
The false consensus effect contributes to environmental damage
One of the challenges we face today is that of ‘false consensus’. The way it goes is: “well everyone else is doing it, so I
One of the challenges we face today is that of ‘false consensus’. The way it goes is: “well everyone else is doing it, so I
Sarah Shah, reporting on the work of Martin Wikelski, a biologist at Germany’s University of Konstanz and MD of the Max Planck Institute of Animal
To help understand and appreciate the importance of indigenous story telling we are posting this second collection of extracts selected from: SONGLINES: The Power and
To help better understand and appreciate the importance of indigenous story telling we are posting this collection of extracts selected from: SONGLINES: The Power and Promise,
Contemplating our impacts on and our obligations towards our earthly home – three perspectives From Little Stitch Studio … An.thro.po.cene? An·thro·po·cene /ˈanTHrəpəˌsēn/ adjective relating to or denoting
This is an edited version of a segment from Conversations with Richard Fidler, ABC Radio. The subject of the conversation is: The story of the Bible in
For some people this is a step too far, but research is coming down on the side of an understanding that other than human beings
The word fixed can be used in many contexts. We rather like the way Florence Williams has taken the word and applied it to our
There is an increasing awareness of the impact of human society on the other than human earth community. While this is only now getting some
Spiders are everywhere. So much so, we don’t even know of their existence, so small are so many of them. Being tiny, being hidden away
We are as the name implies, an organisation committed to protecting that area of Country known as Munibung Hill. We also understand that Munibung Hill,
The media is a rich source of information when it comes to expanding our minds about things ecological. The media is the medium. It’s actually
Being connected in times past would most likely mean being in touch with family and friends, perhaps keeping up appearances at family events and being
We’re all seeking knowledge, even basic stuff like what’s the weather going to be so we can decide what to wear, whether to walk or
Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of England, doesn’t muck about when he delivers this BBC Radio 4 lecture at a time when
In this report: A Radical Reset for Conservation in Africa, journalist Rachel Nuwer (Yes, 14 December 2020), suggests that with tourism all but dried up
Once upon a time, in the good old days, it was a given: when something we possessed broke or seemed not to work as it
How could it be any other way? Is it not an cliché to realise that no man is an island, we are all more than
Jacinta Tobin decided it would be a good idea to learn more about the language her grandparents and great aunts and uncles were forbidden to
We reprint this article in full, as a contribution to discussions about how to better understand the context within which many of us attempt to
There’s something eerie, something of a detached mentality, about the scenarios being painted of what the future might look like 10, 20 or 50 years
Much attention, indeed emphasis is given to conserving the earth’s biodiversity. Taken for granted or not, without biodiversity it would be a drab and dreary
With the rise of the internet and frequency of the tweet, the place of storytelling has been pushed aside. Yet the need for storytelling has
How do we best describe nature? For a start, this depends on our worldview. Do we see ourselves as a part of, or apart from,
The older we get the wiser, the slower, the weaker, the stronger, the grumpier, the curiouser? These are loaded questions that can be answered multiple
Munibung Hill has been on the minds of many people over the years, not least of which have been the people who visit on a
There’s an old saying that notes: when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Easier said than done if we lack the skills and
It’s time to get personal. In a time when letter writing has become a bit old hat, we thought it was worth posting this letter
When areas have been altered by European ways of land use, that include actions such as timber harvesting, cattle grazing, coal mining, gravel quarrying, fruit
Reading the archives is not everyone’s cup of tea. Trawling through page after page of type and B&W maps can be tedious. To some extent
For many years scientists, and people in general, have subscribed to the notion that we drill down to the most minute detail to such an
Munibung Hill was not unoccupied or vacant or waste land prior to European settlement in the early 1800s. It might be convenient to persist with
Wisdom comes with age so they say. Sadly the way some older people use social media, especially twitter to spread dodgy information and false news,
Following the dry times of the last few years and the decimation of wildlife during the 2019-20 bushfires much attention has been given to what
It seems like an oxymoron to say that it’s a waste to produce waste. It was Ray Anderson, Chairman of Interface Inc. who said: “All
It wasn’t so long ago that not only were there free range chickens and free range pigs and free range cattle, there were also free
It can be a vexed question when it comes to discussing, let alone deciding, how to manage invasive species – especially cats – in the
If one of the stories we are telling ourselves is that we’re living in a breaking world, where social order, ecological systems and finances are
Research into the role of fungi in nature and how this organism (often mistaken to be plants, when in fact they are in a kingdom
There’s a story we tell ourselves that says we are robust and once an adult, of independent means and able to get by without the
We humans have a fascination with whales that goes back a long way. In times past it had a rather dark side with the killing
What are the limits to our human encroachment on the other than human world of which we are a part? That’s a question that has
In this post we hear about how uninformed newcomers can negatively impact a vital water source for local people in: The Sands of Ooldea. It
It was at South Cardiff on a barmy June afternoon and he was scouting around for useful ‘rubbish’ that households had placed on the verge
Of the people, by the people, for the people. Democracy was at work on 22 June 2020 when Lake Macquarie City Council passed a Motion
Plants are the basis for what we eat, be it a meat / dairy, vegetarian or vegan based diet. Concentrating so much of our diet
We are constantly being reminded that all things in nature are connected. This was made patently clear in the ABC tv series: Australia’s Ocean Odyssey:
David Pollock is not an author by profession, he’s a pastoralist. And that’s one of the things that makes this story so compelling. He is
Salt: Selected stories and essays, is the latest publication by Bruce Pascoe, author of Dark Emu and Young Dark Emu. It’s also been produced in
