nlss april 2015 - Northern Landcare Support Services
Transcription
nlss april 2015 - Northern Landcare Support Services
APRIL 2015 www.nlss.com.au Help Celebrate Landcare’s Local Leaders Nominations open for the 2015 NSW Landcare Awards Local Landcarers being encouraged to submit a nomination for the biennial NSW Landcare Awards after the State led the country with the greatest number of finalists recognised with an Award or being highly commended at the 2014 National awards. Celebrating a silver milestone this year, the Awards have been running for 25 years and celebrate the many achievements of Landcare across a number of diverse areas, including sustainable farming, Coastcare, Junior Landcare, Indigenous land management, and more. With nine national categories to choose from there is certain to be one to fit any kind of Landcare project or local hero, and all winners at a state and territory level will proceed as finalists to the 2016 National Landcare Awards. CEO of Landcare Australia, Tessa Jakszewicz, is encouraging people who are involved in Landcare or know a worthy Landcarer to get involved,” Ms Jakszewicz said. “The Landcare Awards have been recognising and celebrating Landcare’s strength and diversity for 25 years, and are a fantastic way of letting people know the positive impact Landcare is having in communities across the country. “Whether it’s a passionate educator teaching our kids where their food comes from or a primary producer illustrating the link between sustainable land management and an improved bottom line, Landcarers are having a positive impact in all sectors of our community,” she said. Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 NSW Landcare Awards. Awards will be given in the following categories Australian Government Individual Landcarer Australian Government Landcare Facilitator or Coordinator Australian Government Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices Australian Government Partnerships with Landcare Coastcare Award Junior Landcare Team Young Landcare Leader Indigenous Land Management Landcare Community Group This year applications will be made through Landcare Australia's online entry portal. Please click here for more information on the awards and to access the portal. Further information on the NSW Landcare Awards is also available from: Colleen Farrow State Landcare Coordinator, NSW DPI Ph: 02 63 913238 or 0407 620408 E: [email protected] How much riparian vegetation is enough? In an article published in the Ecological Management and Restoration Journal on 20th January 2015 researchers review studies, reports and guidelines to see if there is an ideal width of vegetated riparian area to provide good environmental outcomes, including improved water quality. Not surprisingly, the evidence suggested that ‘effective’ riparian width depends on the landscape, land-use and the environmental outcomes being sought. The researchers also found that the effectiveness of riparian zones is not being monitored consistently, and this, coupled with inadequate descriptions of the landscape context, made recommendations difficult. The review of current information did find evidence that the continuity and connectivity of vegetated riparian zones is important. Follow the link below to see the full review by Hansen et al: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/emr.12149/full Rainforest Plant ID Key Workshop Over 25 participants enjoyed some great sessions learning about Hugh and Nan Nicholson’s Rainforest Plants of Australia electronic key. If you have ever spent an hour or so staring at a leaf thinking “domatia or no domatia” this key could save your eye sight and your sanity. It has many features which make keying out plants easier including great pictures and explanations and the ability to add in the plant features you do know which gives you a list of possible matches. For more information or to purchase the key go to the Terania Publishing website http://www.rainforestpublishing.com.au/ Parliamentary Report into Landcare Released The detailed report from the senate enquiry into the National Landcare program has been released. It covers some interesting ground including the history of Landcare as well as recommendations for the future. http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communicatio ns/landcare/Report UPCOMING EVENTS Date Event or Workshop Location For more information and to RSVP Friday 17th April Spotlight Threatened Species Workshop Blackhorse Creek Community Northern Landcare Support Services 6632 3722 or [email protected] Norco/Gold Mix Kyogle Beef Bonanza Thursday 23 North Coast LLS will be April running a stall to 9.30am for pen provide advice and judging guidance to landholders. Kyogle Showground Contact Kyogle Norco for details 663229320 Sunday May 3rd 9am-3pm Kyogle Garden Club Friendship Day Kyogle High School Geoff Densley 6633 5137 [email protected] Sunday 3rd May 2015 Glossy Black-cockatoo Birding Day Throughout South-east Queensland and Northern NSW www.glossyblack.org.au Thursday 7th May 2015 9.30 – 12 noon Biocontrol workshop Kyogle Showground Far North Coast Weeds 6623 3847 rd UPCOMING GRANTS AND FUNDING Environmental Education Grants The Environmental Trust is now calling for applications to the following grants programs: Environmental Education Program Eco Schools Program Environmental Education Program Grants of $5,000 to $100,000 are available for community organisations, non-profit organisations and government authorities to support educational projects that develop or widen the community's knowledge of, skills in, and commitment to protecting the environment. Expressions of Interest are due by 5pm Friday 10 April 2015. Eco Schools The Eco Schools Program will award up to 100 schools grants of $3,500 to deliver environmental management projects. 