[AA Listerv] FW: long paddock scientists' statement

[General Listserve for the Australasia Section of the SCB]

FYI, from Hugh Possingham

_______________________________________________________

Alan D. Thornhill, Ph.D., Executive Director | athornhill at conbio.org

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

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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/

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