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AbstractThe concept of ecological integrity is deeply embedded within the Earth Charter. Ecological integrity refers to the full functioning of a suite of natural processes. "Natural" refers to processes that exist without human input. Arguments against the scientifi c validity of ecological integrity are based on the proposition that the current state of ecological systems merely refl ects past contingencies and consequently there is no natural, healthy condition that can be prescribed scientifi cally. Hence, nature conservation and environmental management goals are a matter of individual and social values and priorities. This argument can be rejected largely on the grounds that integrity of ecosystem processes can be empirically demonstrated, and that the continued wellbeing of humanity depends on the ecological integrity of various natural processes known as Earth's life support systems. The main policy implications of ecological integrityfl ow from accepting that the future wellbeing of the human endeavour is irrevocably coupled to the ongoing integrity of the total Earth system. The caring and compassionate attitude towards wild animals also promoted by the Earth Charter provides additional moral impetus to protecting habitat in situ and consequently ecological integrity. Protecting ecological integrity will require both reorientating the human endeavour towards new patterns of production and consumption together with a commitment to making room for wild nature.

THE EARTH CHARTER IN AUSTRALIA I PROCEEDINGS OF THE INAUGURAL AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL EARTH CHARTER FORUM Organised by the Australian National Committee for the Earth Charter Inc 5-6 February 1999, Canberra Sponsored by The ACT Government The Australian National University The Queensland Government ACTEW Corporation CH2M Hill Pty Ltd Collex Waste Management Pty Ltd Edited by Brendan G. Mackey and Brian Dooley

Complex adaptive systems are a special kind of self-organizing system with emergent properties and adaptive capacity in response to changing external conditions. In this article, we investigate the proposition that international environmental law, as a network of treaties and institutions, exhibits some key characteristics of a complex adaptive system. This proposition is premised on the scientific understanding that the Earth system displays properties of a complex adaptive system. If so, international environmental law, as a control system, may benefit from the insights gained and from being modelled in ways more appropriately aligned with the functioning of the Earth system itself. In this exploratory review, we found evidence suggesting that international environmental law is a complex system where treaties and institutions self-organize and exhibit emergent properties. Furthermore, we contend that international environmental law as a whole is adapting to exogenous changes through an institutional process akin to natural selection in biological evolution. However, the adequacy of the direction and rate of adaptation for the purpose of safeguarding the integrity of Earth's life-support system is questioned. This paper concludes with an emphasis on the need for system-level interventions to steer the direction of self-organization while maintaining institutional diversity. This recommendation stands in contrast to the reductionist approach to institutional fragmentation and aims at embracing the existing complexity in international environmental law. Adapted from the source document.

We review categorizations of, and published evidence for, large-scale or dispersive movement in Australia's vertebrate fauna. For the purposes of this paper, dispersive movements are defined as any large scale movements, relative to an individual's territory or to the population breeding range. A continuum in dispersive behaviours can be recognized between regular annual migration and less regular more opportunistic and either more or less extensive re-colonization movements. We argue that dispersive movements can be explained in terms of individuals maximizing Darwinian fitness through optimizing net energy intake traded off against mortality risk, as these vary over space and time. We find that migration, nomadism and other forms of dispersive behaviour can be considered to differ, not in type, but merely in degree. Our review revealed evidence of dispersive movement for 36 (16%) freshwater fish species, 2 (1%) frogs, 5 (0.6%) land and freshwater reptiles, 7 (100%) marine reptiles, 342 (51%) land and freshwater birds, 88 (56%) marine birds, 27 (8%) land and freshwater mammals, and 28 (50%) marine mammals. The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government's main legal instrument for the conservation of biodiversity. While it recognizes, and has special provisions for, international migratory species, the Act does not recognize the special conservation challenges of continental dispersive fauna. The continental dispersive fauna not recognized by the Act includes 246 bird species. We conclude that the EPBC Act needs to be amended to explicitly account for the national conservation responsibilities of the Australian Government with respect to dispersive fauna.

We review categorizations of, and published evidence for, large-scale or dispersive movement in Australia's vertebrate fauna. For the purposes of this paper, dispersive movements are defined as any large scale movements, relative to an individual's territory or to the population breeding range. A continuum in dispersive behaviours can be recognized between regular annual migration and less regular more opportunistic and either more or less extensive re-colonization movements. We argue that dispersive movements can be explained in terms of individuals maximizing Darwinian fitness through optimizing net energy intake traded off against mortality risk, as these vary over space and time. We find that migration, nomadism and other forms of dispersive behaviour can be considered to differ, not in type, but merely in degree. Our review revealed evidence of dispersive movement for 36 (16%) freshwater fish species, 2 (1%) frogs, 5 (0.6%) land and freshwater reptiles, 7 (100%) marine reptiles, 342 (51%) land and freshwater birds, 88 (56%) marine birds, 27 (8%) land and freshwater mammals, and 28 (50%) marine mammals. The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government's main legal instrument for the conservation of biodiversity. While it recognizes, and has special provisions for, international migratory species, the Act does not recognize the special conservation challenges of continental dispersive fauna. The continental dispersive fauna not recognized by the Act includes 246 bird species. We conclude that the EPBC Act needs to be amended to explicitly account for the national conservation responsibilities of the Australian Government with respect to dispersive fauna.

Northern Australia stands out as one of the largest natural areas remaining on Earth- alongside such global treasures as the Amazon rainforests, the boreal conifer forests of Alaska and Canada, and the polar wilderness of Antarctica. Nature remains in abundance in 'the North.'

Its intact tropical savannas, rainforests, and free flowing rivers provide a basis for much of the economic activity and the quality of life for residents of the area.

The Nature of Northern Australia details the latest science on the Northern environment.

With increasing debate over the future of Australia's often forgotten North, this is a timely examination of its environmental significance, the ecological processes that make it function, and the economies that are compatible with maintaining healthy communities and people and healthy country into the future.

The authors, Dr. John Woinarski, Professor Brendan Mackey, Professor Henry Nix and Dr. Barry Traill, are leading experts on the environment of Northern Australia, and combined have many decades of experience on Northern ecology and land management.

Today's meeting brings together representatives from a broad range of community, business, professional, indigenous, youth, religious and academic groups and associations. It marks an important step forward in this process of participation by Australian men and women in the development of the Earth Charter, a document which is envisaged as a truly inspirational statement of universal principles to guide individuals, communities and nations towards the protection and sustainable development of the environment. In this, of course, the Australian contribution is part of a much wider program of consultation with people and communities around the world, leading up to an Earth Charter Global Assembly next year – the year 2000 – and the adoption of the final draft of a People's Earth Charter, As you know, the intention is to present the document to the United Nations – hopefully, by the year 2002. ; Sponsored by The ACT Government; The Australian National University; The Queensland Government; ACTEW Corporation; CH2M Hill Pty Ltd; Collex Waste Management Pty Ltd

Environment and history of the GWW --Methods to calculate carbon stocks --Spatial biomass and carbon estimates for the GWW, 2008 --Biomass and carbon estimates: hypothetical no-disturbance scenario --Soil carbon --Management options to protect and restore the GWW's carbon stocks.