Post of the Day
The allure of regenerative agriculture
Let’s lend our ears to Abbey Smith, network coordinator at the Savory Network, and Jesse McDougall, co-owner of Studio Hill Farm, as they take us into the world of regenerative agriculture.
On This Day
Ecological Observance
Climate Change
One of Canada’s biggest carbon sinks is circling the drain
Canada’s managed forests used to remove massive amounts of CO2 from the air each year. Now they emit CO2 — and that’s before accounting for logging. Barry Saxifrage shows what’s happening and what it means for climate change.
National
$10 billion on road and rail upgrades spearheads budget spending
Tuesday’s federal budget will include $10 billion allocated over 10 years for major infrastructure projects aimed at boosting both jobs and productivity in the COVID-affected national economy.
Scientists have sent a robot down a wombat burrow to delve into deadly mange
The mites that cause the distressing wombat mange are likely to persist longer in burrows in cooler, wetter months, research suggests.
Floods flush away years of drought along Darling River
Australia’s third-longest river is full to the brim once more as floodwaters from March storms bring its first major flush after years of devastating drought
‘Like the anti-climate change brigade’: Water scientists under attack
A large group of water researchers has been accused of acting like a consulting consortium in its support of the $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan, a stance that they and the federal agency overseeing the scheme reject.
Funding boost to manage impact of wild dogs
Australian Government commits an additional $214,500 to support implementation of the National Wild Dog Action Plan
Coalition government spent just 16 cents on climate crisis out of every $100, analysis shows
Australian Conservation Foundation calls for reform to tackle Australia’s declining environment funding ahead of this year’s budget
Investing in coal power would be an expensive mistake
Trent Zimmerman and Philip Dunne
The UK has enormous capacity to increase its energy supply from offshore wind. Australia too has vast potential for wind and solar power
Lack of a carbon price exposes our industries
Letters
Age readers discuss carbon pricing, renewable energy and federal government subsidies for gas projects.
Youth must question climate change fraud [$]
Andrew Bolt
Climate change will continue to be used as a political football and young Aussies must remain sceptical of the fraud.
Victoria
Radical plan to ease eastern suburbs gridlock [$]
A decades-long battle to build a rail line to Rowville and ease traffic congestion in Melbourne’s east may have found an unconventional solution.
$3b blitz on Melbourne gridlock [$]
Train station carparks, a super-highway and outer suburban freight terminal feature in a $3b plan to ease city’s traffic woes.
Ancient volcano secrets revealed by old Tower Hill quarry could be reburied
Plans to refill an old quarry site at an ancient volcano in south-west Victoria have sparked fears about the loss of an important geological resource.
Anita Foerster et al
In a great start towards net zero emissions by 2050, the Victorian Government recently released their Climate Change Strategy, committing to halving greenhouse emissions by 2030.
New South Wales
Excitement builds over planned Blue Mountains tunnel, but how much travel time would it save?
Farmers welcome the possibility of Australia’s longest tunnel being built under the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, but a transport academic has serious reservations.
Goldminer in talks to convert 192-megalitre water licence for new pit
The proponent of a new gold mine in the state’s Central West is pressing the NSW government to hand over a large water licence that opponents say would damage the environment and farming.
Congestion-busting upgrades set for NSW roads [$]
More than $3 billion worth of NSW road upgrades will be announced in this week’s budget, supporting more than 6,500 jobs.
ACT
Stanley Marks: A stalwart of Canberra bushwalking
Tom Gosling
After Stan Marks moved into St Andrews Nursing Home in Hughes in March, the constant stream of visitors prompted staff to ask whether he was somebody famous – and in Canberra he certainly was. Having led some 820 walks for the Canberra Bushwalking Club, he touched the lives of thousands of Canberrans, many of whom were new to the experience, and they came back for more.
Queensland
Toondah harbour wetlands: developer accused of not being honest about its plans
FOI documents show Walker Corporation assured an international environment group it would do no harm to the protected site while lobbying the Coalition with plans to build on it
Protesters demand 3600-unit wetlands project be sent back to drawing board
Conservationists and residents say the Toondah Harbour development above Cleveland wetlands should be called in as it now varies markedly from the initial plan.
South Australia
Lock up your chooks! Foxes prowl the suburbs [$]
Fox sightings are on the increase in Adelaide’s inner suburbs and residents are being shocked by their brazen behaviour.
Management of mangroves a ‘clear breach of the Act’ [$]
Local scientists have lodged a formal complaint with the federal government alleging a breach of the Environment Protection Act caused devastation in the St Kilda Mangroves.
Tasmania
Inside the battle to save Tasmania’s giant kelp forests
Kelp forests along the state’s east coast were once so dense, they were marked on shipping maps. But climate change has warmed the ocean, causing a 95 per cent decline.
Northern Territory
NT Government terminates Beetaloo Basin contract
The Northern Territory Government has backed out of a lucrative contract with the consulting firm tasked with undertaking key research before fracking could begin in the Beetaloo Basin.
Top wet season triggers perfect breeding conditions for magpie geese [$]
Bart Irwin
The result of a perfect wet season will be prolific breeding by magpie geese on the Top End flood plains.
Western Australia
Kado Muir says Rio Tinto hasn’t done enough in aftermath of Juukan Gorge destruction
Kado Muir is the chairman of the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance and the National Native Title Council, and said he believed Rio Tinto hadn’t done enough in the aftermath of the destruction of the ancient caves.
Sustainability
California proposal embraces all-electric buildings but stops short of gas ban
California officials have decided not to propose a ban on natural gas in new construction, disappointing environmental advocates who had hoped for a much more decisive move against fossil fuels.
The quest for rare wood is endangering forests. Now we can just 3D-print replicas made from wood waste instead.
The allure of regenerative agriculture
Let’s lend our ears to Abbey Smith, network coordinator at the Savory Network, and Jesse McDougall, co-owner of Studio Hill Farm, as they take us into the world of regenerative agriculture.
Audubon fostered toxic work culture for women and people of color, probe confirms
An audit of the National Audubon Society confirmed the findings of a POLITICO investigation that the environmental organization fostered a culture of harassment.
Biden’s historic 30 by 30 conservation plan, explained
The Biden administration is about to embark on a historic mission: to conserve 30 percent of the nation’s land and water by 2030.
London earns official status as “bird-friendly” city
Bird populations in North America have declined by three billion over the past 50 years – nearly the population of China and India combined.
Microplastics in fish has been rising since the 1950s
Just as in saltwater, dissected museum specimens reveal particles of plastic have been increasing in the ecosystem since the 1950s.
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