IUCN Red List: One-fourth of world's mammals at risk

What is the Red List?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) produces an annual Red List of species threatened with extinction. Experts estimate that between 21 and 36% of mammal species are threatened with extinction around the world.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species was announced at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday, October 6, 2008

The Results

This latest survey included 45,000 species. This does not include all species in the world, and the list is increasing each year.

The survey included 5,487 mammal species, including marine mammals which were not previously included in the earlier survey in 1999.

Of these 5,487mammals, at least 1,141 are listed as threatened with extinction;

• At least 14% of birds are threatened or extinct;
• At least 27% of the world's corals are listed as threatened;
• At least 38% of species surveyed were classified as threatened.

The scientists involved with the survey also state that 50% of all mammal species have shown declines in their numbers.

The study states that these extinction threats are primarily caused by deforestation, habitat loss, and hunting. However, new threats are compounding the problem-such as pollution.

Regional Impacts

Figures for the Asia-Pacific region paint a grim picture. The IUCN experts state that 79% of Southeast Asian primates are threatened with extinction.

Locally, 788 species in Australia have been listed as threatened, including fish, birds and plants. Of that number, 57 of the country's native mammals are at risk of extinction. Zoologist from the University of Adelaide Professor Chris West says Australia's ranking in the Red List is one of the worst for developed countries.

The IUCN Red List makes specific mention of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), which has declined in numbers by 60% over the past ten years.

Ipswich Doing Well

Here in Ipswich, we provide habitat for just one species listed as Vulnerable on the Red List. That species is Bailey's Cypress Pine (Callitris baileyi). Council's proactive approach to conservation, as well as partnerships with community groups and individuals, has ensured that Bailey's Cypress is well protected through a network of Reserves and Voluntary Conservation Agreements.

Sources

• ITWire Newsletter
• Resource Management in Asia Pacific News
• ABC News

Further Information

• International Union for Conservation of Nature

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Fauna Spotlight

Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)

The Powerful Owl, Ninox strenua, is Australia's largest and strongest hawk-owl, up to 65cm in length with piercing yellow eyes, large legs and claws. It can be found roosting during the day in dense vegetation along creeks and gullies where the thick canopy can protect it from harassment from other smaller aggressive birds.

It often hunts possums, bats and other birds in open forest, woodland and suburban gardens. Clearing and habitat fragmentation have led to this magnificent bird being listed as Vulnerable (Nature Conservation Act 1992).

If you are lucky you can hear it at night as it has a distinctive "whoo-hoo" call.

Source: Wildlife of Greater Brisbane, 1995, Queensland Museum.

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‘Tis the Season to Recycle

With the Festive Season fast approaching , it is very easy for us to become caught up in the pre-Christmas frenzy of last minute present buying, food shopping, tree decorating, carol singing and so the list goes on. Unfortunately, it is at this time of year that not only our diet and fitness regimes seem to slide but also our recycling habits.

Excessive consumption over the Christmas period and wasteful behaviours can lead to a large increase in the amounts of rubbish that end up at landfill. By following these simple Reducing, Reusing and Recycling tips you can help to reduce the impact of this year's festive season on our precious planet:

• Everyone buys more groceries at this time of year. By remembering to take your reusable 'Green Bags' to the supermarket, you will help to reduce the number of plastic bags that end up in landfill.
• Stuck for a unique gift idea? There are many outlets now that supply eco-friendly, sustainable gifts that that do not have a negative impact on the environment. At the very least, look for practical gifts made and produced in Australia. Do not buy anything that is excessively packaged and recycle as much old packaging as possible.
• Recycle all your old Christmas cards. The Cards 4 Planet Ark campaign runs from Boxing day until the end of January and residents can pick up a free reply paid recycling envelope from participating Australia Post outlets.
• Don't stop at cards. A lot of what's left after the festive frenzy can easily be recycled, including wrapping paper, aluminium cans, glass and plastic bottles. Recycling these items not only means less landfill but also reduces the amount of resources required to make new ones
• Old Christmas Trees can be recycled by being turned into mulch. If you have an artificial tree pack it up at the end of the festivities and reuse it again next year.
• Unwanted Christmas Presents? Don't bin them but donate them to charity or give them away so that they can be reused rather than dumped.
• If Santa brings you the latest mobile phone, stop before you throw out your old one. Ipswich City Council recycles all old mobile phones with money going to a Queensland based charity in the process. Contact Ipswich City Council for more details.

Finally, stuck for ideas for a New Year's Resolution that you can actually keep?? Sick of trying to give up chocolate?? Why not make 2009 the year when you pledge to give something back to the planet. Waste is produced all year round and does not stop once the Christmas tree has been packed away. Resolve to make 2009 the year when you Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in all aspects of your life: at work, at home, at play! The environment will thank you and, you can still eat chocolate!!!!

