Cattle grazing in the Alps

[Stephen Whiteside]

What do people think about the Victorian government's decision to allow cattle to graze in the Alpine National Park again? Personally, I find it very disappointing. The Labour government removed them in 2005, but now they're back again. The cattlemen are arguing that by reducing the length of the grass they reduce the risk of bush fires, but I gather that claim has been scientifically evaluated in the past, and found to be false. I can think of no benefits at all from having cattle up there. They damage native vegetation, including the sphagnum moss, they produce all these cowpads, which have the potential to pollute the local waterways, they bring flies, etc. etc. The cattlemen argue that there are other bigger pests in the area, such as brumbies and Sambar deer, and weeds such as blackberries. I think they should all be eliminated - as humanely as possible, of course. A pest is a pest.

[Kym]

Don't worry about a few cowpats, Stephen - they are just Nature's fertilizer, and where would mushrooms and dung beatles live if you took all of them away? If you're worried about a bit of poop in the water, you'd better eliminate dolphins too. If it's just fresh water you're worried about, you'd better eradicate all the birds, crocs, fishies and people cos a lot of human waste ends up in the rivers.

And talking about human pests - I see a lot of useless, feral pests when I'm in the shopping centre, using up valuable oxygen, producing foul odours, living out of the pockets of decent working people and polluting the world with their sour attitudes. They do way more damage to the world (and other people) than a few cattle in the mountains. I think they should be put down humanely too.

As far as fire goes, I think it obvious that less grass = less fire risk, or at least a more manageable fire instead of a raging inferno fuelled by thick grass. A hotter fire kills large trees, whereas a smaller fire gets rid of weeds and undergrowth but not the big trees. Fires are unavoidable (some even say they are necessary), but they need to be manageable.

Brumby elimination - I think it'd very sad, but it happens. I've heard that the Qld forests are almost cleaned up now. I used to enjoy trying to catch a glimpse of brumbies when we were at Kroombit Tops.

Sambar deer, sphagnum moss and blackberries - don't know anything about them. Lantana is more of a problem up here in Qld forestry - another human introduced problem.

There will never be an answer that will keep everyone happy. There will always be two sides to each fence, but there is more to it than cowpats and flies ...

[Stephen Whiteside]

Whenever I go into the mountains I drift into a sort of reverie, and don't notice all that much of the detail around me. People who do, though - and there are plenty of them - tell me that the alps have never looked better since the cattle were removed. They talk about a much more abundant and varied flora, especially. These same people also express dismay at how much damage the cattle have already done in the very short space of time since their return.

I have also heard on the grapevine that many of the park rangers are furious/devastated by the decision. The government has banned them from speaking out, though, which seems very sad.

[Zondrae]

my bit..

the poor native dung beetles could not cope with the amout and size of the dung of all the introduced animals so the scientists imported a new (probably more than one) type of dung beetle. I can see where CJ got the inspiration for at least one of his poems.

[william williams]

Stephen I congratulate you on your intellectual ability as a Dr and writer.
For almost a century cattle were cultivated in the high country which helped open up the mountains to the common people.
The old bushman man, and I repeat the Old Bushman was a far greater man than a lot of so called people who are physically and financially able to go there and see the beauty of these mountains. People like myself and many other who are now unable to because of financial or physical reasons. But a number of years ago those areas were closed at a time when we were able to see them. Now it will take many years of work by the cattle to return the trails that they made back to useability and lower the fire hazard that is there from the under growth. Controlled grazing is what the old Bushman knew the old timers are what we called them, they knew nature far greater than many of these so called experts do. Their rule was nature use her but NEVER, NEVER abuse her and she will be willing to help you.

When did you last see a Sambar deer Stephen in the wild ( there is to much rubbish scrub there to see them)
Humans are responsible for ALL and I repeat ALL the problems there are wild cats and foxes killing our small native animals, dogs turned loose by irresponsible hunters and gone wild and mating with the Dingo creating more problems and the many, many weeds are now there that man bought into Australia
Now the greatest problem arises is that the teachers the old men, the men who knew the bush and its ways are now dying or dead and their knowledge was not passed on for the goverment decread there was no use for it, resulting in new generation that have not had the experience nor learnt the ways of nature thanks to the labour government and so now our history is lost a though many people say it has not. The small small but often colourful past moments of history are now gone.
With no disrespect to you Stephen many Wombats now lead the future recovery of this great country. ( by the way check the dictionary definition of that animal) Sorry to get on my butter box but this subject angers me greatly. Bill Williams

Bill the Old Battler

[Neville Briggs]

Stephen..wow you're a bigger stirrer than me.

