1. Listing of Ecological Communities Under EPBC Act Questioned

Leader of the Democrats, Andrew Bartlett, has used Senate question time to ask why only seven ecological communities out of the almost three thousand that are found nationwide, are listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.He asked separately whether it was a deliberate decision driven by political purposes to avoidlisting more ecological communities under the Act.

"In over three and half years since the EPBC Act commenced, the Government has only listedseven ecological communities. Yet, Australia has almost three thousand threatened communities and ecoystems, according to the National Land and Water Resources Audit,"Senator Bartlett said.

"The Government has listed around 90 threatened species, but many of these are species onislands and in other places where there are no commercial or political pressures. Why is the Government refusing to list mainland terrestrial and freshwater species in agricultural areas and marine species that are target by commercial fishers, such as the southern bluefin tuna, eastern gemfish and orange roughy?"

Senator Bartlett also raised questions about the methodology being used by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee to reject ecological community nomination, which he said appears to be based on a requirement that communities must be defined on a national scale tobe listed. The Act does not contain such requirements.

In response, the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Ian MacDonald, speaking on behalf of the Minister for Environment and Heritage, Dr David Kemp, said that while the ecological communities have been identified as being threatened by the Audit, that did not mean that they were necessarily eligible for being listed as threatened under the EPBC Act.

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2. Logging Of Old Growth Forests To Stay Under Latham Government

Speculation that Labor Leader, Mark Latham, would use his visit to the Styx Valley in Tasmania to announce that a Labor Government would end clear-felling of old growth forests was proven incorrect, with Latham refusing to set a clear-felling deadline, and claiming that he had not heard any serious argument about the ending of logging in old-growth areas.

Following his visit, Latham said that he had not "heard a serious argument about the...total ending...of logging in old growth areas," and that Labor would not change the RFA. He did however, say it was a priority to phase out clear-felling of old-growth forests, and that he would await the release of the Tasmania Together report to examine the economic consequences of the phase out.

Latham has also supported the establishment of a pulp-mill in Tasmania, saying that he believed that it had potential for value-adding, rather than the current practice of exporting woodchips.
Despite Latham's support for continued logging, Australian Greens Leader, Bob Brown, has praised Latham's visit to the Valley, describing it as "an absolute breath of fresh air through the forests," and a visit that "marked a generational change in politics."

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3. Senate Committee Opposes Kyoto Ratification

The Report on Kyoto Protocol Ratification Bill 2003, which has been tabled by the legislation committee of the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee, has concluded that the Protocol represents a fundamentally flawed response to climate change and ratification of is not in Australia's national interest.

The report has come out strongly in favour of non-ratification - which is interesting, considering that the half the committee's membership consisted of Labor party and Democrat senators - going so far as to say that Kyoto proponents are willing to allow damage to the economy in order to proceed with ratification.

"The most important step the Australian Government can take with regard to the Kyoto Protocol is to show its commitment domestically to greenhouse gas abatement, yet without destroying the Australian economy. It is tempting to conclude that that is a price the professional environmental lobby is prepared to pay, because it is rarely them who is paying the price."

The report can be seen at
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/ecita_ctte/kyoto/report/report.pdf

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4. Call For Overhaul Of Water Reuse Management

A national review of water recycling and reuse in Australia, undertaken for the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering by Dr John Radcliffe has called on governments at all levels to be more proactive and ensure the better use of recycled water, stormwater and rainwater as additional water resources.

The review highlights the differences in the efforts between the States, and the gaps that have developed between the wider use in rural areas compared with the urban areas.

Dr Radcliffe said that it is up to governments and water utilities to encourage improved water use and reuse as an opportunity for augmenting Australia's limited water resources, rather than just treating recycled water as a disposal problem.

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5. Vision For Cleaner Coal Future

The Australian Coal Association has released its COAL21 National Action Plan, which details proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions arising from the use of coal in energy generation.

The Plan, resulting from the government-industry-research community partnership - the Coal21 program - focuses on the need to develop geosequestration technologies, and also finds that Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC), Oxy-fuel Combustion, Lignite Dewatering and Drying and Ultra Clean Coal (UCC) also meet some of the basic assessment criteria for the coal industry.

The Plan outlines actions that should be pursued in Australia to accelerate the development of each of the technologies. These actions are divided into two broad phases: an RD&D phase out to 2015, and then a subsequent deployment phase.
The Plan does admit that uncertainty of both the costs of abatement and the impact on generation costs has precluded any identification of realistic, quantitative cost targets until further assessments are completed.

