In this issue

ECOS Issue 123

The World Conservation Congress crystallises priorities The 3rd IUCN (World Conservation Union) World Conservation Congress held in Bangkok in November 2004 showed promisingly how reliable information and scientific know-how, passion for healthy ecosystems, and powerful collaboration across society can improve the well-being of the worlds 6 billion people and the 15,589 species identified in the IUCN latest Red List of Threatened Species. Download Article

Moves to more widely protect deep ocean habitats Australia will support the United Nations' recent agreement to strongly protect 'high seas' areas of significant biodiversity from destructive fishing practices in waters beyond the national jurisdiction. Download Article

Tougher drive to reduce industrial packaging waste National Environment Protection and Heritage Councillors agreed in December that more needs to be done to reduce the large amount of industrial waste going to landfill. New, tougher targets out to 2008 are being set to try to ensure this is achieved. Download Article

An encouraging increase in used-oil recycling The Governments Product Stewardship for Oil Program, which provides industry incentives to collect and recycle used oil, seems to be working very well. About 80% of Australias used oil was collected and recycled last year, increasing volumes from 160 million litres to over 230 million litres per year, a rise of 40%. Download Article

Australia¿s marine assessment team assisting the Maldives CSIRO, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) are coordinating a marine and fisheries taskforce currently stationed in the Maldives to assess the effects of the recent tsunami on marine Download Article

A whale strandings database and network is developing The spate of whale strandings in Australia and New Zealand in the last six months have spurred efforts to establish a mammals stranding database and a scientific research network to help understanding of why the phenomenon occurs and share key information. Download Article

Consuming desires Consumption of non-essential goods is at the heart of unsustainable practice in much of the Western world, including Australia. Sophie Constance considers the economic and marketing forces that drive our modern over-consumption habits, and introduces an increased significance of marketing in business and the emergence of 'societal marketing'. Download Article

Transforming thinking Over the next 10 years, millions of people in both developed and developing nations are likely to gain a greater knowledge of sustainability through education initiatives under the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, or DESD, (2005-2014). Its global objectives are ambitions and uplifting. Download Article

The 10-year challenge As Chair of Education for Sustainable Development at the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Commission on Education and Communication, Daniella Tilbury is playing a leading role in the development of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. She outlines her view of the challenges and great opportunities ahead, and considers Australias chance to develop initiatives. Download Article

Air transport impacts take off Does the phenomenal growth in air transport, with global air traffic growing 9% a year since 1960, have an insidious downside? Download Article

In quest of the vanishing ice In May 2005, two seasoned explorers will set out on the first summer crossing of the Arctic ice cap ever attempted. Their goal - to help assess the impact of global warming on the Pole. Download Article

Plants for people The Plants for People program is helping Aboriginal people develop innovative small businesses around traditional knowledge of native plants and their uses. By helping to build self-esteem and self-sufficiency within remote communities, the initiative is also opening up avenues for better communication, and improving appreciation of the value of Aboriginal culture. Download Article

On the trail of sexual chemistry Australia is behind in understanding the levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in waterways and their effects on wildlife reproductive systems. Now concerted research efforts are being made to better assess local impacts. Download Article

Connecting sustainable agriculture to consumers With consumers becoming increasingly fastidious about the food and products they buy, big new markets are growing. According to a recent study investigating the marketing of sustainable agriculture, the doors for Australian farmers and exporters have opened, with environmental benefits. Download Article

Editorial - A new decade Download Article

Review - water innovation Water Innovation by Kathleen H. Bowmer. Download Article

Review - global trends in focus The Little Green Handbook by Ron Nielsen. Download Article

Review - higher performing companies The Sustainable Company by Chris Laszlo. Download Article

Software promises a bird-friendly solution for orchards Orchardists have long been frustrated that current methods for scaring away fruit-eating birds are only effective in the short-term because birds learn to ignore the usual deterrents. Innovative bird-call recognition software might now solve the problem, with the potential to save fruit growers million of dollars annually in crops lost to birds. There may also be wider uses for the program internationally. Download Article

A rescue mission for a metal recycler CSIRO Minerals has been investigating simple and cheap new ways to reduce problematic sludge waste volumes from metal shredding processes and to increase the recovery of metals and other recyclable materials - something in which steel producer Smorgon Steel Recycling is interested. Download Article

Sustainable use of native animals: a great debate In the last decade or so, some scientists and conservationists have advocated sustainable commercial use of native wildlife as a conservation measure - a way to protect habitats where existing methods cannot. This has caused passionate debate. Download Article

Events calendar Forthcoming events related to sustainable development. Download Article

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