I don't have the knowledge of environmental issues in the alpine region.

What seems disturbing about these practices is that cattle production is a private business and why should people freely use a public resource to enhance their business profits, unless of course the public gets some return for lending a national park for the use of business people. Maybe that does happen, I don't know.


There's an old English saying something along the lines that the real criminal is not the one who steals the goose off the common, it's the one who steals the common from the goose.


p.s. don't beat me up Marty, Bill. Just some opinions for what they are worth. Probably not much.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Can't speak about the Alpine region as I am totally ignorant of that part of the country and I do believe that there are plant species there that are under threat??? The National parks here in Queensland have had grazing rights removed and actively cull out feral goats and brumbies - not sure about deer as there were plenty of those in the parks around Stanthorpe border areas. Mainly Chital and Red Fallow - so lots of hunters in the area at weekends. Some good intelligent caring people who were sensible and worked with the land - but a huge percentage a bunch of beer swilling, loud mouthed, gun happy idiots who would likely set the forests ablaze and themselves with it, and left smouldering camp fires, rubbish and decimation behind wherever they went.

To my way of thinking by grazing the national parks you are eliminating a huge fire load and keeping tracks open. The dung is a natural biodegradable fertilizer, unlike coke cans and beer bottles. ( Always had problems with the concept of collecting doggy doo but not worrying about the MC wrappers, fag ends etc etc that littered our streets.) Feral goats are great at keeping down a lot of woody weeds as are camels - as they seem to be their diet of choice. I know all the conservationists say that hard hoofed animals cause erosion and damage but so to do idiots on trail bikes and in 4WD who don't treat parks with respect either. It is all about balance.

A small fire load leads to fires of less intensity, which gives the vegetation a chance to survive and some vegetation requires that fire to flourish. But a smaller fire with less heat as opposed to a roaring out of control conflagration also allow our native wildlife to escape it as that fire is often slower moving not having the fuel on the ground to feed it.

As so much of our National Parks is inaccessible except to perhaps the hardies and strongest bush walkers, they are never seen by Mr Public anyway - for Park Rangers to do spot burns in these areas is almost impossible and can often only be done by helicopter at great expense (ditto culling), and a heavy fire load that could be eliminated by grazing causes fires that burn for days taking out many thousands of acres ad doing irreparable damage to wildlife and often farming lands and stock, homes and lives lost - IMO grazing is a cheap, easy and sensible way to solve a problem. Any sites of particular concern could no doubt be fenced off.

Also by allowing the grazing and the so called pests of goat, deer, etc to be there it allows the dingoes, foxes, pigs and other carnivores that live in those forests and national park to have a ready meat source and stops them to a degree preying of the farmers sheep and cattle because they are hungry. We lived alongside the dingo fence and with the reduction of feral species in the National Parks the increase of predators on properties in the surrounding areas was sharply increased. The dingo fence was maintained but as fast as holes were patched new ones appeared. Pigs appeared to be the main ones causing the damage.

Get rid of the animals from the National Parks? - No they are pretty harmless overall in the grand scheme of things IMO. Get rid of the humans from National Parks? - Sounds like a good idea to me. Weekend warriors, urban cowboys - the bush would be better off without them.

Cheers

Maureen

[william williams]

Neville in answer to your question about the use of the land my uncle and aunty used to graze the high country until it was closed. Every year before they were aloud to enter the area to graze the old men of the district would then assess the grazing to be had and the numbers that the country would comfortably hold they would then allocate the numbers of cattle each land holder were to send there according to their holding size the payment of grazing rights was then paid to the state government at times stock were removed earlier because of climatic conditions. It was a very fair and equitable system that suited the country and the conditions greatly. Now of coarse it was stopped through stupidity. Now modern conditions have stuffed up what was once unique situation for both the land and the public

Bill the old Battler

[Kym]

Yes Bill, those old cattlemen knew their stuff. It was in their best interests to look after the land.