18 of these grants are available specifically for projects working with students with special needs. Applications are due by Friday 15 May 2015. Application materials Guidelines, application forms and a range of resources are available here http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/education.htm Questions? Contact the Trust Administration on (02) 8837 6093 or email [email protected] The Norman Wettenhall Foundation: Small Environmental Grants Norman Wettenhall Foundation is committed to supporting community biodiversity projects around Australia. The objectives of the Small Environmental Grants Scheme are to support Australian biodiversity projects that are concerned with one or more of the following: monitoring and recording data community education community capacity building (training) research and science sustainable land management (NSW only) See the website for information on who can apply and to fill out an expression of interest form. Website: http://nwf.org.au/grants/small-environmental-grants/ Grant round open 7th April and closes 18th May 2015 Farm Innovation Fund – NSW Rural Assistance Authority The Farm Innovation Fund provides loans to meet the cost of carrying out permanent capital works that will have a significant beneficial impact on the land, long term profitability of the enterprise and address adverse seasonal conditions. Applicants must be the owner or operator of the property where the work is to be carried out. Additionally the farm must provide at least 50% of your total gross income and applicants must not have off farm assets exceeding $5,000,000. For information about the Program and criteria which may apply go to the NSW Rural Assistance Authority website http://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/assistance/farm-innovation-fund Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation Grants The next round of Restoration and Rehabilitation grants program is expected to open in August 2015. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/restoration.htm Resources Weed control at your fingertips – NSW WeedWise The power to control weeds is at the touch of a button, with a new smartphone app that provides key, up-to-the-minute information to help reduce the impact of weeds in New South Wales. The NSW WeedWise app is the first of its kind, profiling more than 300 noxious and environmental weeds affecting or threatening New South Wales. The app combines weed profiles and control information as well as the legal requirements under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 in one easy-toaccess location. Users can search or browse weeds on the app and view weed profiles. Each weed profile contains a physical description of the weed, an image gallery and detailed information about its impacts, where it occurs, how it spreads and its preferred habitat. Latest control options are described for each weed and the herbicides registered for its control are listed, including application rates and techniques. Landholders can also directly report sightings of high priority weeds via email or SMS and as it is important to know that if a weed is declared in NSW under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993, users can see what legal requirements exist in their own local area, and elsewhere in the state. The free app, available on iPhone and Android devices is a fantastic way to involve landowners and home gardeners in our war on weeds. The app was developed by Department of Primary Industries in conjunction with Reading Room Australia Pty Ltd. It was supported with funding from the NSW Weeds Action Program and Murray Local Land Services. NSW Landcare Directory The 2015 annual review of the NSW Landcare Directory is currently underway. For anyone unfamiliar with the NSW Landcare Directory, it is a database of all known Landcare groups in NSW and it is maintained by the NSW Landcare Support Team. It provides the two performance indicators for the NSW State Plan, total number of groups and total number of Landcare volunteers,that are used to measure the activity of the NSW Landcare movement. These indicators are part of the suite of tools that is being used to monitor the success of the NSW Landcare Support Strategy. The NSW Government made an election commitment of $15m over 4 years for Landcare support and the directory provides baseline data so that we might be able to build a more reliable picture of participation across the state and through the life of the next program. If your Landcare group isn’t on the gateway yet, you are still welcome to join at any time. If you’d like to know more there is a page of helpful hints http://www.landcare.nsw.gov.au/ If you need any help registering or logging onto the gateway please contact: John Perrott [email protected] Prepared by Northern Landcare Support Services for Landcare Groups & landholders All contributions to the newsletter are welcome. The articles in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of Northern Landcare Support Services or North Coast Local Land Services. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter please contact us on Northern Landcare Support Services (02) 6632 3722 [email protected] Supported by
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