Australian Rain-forest Subdivisions and Conservation Strategies

Abstract

The subdivision of Australian tropical rain-forest into one- and two-hectares' residential blocks changes the local ecology in a dramatic manner. It opens the canopy, changes the humidity regime, decimates ancient climax vegetation, and introduces weed species. As a result, the practice is incompatible with the objectives alike of the World Conservation Strategy and the National Conservation Strategy for Australia. Government intervention will be required if the Strategy is to be implemented. The first step towards implementation is the evaluation of current and proposed practices. A brief analysis of the incidence of costs and benefits demonstrates the skewed distribution which results from rain-forest subdivision. A few sellers and promoters receive millions of dollars in capital gains, while millions of other people lose the public and recreational benefits offered by the existing rain-forest, and the world as a whole loses much of scientific value. The information gained by this brief analysis provides the Government with a better basis on which to act than heretofore.