A group of international researchers has for the first time calculated the value of the natural environment. And the value to human well-being, health and livelihoods fell by around $20 trillion a year between 1997 and 2011 due to loss of wetlands, coral reefs and tropical forests. The study, published in the journal Global Environmental …
PITTSBURGH‚ÄîClouds play a critical role in Earth’s climate. Clouds also are the largest source of uncertainty in present climate models, according to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Much of the uncertainty surrounding clouds’ effect on climate stems from the complexity of cloud formation. New research from scientists at the CLOUD …
The future of native forests logging in East Gippsland is under a cloud after the main woodchip customer in the region announced it would not renew its contract with Victoria’s state-owned timber company. South East Fibre Exports, which owns a large woodchip mill at Eden in south-east NSW, has told VicForests it will not accept …
The end of the woodchipping era is near. In mid May VicForests announced that the Eden based woodchip giant SEFE will stop buying east Gippy woodchips and logs at the end of this year. Clearly they were in shock and can’t seem to put a positive spin on this – besides to say they at …
NSW parliament has approved the shovelling of native forests into furnaces to generate electricity. Even worse, it’ll be termed ‘renewable’! The North East Forest Alliance, said the motion that could have stopped forests being cut down and burnt was ‘shot down by the shooters and the christians’. Our focus now shifts to electricity retailers. This …
What’s this called Ryan Smith? A bulldozer driver paid to carry out restoration work (at least $200 an hour we hear) goes 40m inside Nat Park boundary @ Brown Mountain – fells old growth tree opposite the EEG “Valley of the Giants” walk track. Can this be regarded as ‘fire safety’? Or could it be …
Lucky we weren’t holding our breath for some government enlightenment and financial commitment to help Victoria’s ailing environment, in the budget. “The departmental budget for environmental policy has been cut by $19m, or 34%, while the budget for environmental programs has been cut by $46m or 25% on last year’s budget. … The 34% cut …
The state budget has allocated $11M over the next 3 years to upgrade the Princes Hwy from Nowa Nowa to Orbost. Now this wouldn’t be to assist the mining company that’s requiring a speedy route to the Eden wharf would it? Nah –just coincidence we’re sure. Read more about the Nowa Nowa iron project here————-
Regardless of the threat aerial baiting poses to the endangered Spot-tailed Quoll, poisoning wild dogs is still a very questionable solution to sheep losses. Set out below are arguments against the aerial baiting of dogs, and why it may be that current control programs cause dog numbers to increase. There is still no scientific evidence …
“Huge bushfires in far East Gippsland went largely unchecked for over 2 months in early 2014. Some locals claim that DEPI staff and contractors lit unnecessary backburns, abandoned dangerous backburns at night, knocked down old growth hollow trees inside the National Park boundary as “revenge” against greenies and did so without fire-control rationale. Victorian Fire …
