funnel-web spiders) outside. Firstly by putting a tall glass over them, then gently sliding some hard paper to cover the top of the glass, so that they can’t run or jump out of the glass, until I have emptied them out into the garden, close to where they can run for protection.

The Crow is the Father Crow of Benoit, my Crow friend (who has now grown up and left the Crow Nursery). I still put out water every day for the birds, and the parent Crows have their own water container. The Father Crow had just had a bath, in this photo. He is out there now splashing in his bath… he LOVES it!!!

The Goanna is also a frequent visitor. There are a number of these living nearby – of different sizes. This one is the largest one here – about four foot in length. I have, however, met one that was much much larger – over six foot in length, on the Marburg Range, west of Brisbane, many years back now.

The Skink – look hard in the collage – its there – is a common sight, both inside and outside the house.

The Honey Bee? Well they are constant visitors, although, since it has been so dry here, they do not seem as pollen loaded as usual, and I haven’t seen any native Black Bees for some months now.

Me trying to be very quiet and hidden in the garden

A note about taking photos for education and environmental advocacy purposes:-

Many animals do not like to have their photo taken, particularly birds. It is important when taking photos not to disturb them, as they are busy with their lives. These days, the lives of Australian wildlife can be somewhat stressful, so try not to stress wildlife by needlessly pursuing them, just for the sake of “capturing” their image. If you wish to photograph them or learn more by watching them, move slowly, preferably staying or sitting very still. And try not to focus too much attention on them – native wildlife are usually very very AWARE of their surroundings.

Eastern Brown Snake

Links:

Birds in Backyards – Birdfinder .

Honey Bee – bluecray environmental search

Native Black Bees – bluecray environmental search

Spiders at spiders.com.au

Snake Identification at wildlifeqld.com.au

Goanna – bluecray environmental search

Australian Lizards and Skinks – bluecray environmental search

Look carefully at this Ladybird Beetle... does it have an extra leg? NO! That is an ANT behind it!!

Honey Bees (introduced) in the Passionfruit Vine flowers, in the dry before the Spring rain came.

Weeds and their spread are usually indicators of nature trying to “fix” itself after mismanagement – overclearing, over grazing and over cultivation/mowing of land.. Weeds hold a purpose in the scheme of things, and usually weed management is about caring for the country and letting biodiversity back into the equation.

Honey Bees and Fireweed as a food source: – at honeybee.com.au

It is important to remember that spraying  with herbicides can have a number of undesirable consequences. Other valuable pasture can be affected or killed by the herbicide, and animals/insects  that live with, near and forage off the sprayed weed may not survive inappropriate spraying techniques. Always follow the instructions on the HERBICIDE LABEL and read the MSDS sheet.

Like many of the “daisy” type weeds,  just one or two Fireweed plants,  in one growing season, can create tens of thousands of new plants, if left unmanaged. If Fireweed is growing in or near degraded pastures, roadsides and vacant land, its seed can become air born and travel to neighbouring property on the wind.

Fireweed is an extremely successful “weed”.

I have just spent a number of weeks through this past winter, hand pulling Fireweed from a property in SE QLD.  The hand pulling of Fireweed in early winter can help the spread of any legumes that are competing in the pasture, thus ensuring more soil cover of appropriate pasture species, rather than the weed. The above photo shows  just some of the Fireweed that was removed. It was later burnt to destroy the seed that was on the plants.

Once fireweed has flowered, it has the capacity to produce seed very quickly. If it is hand pulled while flowering, the seed can still develop on the “pulled” plant. This means that once the fireweed is removed from the ground, the plant still needs to be carefully managed, as the seeds begin to mature quickly on the pulled plant, due to the stress of it being uprooted. The seed can then disperse on the wind, unless the plant is destroyed in a way that prevents this.

The best way to hand remove is to pull the whole plant, roots and all from the ground, with as little disturbance to the soil as possible. If the plants are already flowering, removal on a still, non windy day is best, ensuring that as few seed as possible are released into the air or onto the soil. Overseeding the “pulled” area with pasture legumes, native and pasture grass seed or native herbaceous seed to compete with consequent Fireweed seed that will germinate and establish is important. Follow up weeding and pasture management for a number of years/seasons may be required.

