An article on citizen science and the value of protected areas, from Decision Point Online. A case study from Queensland showing the value of data collected by the community.
Greater Sydney Local Land Services Draft Landcare Strategy & Action Plan – Community Consultation period now open
Greater Sydney Local Land Services has recently drafted a Landcare Strategic Plan to guide its support of, and engagement with, the Landcare community over the next five years. The plan is currently open for community consultation.
The Landcare Community is defined as:
- Identified Landcare groups and other ‘care’ groups such as bushcare, coastcare, rivercare etc.
- ‘friends of’ groups and other community environment groups
- Farmer/producer groups
- Indigenous communities and organisations
Feedback from Landcare and Bushcare groups, Bushcare Coordinators, Landcare networks and others on the Plan is welcomed.
The community consultation period closes on Monday 6 July 2015. Please email all feedback through to admin.greatersydney@lls.nsw.gov.au
View the GS LLS Landcare Strategy here.
Blue Mountains Water Skink Talk
On a cold winter’s night, 16 people ventured out to hear Sarsha Gorissen present her PhD research on the local and iconic Blue Mountains Water Skink, Eulamprus leuraensis.
Sarsha began with historical research of Dr Dubey: that the two major populations of skinks in the Blue Mountains and Newnes Plateau are genetically distinct; and that these skinks are short-lived.
She followed with her own research, and discussed her major findings to date, which are that the skinks:
- live exclusively in swamps and thrive in pristine ones;
- depend on water and high soil moisture levels;
- have a generalist diet, mainly of insects;
- have adapted to survive fires; and,
- that to conserve the species we must protect the habitat.
This data will be expanded on this year, her final year of study, and published in scientific journals. One paper already published by Sarsha — on fire frequency, urbanisation and these lizards — can be found here in Austral Ecology.
Nature Based Recreation and Tourism Licences
Notification of the intention to issue licences for Nature Based Recreation for Blue Mountains City Councils land for 2015–16 period.
Envirotube
For those who have a swimming pool that they no longer use.
This video from Envirotube might inspire you.
Awards for Birriban
Birriban Katoomba High School Landcare groups won both the Indigenous Land Management and also the junior Landcare category.
Captivating a whole new generation of young people with enthusiasm for caring for Country. BMCC Bushcare is supporting Katoomba High School Science staff to run Landcare as a Sport option. We provide a Bushcare Officer to guide students and teachers in bush regeneration methods to care for the Bushland on the school property.
Birriban is connecting people with country, learning about the Aboriginal pathways from the Gully to the Kedumba River, engaging young people through on-ground conservation work, horticulture and creative arts at the school and working with neighbours to undertake more sustainable property management.
Young people are learning about the Indigenous history and culture associated with their local environment, and the connections between people and country. Students are being introduced to the natural environment, enjoying the outdoors environment in a non-competitive place, building teamwork skills and learning bush regeneration, horticulture and agriculture as well as Indigenous knowledge.
We now have volunteers undertaking Bushcare on all of the remnant bushland in the Banksia Streamlet sub-catchment and on all tenures. This has supported NPWS applications for ongoing funding for contracted bush regeneration on NPWS estate adjacent to several BMCC managed reserves and complimenting the BMCC Leura Falls Creek project. We are connecting people with country, learning about the Aboriginal pathways from the Gully to the Kedumba River, engaging young people through both on-ground conservation work, horticulture and creative arts at the school and educating neighbours about more sustainable property management.
A number of staff from several agencies BMCC (Bushcare and Environment), NPWS, Local Land Services and Katoomba High are involved as well as the local community and Wildplant Rescue, so it’s also a great example of interagency co-operation.
Wildlife Workshop
Native Mouse Antechinus stuartii Photo Jill Dark
Last Saturday Peter Ridgeway shared his knowledge with ten Bushcare volunteers about retaining and accessing habitat on their Bushcare sites.
Some key points from the workshop include:
- Shale vegetation types have less structural habitat than sandstone, due to land management practices and the composition of the grass and shrub layer and the lack of sandstone caves and boulders.
