Climate change damage to Queensland's world heritage rainforest 'as bad as Great Barrier Reef’

The wet tropics world heritage area in north Queensland has been damaged by climate change in a manner “equivalent” to coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, the area’s management authority has said.

 Mount Alexandra lookout with a view of the Daintree River
mouth in north Queensland. Local authorities say the area’s
tropical rainforest is in ‘accelerating decline’ due to climate change.

In an extraordinary statement issued on Monday, the authority’s board said the tropical rainforest was in “accelerating decline” and that some of the area’s unique species were at imminent risk of extinction.

Last summer was the hottest on record.

“Extreme heat is the wet tropics world heritage area’s coral-bleaching event equivalent, with some mountain-adapted species, like the lemuroid ringtail possum, unable to survive even a day of temperatures above 29C,” the statement said.

Read the story from The Guardian by Ben Smee - “Climate change damage to Queensland's world heritage rainforest 'as bad as Great Barrier Reef’.”

Record-breaking cold snap wipes out vineyards in WA's south

Winemakers in Western Australia's Great Southern region are reeling from a recent frost event that damaged up to 80 per cent of their vines.

Frost-damaged grapevines after the
 record-breaking November cold snap.

The acclaimed Frankland River wine region, 120 kilometres north-west of Albany, was worst hit by record-low temperatures for November, which swept across the region earlier this week.

Frankland River is renowned for its riesling and shiraz, but the upcoming season may not be as fruitful.

Frankland River Grape Growers and Winemakers Association president Hunter Smith said it was one of the worst frost events the region had ever experienced.

Read the ABC News story by Jon Daly - “Record-breaking cold snap wipes out vineyards in WA's south.”

Great Barrier Reef: Scientists use new technology to regenerate Australian icon

Scientists are regrowing coral from larvae on damaged patches of the Great Barrier Reef in a project that could change the management of reef systems worldwide.

Professor Peter Harrison at the Great Barrier
 Reef regeneration site near Heron Island.

Professor Peter Harrison from Southern Cross University has been collecting coral spawn off Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), and maturing it in tanks.

A team of scientists has deposited millions of coral larvae back onto damaged areas that may not regenerate naturally.

They created large enclosures around the coral using mesh curtains and special tiles to monitor growth.

Days later, photographs reveal coral polyps had survived, and were settling into their new home.

Read the ABC News story - “Great Barrier Reef: Scientists use new technology to regenerate Australian icon.”

Sydney weather: Fire threat upgraded as NSW braces for unprecedented conditions

Cattle and smoke Sir Ivan fire. 

Firefighters are preparing to defend the tiny town of Cassilis in the central west from a fire front driven by increasing winds, as bushfires damaged dozens of houses across the state on Sunday.

The Rural Fire Service had earlier directed people from outlying areas to head for shelter in Cassilis, a town of about 300 people east of Dunedoo but with the fire approaching, the RFS now says it has crews in place to defend the town should the fire hit.

Read tonight’s story from the Melbourne Age - “Sydney weather: Fire threat upgraded as NSW braces for unprecedented conditions.”