Are your photos causing damage by Gnangarra

Are your photographs contributing to the damage of Western Australia’s environment.

When you take photographs what do you take with you, and what do remove.

Western Australia is one the most diverse floral regions in the world and in particular the south west of Western Australia. Did you know that the SW of WA is second only to Amazon basin for floral diversity or that there are more endanger species in WA than there is in the Amazon. Yet its all under threat by dieback thats easily transported on the soles of your feet, the under side of your car, even on the end of your tripod.

But there are more ways to do damage when you photograph a plant and post an image of it on the internet. Your telling other people its in flower and when in the description you say where it is your telling others where to find it. Not all these people are just wanting to view them and possibly carry dieback to another area, there are people who still collect the flowers and others who collect seed, especially if the plant is rare or endangered.

When you go looking for flowers to photograph remember to;

• clean your boots, tripod and under your car,
• only drive on open roads
• carry a good scrubbing brush
  • clean your tripod after each use,
  • clean your boots before leaving a marked trail or when ever you cross wet/broken ground
• clean everything once you get back home or back to camp.

Next time you go taking photographs think about who is going along for the ride and whether you want them to.