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International Year of Biodiversity: a celebration of the variety of life on Earth
 Human activity is causing the diversity of life on Earth to be lost at a rapidly increasing rate. Only last year the IUCN's Red List warned that more than 22 per cent of Australia's mammals were threatened with extinction, with habitat loss and degradation the number one threat to all endangered animals. Biodiversity losses are irreversible, impoverish us all and damage the life support systems we rely on every day. The United Nation's 2010 International Year of Biodiversity provides a great opportunity for the Nature Conservation Council and its member groups to celebrate our hard work protecting the environment of NSW, and focus on greater action to safeguard our irreplaceable natural places and wildlife.  We would like to feature stories about the positive campaigns and programs working towards protecting or restoring biodiversity in Australia in upcoming editions of Nature News Online and on the naturensw.org website. Please email jgarcia@nccnsw.org.au or call (02) 9262 2641 for more information.Given the global and local spotlight on biodiversity throughout 2010, there's never been a more important time to become a Voice for Nature. Congratulations Cate on preselection for the Greens' NSW Upper House seat
 The Nature Conservation Council of NSW will shortly bid farewell to our Executive Director, Cate Faehrmann, whohas been preselected to fill the Greens’ NSW Legislative Council seat when Lee Rhiannon vacates the position at this year’s Federal election. She has worked tirelessly at the Nature Conservation Council of NSW since 2004, guiding the direction of the state’s peak environment group as Executive Director. Her energy, passion, strong leadership and political nous have grown and reshaped the organisation as NSW's most effective voice for the environment. A key achievement of Cate’s time at the Nature Conservation Council has been working with other organisations and activists to build a broad-based, community-focused movement around climate change. One of her initiatives, Walk Against Warming, has become Australia’s biggest community day of action on climate change. This year alone, about 100,000 people took part in the Walk across capital cities and regional centres in Australia. The NCC executive and staff would like to congratulate Cate on her preselection and thank her for all her dedicated work for NSW’s environment over the past five years. Cate will be with us until early April and we'll seek to appoint a new Executive Officer shortly. Make this your year of personal action to save our last sharks! Sharks are in deep trouble. They have called the planet’s oceans home for millions of years but humans are pushing these marine icons to the very brink of extinction. Already 90% of the world’s sharks have disappeared, with no let up in the numbers caught for their flesh and fins worldwide.You can help increase awareness about the plight of our sharks by interacting with them off the coast of southern Africa and supporting the Nature Conservation Council’s vital conservation work in Australia. The Shark Swim Challenge is a unique opportunity for using your talent in a hands-on campaign inspiring your friends, family, colleagues and wider community in a mass movement for protecting our sharks and oceans. Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a real difference. Find out more at www.sharkswimchallenge.com.au or call Tristanne at Inspired Adventures on (02) 9262 9880. Read more ... Have your say on a greener path ahead for the South and Far North Coasts
 The South Coast and the Far North Regional Conservation Plans are currently on public exhibition and open for public comment.It is critical that as many submissions as possible are made which urge the NSW Government to prioritise biodiversity conservation over development interests. Biobanking and Voluntary Conservation Agreements are not enough to protect the precious coastal ecosystems and threatened species, particularly given the looming risks of a rapidly changing climate. The NSW government must ensure that changes to the planning system are made so that all development is prohibited in high conservation land. View the South Coast Conservation Plan, covering the Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley local government areas, and make a submission here by Friday, 29 January, although we have heard submissions will be accepted until the end of February 2010. View the Far North Regional Conservation Plan, covering the Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Kyogle, Lismore and Richmond Valley local government areas, and make a submission here by Friday, 29 January. Walk Against Warming a huge success with 100,000 people walking nationally
 On 12th December last year in every capital city and many regional towns, tens of thousands of Australians sent a message to Kevin Rudd and the Federal Opposition that we want strong, fair and binding action - both locally and internationally - that will deliver a safe climate. You can check out some great photographs and video footage from the news coverage on the Walk Against Warming website. The Nature Conservation Council thanks everyone for coming to Walk Against Warming and making it such a colourful and successful day. We also thank all the generous sponsors and supporters of the event. We will continue to campaign for real action on climate change in 2010. You can help fund our climate campaign by joining our Voice for Nature regular donors program. 2010 ACF Peter Rawlinson Conservation Award now open
 The Australian Conservation Foundation's Peter Rawlinson Conservation Award is presented each year in recognition of outstanding voluntary contribution by a group or individual aiding Australia’s conservation efforts. The prize consists of $3000 to spend on further environment work and a plaque. An individual or group can be nominated for their achievements at a local or national level (councillors and staff cannot be nominated). Application forms are available here or can be requested at: SCRAP is a non-profit company that exists to help schools, other organisations and householders to become more environment-friendly. Starting in 1991 with the first mass-scale paper recycling program in NSW schools, this program today reaches more than 3500 schools and other organisations.
