Category: australian environment

Research Finds Carbon Farming Helps Australian Drought Resilience

Each day, farmer Roger Sendall considers what impact his decisions will have on the environment. This ranges from minimising chemical use to determining where stock can graze on his 6,500-hectare operation in northwestern New South Wales (NSW). “It would be better if I didn’t have to spray but that’s the sacrifice I make to keep…


Australian Regulator Comes Clean With Carbon Credit Data Release

Previously secret data has been released by the Clean Energy Regulator after questions were raised about the integrity of methods used to generate carbon credits. The Carbon Estimation Area (CEA) data was issued on June 2, as recommended by a recent review of Australia’s carbon credit scheme and after a law change allowed the release. “This…


Experts to Consider Critical Listing for Ancient Australian Fish

An expert committee that decided not to list an ancient fish as critically endangered last year may be about to change its mind. An urgent report released last week warned the maugean skate is on the brink of extinction and could be one extreme weather event away from vanishing forever. The ancient species is now only found…


Federal Minister Cancels Two Proposed Coal Mine Projects

The Australian federal government has cancelled applications for two proposed coal mine projects in Queensland after the developers failed to provide the necessary environmental credentials and outline any impacts the projects will have on the environment. The China Stone Coal Mine project and The Range Coal project were cancelled on May 5 by Environment Minister…


Drone Buzz Over Australian State Forests, No Worries for Gliders

Concerns over drones monitoring native endangered species of Australian gliders in Victoria appear to have been overblown after researchers found creatures could care less about the night-flying robotic invaders. Gliders, also known as flying possums, are marsupial mammals of Australasia that volplane between trees, much like flying squirrels in the northern hemisphere. The drones were…


Unknown Risk in Plastic Rubbish Lining Australian Coast

Plastic now dwarfs every other kind of litter found on Australian shores and 80 percent of what the nation uses still ends up in landfill. A federal parliamentary inquiry has heard confronting evidence about how the pollution crisis is affecting Australia’s oceans and waterways, and how efforts to understand and tackle the problem are failing….


Angry Australian Outback Town Feels Abandoned After Mass Fish Kill

Menindee locals say they feel abandoned and have no idea how they will recover from a record mass fish kill on the Darling-Baaka River. Police and water authorities held a second community meeting in the outback New South Wales (NSW) town on Mar. 24 after millions of fish washed up dead. Local Graeme McCrabb went…


Clean-Up Find 50,000 Bits of Rubbish in Australian State Wilderness

Buoys, floats, nets and massive fishing ropes are among the 50,000 pieces of garbage collected from beaches in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Two dozen environmentalists spent a fortnight combing beaches in the state’s rugged southwest for plastic flakes, rope fragments and other rubbish strewn along the shores. Cleanup coordinator Matt Dell said the…


Biofoul Growth on Cruise Ship Strands Hundreds of Australia

Hundreds of passengers have spent this New Year stranded off the coast of Australia on The Viking Cruise ship, the Orion, which was unable to dock for seven days due to the potentially harmful biofoul growing on its hull. According to the ship-tracking website, VesselFinder.com, the Orion didn’t dock for a week after it cast…


Fight to Protect Western Australian River Still Unresolved

As a tour boat snakes its way through the stunning Danggu Geikie Gorge in Western Australia’s (WA) north, local guide Ian provides some useful advice. “If you like causing trouble, just bring up damming the Fitzroy River wherever you’re staying,” Ian said. Also known as Martuwarra, the Fitzroy is WA’s largest river. Its catchment spans…