The habitat destruction around my local area is just tragic. So many animal species can inhabit one tree. To see so many cut down is just plain sad. Greed, in one way or another, is usually at the source of the problem.
I really am amazed at how places such as Melbourne and Sydney could keep treed areas around their cities – before concepts of the environment and conservation were seriously considered. Yet here in the Yandina township, which tries to promote a village atmosphere, we will be left with nothing but suburban backyards. This would not be quite so damaging if these same backyards weren’t housing domestic pets and cars – the main killers of our native wildlife! Is no one brave enough to risk their money with a domestic animal-free development adjoining some of our remaining forests out of town?
Driving through our local forested areas is just as disturbing. These beautiful forests run through and adjoin the Mapleton Forest and house a miriad of wildlife. Gliders, possums, koalas, and wallabies, along with so many bird and reptile species. Where are the laws that prevent indiscrimate clearing by landholders. A property I saw cleared some years back is now a forest of weed species. I wish those people had bought a unit by the beach instead of moving to a rural area.
Bushfires are horrific and often unavoidable, unless started by vandal inspired arson. It is just as heartrending, and criminal in my eyes, to see areas of forest clear-felled, bulldozed up into piles and burnt. The result is still the same – numerous unseen charred bodies of native animals.
Now we have to fight to prevent further impact on our Australian wildlife by environmental legislation changes in Queensland.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Q 4560 PH 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au