This led me to enquire about the changes in human usage. The data on the continuing increase in resident and visitor numbers compiled by the LHI Board is just one of the indicators showing why there is increased pressure on the island’s environment.

The management issues I have identified which are of particular concern to non-islanders are:

• people pressure

• the shrinking forested area

• the war against weeds and

• the marine environment.

The simultaneous growth of both the resident population and visitor numbers represents the largest single threat to the integrity of Lord Howe Island. These are manifesting themselves in the increase in the volume of commercial shipping. This has increased by 300% since 1988. The number of motor vehicles plying the small road network seems to have doubled in that time (although precise figures are not available). The most alarming observation has been the number of new houses built and the increased bed capacity of the island’s domestic housing. In that period the volume of rubbish has also grown, despite a much better capacity to address waste management. More people generate more waste and more sewage, which is discharged into the ground water to eventually find its way into the marine environment.

Additional people demand additional power, more fuel, more water, more goods (which results in extra shipping) and more services.

There is very clear evidence that the forest has been receding at this frontier over several decades. The rate has been assessed from photographs taken in 1947 when the Catalina flying boat crashed into the northern hills. These show that the forest has retreated at least 50 metres. Unless the retreat of the forest, particularly behind Old Settlement Beach and Pine Trees, is urgently addressed the island will lose a significant part of its attraction. It can only be stopped by a massive replanting on the exposed park perimeter. Some respected ecologists suggest that the whole area behind Old Settlement Beach needs to be replanted to save the northern section of the Permanent Park Preserve.

To address this problem, buffer strips along the edge of the forest are urgently required. Some planting must be undertaken to stop the domino effect of wind causing the exposed edges of the natural forest to recede.

Despite the number of programs through Landcare, the Friends of Lord Howe Island and other ongoing efforts, the war against weeds seems to be slowly being lost. Several weeds such as the tiger lilies and cherry guavas now seem impossible to eradicate. More pernicious weeds such as the asparagus ferns require enormous and ongoing effort to contain.

The Board has identified 19 noxious species and another 30 species as being "Of concern". Although there are 218 introduced species of plants found on Lord Howe Island, there seems to be no restriction on further introductions and some of the existing introductions may already be on their way to becoming serious weeds.

The number of cargo ships has increased with negative environmental impacts. It has led to a significant scar on the lagoon floor in the shipping channel. This may only deepen if the volume of shipping increases unless more stringent policies to reduce the impact are enforced. The key to minimising the impact of the shipping is to ensure that there is a maximum depth of water under the hull when a ship enters or leaves the island. This means only entering the lagoon at the top of a spring tide. The reality, though, is that shipping does not always pick the spring tide and, further, the ships may come in up to an hour and a half either side of the optimum tide which would minimise the impact. This could potentially erupt into a major issue unless the present rate of scouring is stopped.

Also of some concern is damage done to the deeper corals by the cargo vessels anchoring outside while awaiting the opportunity to enter the lagoon. There needs to be a
defined area for anchoring based on
precise GPS coordinates to limit the amount of anchor damage. Other factors impacting on the marine environment include the discharge from the septic systems and leachate from rubbish dumps, which are finding their way into the lagoon. The increased fishing effort within the expanded marine park now targets some slow-breeding species which had not previously been sought.

There are a plethora of other issues which are also being assessed as a basis for further advocacy by the voluntary conservation movement, who have a legitimate concern for the future of this amazing island on behalf of as yet unborn generations of Australians. I will be addressing these in the final strategy which I am anxious to complete as a labour of love within the next few months. I would welcome comments and input from anyone else concerned about protecting this unique island’s World Heritage values.

My address is PO Box 71, Gladesville NSW 2111; phone (02) 9817 4660; fax (02) 9816 1642.

Last November I attended the World Heritage Committee Meeting which was held in Australia, for only the second time since it was established in 1974. In November 2002 the Australian Government will have to present an account of how each of its 14 World Heritage sites is being managed. It will be the Commonwealth Government and not the NSW Government which will have to feel the sting of censure for any neglect or degradation of any of its sites through unsustainable management.

Generally Australian World Heritage sites are well managed, but in some the current management is clearly unsustainable. Lord Howe Island looks like falling into that category unless the extraordinary growth of people pressure and their demands are better managed.

John Sinclair is a leading Australian conservationist best known for his work over 30 years to protect Fraser Island. He was named Australian of the Year in 1977. For the past 13 years he has been leading ecotours to most of Australia’s World Heritage areas. He has been monitoring Lord Howe Island management throughout that period.