Logan and Albert Conservation Association
Agriculture is a key example of how human activities have profound impacts on the ecosystems of our planet.This year's theme for the International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD), "Biodiversity and Agriculture," seeks to highlight the importance of sustainable agriculture not only to preserve biodiversity, but also to ensure that we will be able to feed the world, maintain agricultural livelihoods, and enhance human well being into the 21st century and beyond.
What are the economic, social, landscape and environmental benefits of keeping arable land under primary production? What are the implications of land values for viability of agriculture? If the retention of land as farmland is seen as desirable how can we protect that land from alienation from agriculture?
These questions were asked in 1992 in Beaudesert at Logan and Albert Conservation Association's community conference 2020 vision.
These questions are still relevant today - and possibly more so. Then we were looking at SEQ 2001 Project. Today we are facing an early review of the SEQ Regional Plan (2009 - 2031 see below) which is looking to accommodate and house the enormous increase in population. Good Quality Agricultural Land has been taken over by residential developments in other areas. Will it happen in our local area? There is a SPP (State planning policy) that is intended to "protect" GQAL - but does it? For how long?
This year 2008 is INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE FROG. The current amphibian extinxtion crisis is one of the greatest conservation challenges in the history of humanity. We are on the verge of losing much of an entire vertebrate class and the window of opportunity to stem the extinctions is closing.
The Amphibian Ark has launched this global campaign to generate public awareness and understanding of the amphibian extinction crisis. Please consider supporting this campaign by signing the petition to politicians and parliaments of the world. This is available online here.
Read more to find the two frog drawings to colour in and bring along to EcoExpo for opportunity to receive a prize.
An updated SEQ Regional Plan 2009 - 2031 is in planning now - 12 months earlier than originally planne
d. A draft will be released in December 2008, with submissions closing end March 2009. HAVE AN INPUT NOW - by Friday 6 June 2008.
Reporting of wildlife sightings and personal recording is of vital importance. Community members play an essential role in monitoring widlife movements and populations - especially if we notice something out of the ordinary. Residents in the Kerry /Laravale /Tamrookum areas are currently witnessing more dead dying and vanishing wildlife than ever before.
The national body the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority APVMA states on its website that it investigates all reports of adverse experiences with agricultural and veterinary chemical products. An adverse experience is an unintended or unexpected effect when the product is used according to the label instructions. This includes impacts on human beings, animals and crops, and damage to the environment. There are SEVERAL WAYS TO SUBMIT A REPORT - online, email, complete printed form and post, phone and fax. This page from the APVMA website has links for those options and other background documents. For your convenience the form to complete for human health issues is here. To report environmental issues use this form.
Traditional farming practices and even weed control by local authorities have since world war two made use of toxic chemicals as an 'instant' method to control nature's response to our land use management. Such use however is intended to to be tightly regulated in order to avoid adverse effects from mismanagement. The following links have been provided for easier access to those government publications which are freely available on the government websites. The how when where and why - and what to do if there are mishaps are all available.
A significant number of very tall grass trees appear to be dying on a property adjacent to Spring Creek, Kerry Valley. This has occurred after aerial spraying on the nextdoor property went astray during windy conditions. Such vegetation is protected under Environmental Protection Agency legislation.This is a very slow growing species. Information from EPA about the species Xanthorrhoea can be downloaded from the government website.
The Australian Native Plant Pages provides information and extensive links for more information.
If one chooses to gaze upon the slopes of Mt Mahomet, it is not a pretty site:HUNDREDS of dead and dying grass trees tell a sorry tale.
David Attenborough is often quoted as saying:" I know of no pleasure deeper than that which comes from contemplating the natural world and trying to understand it." Such pleasures are denied here now by an action vandalism in my opinion beyond human comprehension.
Before the spraying on adjacent property After the spraying on adjacent property
The Beaudesert Times is covering the story in weekly papers. Edition for 30 April 2008 will be available here. Formal investigations have been launched by several sections of Queensland Government. Evidence of breaches of agricultural and veterinary control of use legislation and use according to manufacturer's label instructions will be checked by Biosecurity Queensland. Human health issues will be handled by either Queensland Health or the local Workplace Health and Safety officers.
If you are concerned about the loss of protected vegetation, if you are concerned about the water quality, if you have concerns with potential longterm heath risks to residents in the Scenic Rim - or other areas where such toxic chemicals are used, come along to the meeting at Kerry Memorial Hall now confirmed for Wednesday 14 May 2008 staring 7.00pm. Contact email for booking will be posted here.
In the mean time consider writing to or phoning your local councillor, mayor, member of state and federal governments and local newspapers to express your concerns.
Parents from Darlington State School in the Scenic Rim area were interviewed by reporters from Channel Nine news Tuesday 29 April 2008. The school has been closed for over a week now and students relocated to Hillview State School to reduce any further potential health issues. The school is being decontaminated.
The reporters from Channel Nine news also interviewed a local resident whose property was also subject to a similar event earlier. There are potentially many unfortunate environmental outcomes arisng from using dangerous chemicals - even when used as directed. All families in this area of the Scenic Rim usually enjoy drinking the water which they harvest and store - but what water can they drink now? Roofs and tanks have to be decontaminated.
What are stock going to drink? How can we "clean the creeks" for the wildlife? There are many questions but answers?
Planning for a community public meeting to be held at Kerry Memorial Hall is well underway.
Look at the events page for latest update.
If you would like to make any comments suggestions, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We look forward to meeting concerned citizens at this meeting.
A growing band of indigenous leaders now believe that hunting by their people is excessive and no longer sustainable. The leaders argue that a combination of increased human populations and the use of firearms, vehicles and motorboats has distorted traditional notions of hunting.
"It is easy these days for too many animals to be killed," chairman of the Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council, Guivarra, says. He adds that hunting is jeopardising plans by the Mapoon people to emulate Kakadu's success as an ecotourism destination. "We have the same wetlands and waterbirds, but soon there won't be anything for people to come and see," he says in The Australian 26 April 2008.