We are now in BUNURU
(Noongar Season Feb/ March)
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VISIT FROM THE
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Green Skills were fortunate to meet with Hon Reece Whitby and his two advisors during the Ministers January visit to the Region. Jane Kelsbie (local Labor Member for Warren-Blackwood) arrived with the Minister and his advisors following their visit to a local pete swamp (site of a past prescribed burn). The Minsiter was briefed on Green Skills objectives and current projects, in particular the Totally Renewable Denmark initiative (TRD), the Green Skills biodiversity related initiatives and with a briefing also on our social enterprises, including the Tipshop and Ecojobs Personnel. The Minister was very approachable and receptive.
Jane Kelsbie was instrumental in facilitating this meeting following on from the TRD Stakeholder Forum held in June of last year and the request for opportunity to meet with key Ministers to progress TRD objectives. Post the meeting with the Minister, Jane reported back that the Minister was inspired by the Totally Renewable Denmark community initiative and our proposition that Denmark would make an excellent case study of a community ready to step up and help the State Government meet its climate change and renewable energy targets. We will see where that might take us.
Image above from L to R: Ashleigh Murch (Chair Green Skills), Dr. Louise Duxbury (Green Skills, TRD), Jane Kelsbie (LMP), Hon Reece Whitby (Minister for Environment and Climate Change), Basil Schur (Green Skills) and Rhian Thomas (Green Skills, TRD).
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HOW SPECIAL ARE WA'S WONDERFUL WETLANDS
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Photo above: Basil Schur, as part of a panel at the recent WA Wetlands Conference
WA Wetlands Conference
On the 2nd of February, Basil Schur of Green Skills presented a paper at the WA Wetlands Conference held at Bibra Lake on the theme of planning for future wetland funding based on the 5 years that Green Skills has been involved in helping protect the salt lakes of the North Stirlings region, around Cranbrook.
The Salt Lakes of the North Stirlings are of high avian value but need protection, riparian regeneration and feral predator control. For the past decade Green Skills has partnered with the Giliamii Centre of Cranbrook, local farmers, Birdlife WA and other groups and individuals to support salt lake and shorebird conservation through a community-based program of 4 activities:
1) Fencing of many lake foreshores;
2) a pilot foreshore revegetation program testing low-cost methods of promoting Melaleuca regeneration of recently fenced foreshores;
3) innovative fox and cat control program linked to shorebird and waterbird conservation, and
4) a community engagement program including a field event and citizen-science bird surveys.
Green Skills work with the Cranbrook Lakes has received support from the WA State NRM program and BirdLife Australia, as well as wide range of local and regional organisations, landholders and volunteers.
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BALIJUP CITIZEN SCIENCE CAMP
JANUARY 2023
Green Skills just completed a four day annual Balijup citizen science camp and eco survey near Cranbrook, held between 12 and 16 January 2023.
Lots was achieved with 20 or so keen participants and wildlife biologists Matthew Coyle and Sam Lostrom. Andrew and Angela Dickinson lead the bird surveys, and Geraldine and Steve Janicke coordinated the re-assessment of vegetation photo monitoring points.
People enjoyed the experience of coming up close and personal with our local marsupials as well as the diverse birdlife of Balijup. Native mammals, birds and reptiles are doing reasonably well in the 110 ha Sanctuary, which has now been in operation for seven years.
We trapped reduced numbers of Quenda (Southern Brown bandicoots) this year it was heartening to see that some were females with pouched young. Also a Brush Tailed Phascogale and many Brush trailed possums including females, with pouched young.
Increased efforts are currently underway to check if there has been a biosecurity breach of the Sanctuary fence.
Appreciations and thanks to all involved.
This citizen science project was run by Green Skills within the Conservation Council of WA’s citizen science program. The project received support from the WA Government's State NRM program and the Koorabup Trust. Appreciation to UWA Albany and WA Dept of BCA's Parks and Wildlife Section and UWA for loan of cage traps and equipment.
