[AA Listerv] long paddock scientists' statement

[General Listserve for the Australasia Section of the SCB]

Hi everybody,

Please see below a message from Hugh Possingham and Henry Nix asking
for scientists to support a letter that articulates the values of
Australia's travelling stock route network as well as concern at
threats it currently faces in both NSW and Queensland.

Details for how to support this statement are outlined in the letter
below - it only takes approx 10 seconds to do!

thanks

James Watson



---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: long paddock
From:    "Hugh Possingham" <h.possingham at uq.edu.au>
Date:    Sat, August 16, 2008 10:55 am
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Fellow Scientists,

We are writing to request your support for a statement by scientists
articulating the values of Australia's travelling stock route network as
well as concern at threats it currently faces in both NSW and Queensland.

The Travelling Stock Route network provides a critical resource for
biodiversity in our highly modified landscape.  The urgency of this
situation requires us to compile signatures by noon on 27th August, for
formal launching of the statement on the 28th, and we apologise for that
timeline.  These things always take a huge effort and we don't control
political timelines.

Since the 19th Century, the routes have provided an important resource to
graziers.  More recently it has been recognised that in extensively
cleared landscapes, the network contains some of the best remaining
examples of threatened vegetation, such as grassy white box woodlands.
Being fairly straight lines they tend to sample the vegetation types
fairly evenly, often better than our reserve system.  Furthermore, the
network of routes and reserves provides important connectivity over a vast
area (over 3 000 000 ha across the two states). It is already well known
to provide important resources for birds moving across the eastern states.
 The value of the network for movement of individuals and genetic material
is heightened in an environment now adapting to changed climate
conditions.  The network contains important historic and cultural heritage
values.

Administrative changes imminent in NSW and Qld pose a threat to the
network.  In Queensland, it is likely that large areas will be subject to
long term leases, allowing permanent grazing that is incompatible with the
maintenance of biodiversity values.  In NSW, the threat is even greater,
as changes to the administering Act, likely to occur in September will
make it probable that much of the network may be handed back to the
Department of Lands and then leased for the long term or sold.

We thus ask you to read the attached statement and consider adding your
support to that of other concerned Australian scientists in this 'Long
Paddock Scientists' Statement'. Your professional details are not
required, as we are asking for your personal support. However, we
respectfully ask that in your reply you list your tertiary qualifications,
as we feel this will add weight to the statement.  Further, we would
appreciate your help in sending this statement to fellow scientists with
formal qualifications.  For supporting scientists to be included in the
statement we will require a return email from each, rather than a list of
names.  If you wish to sign then please send a reply email with your name
and qualifications to longpaddockscientists at gmail.com.


With thanks and best regards,

Hugh Possingham and Henry Nix

___________________________
Dr Hugh Possingham FAA:  ARC Federation Fellow 2006-2011
If you want to talk to me or make an appointment - please email Jane
Breeding j.breeding at uq.edu.au <mailto:j.breeding at uq.edu.au>

Director of The Ecology Centre and AEDA
Professor of Mathematics, Professor of Ecology
www.uq.edu.au/spatialecology/ <http://www.uq.edu.au/spatialecology/> (lab
web site)  www.aeda.edu.au <http://www.aeda.edu.au/>  (Applied
Environmental Decision Analysis centre)  + 61 7 3365 9766 (w):  0434 079
061 (m)











-- 
Dr James Watson

The Ecology Centre

The University of Queensland

St Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia

Tel: +61 7 3365 2454 or 0400 307 929

Fax: +61 7 3365 1655

Skype: jamesemwatson

http://www.ecology.uq.edu.au/

www.aeda.edu.au
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