Public attitudes to the use of wildlife by Aboriginal Australians: Marketing of wildlife and its conservation

Indigenous Australians have socioeconomic attributes similar to those of residents in some developing countries. Their utilisation of wildlife could add to their economic opportunities. Attitudes of a sample of the Australian public towards the subsistence use of wildlife by Indigenous Australians and whether or not they should be allowed to sell wildlife and wildlife products are examined. Allowing such possibilities could provide economic incentives for nature conservation among local people. We explore whether those sampled believe that Indigenous Australians should do more than other groups and institutions to conserve Australia's tropical species, and whether or not they should be allowed to take common as well as endangered wildlife species for food. Attitudes of the sampled public towards Indigenous Australians earning income from trophy hunting and from the harvesting of northern long-necked turtles for the pet trade are canvassed. The possible conservation consequences of sale of wildlife by Indigenous Australians are discussed.

Sustainable Native Floriculture?

The Centre for Native Floriculture (CNF) commenced in May 2003 at The University of Queensland, Gatton. The CNF is a joint initiative with the Queensland State Government, with funding for an initial 3-year period. The phase-out of bush-picking under the South East Queensland Forests Agreement was a catalyst for the Centres establishment. The CNF vision is: ‘to help create an internationally competitive and environmentally sustainable native floriculture industry that provides significant employment opportunities in Queensland’. The Centre is comprised of three research, development and extension programs. The Value Chain Program assists native floriculture industry groups in developing efficient consumer-orientated production, handling and marketing systems for select high potential species. These value chain systems will serve as models for realizing the market potential of and regional fiscal returns on other native ornamental species identified as crop ideotypes that are sought after by end-users (e.g. florists). The Floriculture Program supports the value chain by working to enhance germplasm for the native floriculture industry through selection and breeding, optimize cultivation protocols and overcome any technical barriers that arise. Such barriers include propagation constraints, disease problems and post-harvest limitations. The Capacity Building Program operates to transfer technology and other skills (e.g. value chain management principles) to industry members, train operatives for the industry and promote native floriculture. Conservation of native flora is encouraged through cultivation and community engagement. Protection of biodiversity is advocated via regional production systems that spare natural areas and educate the public as to the biological, floricultural and aesthetic values of native flora. Eco-agricultural tourism focused on wildflowers both in nature and in cultivation is also advocated by the CNF.

Engineered ecosystem for sustainable on-site wastewater treatment

A Pilot-Scale Engineered Ecosystem (PSEE) operated for over two years in sub-tropical conditions, produced an effluent with COD (median 38 mg/L) and TSS (median 3 mg/L) levels comparable to that required by the AS/NZS 1547:2000 Onsite Domestic Wastewater Management standard. Only partial nitrification was achieved as dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia occurred; however the level of NH4-N was reduced by 75% and total inorganic nitrogen by 53%. Phosphorus was not removed by the system due to the lack of regular sludge removal. Mass balances around the system showed that bacteria removed 36% of the influent nitrogen and 76% of the influent COD. Algae and plants were shown to remove 5% of the influent nitrogen, and 6% of the influent phosphorus. Challenges in developing a sustainable on-site wastewater treatment system were largely met by minimising chemical, energy and labour inputs, eliminating the need for frequent sludge handling, and creating an effluent quality suitable for re-use in non-potable applications. However, the sludge removal from the system needs to be adequately managed to avoid excessive accumulation as this can cause a range of negative impacts.