- Lantana is good habitat for native bees and butterflies, so removal in stages whilst retaining the piles is best practice.
- Dense privet is habitat for ringtail possums and a food source for silvereyes and protection for many species. So when removing privet, rafted small piles placed close together are better single large heaps that are then removed.
- Hollows come in different sizes. The smallest ones can be mere slits in bark, used by any of the twenty plus species of microbats in the Mountains.
- The size of a hollow must be snug for the animal using it to make a snug, cosy home.
- Two thirds of all ground dwelling animals eat fungi so having cover on the ground that feeds fungi is very important.
- The design of artificial boxes for possums, bats and bees was discussed, along with the situations for which they are appropriate.
It was a very informative morning. If anyone else is interested in attending similar training, please contact Erin at the Bushcare office: 4780 5623.
Expression of Interest to attend a Cultural Fire Workshop
Kanangra Boyd to Wyangala Link and Central Tablelands Local Land Service area
Expression of Interest – Cultural Fire Workshop Cape York
The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative — Kanangra Boyd to Wyangala Link Partnership (K2W), Upper Lachlan Landcare (ULL) and the Central Tablelands LLS are seeking expressions of interest from Indigenous community wanting to participate in a cultural fire workshop in the Awu-Laya country in Cape York Peninsula.
The Fire Workshop is an annual event designed to bring people together from different locations and communities, to share and learn about Indigenous fire practices and their application to contemporary management (details available here).
It is expected that successful participants will come back to their own local communities and share experiences and knowledge and be part of cultural activities within the K2W, CTLLS and ULL region.
At the fire workshop you walk with the fire, practically learning first hand with traditional owners and fire practitioners on country. To read country, the animals, the trees, the seasons, and the inherited cultural responsibility of looking after country for future generations.
There will also be displays of research and monitoring techniques that have been developed and grown with community Indigenous fire programs over time. These practices have also been developed and continue to address contemporary problems like weeds, climate change and the ongoing practice of rural livelihoods in sustainable ways.
Workshop dates
- 13 June 2015 travel to Cairns (or 14 June, dependent on flights)
- 15–17 June 2015 Fire Workshop
- 18 June 2015 return.
For those receiving funding under the K2W project there may be a option of staying on till 20th June for those wishing to attend the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival http://www.lauradancefestival.com/
Cost
The K2W Link, CTLLS and Upper Lachlan Landcare will cover registration fees and airfares.
Food is included in the registration fees and camping.
(Cost per person estimate $500 Indigenous community; $1000 non-Indigenous community (registration); $700 (air fare to from Sydney to Cairns return)).
Please note if your expression of interest is successful and you accept you must commit to attending. If you do not attend, you will personally be required to cover the cost of cancelling the registration and air fare.
Successful applicants will need to supply your own camping gear (swag and/or tent).
Submit your expression of interest.
Places are limited and not all EOIs will be successful. EOIs will be assessed against the responses provided for each of the criteria on page 2 and 3. If you are interested in participating, please address all of the following criteria on the form (link to EOI form)
Closing date for Expressions of Interest: 10 May 2015
For more information please call Mary Bonet on 0459 352 892 or email mary@upperlachlanlandcare.org.au, or call Larry Towney on 0438 489 930.
Seniors Week Awards
Award recipients of Seniors Awards
Seniors Week Recognition Awards promote the key role that seniors play across all sectors of the community
Three Bushcare volunteers were recently presented with Seniors Week Recognition Awards. Andy and Marion Cairns from the Wilson Glen Bushcare Group at Woodford and Liz van Reyswoud from the Everglades Landcare/Bushcare Groups at Leura.
Andy and Marion from Wilsons Glen Bushcare Group
Andy and Marion were recognised for their continued efforts to improve habitat and conservation values in a site that has significant biodiversity values. They rarely miss a Bushcare session and Marion provides a full afternoon tea and home-baked cakes and slices.
Andy has led bushwalks for many years, firstly for National Parks and then the Blue Mountains Conservation Society. Marion is always quick to provide support with the walks. They are fit and active seniors, with a great love for nature and the great outdoors and are always there to help.