We’ve been told of late that it’s good for our physical and mental well-being to get outside. Having got outside many thousands if not millions
‘It’s too costly to repair environmental damage’ we are told time and time again. In fact the only way to pay for any spending on
Look on the side of a bottle of medication and it will list all the things it’s good for. All the things it can do
When it comes to isolation and being alone, Jon Muir could be referred as something of an expert. The current lockdown and the associated limitations
The upside of the downside that is the coronavirus, is that nature is getting some relief from human actions that have for decades had detrimental
As the discussion about the COVID-19 pandemic profiles the human impact and loss of life, there is another conversation that needs to be had according
Easter has traditionally been a time of reflection, contemplation and celebration. There has been a shift in focus over the last few decades from one
Essays on the relationship between humans and nature “I have lately been thinking,” says Strachan Donnelly, “about our world and its evolutionary life as one vast,
In March 2020 the Warners Bay Sustainable Neighbourhood Group issued an invitation to see a film about reintroducing children to nature. NaturePlay: Take Childhood Back,
The place you feel most at home isn’t always the place you call home. It’s an interesting thought. We talk about our houses as
How to get from here in these troubled times to there where we need to be in ten years if we start now Well-being of
These words sound good: profit from perennial grass, year round protection for native species and robust ecology. Better, when practised as they are at Wooleen
The false narratives we’ve been told that become embedded as social norms, require determination and resolve to change. The narrative that places indigenous ways of
What better way to mark a leap year – the 29th of February – than with an uplifting good news story to set us up
In a rapidly growing and developing City, Council is required to manage biodiversity loss and ecological decline. This involves balancing environmental and ecological considerations, with
In Reshape the economy to fight climate crisis, Graeme Weardon (The Guardian January 23, 2020) reports on the address given by Prince Charles to delegates
There’s talk about an economic recession and the grim consequences that could come from such a downturn in spending. It is regrettable that there hasn’t
The conversation about whether or not to speak out about a subject that was first raised 124 years ago, a subject that has engaged some
It is troubling because it challenges the current paradigm that the economy holds the answers to our individual and collective woes. It is
‘Australia’s first climate refugees’ is how Nick Ritar described his situation as he prepared to board a navy vessel as part of the evacuation of
Fungi between our toes is not pleasant. Known as athlete’s foot or tinea pedis, you could say, well it’s normal. That is, the fungus is
Doctoring debates seems to be common practice these days. Call it fake news. Call it living in denial. Whatever name we use to describe this
This end of year time can be tricky. A time for reflection. A time for getting together with family and friends. A time when mixed
Earth science or geoscience includes all fields of natural science related to the planet Earth. This is a branch of science dealing with the physical constitution of the Earth and its atmosphere.
What brings us to the realisation that nature is the main game? It can take some time for some people to cotton on to the
Question. What is a tree worth? A cluster of trees worth? A forest of trees worth? A protected area of trees worth? Some would say,
This week we are again delivered findings from highly qualified scientists reporting on alarming findings from nine hotspots around the world, including Australia. In: Climate tipping
Stories about property and livelihood losses in Australia as a result of the bushfires just seem to keep on coming. And there’s no shortage of
It must be extremely frustrating for scientists who are witnesses to how human actions are impacting on the earths life support systems, to have their
There is an increasing body of evidence supporting claims that various human conditions, both physical and mental, can be healed by nature. Before we jump
What are the factors that bring about a change of heart. For some it’s a singular light bulb moment. For others it’s a gradual building
Not only bees … insects and why they matter The downside to wishing bugs would bugger off is what happens when they do. Where do
The magic and majesty of bird whisperer Leila Jeffreys Love and affection between humans is seen as natural and to be expected. But we can
Image: A renowned artist and Aboriginal Sites Officer with National Parks, Badger Bates has been talking about the health of the Darling River for years
For those who like to read, and for those who like to listen, this post has both. First, Valuing country: Let me count three ways. by Jane
It was a typical Spring day with warm temperatures and sunny skies. What a way to start the weekend but with a woodlands walk with
The focus of resource management decisions “should be on what is left behind, not what is taken.” Hard as it might be to accept, the
Featured image: Eastern bandicoot, living on Munibung Hill, is a close relative of the Bilby – one of the species on the to-save list. With
Mountain pygmy-possums weigh just 40 grams when they awake from months of hibernation.CREDIT:ZOOS VICTORIA This story is about how everything is interconnected. How our choices
From a distance a landscape can appear to be simply a shape on the horizon. All that can be seen is an outline or at
Clare Dubois had one of those aha moments a few years back. It was the motivating factor in what has become a worldwide program to
There’s a call for a change in our mindset about land, in the writing of this timely book. Author of Who’s Minding the Farm? In
When science and art meet the outcome is yet another example of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. Put a bunch
“Back in the day when I was a child, they made learning fun, so you didn’t see it as anything different or new – it
Forest conservation, rainforest protection, World Heritage and national parks are just some of the reaons to reflect on the life and times of Peter Hitchcock,
The publication Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything, by science writer James Gleick was written 20 years ago. Oliver Burkeman in: Don’t be on
Good grief, what on earth is going on? Here we are in the 21st century and a large percentage of children haven’t got the foggiest
For those of us who start the day with a walk in the bush, along a lakeside track or within a treescaped street it seems
The impact of population growth on our cities and suburbs increases the demand for housing, jobs and transport systems. Energy consumption increases temperatures if its
In 2020 we get to celebrate the year -1770 – that Captain James Cook claimed possession of the great south land for the British Crown.
