What a traumatic month for many in Northern Queensland. Cyclone Larry has taken its toll on many people - but what of the wildlife?. We hope you find our third e-bulletin thought-provoking reading. Please feel free to forward this to others you think may be interested.

If you have ideas for future bulletins, and for important information about receiving this email, please see the section at the end of the page.

Qld wildlife meets Cyclone Larry

When Category 5 Cyclone Larry crossed the coast near Innisfail, North Queensland, in the last week of March, wildlife enthusiasts feared for the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Larry's biggest impact was on the coastal plain in a 30km deep band up to Palmerston. Coastal lowland already fragmented by development and suffering reduced biodiversity was the worst hit. The greatest threat to native vegetation, wildlife and biodiversity remains human impact.

Read the winter 2006 edition of Wildlife Australia Magazine for a summary of the long-term effects of Cyclone Larry. Winter WAM is due out in July 2006. Autumn WAM available now.

Wild Rivers laws opposed by Agforce

Rural lobby group AgForce has formed a special task force to fight the Queensland Government's wild rivers legislation. The laws, which aim to protect 19 Queensland river systems, were introduced in September 2006. AgForce says the legislation will stop development and damage farming operations and local rural communities.

Find background information about the 2005 campaign to protect the wild rivers.

Sustainable Queensland

Queensland Museum will host a free program of talks by notable people from the public and private sectors who are spearheading sustainability in Queensland - and elsewhere. Talks will be every Thursday 20 April-22 June at Queensland Museum South Bank.

For further details of topics and speakers, call Queensland Museum (07) 3840 7555 or go to WPSQ's Green Diary.

Integrated Planning Act review

Predicted rapid global climate change will raise temperatures in Queensland too fast for animals or plants to migrate or evolve to deal with the changing conditions. WPSQ has put in a submission to the review of the Integrated Planning Act 1997 to deal with climate change and the survival of Queensland's biodiversity.

Find out about WPSQ's submission.

Ramsar Convention's silver anniversary

Did you know that 2006 is the 25th anniversary of the signing in Iranof the Ramsar Convention on Wetland Protection? Or that the Cobourg Peninsula in Northern Territory was the first site listed under the convention in 1974? The mission of the convention is:

…conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.

As of this month, the convention has 151 signatories; 1593 wetland sites, totalling 137.4 million ha, are designated in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Curlew management plan response reminder

Moreton Bay was listed as an internationally important wetland in October 1993 - see Ramsar Convention's silver anniversary above. Remember that WPSQ's Bayside Branch would like you to comment on its draft Curlew management plan by 30 April 2006.

For your diary

Northern Wildlife Gathering

On the weekend of 10-12 June, Wildlife Queensland's northern members will be meeting in Mackay to discuss issues such as Cyclone Larry, the Hinchinbrook development and coastal planning. For more information and to register your interest, contact Ian Sutton by email or phone him on 07 4785 6342.

Araucaria Walk in Brisbane Forest Park

Join the experts from WPSQ's Brisbane Branch on Sunday 28 May for a morning exploring the wildlife of this unique habitat close to Brisbane's heart followed by lunch in Bellbird Grove. See the WPSQ Green Diary for more details.

Wildlife Queensland Newsletter

You can still download a full colour copy of the Wildlife Queensland Autumn 2006 newsletter (~900kb). If you also receive a hardcopy of the newsletter, but would rather just download the pdf format file, please cancel your hardcopy by email with your name, address and reference number (if known).

Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland.
95 William St, Brisbane Qld 4000 Australia
Ph: +61 7 3221 0194 Fax: +61 7 3221 0701

You have received this email newsletter as a member or supporter of Wildlife Queensland, or as someone we believe has an interest in wildlife and conservation in Australia. WPSQ will be producing this my.Wildlife eBulletin on a regular basis. If at any time you do not wish to receive further bulletins, please use this link to send us an email containing the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. At any time, you can re-subscribe using this link to send an email with a subject SUBSCRIBE.

WPSQ policy is to not provide any person's details, including email address, to third parties without that person's consent.