In Hawaii and Tahiti the invasive tree Miconia calvescens (miconia) is referred to as the ‘purple plague’ and ‘green cancer’ because of the damage it inflicts on tropical rainforests in these countries – it has replaced vast areas of natural forest, resulting in landslides, erosion, diminished watershed functions of the forest and endangering a great number of endemic species.
Miconia has large attractive leaves (pictured) with purple undersides and because of this, was once a popular garden species in Australia. It was sold by several nurseries in Queensland and New South Wales during the 1970s and 1980s, before its invasive potential was understood. Mature miconia plants produce huge quantities of seeds that are readily spread by a large range of birds that live in our tropical rainforests. There are now 49 known infestations of miconia in Australia, all of them situated near Cairns and all of them subject to eradication.
Susie Hester and Oscar Cacho are part of a team of researchers who used computer models to determine the time and costs required to eradicate miconia infestations. Susie presented this research at the 2009 International Miconia Conference on Maui, Hawaii, using funding from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, International Science Linkages – Science Academies Programme. The approach developed by Susie and Oscar has received very positive reviews and is being extended and applied to other invasive species.
The 5th International conference of The Global Academy of Business and Economic Research jointly organized by Florida A&M University of the US and University Kebangsa Malaysia (UKM) of Malaysia was held in Kuala Lumpur during 27 – 30 December 2009. Over 300 papers have been presented in the areas of business and economics with special focus on corporate governance. The conference has delegates from over 30 countries.
Innovation is the creation and application of new ideas into products and services that benefit an industry, organisation, nation or society. The importance of innovation is well recognised by rural people, particularly in the areas of agriculture, education and healthcare. The Australian Government recognised its importance with its Review of the National Innovation System (2008).
Across the New England and surrounding regions there is an enormous number of natural resource and land use, economic and social development issues to be tackled involving state and local government agencies, non-government organisations and communities. To ensure the best solutions to the challenges requires excellent data, analysis and decision support.
Rural people and communities experience significant social and professional isolation including the lack of access to formal education, vocational and social information, and professional services. This can adversely impact individual and community health and wellbeing and the resilience of rural people.
Cross-border flows of people, goods and capital, consistent with neo-liberal doctrine and increased integration of economies, are fundamental features of economic globalisation. However, while trade and investment flows are welcomed by nations, immigration is a contentious issue, particularly in western democracies, but also in the Asia-Pacific. There are currently about 200 million international migrants, of whom about 90 per cent are migrant workers. Mixed migration movements (refugees and displaced persons) and forced migration and human trafficking is also on the rise. For most governments, migration is increasingly seen to undermine border control systems and is related to security threats and terrorism. Increasing population diversity also raises questions about national identity and citizenship while transnational connections are viewed as unfavourable to nation-state sovereignty.