Future of the fauna of western New South Wales

Abstract

This attractively presented and enlightening collection of 22 chapters written by biologists, government land managers and a pastoralist, was derived from a 1991 symposium of the same name organized by the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. A third of the book deals with pre- and post-European land management practices that have drastically modified the western region of New South Wales. Another third is dedicated to the impact of these practices on habitat modification and the major vertebrate fauna groups, and for some of the invertebrates. Most of the chapters regarding the biology and ecology of the region paint a bleak picture of the negative impact on its faunal components. By presenting information in this manner, however, it is hoped that the problems will be actively addressed to ensure the future survival of native fauna. The chapters written by government land managers of National Parks, CALM and Landcare read more optimistically, and provide positive solutions to some of these problems. From reading these chapters, I now have a much better appreciation of the principles of reserve design and also how the Landcare network plays a vital role in the off-reserve conservation effort on farms.