FEATURE
ARTICLE
HUMAN
IMPACTS PROJECT ABOUT TO START IN VICTORIA
Surfrider's
Human Impacts on Australian Beaches
project is set to commence with volunteer beach
surveys throughout Victoria.
A
web based template has been developed through extensive
consultation with the project reference group which
comprises coastal managers and individuals from
throughout Australia - the process has been extended
nearly three months beyond what was originally intended
to ensure the quality of the survey.
Thanks
to this process and the technical assistance provided
by the Coastal CRC, the survey template is greatly
improved on previous HIAB surveys. Information collected
will include biophysical, statutory and strategic
planning, human impacts, coastal management and
community values - it will be published in a digital
database using a geographical format that will be
freely available on the web.
As
with previous iterations of this study, the project
can be expected to attract national and international
attention and will significantly improve awareness
of human impacts on our coastal and marine environments.
Michael
Legge Wilkinson, the HIAB project founder and coordinator,
is passionate about the project and its potential
to influence coastal management at all levels of
government, industry and the community.
"Australia
has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world,"
says Michael.
"If
we are to pass on to our children an undiminished
natural resource, we must learn to minimise our
impacts and conserve our coastal environments. This
study will generate some of the critical information
we need to better manage the way we live and use
our coastal resources."
The
Victorian surveys are being conducted with the assistance
of community groups and individuals who form part
of the Coast Action / Coastcare network. According
to Michelle Lauder, State Program Manager for Coastcare,
"...volunteers are involved because they care
about their local environment and are prepared to
do something about it. Together, they contribute
tens of thousands of person hours towards conservation
of our coastal environment which provides enormous
value to the limited dollars our governments spend
on protecting our natural coastal resources."
Outputs
from the study will include a digital databasethat
will be accessible to everyone via the web. "This
database
will be a living document on the state of our beaches.
One that we will be able to update and augment at
any time" says Neil Lazarow, Surfrider's National
projects Director and a lecturer in Coastal Management
with the Coastal CRC.
"The
Coastal CRC
provides IT resources as part of its Citizen Science
Program. Citizen Science is a powerful
tool for bridging the gap between science, decision
makers and the community."
For
more information or to become involved, contact:
Michael Legge Wilkinson, HIAB Project Coordinator
- 08 92925993
Michelle Lauder, Coast Action / Coastcare State
Program Manager - 03 9412 4823
Neil Lazarow, Surfrider Foundation, National Director
(Projects and Research) 07 3875 5528; 0416 022 742
Australian
Surfrider eNews is the bi-monthly email bulletin
from Surfrider Foundation Australia.
Surfrider
is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection
and enjoyment of Australia's oceans, waves and beaches
for all people through: Conservation, Advocacy,
Research and Education.
There
are many ways to support the work of Surfrider:
·
our memberships cater to every individual, including
families;
·
we have a wide range of sponsorship opportunities;
·
make a tax-deductible donation to the Surfrider
Fund; or
·
start your own Surfrider Branch
It's
too easy to get involved! For more information see
www.surfrider.org.au or call our National Office
on 61-7-5534 2855.
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