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CONSERVING BIODIVERISTY ON FARMS
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Image above: Tootanellup Wetland Cultural Survey Feb '23 with Paul Greenfelf, Larry Blyth and Ruth Maddren. Photo by Rhian Thomas
TOOTANELLUP TO KOI-KYENUNU-RUFF
STRATEGIC
BUSHLAND ECO-RESTORATION
Green Skills has been working with Cranbrook farmers, South Coast NRM, the Gillamii Centre, and State NRM has expanded its program of working to fencing bushland on farms forms a vital part of caring for biodiversity in the fragmented agricultural landscape between the Walpole Wilderness Area National Parks and the Stirling Ranges (Koi-Kyenunu-ruff). This forms part of Gondwana Link (https://gondwanalink.org/).
Recently a team of us have worked with four farming families to survey 720 hectares of high value bushland around Geekabee Hill. 438ha which requires new or replacement fencing. Over 9 threatened floral species are known from Geekabee.
The overall project aims to tackle remnant vegetation decline in the Forest to Stirlings biodiversity hotspot between Mt Roe and Stirling Range National Parks. Strategic sites include upland bushland on farms adjoining Stirling Ranges, Tootanellup wetlands, Lake Nunijup farms and Balijup Eco Sanctuary. Outcomes include:
- Protection of proteaceous rich areas including Kwongan heathland vegetation remnants on Cranbrook farms by installing stock exclusion fencing.
- Cultural surveys with Noongar elders and rangers and formulation of a plan for the Tootanellup wetlands
- Remnant vegetation assessments and protection plans on strategic farms in the Lake Nunijup district..
- Community engaged investigations at Balijup eco-Sanctuary and strategic planning.
The Green Skills Forest to Stirlings eco-restoration project is supported by South Coast NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program,and has also received funding as part of the Western Australian Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program of the WA Government, the Koorabup Trust with additional assistance provided by landholders, the Gillamii Centre, Birdlife WA, and Gondwana Link.
Examples of bushland assessment reports include
Caloola Farm Cranbrook – Planning for Remnant Vegetation Conservation
https://greenskills.org.au/download/caloola-farm-cranbrook-planning-for-remnant-vegetation-conservation/
Planning for Bushland Conservation on the Preston Family Farm, West Cranbrook
https://greenskills.org.au/download/planning-for-bushland-conservation-on-the-preston-family-farm/
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Image above: Mel Howe, Rhian Thomas and Brett Smith at Caloola Farm Bushland Survey Day Oct '22
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WELA LEADERSHIP INTENSIVE
WITH THE CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF WA (CCWA)
Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA) Leadership Programs are transformational for women who want to accelerate positive change for our environment and climate. WELA empower people to identify their own approach to leadership, and to recognise and step into their power to influence.
Designed by and for women and gender-diverse people working for and committed to tackling our environmental crisis, the WELA Leadership Intensive for Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) is a new opportunity based on the successful WELA National Leadership Program.
Rhian Thomas of Green Skills has been successful in her application and will be attending the upcoming Intensive in March being held in the Perth Hills. The leadership development program will bring together 20 women and gender diverse people for 3-days and will be facilitated by Dr. Louise Duxbury, Giz Watson and Stephanie Poly.
Applications are now closed for the March Intensive.
Sign up to the newsletter to be informed of upcoming opportunities.
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NATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN - closing Monday, 6 March 2023
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
An annual leadership development program developed over more than 10 years of research and practice.
Available to 20 women across Australia each year.
Mixing online with in-person retreat format, and a diverse range of guest speakers over a 7 month period.
Tailored mentoring, developing skills, building networks and addressing your real-life challenges to transform your leadership.