For more information on waste management and recycling contact Ipswich Waste Services on 3810 8100 or go to the website: www.ipswich.qld.gov.au

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Class 1 Declared Weed

Mexican feather grass

Queensland gardeners, landscapers and horticulturists are being called on to help find the devastating pest weed Mexican feather grass which has recently invaded Queensland.

Mexican feather grass is a wiry green tussock grass up to 70cm in height with pale coloured feathery seed heads, and is a Class 1 declared weed under the Land Protection Regulation 2003.

This highly dangerous weed has the potential to cost Australian agriculture and the environment many millions of dollars if not stopped in its tracks now. It tolerates a wide range of climatic & soil conditions and can smother other grasses, forming a monoculture. This is not good, because the palatability and nutritional value of Mexican feather grass is quite low.

The plants were mistakenly labelled as Stipa capillata and Stipa capriccio by an interstate supplier who sold the stocks to a Queensland production nursery.

The plants have gone to locations throughout Queensland including the Ipswich suburb of Springfield. Gardeners who have recently bought plants as grass feature plants need to check if they have in fact, purchased Mexican feather grass.

Ipswich City Council Pest Management Officers will be conducting surveys throughout Ipswich City to identify any possible outbreaks of Mexican feather grass.

For further information on Mexican feather grass, visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au or call the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.

Information sourced from DPI.

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Pest Update

European Red Fox

The European Red Fox is declared as a Class 2 Pest under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 and is considered a major pest species within Australia.

Foxes were introduced to Australia in 1845 near Melbourne and quickly spread. They are typically the size of a medium dog and are characterised by their pointed muzzles, large ears and bushy tails.

Foxes breed once a year in early winter with cubs born during August and September. Although litter size can be from one to ten, generally four, cub's mortality is high. Dens are constructed and used for raising litters and can be burrows, hollow logs, under buildings or rock crevices.

Generally opportunistic predators, a fox diet can consist of fruit and berries, insects, birds, amphibians and reptiles through to small mammals and carrion. Foxes have been associated with the reduction of small native mammals and are considered one of the major threats to the prolonged survival of many small marsupial species within Australia.

Urban foxes have a social impact within the community through predation and nuisance behaviour. Foxes can kill poultry, steal pet food, harass pets and forage through refuse. Foxes are known carries of disease and parasites which can be transmitted to domestic pets.

Population numbers vary from rural to urban depending on food abundance and habitat for refuge. Studies have indicated numbers to be as high as 16 per square kilometre within some urban areas.

Council Pest Management Officers conduct monitoring and management programs within Council conservation estates and reserves to reduce the impact on native species. Council can offer advice on monitoring and management programs for landowners. For further information contact Council on (07) 3810 6666.

Sources: http://www.dpi.gov.au

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Have you recently visited the Ipswich Nature Centre?

If you haven't visited the Ipswich Nature Centre you are missing out on a real treat!

You can watch the Lace Monitors (Varanus varius) often commonly called goannas, bask in the sun. Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), Queensland's largest marsupial carnivore which is listed as endangered can be found in the purpose built boulder house. Pythons, bearded dragons, blue tongued skinks and a frilled neck lizard add to the excitement of seeing reptiles up close and personal. Turtles can also be seen basking in the sun as they warm their bodies which helps to digest their food.

Ipswich's fauna emblem, the Brush-tailed Rock-Wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) can be seen sitting on the rocks above their caves where they retreat if the weather is too hot or, they want a little privacy. Other beautiful marsupials to be found are wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, pademelons and bandicoots just to name a few.

The Free-Flight Bird Aviary is a fantastic place to see and hear a diverse range of colourful birds, both on the ground and, in the canopy of the trees. For the more observant, you will have the pleasure of seeing native stingless bees entering and leaving their hive where they secretly produce wonderful organic honey.

Other birds can be seen enjoying their island hideaway or swimming on the many lakes along the watercourse. Emus strut their stuff as they enjoy interacting with the visitors to the Nature Centre while the dingos choose a more quiet approach. As you wind your way along the beautiful paths surrounded by native flora and fauna, your journey finds you almost at the end where you enter the Barn, the home of the domestic animal nursery.

Here you will have the opportunity to interact more closely with the animals and may even see them being fed. Piglets, calves, chickens and their many friends make this a worthwhile experience for both the young and the "young at heart".

Exciting news! Even though entry to the Ipswich Nature Centre is free, a gold coin donation is greatly appreciated as all donations will be used for the care of the animals.

Opening Times:

9.30am - 4.00pm Tuesday to Sunday.
9.30am - 4.00pm Every day during School Holidays.
Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.

