Written by Carmelo Amalfi Friday, 26 February 2010 13:25
GLOBAL financial problems, resource booms and the rising costs of living are diverting public attention from the health of the natural environment, according to the Conservation Council of WA.
Citizen science project coordinator Dr Nic Dunlop says most people are sensitive to changes in their environment but few understand the longer term impacts on habitats of land clearing, fire, salinity and dieback.
“Biodiversity is a concept that does not resonate in the community,” Dr Dunlop says.
“It is almost impossible to change this with the current attitude to the world financial crisis and massive resource development planned in WA.”
A leading ecologist and active conservationist since the mid-1970s, Dr Dunlop says even the impacts of climate change often go unrecognised when trying to protect and conserve natural systems.
“Unfortunately, the current approach to biodiversity conservation is to wait until species are on their last legs and then put them on a list.
“How much these lists reflect reality is questionable.”
The diversity of life on the planet affects everyone, which is why the United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity.
Additional information can be found at www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity.
Western Australian groups are holding events including lectures and field trips to some of the State’s biological hotspots, including the South-West, Mid-West and North-West regions.
The WA Museum has launched a series of lectures whose topics range from the evolution of the spider to the resilience of seashells, while Perth Zoo has launched a 2010 ‘Our Biodiversity Hotspots’ education experience for people who want to explore the endemic biodiversity of southwestern WA.
The program will give students an opportunity to look at the benefits of biodiversity, and the potential issues associated with the loss of biodiversity.
There are about 260,000 hectares of remnant native vegetation in the metropolitan area.
Scientists have documented more than 1500 plant species forming habitats for a diversity of animals, including 15 species of amphibians, 311 bird species and 71 reptile species.
According to State Government figures, the equivalent of 260 football fields of remnant vegetation has been cleared on the Swan Coastal Plain every year for the past four years.
Some species have gone extinct in the past few years, including the short-tongued native bee, pig-footed bandicoot, lesser bilby, desert bandicoot, Lewin’s rail and rufous bristlebird.
Others are on the brink, including the western swamp tortoise and loggerhead turtle, northern quoll, woylie, Tristan albatross, noisy scrub-bird, graceful sunmoth, tingle trapdoor spider and Dunsborough burrowing crayfish.
People can view the lists of endangered and extinct plants and animals at the Department of Environment and Conservation site at www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/852/2010.