For further information, go to http://www.coal21.com.au/

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6. Environmental Management For SME's

The purpose of this course is to equip managers in small to medium enterprises with the skills needed to develop and implement an environmental management system in their organisation.

Developing a system from scratch. This workshop main objective is to provide practical information in an efficient and effective manner and offer useful assistance without wasting valuable time.

The course structure follows ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems. By attending this workshop you will be able to incorporate environmental decisions part of your overall business planning process, along with financial, marketing and governance issues. Learn how to develop an environmental policy and implement it in your organisation.

This event is scheduled in: Brisbane 20 April 2004 Sydney 21 April 2004 Melbourne 22 April 2004
Visit http://www.sai-global.com or email training@sai-global.com for further information

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7. Indigenous Knowledge And Bioprospecting Conference

We would like to invite you to an important international conference on "Indigenous Knowledge and Bioprospecting" being held at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, April 21-24.

"Approximately 25% of the worlds pharmaceutical products find a significant degree of origin in Indigenous communities. It is hoped that the dialogue established at this conference will stimulate focus on important roles that Indigenous Peoples have in contributing to the formulation of our civilization and the relationships that underpin sustainable use of technological capacities.

This conference, Indigenous Knowledge and Bioprospecting, will provide a forum where Indigenous peoples, scientists, and lawmakers will consult about this situation. The consultation will focus on three key areas related to Indigenous Knowledge and Bioprospecting.

1. Respond to Indigenous Needs
2. Value Indigenous Knowledge
3. Enhance Biocultural Diversity

The conference website is:
http://laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au/~cjone005/index_conference.htm There are Professors and Indigenous keynotes from every continent addressing the issues from the perspective's of Law, Biology, Anthropology, Economics, Education, Philosophy and others.

Registration deadline is April 10. If you have any further need for information please feel free to contact me: chris.jones@law.mq.edu.au or on my mobile 0419 780 820

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8. Corporate Social Responsibility/Corporate Volunteering Seminars

The inaugural ENGAGE Week will be celebrated from 19-25 April 2004. ENGAGE Week will bring together business and their employees, not-for-profit organisations and local communities to focus on a common purpose the development of healthy and sustainable businesses and communities.

Volunteering Australia is an International Leadership Group Partner for the ENGAGE Campaign in Australia and is taking a lead role in the promotion and celebration of the inaugural ENGAGE Week.
Volunteering Australia, with sponsorship from the Prime Minister's Community Business Partnership, is running a series of seminars aimed at corporates and not-for-profit organisations during ENGAGE Week about Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Volunteering.

The seminars will offer a program of speakers with particular knowledge of corporate social responsibility and employee engagement trends and practices. Keynote speakers will be drawn from the international and Australian business, community and government sectors and include Senator, the Hon Kay Patterson (Minister for Family & Community Services), Amanda Bowman (Project Director, ENGAGE, UK) and Jerry Marston (Community Investment Director, Whitbread PLC, UK).

Facilitated afternoon workshops will offer participants practical 'how to' knowledge as well as opportunity for exploration, discussion and information sharing on particular areas of interest. The seminar dates are as follows: Melbourne Corporate Seminar 20th April (9.00am 5.00pm) Melbourne Community Seminar 21st April (9.30am - 1.00pm) Sydney Corporate Seminar 22nd April (9.00am 5.00pm) Sydney Community Seminar 23rd April (9.30am 1.00pm) Brisbane Corporate Breakfast 27th April (7.00am 9.15am) Brisbane Community Seminar 27th April (1.30pm 3.30pm)

Join the ENGAGE Week celebrations, for more information please visit http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/engagesem.html or call Volunteering Australia on tel: 03 9820 4100.

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9. The Global Hilltops-2-Oceans (H20) Partnership Conference And Trade Fair

10-14 May 2004, Cairns International Hotel, Cairns, Australia. Co-sponsored by UNEP, the Australian Government's Department of Environment and Heritage, Environment Canada, and the Australian Water Association.

Co-chaired by Ms. Virginia Chadwick, Chair of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and Mr. Jan Pronk, Chair of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council and former Minister for Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment of the Government of The Netherlands.

The Conference aims to strengthen national governance frameworks that protect coastal and marine environments by (i) highlighting the link between freshwater and marine ecosystems; (ii) building multi-stakeholder capacity for integrated water resource and coastal area management; and (iii) exploring the use of time-bound Wastewater Emission Targets (WET) as a tool for managing water from the hilltops to the oceans.