Liz from the Everglades Landcare Group
Liz van Reyswoud has contributed her time and energy for many years in various capacities for a range of organisations.
Liz has worked at the National Trust Everglades property in various roles since 2003. Most notably, Liz was a founding member of the Everglades Landcare Group (Council) from 2007 and the Everglades Bushcare Group (National Trust) from 2011.
Liz was also involved with the Blue Mountains Conservation Society for some years and held the positions of Membership Secretary and Senior Vice President.
For some time, Liz has also contributed her energy to Meals On Wheels.
Liz is extremely active and dedicated to her various endeavours. The Manager of Everglades has a nickname for Liz – “The Shark”, because she never stops!
David King: Bushcare Legend 2015
David King was awarded BMCC Bushcare Legend of the Year 2015 by Deputy Mayor Chris van der Kley
To an ordinary person, the idea of founding five Bushcare groups, and keeping them sustained, year after year, with chocolate cakes and chai, through rain, hail and shine, while also juggling the demands of full time work and family, would seem like a crazy task.
But David King, son of Aunty Mary King, Gundungurra Aboriginal elder, and member of The Gully Traditional Owners, is no ordinary person.
David is this year’s Bushcare Legend of the Year, an award presented by Council each year for outstanding achievements in the field of Bushcare.
The award is the highest level of recognition we can give anyone within the Bushcare Program. It recognises sustained efforts over many years.
David was nominated by the Bushcare staff because he is an inspirational leader and working companion. He has the sort of enthusiasm that makes everyone around him feel great. We truly don’t know where he gets his energy from.
Over the past 15 years, Mr King has enthused many local volunteers in the task of restoring and caring for the Country he holds dear.
He has established and nurtured several Bushcare and Landcare groups, including Gulunga Bushcare at Horseshoe Falls, Gibbergunyah Bushcare Group at Gloria Park, Hazelbrook, and Garang Landcare Group at Faulconbridge Lily Pond.
David is also the driving force behind the creation and success of Garguree Swampcare. With support from Council’s Environment Levy and multiple grants from the NSW Environmental Trust, Garguree Swampcare volunteers – under David King’s leadership – are restoring the degraded swamp systems within ‘The Gully’, an Aboriginal Place (adjacent to the Katoomba Sports & Aquatic Centre), managed in partnership between The Gully Traditional Owners and Council.
Thanks to years of hard work controlling weeds, planting and restoring creeklines and swamp areas, the Gully swamp systems are starting to come back to life. As the swamp recovers, the group is sharing the significance of The Gully and the cultural importance of swamps through cultural awareness workshops, walks and talks.
And as the country heals, personal connections are also thriving. Through Garguree Swampcare, people from across the Aboriginal, local and broader community have formed personal, enduring relationships as they work together Caring for Country.
Now, Mr King is looking to inspire the custodians of the future. Most recently, he has started the Birriban Landcare group at Katoomba High School, where a whole new generation of young people are being captivated with this enthusiasm for caring for Country.
It has been a deeply personal journey for both David and his family, who are reconnecting to Country through restoring the lands that have been a part of their family for thousands of years.
Mayor Mark Greenhill said “Many people don’t realise it, but it’s often dedicated locals like these, working quietly and tirelessly in the background, that we can thank for healthy local creeks and bushland, including the birds and animals that depend on them.”
“Because year in, year out, they are helping to tackle weeds, replant native habitats, reduce stormwater pollution and restore creek lines across the City.”
“People like David King are true local legends – they’re helping to look after our local bushland, waterways and wildlife, so we can all enjoy them into the future,” said Mr Greenhill.
Council supports more than 500 community conservation volunteers across the City each year, through Council’s Environment Levy.
Jenny Hill, last year’s Bushcare Legend, presented Mr King with the Golden Trowel of Recognition at the Bushcare Picnic, held annually by Council to thank local community conservation volunteers. View the Garguree Swampcare story on youtube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIDtzDeVx0w