Science Insights — Biodiversity
“A note to my Yarns from the Farm Readers—I’ve started another series for our local newspaper on biodiversity. This is the first installment.”
Cheers, Nan
Previous Series —
A Climate Basics Series
Nan Bray is an oceanographer and climate scientist
who has farmed superfine merinos near Oatlands, Tasmania since 2000
1. Biodiversity Introduction
“In the next few Science Insights we’ll explore the meaning and importance of biodiversity—literally “life variety”. We’ll put it into context in Tasmania’s agricultural as well as world heritage environments, and examine ways to preserve and enhance it.”
2. Biodiversity and Nutrition
“…mamas teach their babies where to find what they need, and how to know when to eat which plants.”
3. Biodiversity and Weeds
“In the world of Dr. Seuss, weeds would be plain-belly sneetches. Their close relatives, the star-belly sneetches, would be the rest of the plants—the ones we think we want around.”
“Aldo Leopold argued eloquently for the idea of human obligation to maintain the health of the land through what he called a conservation land ethic—the concept that land is to be loved and respected.”
5. Enhancing Biodiversity: Taming Gorse
If you can’t say somethin’ nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.
—Thumper from ‘Bambi’
“Surprisingly, there are several nice things I can say about gorse, despite its notorious dominance in the woody weed stakes for Tasmania.”
6. Enhancing Biodiversity: An Ounce of Prevention —
Taming the Virus
I got so excited about getting my vaccination, I decided to write this article for our local newspaper, rather than the one I was planning for this issue. Getting my jab makes it possible for me to do a long-planned hike in the Northern Territory, and under the new rules.”
Image is copyright from David Houlder, used by permission.
7. Enhancing Biodiversity 2: Grazing
“. . . grazing in farmland and bush is, like chocolate and carbon dioxide, a good thing in moderation.”
8. Enhancing Biodiversity: Bush Tucker
“Indigenous knowledge about the biodiversity of the landscape is critical to our ability to adapt to the coming challenges of climate change. “
9. Enhancing Biodiversity: Fire
“The millennia of experience that Indigenous Australians bring to this vitally important activity can guide us in enhancing native biodiversity. “
