Australian snowfields facing extinction?

With the average snowfall declining by almost 40 per cent in the last 50 years Australian skiers may be forced to travel overseas thanks to global warming.

In a conference to be held in Brisbane today, the dim news of declining snow cover on the Australian alps may also mean the cost of lift tickets will increase as the cost of creating the man-made snow is likely to increase with the extra water and electricity required.

The bad news is that the prediction won’t only see the decline of the Australian ski industry (and see even more Aussies flood Canadian resorts) but native wildlife could disappear forever.

According to Associate Professor Catherine Pickering of Griffith University, the effects of global warming may also wipe out native plants which have learnt to survive in the cold Australian mountains.

“Some of these plants are found only on the lee side of mountain ridges, where snow lies late into the summer months, long after snow in the surrounding landscape has melted,” Prof Pickering told news.com.au.

“We are about to lose two of our rarest plant communities, right before our eyes.”

“We need to co-ordinate the ad hoc research that is happening on our limited snow country.”

The 10th International Congress of Ecology, INTECOL conference will be held in Brisbane this week to discuss these findings.

Posted by Brendon on August 17th, 2009 in Australia and Environment and Green

Brendon @cherrypow

Hi, I'm Brendon, editor and one of the co-founders of CherryPow. When work isn't calling I'm planning the next snow adventure and writing about it.