7. Imagining a better protected, respected and community stewarded place for nature in southern Queensland by 2040

GUEST: Mr Ahri Tallon - Coordinator of the Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) based in Toowoomba S.E. Queensland.

DDEC amplifies community voices for nature protection and sustainability across inland Southern Queensland. Ahri has a background in youth work, community organising and development. His own future professional vision centres on helping create a more connected, thriving and sustainable world.

EPISODE OUTLINE

Australia has no shortage of impressive sounding nature protection regulations, at least on paper. Yet, despite this seeming abundance– on the ground itself, it can be a different story. Too often our unique natural areas are not receiving adequate protection or being regenerated and expanded. Native vegetation and species in this part of the world continue to decline as they have been for many years.

To reverse those trends; and to provide a proper, respected and protected place for nature here and elsewhere in the country, we need genuine reforms of our laws and regulatory protocols, not cosmetic tinkering around the edges. Business-as-usual approaches to looking after our natural areas are clearly not fit for purpose. Without a well-protected, well-connected, and community-stewarded place for nature going forward, both the natural world and the human health and wellbeing that relies upon it—will continue to deteriorate.

So, what if we could organise a better way forward on nature protection by 2040 and beyond? And what if we could encourage new, genuinely bold, imaginative thinking about the ways to do that -  within our wider communities?

• GENERIC INTRODUCTION – 0.00

• GUEST FORESHADOWING COMMENTS – 0.30

• EPISODE INTRODUCTION – 1.01

• GUEST SELF INTRODUCTION AND WORK IN 2025 – 4.12

• GUEST STARTING TO LOOK FORWARD – 9.20

• IMAGINE EXERCISE 1 - TIME TRAVEL TO 2040 – 16.12

• IMAGINEEXERCISE 2 - SIGNALS OF THE FUTURE – 27.38

• CLOSING COMMENTS/AUDIENCE INVITATION – 31.09

• END OF EPISODE – 39.08

SELECTED RESOURCES LINKED TO EPISODE COMMENTS

Australia

Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) – based in Toowoomba S.E. Queensland, Australia

Gummingurru - is an Aboriginal Bora, or ceremonial, site. Thus Gummingurru is a very special place. Before Europeans arrived it was where First Nations people would meet their friends, have ceremonies, dance and sing. It was also an import site along the routes that First Nations people followed to the traditional Bunya Mountains gatherings before these were disrupted by colonial settlement.

International

Film: An Inconvenient Truth (2006) - significantly raised public awareness of climate change, influencing public opinion, increasing knowledge and concern, and inspiring action like the founding of The Climate Reality Project.

BOOKS AND ARTCLES

Book by Geoff Mulgan: Another World Is Possible: How to Reignite Social and Political Imagination (2022). Mulgan is one of the foremost thinkers on the value of increasing the exercise of public imagination.

CONCEPTS AND IDEAS

Citizen led decision making to help protect nature

Research on the ways to improve public involvement in development decision making.

Citizen science as one way for the public to get directly involved in nature protection.

Achieving better future democracy via citizen juries and assemblies

A good New Zealand public service resource showcasing national and international examples of citizen participatory democracy in action.

CONTACT DETAILS:

GUEST:

Mr. Ahri Tallon - coordinator of  the Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) T: 0455 619 454  E: info@ddec.org.au

 AUSPICE PARTNER:

 Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment - HOPE Inc.(Australia)

E:  WEB:  Facebook: X  Instagram   LinkedIn T: +61746392135 VOICE MAIL

PRODUCTION:

Produced for HOPE Inc. Australia by Andrew Nicholson. This episode recorded in Toowoomba, S.E. Queensland, Australia on  4th November2025   Music: James Nicholson.