Yay Maureen, well said!!! I have friends who have a cattle grazing lease on state forestry (or it is national park???) anyway, they have to maintain fences, control lantana (which is an enormous job) and they have to pay the government for the use of the land. As far as I am concerned, cattlemen are doing the national parks a favour.

It's ironic that the people who oppose grazing to reduce fire hazards, are among the first to raise a stink when it's their house that's about to be burned down, because they weren't smart enough to make fire breaks around their houses, cut down tall trees that could fall on their roof, or clean leaf matter out of their gutters, but that's not the issue here ...

Maybe the mountains are pretty when they have a good cover of grass and make beautiful pictures for the city folk, but they'll look bloody ugly when the beautiful gum trees are burned to a matchstick because someone wanted all the pretty grass left there.

[manfredvijars]

Call of the Wild.
(c) 2005 M. Vijars

The utmost pressing issue that confronts bushwalking folk
(be it Outback or to even Kathmandu?)
Does one duck there in the bush or behind that old she-oak?
What options does one have without a loo?

Emptying one's bladder is hardly an ordeal
when camped out on a still and moonlit night
The darkness offers shadows and the act one can conceal
with decorum and discretion, out of sight.

But consider for a moment the dilemma, not unique,
you're wrapped up in your warm down sleeping-bag
Outside the blizzard's howling, wants to blow you off the peak
To to extricate yourself’s a bloody drag.

These acts are really minor when compared to when you need
acrobatics for the urge of "Number Two"
When trussed in climbing harness up a cliff and can't proceed
any further so who cares about the view.

The climber's one big challenge to unbuckle things himself
from the harness while not suffering a fall
It's no problem if you're perched upon a halfway decent shelf
but not easy if you're hanging off the wall.

Just consider the dilemma a poor kayaker must face
on an open-water crossing while at sea
A bucket in the cockpit, yes, quite right, there's not much space.
Just how tippy can a kayak really be?

When it comes to mountaineering, especially at altitude,
the hazards take an exponential leap,
Make sure you're wearing crampons, fully dressed, of course you'd
be attached to rope up where it's very steep.

It's sobering to learn that many folk have disappeared
without a trace off Himalayan peak
while endeavouring to ensure that all their body functions cleared.
Something must have slipped in their technique?

Even Kosciusko, darkness, slick and icy slope
have caught cross-country skier with pants down
with those needed extrications sometimes its hard to cope
but 'slipped technique' can turn one 'to a clown.

I once recall a squat, undignified, with both skis on
all was going well at this event;
Reached to do the paperwork, I slipped and then was gone
Down the hillside at a racing pace I went

Pants around my ankles and my arms around my knees;
I couldn't lift myself to stand erect!
Scarf of toilet paper trailing way back to the trees,
hurtling down that slope my speed unchecked.

I had this braking action that I thought I'd give a go,
had to try most anything, oh well;
Closed my eyes, leant backwards and lowered bum into the snow.
Nothing short of ice colonic hell!

Expelling your excreta in the bush now needs some class
(just camp beside an alpine hut in spring)
There among the snow-gums and the tufts of alpine grass
lots of smelly clusters in a ring.

Cover blown by sunshine waving toilet paper flags
as if in mute surrender (how unclean).
Aside from visual horror of those clustered little 'snags'
the lingering health hazard what’s obscene.

But that's ok, the rains will come and wash it all away?
NO! The danger loaded run-off will produce
as it trickles into streams and lakes and rivers on it's way
is "Battalions of Bacteria" on the loose.

Once this country could boast that we were giardia free;
(our love for Bush with one more side-effect)
Packing 'poo-poo' bags for us will soon be mandatory
(with heavy fines for those who may object?)

I love a Sunburned Country (with a love that is constrained?)
"Free" love we know belongs well in the past.
Our excreta and enthusiasm all must be contained
if we truly want the Wilderness to last!

And so to make an ending from the end from which gives us heaps,
Be they hidden under fern or flaky snow.
Mindful of our actions must we be for we shall reap,
plagues from all logs we badly stow.
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