Overgrazed pastures and highly disturbed soils can be an excellent “nursery” for Fireweed. Hence, promotion of  suitable groundcover across the infested site and across neighbouring land is essential to Fireweed management. This will ensure that the Fireweed has to compete to survive. I always use gloves when I remove Fireweed, as the palms of the hands (indeed any part of the body that perspires strongly) can allow toxic chemicals into the system.

LINKS:

Here are a few links to help you learn more about FIREWEED, its growth, spread and management…..and please remember – fireweed, because of the way it spreads, can become your neighbours problem, or even the region’s problem, if you chose to allow to let it get out of hand by letting your pasture and roadsides become over infested. Help your local Council out by hand pulling fireweed and fostering low growing native vegetation on the road verges adjacent to your property. This will help the council’s dependence (which currently seems to be the case) on costly herbicide application.

Forum on Fireweed at Natural Sequence Farming .

Looking for some native pasture Alternatives? try here:- Grasses of Subtropical eastern Australia Margaret Elliott : search results bluecray Environmental Search Engine

and, Grasses of Subtropical Eastern Australia by Penny Watsford & Margaret Elliott Nullum Publications, Murwillumbah .at Brunswick Valley Landcare Inc. BOOKSHOP. This book is worth buying or finding in your library. It comes with a CD, photos and clear illustrations. You may even like to purchase a copy and donate it to the library of your local school or TAFE!!

Weeds, Pests animals and ants at Qld Primary Industries and Fisheries

National Toxics Network:

Weeds at Qld Biosecurity and FIREWEED at Biosecurity QLD. You can download a FACT SHEET on Fireweed from the Biosecurity Fireweed page.

A-Z listing of Weeds at Qld Primary Industries & Fisheries – this page will give you Weeds A-Z by common name, scientific name and also photo guides to weeds.

NSW Fireweed CAMPAIGN by NSW DPI

Fireweed Information and FACT SHEET at NSW DPI

North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee – and FIREWEED SEARCH  results on their website

Search for Fireweed at the Australian Native Plants Society Environmental Weeds search engine

“The spread and distribution of fireweed Senecio madagascariensis in Australia” – by Brian Sindel, Peter Michael, Rachel McFadyen, Janah Carthew, Andy Lowe  and Eleanor Dormontt is a good starting point. The link to the Bega Valley’s website’s PDF of this Article can be found HERE .

“The continuing spread of fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) – the hottest of topics”

The Council of Australasian Weed Societies Inc (CAWS) – here you will find some interesting info about weeds and their spread – including FIREWEED.

Fireweed Search results : at weedinfo.com.au

Fireweed Search results at the Bega Valley’s Community Website .

PAN – (Pesticide Action Network – USA) – many links here, including global pesticides data  – Links and resources.

Bromoxynil MSDS (material safety data sheets) – at Bluecray Environmental Search – up to date, tests on this herbicide show it to be moderately toxic to bees, toxic to birds and very toxic to fish and aquatic animals.

FROGS IN AN EFFLUENT SOCIETY Risks, Remedies and Responsibilities by Dr Sara Broomhal Published June 2004 WWF (ISBN: 1 875941 67 3) at frogsaustralia.net.au

Spraying herbicides should be a last resort. Bluecray does NOT advocate the use of Herbicides, especially when there are other land management practices available, such as increasing groundcover &  biodiversity of vegetation,  decreasing stocking rates in times of climate stress and minimum cultivation of land. Bluecray also advocates reading MSDS sheets, proper calibration of spray equipment and use of the correctly working suitable nozzles and herbicide application rates, if you must spray. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL!!!!!!!!

2,4-D acid (MSDS) – at Bluecray Environmental Search

Insecticides and Bees at beesource.com

The above photo (Beechmont Plateau, SE QLD) shows fireweed growing on a property that was overgrazed and mismanaged for many years, much to the owners dismay. They had rented the property out to someone who was ignorant to the problems of fireweed and who repeatedly refused/ was unable  to manage it. Finally the people moved out, and we were all able to go into the paddocks and remove the fireweed.