Misinformation once left to be repeated across generations can take some undoing. This is certainly the case when it comes to the history of Australia
Imagine the alarm bells that would be ringing if this was about job losses, a crash on the stock market, a human health epidemic, the
The importance of nature is well known and yet economists and politicians continue to downplay the pivotal role that nature plays in human health and
It’s not too late to mention that Monday (May 20th) marked World Bee Day. It’s something of a cliche to say that every day is
There was a time when a love for nature was such a natural thing that we could do it without giving it a second thought.
With such a long heritage trees elicit a plethora of emotions especially for people living in towns and cities. Shade and shelter for some, falling
She was a tireless advocate for earth rights. She was a founder of the earth laws alliance and she was an inspiration to many thousands
It all started with the land or maybe with the oceans. It all started long before our culture came to this place. The mountains were
Nothing must get in the way of economic growth. To mention an economic squeeze or tightening of the purse strings is beyond the pale, not
A question most of us wouldn’t even begin asking goes something like this: can plants think and talk? Do they communicate, not so much with
“Going up” said the lift driver, back in the days of the elevator operator. Back in those good ole days you could probably have a
“Most Australians know of and regret the extinction of the thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) in 1936 — but few recognise that this one extinction is symptomatic
Wildlife photographer Doug Gimsey doesn’t beat about the bush when he hears claims of habitat loss in relation to species decline. He calls it out
If you are keen to know what Australia is doing to protect an iconic species of wildlife from dying out, we are not sure who
Let’s just think about it for a moment. What are the critical factors for our survival after birth? They would have to include: food (including
Over the last 100 years or so we’re shifted – literally – from being a farm based society to a service based society with a
Knowing what we know about how the world works: the Sun supplies every skerrick of energy (be it fossilised or renewable); every drop of water
There is more to trees than trunks, branches and leaves. Apart from their physical make-up they perform functions that quite frankly we can’t do without.
As you walk along some of the tracks criss-crossing Munibung Hill you might notice holes in the tracks under your feet. These are most likely caused
This is typically a yarn telling time of year. There are all manner of memories shared around the dinner table at Christmas time and through
This time of the year provides us with the opportunity to take a break and reflect on what has taken place over the last 12
Turning a blind eye to what is taking place on Munibung Hill is adding up to a legacy of harm that will be increasingly difficult
If you see a tree which has been stripped of its bark, this has most likely been done by ring-tail possums gathering materials to build
With an eye catching display of flowers the Long-flowered Mistletoe (Dendrophthoe vitellina) is in full bloom across Munibung Hill right now. Mistletoe plants are semi-parasitic on
Bandicoot diggings are often seen along the tracks on Munibung Hill. A nocturnal marsupial mammal, the bandicoot is omnivorous, meaning they forage during the night
Eucalypt trees are often referred to as Gum Trees, but a single word is inadequate to describe their diversity. While they may look rather alike
As our population continues to rise on this finite earthly home, the answers to the challenges we face, will increasing be found not from
This is the kind of story Munibung Hill Conservation Society loves to post. With words and pictures stay-at-home dad Anthony Wood tells of the day
Most of us when asked, would say that we are law abiding citizens – in the main we live in accordance with the laws of
It’s official – spending time in nature improves sleep and reduces chronic health problems. When it comes to studies relating to the health benefits of
What is it about trees that fascinate so many people? Are trees solitary plants living alone or do they form communities? Do they make sounds
It was Tuesday 18th September, three days before the Spring Equniox, a good time to take in the sights of Munibung Hill. Some of the 17
It’s not surprising to know that when people are a bit down in the dumps, a walk outdoors can do the world of good. So
What’s flowering, what’s fruiting, what’s been seen lately … Broom (Jacksonia scoparia) is flowering now On display this week is the Broom (Jacksonia scoparia)