Australia’s Limestone Coast is drying up

"The once crystal-clear lake now often appears steel-grey or green, its water quality compromised by persistent algae blooms caused by excess nutrients in the water from agricultural runoff and wastewater. Waste from the lake’s thousands of visitors also built up, with some guests reporting seeing human faeces littering its perimeter before a portable toilet was installed in January."

“If we don’t do something about it in the next few years, it rests upon our soul. We really should have spoken up and influenced some people to care for it a bit better rather than just take, take, take.”
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/05/that-sinking-feeling-australias-limestone-coast-is-drying-up
#water #OverExtraction #irrigation #cattle #runoff #pollution #plantations #TakeCulture #SA #Ramsar #birds #biodiversity #EPBCAct

Floods are essential for wetlands

"The largest wetland on Australia’s second longest river, the Murrumbidgee in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, is drying up.The lack of floods has devastated the floodplain, causing black box and river red gum forests to die. Waterbird numbers also plummeted."
"Australia’s rivers are at risk, but it’s not too late to act. By reducing over-allocation and returning water to the environment we can protect threatened and endangered species, reduce the impacts of climate change, and honour the cultural heritage of First Nations Peoples."

https://theconversation.com/dams-have-taken-half-the-water-from-australias-second-biggest-river-and-climate-change-will-make-it-even-worse-242192
#rivers #MurrumbidgeeRiver #MDB #dams #TakeCulture #Biodiversity #birds #FirstNationsPeople #wetlands

Emptying the ocean

"Dozens of fisheries officers in New South Wales have been threatened with assault while on the job, protecting oceans, rivers and estuaries." The dangers for compliance officers when confronting fishermen.
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-29/fishery-officer-safety-police-poaching-organised-crime/104393474
#ocean #poaching #crime #violence #NSW #fishing #enforcement #TakeCulture #biodiversity #Abalone #GlenTurner #Law_enforcement #conservation

Hundreds rally against plan to establish more National Parks in Victoria

No SUVs, no dirt bikes, no hunting, no fishing, no prospecting fears - just biodiversity?

"Australians protest against plans to create more national parks in Victoria. They have gathered in Victoria's West Gippsland region to protest against a proposal to turn several state forests into a National Park.The proposal follows the closure of the logging industry and consultation into how that land should be used."
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-26/national-parks-state-forest-rally/103894648
#biodiversity #conservation #NationalParks #StateForests #Australia #Victoria #LoggingIndustry #TAKECulture