Native Honey Bees : Search results at Bluecray Environmental Advocacy Links Search engine

Native Bees : Search results at Bluecray Regional Environmental News – Mt Warning Caldera Region

The above links may lead you to relevant links for Native Australian Bees, with a focus on NSW, QLD and the Mt Warning Caldera Region.

In many parts of the Mt Warning Caldera Region are small hubs of  sustainable lifestyle knowledge. Authentic local environmental stewardship. And educational resources that continue, through time, to the next generation.

Many different regions have local land stewards carrying stories that contain valid information.  Environmental management decision making stories. Many of these stories are very “ground level” and not always apparent. Many of these people who hold these stories are quite old. Some are members of local groups – nature/community groups of some kind, others are not.

Small, local populations, doing their little bit towards this common future of sustainability.

And, like the valuable threatened species that also abound in this area, they would benefit by increased linking and networking, with sound corridors put in place so that their knowledge is easily shared with others within the region.

Small regional schools hold a wealth of wisdom in their “catchment”  communities, when it comes to exchange and extension of environmental information. This exhange is a VALUABLE area that needs to be mentored. There are all types of wildlife workers, land workers, water workers, sustainable lifestyle practitioners out there, in the Mt Warning Caldera Region.

The valuable information, that of the knowledge of the natural processes, the intrinsic understanding of the animal habitat, the love and wonder of the harmonies of nature – all these things need increased mentoring by government levels of care.

A child, prepared by economics and market forces, in the coming ages, may no longer do as well the child prepared slowly but surely, by environmentally sustainable lifestyle education.

Much of the child’s time is taken in the education and learning system of our society. Economics, family and homelife, products, travel, communications, recreation, electronic products, toys – many of these things consume the rest of a child’s time.

Running through all of this, and appearing to hold more immediate validity than  learning of authentic education for sustainability, is this:- A powerful economic framework with the speed of money, economies of scale and fuel powered motion.    Where do the small units of authentic  ”unencumbered ” biodiversity really figure in all of this?

This is an enigma. this is a dichotomy. This first and foremost needs to be resolved.

“A Balance of Faeries” : why the little things count in authentic Land and Water Stewardship

Totem based Education for Biodiversity in Darling River (Murray Darling System) – totem based education is something that can be considered for many regions and catchments, through the Primary School “house” system.

Cross – Cultural Environmental Education and the evolution of Australia’s Cultural Policy article at bluecray.org

Stewardship – the Balances : Article  on Land, Air and Water Stewardship and its relation to early childhood learning/learned behaviour  and social/economic pressures (behaviours) (April 2009) at Wisdom in the Land Bluecray blog

“Environmental Advocacy Blogs – The Art of Public Engagement”  with a link to Melissa Merry’s Article on “Blogging and Environmental Advocacy: a New Way to Engage the Public?” – March 2008

The Well Trained Activist‘s article “Can Corporate Leadership Theorists Help Activists?”  - This is a great website full of great inspiration, with links to Daniel Goleman’s : Ecological Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence, Social Intelligence page.

• search for  Aboriginal  (Indigenous peoples) research literature for the North Coast of NSW at the Libraries Australia Search
• Chief Oren Lyons at the E.F.Schumacher Society .

Lifting the illusions and emotional perceptions that we carry so that we may learn to fully participate in meaningful ecological decisions. This is indeed a worthy challenge.   Corporate leadership,  if incorporated with love, respect and authentic Land and Water Stewardship?  THIS really COULD change the world!!

Phantom Koala and his Friends. Waiting for us to join him on his adventures.

The Bluecray Journey – The Bluecray Totem – How it all began

...................................Free F'all........................

Gold Coast City and Hinze Dam seen from Lower Beechmont (top, middle). Springbrook, Mt Warning and Lamington Plateau - Numinbah Valley or "Devil's Country" is in the centre-left -seen from Beechmont Plateau.(bottom), SE QLD, Australia.

** Dear Reader, just a note here – if you are looking for photo of bees, environmental advocacy pictures , collages of the environment for advocacy or the Phantom Koala art/collages for the Mt Warning Caldera Region – I have compiled quite a few on bluecray.org now. Please feel free to use them for educational purposes (just cite al@ bluecray), and if you should like to have higher quality images to use, please contact me and we can send the images to you at a minimal charge. cheers, Alison Polistchuk