QLD Landclearing Needs Fixing by Xmas

The Importance of a National Conservation Action Plan

Such low levels of management integration cannot sustain Australia's immense biological diversity. It is proposed by HSI therefore that Australia now develop a new and living National Conservation Action Plan, under the personal signature of the Prime Minister, the wing of the Cabinet's Sustainable Environment Committee, and implemented by the Minister for the Environment, that guides appropriate investments and priorities for biodiversity protection. This plan must sit along side the salinity and water national plans receiving similar financial allocations and national priority. HSI is seeking an election commitment to such a process from all political parties. The plan should be used primarily for implementing and enforcing existing Australian Government conservation policy and law.

Important Habitats Protected in NSW

Following the inability of the parties of Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources (CCAMLR) to agree to proposed measures to address pirate longline fishing, Patagonian toothfish and endangered albatross remain under serious threat. HSI believes the need for a listing for Patagonian toothfish under Appendix II of the global Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to regulate trade at sustainable levels has become all the more pressing. We urge the Australian Government to take forward a second proposal to list Patagonian toothfish at the next Conference of the CITES Parties in October 2004.

HSI drafts CITES Nominations for Australia

HSI has drafted a number of marine species nominations for the Australian Government to propose at the October 2004 conference of the Parties to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). We are asking the Australian Government to re-propose the Great White Shark for listing under CITES Appendix I as the current Appendix III listing does not adequately curtail international trade in this species jaws, teeth and fins. We also request that the Government nominate all species of Nautilus and Allonautilus (highly valued for their unique shells) for Appendix I listing and to nominate (alongside Toothfish) to Appendix II Orange Roughy, Southern Bluefin Tuna, Hound Sharks and Blue Sharks. Appendix I listings ban international trade and Appendix II listings regulate trade at sustainable levels. Australia has a long held reputation at CITES as a champion of marine species protection.

Agreement on Albatross and Petrels Comes into Effect

HSI Negotiates for Biodiversity Protection at Montreal Meeting

On the international front, HSI's Nicola Beynon returned from Montreal, where she was a member of the Australian Government delegation for a subsidiary meeting to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Ms Beynon successfully negotiated improved CBD Guidelines and Principles for Sustainable Use of Wildlife, which will now go forward to the Conference of the Parties for adoption in February 2004 in Kuala Lumpur. A Program of Work for Protected Areas with the aim of reducing the loss of the planet's biodiversity by 2010 was also considered at the meeting and will be put forward for adoption in Kuala Lumpur. Delegates in Montreal heard that Biodiversity Hotspots require prioritisation and HSI will work with our international science and conservation colleagues to ensure CBD parties take the necessary steps.

France and Greece Latest Countries to Ban Cat and Dog Fur -
Australia Continues to Stall

France and Greece are the latest countries to ban the import and sale of cat and dog fur, joining the United States, Italy, Sweden and Denmark. 11 out of 15 EU countries are also supporting calls for an EU wide ban. The bans follow HSI's investigation of the cruel practices at the fur farms and marketing of the products to unsuspecting dog and cat lovers in western countries. Adding to concerns over the products, HSI investigators have discovered clothes and toys made from cat and dog fur on sale in Australia contain the carcinogen chromium at levels 30 times higher than Australian safety standards. Chromium is used in the tanning processes used to treat the fur at the factories in Asia. The Australian public, already calling for a ban on the products out of concern over the cruel treatment and of cats and dog in the Asian fur farms, now requires a ban on safety grounds.

HSI Helping Asian Elephants in Sumatra

HSI has contributed funds to a very important program in Sumatra, which is focussed on the conservation of the highly endangered Asian Elephant. Over many years, due to conflicts between humans and elephants, many animals (over 500) were captured from the wild and sent to `Elephant Training Centres'. These centres have not proved healthy for these elephants. `Conservation Response Units' (CRUs) have been set up by Fauna and Flora International (FFI) to rescue these animals from such existing camps, avoid further captures and better conserve elephants in the wild. These CRUs work to mitigate the worst effects of human/elephant conflict, surveying and monitoring elephant populations in the wild and identifying illegal activities and raising awareness amongst local people of the importance of conserving Sumatra's elephants and their forest habitats.

HSI provides further funds to Kalimantan's Tanjung Puting National Park

HSI provided additional resources to the Friends of the National Parks Foundation (FNPF) to support their work with Orangutans, Sun Bears, other wildlife and habitat protection activities in Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan, Indonesia - including villager support. Resources were provided to build a new broadwalk. It is 800 mtrs from the riverbank to the rehabilitation camp site, which gets waterlogged in the wet season, making every-day care and maintenance activities difficult. Longer term, the Pesalat site may be used as a release area for wildlife generally, and the broadwalk would be invaluable for moving in animals and materials and for encouraging tourism - and allowing staff to get more safely & easily to their work site. HSI has been supporting the work of FNPF in Kalimantan since 2000.

Bill Introduced to US Congress to Overturn Court Win on Navy Sonar

Following a ruling from a US Federal judge that United States Navy's plan to deploy high-intensity sonar system throughout large areas of the world's oceans violates numerous federal environmental laws, a Bill has been introduced into US Congress to overturn the gains made in court. The Bill which could see military activities taken despite causing environmental degradation and allow them to operate outside requirements of existing legislation to protect whales and other marine mammals. HSI's US office is campaigning against the Bill.