During the 1980s botanists ecologists and other environmental scientists discovered the beauty rarity and majesty of the Bahrs Scrub area - home to many unique rare or now endangered species - both flora and fauna. A proposal was made to the government of the day to declare it as a National Park. This unfortunately did not eventuate.
Those of us who value and respect landscapes with rare and endangered species will always look for lawful ways to protect preserve and enhance those species. As we work towards this end we will try to take the reader on a journey to discover the history of this special area of Bahrs Scrub and look to preserve it for posterity. Veresdale Scrub - a nearby now denuded dry vine rainforest - is almost extinguished by development encouraged by governments of the time.
Unless and until a ground truthing exercise to map all plants and animals and slopes has been conducted then it is irresponsible to plan for high density housing developments which could obliterate much of this biodiversity hotspot.
The Quest newspaper from Enoggera reports this week that almost one million hectares of Queensland has become nature refuge as more private property owners agree to set aside land for conservation. Environment Minister Kate Jones, also the State Member for Ashgrove, said 14 new conservation agreements had been signed with landholders this week, protecting an extra 172 thousand hectares across Queensland. The massive Toko Range, southwest of Mount Isa, is the largest among the latest nature refuges in the state.
Ms Jones says the new agreements bring the state's total land covered under the nature refuges program to more than 900 thousand hectares.
Wouldn't this be a great option for the current landowners of Bahrs Scrub? Better of course if the area became a National Park. However, landowners who join the nature refuge program are helped financially to maintain and enhance the landscape.
Major conservation councils, GECKO - Gold Coast & Hinterland Environment Council, and BREC - Brisbane Region Environment Council, and peak groups, Logan & Albert Conservation Association and Wildlife Logan have come together to promote responsible outcomes for Bahrs Scrub which preserve the area's unique, extremely high conservation values and acknowledge multiple development constraints.
In addition to multiple development constraints we are keen to work with Logan City Council landowners and developers to achieve an ecologically sustainable development for human settlement. As yet we have seen little on ground evidence that this concept is understood by those making decisions for us.
YOU CAN HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THE WAY WE LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
Join one of the groups to learn more about sustainable developments.
Join one of the groups to help repair some unsustainable developments.