"This is a decade where we need to upskill ourselves, be connected together and collaborate to achieve and address the key challenges of our time. The WELA program helps us by skilling us up, connecting us and really being alive to the contribution that we as women are uniquely placed to make for this particular decade and beyond" Monica Richter, Senior Manager Low Carbon Futures, WWF and WELA 2022 Alumna
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Image above: The Stars Descend Porongorup by Annette Carmichael Projects. Photo by Nic Duncan
The Stars Descend is a vast trail of contemporary dance performances that aims to transform how people see and care for our country. It will showcase the importance of climate action and restoring health to the land. Inspired by eco-restoration efforts across the Gondwana Link, it will convey hope to audiences. The Stars Descend story unfolds over five regional locations from 17 March – 1 April, 2023.
Each location is a chapter in the story that has been co-created by some of Western Australia’s most impressive artists working with local community members. The project is
Performances will take place in spectacular outdoor settings to celebrate the rich biodiversity and ongoing restoration along the Gondwana Link’s 1000 kilometre ecological pathway.
We’re using stars as a powerful symbol of hope, agency, and action. Stars represent ideas of deep time and the interconnectedness of people and the natural world.
Performance Schedule 2023
Fri 17 March Chapter 1, Margaret River / Wooditjup
Sun 19 March Chapter 2, Northcliffe
Fri 24 March Chapter 3, Porongurup / Borongur
Sun 26 March Chapter 4, Fitzgerald Biosphere
Sat 1 April Chapter 5, Kalgoorlie / Karlkurla / Garlgula
BUY TICKETS HERE
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DENMARK KWOORABUP COMMUNITY GARDEN
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Denmark Kwoorabup Community Garden
Click HERE - a short YouTube Denmark Community Garden video
The Denmark Kwoorabup Community Garden is located adjacent to the Denmark Community Resource Centre in the south coast town of Denmark in Western Australia. The garden was established in 2019 by Green Skills in partnership with the Denmark CRC, and provides a wonderful opportunity for people to learn about growing organic vegetables and fruit. The fun and educational events and workshops are open to all. People interested in participating can contact the Denmark Community Garden's project manager, by email at Basil Schur, or phone Green Skills (98483310) or the Denmark CRC (98482842) office.
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Tootanellup Eco-Restoration Works ongoing
Green Skills is continuing to work with Carbon Positive Australia (CPA) on its exciting Tootanellup eco-restoration project.
In August 2021, a team of Tambellup Noongar Rangers helped plant more than 10,000 local trees and shrubs at Tootanellup as part of eco-restoration on the property. The team worked with Dr Geoff Woodall, CPA and Green Skills on this revegetation program (Yr 2 of project). Future plans for Tootanellup are ongoing ecological surveys and the planning for the construction of an eco-education facility, with funding support from The Koorabup Trust. A big thanks to all our numerous community donors and the hours of volunteer specialist input into environmental monitoring and eco-reports by Steve and Geraldine Janike.
Just a bit of history about the project: In 2020 Green Skills received support from the Koorabup Trust and Gondwana Link Pty Ltd to undertake a feasibility study for the potential for conservation property acquisition in the Forests to Stirling section of Gondwana Link. This property assessment project lead to the purchase by Green Skills Inc of the 50 hectare conservation property, Tootanellup, an outstanding and high-conservation worthy rural property strategically located between wetland and nature reserves west of Mount Barker in WA's south west. Green Skills has reported on the first year of activities at the Tootanellup Eco-Restoration Project, captured in a 3 minute YouTube video - click here to watch.
In February 2022 Green Skills coordinated a Bio Blitz wetland survey of the adjoining Tootanellup Lagoon reserve. A report on this is available at https://greenskills.org.au/download/tootanellup-wetlands-investigation-2022/
Green Skills continues to seek ongoing donor support to bring the long-term vision for this Tootanellup initiative to fulfillment. You can be part of this exciting new conservation opportunity by donating now. Background information and a donation form for the Tootanellup property can be downloaded at https://drive.google.com/.../1wr1aUoTtAKRSeq1MaHT.../view...
Watch Green Skills new YouTube video that captures going on country at Tootanellup with Noongar Elder Lynette Knapp - click HERE
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