In the 2000 IUCN Red List (the World Conservation Union global snapshot of species that are at risk of global extinction), Australia has the dubious honour of coming fifth overall for the total number of threatened species, behind the USA, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brazil. Australia was worst in the world in the threatened reptiles category with 39 species (ahead of China and Indonesia), and the threatened amphibia category with 25 threatened frogs (equal first place with the USA). Over 280 threatened invertebrates put Australia in second place behind the USA, with South Africa third in that category.

There are over 1,400 nationally threatened species and ecological communities now listed under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Threatening processes such as vegetation clearance, feral predators and weed invasion continue to push our unique flora and fauna towards extinction. Threatened ecological communities such as Natural Temperate Grasslands have been reduced to a fraction of their original distribution and face continuing threats.

There are things we can all do to help. The Threatened Species Network (TSN) works with community groups and volunteers to help save our nationally threatened species. Whether it is working with landholders to protect woodlands for the regent honeyeater, or local groups managing grassland habitat for the pink-tailed worm lizard, TSN aims to increase awareness of and involvement in the recovery of our threatened species.

To find out more, contact the NSW TSN on 9281 5515. You can access the IUCN Red List at www.redlist.org

Some possible ramifications if the cable car goes ahead are that the main road through Jenolan may be closed to most traffic from 8 am to dusk each day, and that a large car park may be constructed on the approach to Jenolan. The steep road will continue to be used for emergency vehicles, food and other suppliers and by people unable to use the cable car. Walkers heading from Sydney to Kanangra Walls and Kanangra Boyd National Park may need to detour an extra 15 km through Oberon. The cable car operator will have a financial interest in increasing the numbers of visitors to Jenolan Caves, hence the Trust will need to closely monitor the caves visitor-carrying capacity.

Senior Counsel Brett Walker has been appointed by Environment Minister Debus to review the NPWS’s effectiveness in carrying out its responsibilities for "urban communities" and "roads" within the national park estate, in response to Coroner Hand’s critical report on the tragic Thredbo landslip.

The prime focus is resorts and roads within Kosciuszko National Park. However, the breadth of this review opens up consideration of other areas, such as existing and potential ‘resort’ areas now within the national park estate; the many through roads and short cuts, including the infamous Barraba Track at Mt Kaputar; as well as the roads and tracks in former State forest lands.

Reflecting adopted NPA policies, a substantial submission was presented to Mr Walker, highlighting the need for infrastructure within the national park estate to be managed in keeping with the conservation obligations of the NPWS. This was well received, and is being followed up in more detail.

For NPA, the concern is how best to oversee, finance and manage the infrastructure in our parks, including the ‘resorts’ in Kosciuszko and the very costly road network, without further loss of park integrity and diversion of NPWS resources from the most important role of all – biodiversity conservation.

Contemporary standards and expectations of high standards of construction – including safety, which is a critical concern for a Coroner – are expensive. Over $24 million has been spent on the Alpine Way at Thredbo alone – many times the annual acquisition budget of the Service. Regardless of controversy over its upgrading, through work on Alpine Way the Service has acquired invaluable expertise in minimising the impacts, while providing at least some sense of ‘park experience’ for the car tourist. This should not be lost.

NPA is arguing that these dollars will have to be found from somewhere; and that the Service, in keeping with their charter to protect and manage our natural and cultural heritage, should retain final oversight. It makes good sense to use our precious dollars in the best way possible for park protection.

NPWS & environmental education

On 7 September, 2000, the NPA Park Management Committee were invited to be the first visitors to the new NPWS Information Centre in George St, The Rocks. In the meeting, Dr Lynn Webber (Manager, Education and Community Involvement Unit) spoke about initiatives for environmental education for the next three years.

One fascinating insight from Sally Barnes (Director, Education and Community Programs) was that – in a recent Environment Protection Authority survey of perceptions of environmental needs – air quality, water quality and noise reduction were rated as key concerns, but biodiversity was not perceived to be as urgent. This is influencing planning for environmental education.

NPWS, in consultation with the Department of Education and Training, have developed some exciting new educational programs. These include the "Eco-Ranger" programs, which target junior high school years 7–8 and involve interactive activities in national parks; and "Journey with a Purpose" programs, which will enhance the year 9–10 personal development courses and assist students to examine their own value systems in relation to the natural environment.

NPA is talking with NPWS to see how our activities and education programs fit in with furthering education of the general public about biodiversity in NSW.

In March 1998 about 250 people – mostly locals – gathered around what was left of the Snowy River at Dalgety calling for its flows to be restored. The rally to "Reclaim the Snowy River for Australia", with its emotive slogans, flags, horses and Akubras, attracted much media attention – partly because it starred The Man from Snowy River himself, Tom Burlinson, and partly because it played to that mix of patriotism, romanticism and love for the rugged outdoor environment.

Having helped organise the rally with the Snowy River Alliance chair, Paul Leete, TEC was pleased with the outcome, but all of us at the rally could not guess how fast and how far the campaign would go. Back then no-one would have envisaged the Victorian and NSW Premiers leaping over the river at Dalgety, while proclaiming a return of 21% of the Snowy's flow in the short term and 28% later (with tacit support from the Prime Minister).

Locals around Marlow and Orbost in East Gippsland and Dalgety in NSW had been expressing concern about the Snowy River for years. In response to their concerns, in 1995 the NSW Government commissioned a scientific study into the state of the Snowy. The conclusion was that a minimum 28% flow was needed if the famous river was to be brought back from the brink. When the corporatisation of the Snowy Hydro Scheme was touted the following year, public pressure forced the NSW, Victorian and Federal governments to agree to a national inquiry into the effects of the scheme.

This focused the campaign and 28% became the rallying cry. Eventually more than 70 groups and organisations representing youth, religious, recreation and sports, fishing, environment, unions and students signed their support to the 28% flow.

The tables really turned in favour of the Snowy River on both sides of the border at the Victorian election. Labor’s Steve Bracks gained government and announced support for the 28% flow, which in turn pushed the Carr Government to do the same.

Although luck played a big part in the success of the Snowy River campaign, the grass roots strength, the collaboration of a diverse range of people, groups and celebrities, and the strong use of images and slogans to sell the idea played a major part in capturing the support of the politicians that had to make the final choice. Let us hope they do the same for other rivers.