Recently I wrote a
seminar to present at our mini congress. For a number of reasons that
presentation was badly abridged so I thought I would try to write on our blog
about some of the things I had in mind.
My purpose was to try to
get my audience to consider that, despite the fact that there are many ways in
which biodiversity is disappearing, there are many ways in which people can get
creative with ways to help protect biodiversity.
I also wanted them to
understand some of the ways in which environmental protection is difficult. I
guess I wanted them to know that there are many options worth thinking about in
the hope that members would think that there might be some ideas that they
could engage in....
Today we want to engage
in a little crystal ball gazing; to imagine what the future for nature on the
Sunshine Coast might look like. The reasons why we would do this should be
obvious. Globally the natural world is diminishing. Species are
being lost at an alarming rate. Vast areas of natural habitats are being
destroyed. Common species are becoming uncommon. We are losing our biodiversity
– our planet’s life. Here on the Sunshine Coast we are not immune.
In our crystal ball we
should guard against a future image of Sunshine Coast nature to be based purely
on global historic trends for if we do we might fail to be optimistic. We need
to imagine something positive and then work out ways to spread this vision and
list practical ways for it to be achieved.
One of the basic ideas
that I want to share is that conservationists / environmentalists / birders
understand better than most the value of biodiversity. We have ecological
knowledge that sadly most people, including our leaders lack. Therefore we are
uniquely positioned to imagine a future with nature and to lead any
conversation about the future of biodiversity. To be a birder without having an
interest in conservation should be strange indeed.
All people, including
those who fail to appreciate the value of nature, need it. And we cannot allow
those without ecological knowledge to sabotage our combined future.
A second basic idea
regarding conservation and an environment future is that we birders and
conservationists must be more proactive. At the moment the majority of
conservation minded, green voices if you like, sound like ‘NO’ or ‘STOP’. We
are always reacting to projects, to stop them. There is nothing wrong with this
of course and it will always be the job description of an environmentalist to
attempt to prevent unsustainable developments, especially those who clearly and
markedly ignore existing environmental laws. What I am suggesting though is
that there are proactive conversations to have about people doing things,
learning things, creating things, respecting things that can lead to an
environmental understanding and ethic which is felt more widely through our
community.
So what do I [and
hopefully] we want?
My general vision can be
described pretty simply;
I want more nature than
there is now.
I want nature to be
joined.
I want more nature
awareness.
I want nature restored.
I want to live in nature
not separated from it.
Below, in a series of
blog posts I will suggest a variety of tactics, projects, ideas [often poorly
thought through] for people to read through and consider if one or more or many
appeal to the extent that they could involve themselves. Some are easy – we are
doing them already. Some are perhaps exceedingly optimistic. But please
consider…
Ken Cross
All of the above is merely personal opinion and dreaming and NOT the perspective or policy of Birdlife Australia.
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