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Fishbourne Reedbeds, West Sussex: A neat pile of chopped vegetation suggests that the reed buntings aren't the only creatures preparing to winter here

At the head of the Fishbourne Channel there is a hinterland of reedbeds and briny watercourses. There is no sea wall here, just a gradual merging of elements as land meets sea. Few plants can survive the daily exposure to salt water that occurs when the tide is in, so the reedbeds are dominated by dense stands of common reed that form an impenetrable two-metre high grey-green wall on either side of the boardwalk.

In the spring, the reedbeds reverberated with a cacophony of bird song and the begging calls of hungry chicks. Now they are eerily quiet, just the whisper of the breeze blowing through the reeds and the distant screech of gulls. Many of the breeding birds have migrated but reed buntings are resident all year round and I eventually catch a glimpse of a male's jet-black head, with its white moustache and collar, as it clings to a tasselled flower spike.

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Decision dates on 'Long Lowland Rivers of South-east Queensland and Northern New South Wales ecological community' and 'Kangaroo Island Narrow-leaved Mallee (Eucalyptus cneorifolia) Eastern Plains Complex’ have been extended to 30 November 2013

Damage to marine ecosystems by trawling in the area of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery – decision not to list as a Key Threatening Process on 30 May 2013

Approximately 50 species havebeen listed or have had a change of status.

The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) has released its Finalised Priority Assessment List for the assessment period commencing 1 October 2013.

Five ecological communities were recently listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

The Australian Government is developing a plan for strategic assessments and is providing stakeholders with an opportunity to inform how future strategic assessments are prioritised.

The Minister approved a class of actions for urban development in Melbourne's western, north western and northern growth corridors. This approval was given under Part 10 of the EPBC Act in relation to the strategic assessment of Melbourne's growth corridors.

Television and Computer Recycling Scheme services are now available across the country for householders and small businesses to drop off their unwanted TVs and computer products to be recycled, free of charge.

Australia has become one of 92 signatory countries to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, signed in Japan on 10 October 2013. The international initiative aims to protect human health and the environment from releases of mercury and mercury...

The federal environment department is seeking witnesses regarding damage to the wreck of the Japanese midget submarine (M24) near Sydney Harbour.

The shipwreck site of the 'lost' MV Limerick has been declared as a protected historic shipwreck under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.

The only known wreck of a Japanese pearling mother-ship in Australian waters will be protected by a 200 hectare Protected Zone.

The Government invites submissions on the exposure drafts of the carbon tax repeal bills.

Strategic assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - comments close 22 November 2013

Applications closed 4pm (AEDST) 14 October 2013.

Agency 2013 application on ecological sustainability - comments open until 4 October 2013

Scientists are investigating this rare evolutionary trait, thought to have evolved to improve offspring's chances of survival

Just like humans, killer whales experience menopause – and the rare evolutionary trait improves their offspring's chances of survival, according to experts.

Killer whales are one of only three species able to continue living long after they have stopped reproducing. This allows mothers to spend the rest of their life looking after their offspring.

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In the Perth and Peel regions, targeted research projects will be funded to facilitate evidence based decision making throughout the Perth and Peel strategic assessment process, focusing on sustainability and protecting matters of national environmental significance.

Agency 2013 application on ecological sustainability - comments open until 10 October 2013