Landcare in Focus - November 2011 Edition

THE LAND | November 2011 1● ● ● ● T WO decades of effort by Landcarers have created thousands of islands of healthy native vegetation across Australia. Now fresh efforts are being made to link these islands into one big functioning ecosystem. The nation’s... More

THE LAND | November 2011 1● ● ● ● T WO decades of effort by Landcarers have created thousands of islands of healthy native vegetation across Australia. Now fresh efforts are being made to link these islands into one big functioning ecosystem. The nation’s national park system is the best method for arresting the decline of plant and animal species,but they are not enough, says the Hon. Bob Debus, former NSW Environment Minister and currently chairman of the National Wildlife Corridors Plan Advisory Group. “There is a growing realisation that we have got to make sure that there is habitat for wildlife across the whole landscape,” Mr Debus said. “The conservation reserves are crucial but the productive land is as well. ” Corridors present challenges quite different to those of crown reserves or on-farm remnant vegetation. They may cross many different landholdings, and all landholders have to agree to the same project. “Conservation activity on private land is voluntary,” Mr Debus Less