Marion Anstis has written a most magnificent book 'Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia' (2002, Reed New Holland) based on "her lifelong fascination with the life histories of frogs, and her quest for tadpole identification. This book is considered to set a new benchmark for rigorous taxonomic work. Marion's drawings and photographs provide both fieldworkers and anyone else with even a minor interest with a fascinating and outstanding tool for identification. With 260 photographs and 300 line drawings you will appreciate the extent of Marion's work."

"This ground-breaking book will serve as an invaluable tool for monitoring frog populations and thus contribute towards our understanding of just what is causing the present alarming worldwide trend towards massive frog declines." The book can be purchased here in the Wildlife section and all funds go to Marion for her work.

The wonderful quality of Marion's work is reflected in the images we have selected for EcoProperty. We want to communicate the metamorphosis of an egg through various stages towards becoming a frog.

This transition in nature provides us with a guide for the transition we believe is possible in the management of land and the design and management of the built environment. Ironically enough in some instances it will mean leaving the land in its completely natural state so that it can blossom in the way it wants.

However, the reality is that for the last 5000 years mankind has increasingly dominated its environment in such a way that there is a real chance the world will not continue as we know it. What we do have is the opportunity to take a fundamentally different approach and return to working with nature.

The metamorphosis that we want to communicate is to recognise and accept the current state of the Earth's land and seas, waterways and natural nabitat. With a different approach and attitude based on all that we have learnt and know says that over time we can achieve ecological sustainability for this earth and all its inhabitants.

Humankind can allow Mother Nature to do what she knows best - create a healthy environment where there is harmony in abundance for all. If we take a view of being a caretaker rather than consumer, a steward rather than an owner, a participant rather than a dominator we believe we can find the answers and so doing create a better world truly based on what it is to be human.

2005 (c) Catriona Jane M MacDiarmid
1997-2005 (c) EcoPropertytm

No part of this guide or EcoProperty may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or tansmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, with the prior written permission of the publishers and copyright holders.