Irwin's death highlights Land Purchase for

Preservation

By Dee Tipping

You may be sorry for the loss of one of Australia's great wildlife heroes at the moment or still trying to work out if the international outpouring of grief over his death is a Hollywood beat up. However with all the hullabaloo around Mr Irwins premature demise one thing is for sure that those in the business of habitat conservation would be blessing the exposure his passing has given to the merit of conserving wildlife habitat, and more importantly, not necessarily to the converted but to a much broader audience.

If there is one consolation for his family many more Australians who just thought Mr Irwin was good for promoting the word Crikey and dangling dead chooks in front of gnashing crocodiles, are now more aware that he had a far more deeper commitment to wildlife than taunting it. His life and his death have highlighted an important message both here and abroad for the benefit of wildlife and its habitat- Buy IT Back.

All the publicity in the world could only do so much but both Mr Irwin and his wife recognized that the only way to really save wildlife was to save its habitat and that meant buying back the land to save it from future land clearing or development. Through Wildlife Warriors Worldwide Mr Irwin and his wife Terri invested some of his huge television earnings into the environment. Founded in 2002 it is estimated that WWW currently owns around 90,000 ha of land as safe wildlife havens in southern and western Queensland as well as other countries. Funds are also directed to an animal hospital.

Another fund devoted to buying back land for preservation purposes is Rainforest Rescue, Kelvin has been pushing the message of habitat buy-back for eight years, in particular concentrating on areas in the Daintree Rainforest that are earmarked for development. Despite the Queensland State Government?s recent decision to inject $10 million dollars towards protecting parts of the Daintree, there are still numerous blocks of land being offered for sale and for development. Sadly, the growth in population is pushing the endangered Cassowary to extinction. It is estimated that there are only around 1000 Cassowaries in the wild today. The increase in residential settlement in the Daintree will also lead to calls for a reduction in crocodile numbers. Steve Irwin was strongly against the killing of any crocodiles and buying back land before it is developed is a certain way to protect these amazing creatures.

With the support of everyday Australian's, Rainforest Rescue has now contributed to the purchase of eight properties and is committed to purchasing many more. 'We've had everyone from young children donating a few dollars of their pocket money to businesses donating substantial amounts, all in aid of our precious Daintree rainforest'. Says Kelvin Davies Executive officer of Rainforest Rescue '. Donations from the public are essential in helping to buy back more rainforest blocks and protecting them forever. To contribute to the Daintree Buy Back and Protect Forever Project' with your tax-deductible donation, Ph 1300 763 611, email at www.rainforestrescue.org.au. Post a cheque or money order made out to Rainforest Rescue, PO Box 1511 Toowong, Queenlsand 4066.