From that base they developed the first Sustainable Schools Program in 2000 and today offer a wide variety of goods and services ranging from worms, worm farm and compost systems to recycled paper and related products, environmental auditing in waste, etc, water conservation through enviroplumbing and alternative energy systems. Visit them at www.scrapltd.com.au or call (02) 9825 1062. Monster of the Deep 3D - special offers for Nature News Online readers and Voice for Nature supporters
 Belvoir Street Theatre is offering Nature News Online readers and our special Voice for Nature supporters $24 tickets to Monster of the Deep 3D for performances until the end of January.Claudia O’Doherty’s quirky and funny Monster of the Deep 3D gives her account as the last surviving member of a futuristic underwater community. The lo-fi production picked up the Brisbane Comedy Festival Award and Best Comedy Award at the 2009 Melbourne Fringe Festival. To book the special $24 tickets, please call the Box Office on (02) 9699 3444 and ask for the Nature Conservation Council Special. Courtesy of Belvoir Street Theatre, we also have two double passes to give away for Monsters of the Deep 3D on Wednesday 3rd February at 8.15pm. The first Nature News Online reader to call (02) 9262 2641 at 10am on Wednesday, 27 January will win a double pass. The other pass will go to the first Voice for Nature supporter to call the same number at 11am on Wednesday, 27 January. Fire ecologists and facilitators, Hotspots Fire Project: Nature Conservation Council of NSW Closing date: 5pm. Monday, 15 February 2010 Our Living Coast Project Officer: Coffs Harbour City Council, Bellingen Shire Council & Nambucca Shire Council Closing date: Sunday, 31 January 2010 National Campaign Team Manager: The Wilderness Society (Canberra) Closing date: COB. Friday, 29 January 2010 Land Management Officer, Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary: Australian Wildlife Conservancy Closing date: Friday 5 February 2010 Database and Communication Coordinator: Humane Society International Closing date: Friday 5 February 2010. General Manager: The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre Closing date: Friday 5 February 2010. Upcoming events
Christmas Tree recycling for City of Sydney residents Eco Choices for Renters workshop. Hosted by the City of Sydney. Latest Nature Conservation Council submissions
Munmorah Power Station Refurbishment
Wednesday, 25 November 2009 Submissions open Boco Rock Wind Farm - revised project application Calga Quarry Southern Extension The Nature Conservation Council of NSW does not endorse the products or services advertised in
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Only a few places left for the Shark Swim Challenge
 Experience the thrill of a unique adventure in southern Africa that will test your mental strength and push the boundaries of your comfort zone. Join us on an extreme adventure, the Shark Swim Challenge, where you'll snorkel with Whale Sharks, cage dive with Great Whites and have the special opportunity to witness one of the most awe-inspiring sights off the coast of southern Africa - the breaching of Great White Sharks. Registrations have been heating up over summer so don't miss this unique opportunity for the challenge of a lifetime while raising much needed funds for the Nature Conservation Council's Australian marine conservation work. Click here for details.  Become a Voice for Nature
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