There is so much to see and do at Queens Park. You can enjoy a picnic, visit the kiosk for snacks or even a meal while the children are actively enjoying the well designed playground. Nerima Gardens is the ultimate relaxation as you wander through viewing the Japanese style gardens. Come along, bring the family, you will have a great visit!

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Waterway Health Matters

A Report for the Bremer River

Since 1999 the Healthy Waterways Partnership has produced an annual Ecosystem Health report card rating for South-East Queensland's waterways. This years report card saw the Bremer River revert from a D (poor) back to an F (fail) rating due to low concentrations of dissolved oxygen and high levels of nutrients and sediment. The heavy rains early in the year contributed to additional inputs of pollutants through urban and non-urban stormwater run-off.

The constant annual rating of 'failed' ecosystem health reinforces the need for continual collaborative partnerships between governments, community and regional NRM bodies to address waterway health in the Bremer River Catchment. These partnerships are essential in raising awareness of our waterways and encouraging investment in its improvement.

Ipswich City Council is committed to implementing initiatives aimed at improving waterway health in the Bremer River, with support from regional bodies, industry and the community as a whole. A healthy waterway can not be achieved by one individual or one organisation alone; we all need to work together to raise awareness, promote involvement and carry out activities if we are to reverse the trend of water quality decline in the Bremer River catchment.

Every individual counts and everyone can do their part around the home and workplace to improve waterway health.

Simple things like washing your car or family pet on the lawn and not on the driveway, using as little fertiliser on your plants as you can and disposing of chemicals, detergents and oils responsibly make a difference. Runoff from suburban areas enter our stormwater drains, run into our catchments, and contribute to the pollution of our waterways reducing ecosystem health.

It is commitment, along with the continued good work of individuals and organisations in partnership with governments that will result in better waterway health in the future.

For more information visit www.healthywaterways.org

Erosion from Summer Storms

With the summer storm season upon us, it is time to think about how to manage the impacts of storms on the environment. Aside from the very obvious impacts that storms can have (eg fallen trees, wind and hail damage, flooding, etc), storms can also affect water quality in rivers and streams.

When doing landscaping or building a house, soil is almost always exposed by removing grass and other vegetation. If there is a storm (or even a bit of rain) while the soil is exposed, soil gets washed away and ends up in our local creeks and rivers. This makes the water muddy, makes it difficult for fish and aquatic plants to survive, and eventually chokes the waterway. Excess sediment in the Bremer river is one of the reasons for its recent poor report card from SEQ Healthy Waterways partnerships.

Large amounts of soil can be lost through erosion. A layer of soil one centimetre deep which is lost from an average suburban house block is equivalent to approximately 5 trailer loads of soil!

Construction sites are very prone to erosion problems and contribute large amounts of sediment to the waterways in Ipswich. Council is responsible for making sure that developers, builders and residents don't pollute our waterways, however the Queensland Government Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for enforcement of stormwater pollution laws for certain projects, like construction of roads and railway lines.

Council officers patrol the Ipswich area distributing education materials to builders explaining what they can do to stop soil from leaving their site. Anyone (not just builders) who allows dirt, paint, cement or chemicals to wash into a stormwater drain can be fined.

The fines for stormwater pollution are increasing significantly in January 2009.

For more information about erosion and sediment control, visit: www.healthywaterways.org and www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/about_ipswich/environment/erosion_and_sediment_control

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Energy Efficiency in Summer

Council is constantly working to reduce its electricity use. It recently upgraded its air conditioning systems, and has made some big savings on electricity bills. Instead of talking about what Council is doing, this article is about what you can do to stay comfortable this Summer and also reduce your electricity bills.

Air conditioners use a lot of electricity. Using your air conditioner more than necessary can significantly increase your electricity bill and also contributes to climate change.

Ipswich City Council has the following tips for reducing your electricity bill this summer:

Think carefully before buying an air conditioner

• Do I really need an air conditioner, or are there other things I can do to cool my house?
• Would a ceiling or pedestal fan do the job?
• Can I put exterior blinds on west facing windows?
• Can I plant a shade tree on the western side of the house? (remember to speak with your local nursery before choosing which species to use)
• Can I put insulation in the roof and/or walls?
• Can I change my light bulbs to energy efficient ones which produce less heat?
• Can I keep doors and curtains closed through the day and then open them up once the heat of the day has passed?
• If you have done all of these things, and still need an air conditioner, look for an efficient one

If you have an air conditioner, try to use it efficiently

• In cooling mode, keep the thermostat to 24-25°C
• Make sure filters are clean
• Try to shade the outside part of the air conditioner so that it is not in full sun when it is operating

For more information visit the following websites:

• www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/about_ipswich/environment/climate_change
• www.dme.qld.gov.au/Energy/housing.cfm

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