Information concerning the conference, including registration, sponsorship or participation in the trade fair, can be obtained from the H2O internet page at http://www.hilltops2oceans.org . Please contact the Secretariat via email, h2o@unep.nl, or phone, +31 70 311 4467, at your earliest convenience for more details.

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10. 11th Annual Tiems Conference

The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS) was founded in 1993. TIEMS is a non profit organisation dedicated to developing and bringing the benefits of modern emergency management tools and techniques to society for a safer world.

The global representation of TIEMS is evident in the origins of the Board of Directors ranging from Norway, Portugal, Korea, Africa, Russia, Italy, Sweden, Australia, Canada to the USA and Britain. The Society conducts an annual conference involving many of the world's foremost experts in emergency management, planning and prevention.

The 11th Annual TIEMS conference will be held in the Shire of Yarran Ranges in Victoria, Australia from the 18th to 21st of May, 2004. This is the first time the conference has been held in the southern hemisphere and is a wonderful opportunity for our colleagues in Asia and Australasia to interact with their European and American counterparts as we hear from a range of outstanding speakers and discover first-hand the latest in emergency management techniques and policies. Topics range from natural to technological disasters, their prevention, preparedness and response and discuss risk management decision support tools, communications, natural disaster modelling, emergency simulation, group dynamics and cultural implications in emergency management.

The 2004 conference will be the most exciting event ever undertaken by TIEMS . The venue is the Sebel Lodge, a five start complex set on the Jack Nicklaus designed heritage golf course and located in the magnificent Yarra Valley. Or further information including the program and registration please enter the website at www.tiems.org.

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11. 19th World Energy Congress & Exhibition

5-9 September 2004

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre

Delivering Sustainability- Opportunities and Challenges for the Energy Industry The World Energy Congress is the leading international forum for the entire energy sector. Register as a delegate and join thousands of delegates from the more than ninety member countries of the World Energy Council and others to discuss issues in the delivery of a sustainable energy future. As a delegate at the Congress, you will have the opportunity to hear the views of industry leaders and commentators and Government Ministers on the issues facing the energy sector and their ideas for meeting the challenges - to contribute to the discussion and to put forward your ideas for promoting the sustainable supply and use of energy - to discuss your energy products and services with other delegates and your requirements with exhibitors at the Exhibition.

Check the Congress website for details http://www.tourhosts.com.au/energy2004. Write or call for further information
Email: energy2004@tourhosts.com.au
Fax: 61 2 9248 0894
Ph: 61 2 9248 0800

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12. Threatened Species Network (TSN) Community Grants

Round 7 of the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust and WWF Australia's TSN Community Grants program is now open. Applications must be submitted in writing to WWF Australia by the closing date 5pm, May 28, 2004.

The TSN Community Grants have been established to support and inspire community work to recover threatened species and ecological communities. The Grants aim to provide seed funding to assist community groups to take on long term responsibility for conservation and recovery of populations of nationally threatened species and ecological communities.

Applications are invited from incorporated community groups for funding of up to $30,000 for projects to conserve nationally threatened species and ecological communities. Guidelines and applications forms may be obtained by clicking here, by phoning 1800 032 551, or by contacting a TSN Coordinator in your state. IMPORTANT: Original signed applications must be received by mail by 5pm, Friday 28 May, 2004 - no email or fax applications will be accepted.

If you would like to be contacted directly please forward your contact details to Mary Watt at mwatt@wwf.org.au or on 02 8202 1216. Mary Watt Grants Administrator 02 8202 1216 (t) 02 9281 1060 (f) GPO Box 528, Sydney NSW 2001

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13. Australian Journal On Volunteering

Volunteers make an enormous contribution to local communities. Do you need information on volunteering?

Looking for the latest research on volunteering?

Interested in people's viewpoints on the challenges to volunteers and volunteer managers?

The Australian Journal Volunteering is the most highly regarded journal on volunteering in Australia. The journal publishes special feature articles, written by experts in the field, as well as research articles from eminent researchers and book reviews. Published by Volunteering Australia, the Australian Journal on Volunteering is a fantastic reference tool for anyone interested in the policies, practices and future directions of volunteering in Australia.

This biannual journal is $36.50 for a year's subscription, A single issue is $18.25. For more information and a subscription form visit Volunteering Australia website http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org or call on 03 9820 4100.

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