- Western Port Biosphere Reserve
Transcription
- Western Port Biosphere Reserve
Connector THE BIOSPHERE Growing Connections for Sustainability in Western Port Biosphere Reserve. I SS U E AP R —J U N 5 2 0 1 5 Image: Waders at sunrise by Cecelia Wi on Growing Connections Biodiversity Planning Forum, 17 April 2015 Inside ISSUE FIVE Environment 2 Dr Paul Carnell, Marine and Coastal Ecologist at Deakin University’s Centre for Integra ve Ecology, will discuss his research into the possibili es vegetated coastal habitats offer in figh ng the effects of climate change. 3 Mr Chris Chambers, Growing Connec ons Project Coordinator, will present the Western Port Biosphere’s dra Biodiversity Plan which, when finalised, will provide direc on for regional biodiversity planning. Members of the community, Landcare, DELWP, our member councils and the Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management Authority have contributed to the development of the Plan. Strategy Community partners Threatened 4 Shorebirds Hands on 6 projects Events The vital role mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses play in locking away carbon dioxide will be the topic of the key note address at the Western Port Biosphere’s Growing Connec ons Biodiversity Planning Forum on Friday 17th April. 8 Residents of the Western Port Biosphere and members of community groups are invited to a end this fabulous opportunity to collaborate, share knowledge and develop connec ons across the region. There will be updates about the Growing Connec ons Project. Representa ves from community conserva on groups and from Bass Coast, City of Casey, Cardinia Shire Council, Frankston City and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council will also provide updates about their biodiversity projects. The Growing Connec ons Project aims to connect and improve habitat corridors in order to create a biodiverse and resilient Western Port Biosphere. Growing Connec ons is supported by the Australian Government. Event details: Growing Connec ons Biodiversity Planning Forum When: 9.45am to 3.30pm, Friday 17th April 2015 Join the Biosphere 9 Where: Tarnuk Room, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, 1000 Ballarto Road, Cranbourne Cost: Free (please reserve your place for catering purposes and advise any dietary requirements) RSVP: [email protected] by Monday 13th April 2015. Numbers are limited so book early. 1 Frankston City Council Environment Strategy Greening our Future – Frankston City Council’s Environment Strategy was adopted by Council in February 2015 and provides a framework for protection and enhancement of the city’s environment over the next decade. The Environment Strategy sits with a range of key Council strategies and will underpin the delivery of programs aimed at protecting and enhancing natural assets, meeting the challenge of climate change and ensuring economic development is ecologically sustainable. The document was developed following extensive community consultation and represents the culmination of a significant body of work by many contributors. It places biodiversity conservation, threatened species recovery and protection of native vegetation through the planning scheme amongst the highest priorities for the municipality. The core of the Strategy is a detailed implementation plan which sets out how the city’s goals for an environmentally sustainable future will be achieved over the life of the document. It outlines roles and responsibilities for Council the community and other stakeholders (including the Western Port Biosphere); sets measurable targets and provides a detailed plan for delivery of priority actions identified by the community. During its first two years the strategy will be strongly focused on protection and enhancement of flora and fauna habitat and bio-links, enhancing tree canopy cover, coastal management, provision and management of open space and the green wedge. To view the Greening Our Future Environmental Sustainability Strategy go to h p://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/ Your_Council/Media_and_Publica ons/Latest_News/Council_community_Greening_Our_Future phone 1300 322 322 or visit a Council Customer Service Centre. Water Stewardship Project Officer We are delighted to announce that Lance Lloyd has been appointed as the Water Stewardship Officer. Lance joins the project with over 30 years prac cal experience across South East Australia and recently in the Pacific Islands in freshwater, estuarine, coastal and inland environments in ecology and management requirements. The Water Stewardship Project is a joint project with Water Stewardship Australia and our project partners are Inghams Enterprises, Melbourne Water, South East Water, Port Phillip and Western Port CMA, Parks Victoria and the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. The ini al focus of the project will be on water-using industries in the Watson’s Creek catchment. For project updates please check our website, www.biosphere.org.au. THE BIOSPHERE CONNECTOR ISSUE FIVE APRIL—JUNE, 2015 2 Growing Connections works with our partners Land restora on and re-vegeta on will be the focus of nine new partnerships with community partners of the Western Port Biosphere Founda on. Benefits of the work being done by community partners include weed control, management and re-vegeta on of land which connects habitats. “We will see 189 hectares of bush land enhanced and 32.3 hectares of land re-vegetated this year” Mr Duncan Malcolm, Chair of the Western Port Biosphere Founda on said. “We are delighted to be renewing contracts and establishing new partnerships with community groups to get this important work done.” The Growing Connec ons project has overseen 668 hectares of habitat protec on and 72.5 hectares of revegeta on since 2012. In this me 58,200 individual plants, comprising 128 different species, have been planted. Nine new contracts have been signed with community partners to care for and improve habitat within the Biosphere Reserve. The contracts are with Bass Coast Landcare Network, Cardinia Catchment Landcare Group, Cardinia Environment Coali on, Cardinia Shire Council, the Habitat Restora on Fund, Mornington Railway Preserva on Society, Phillip Island Nature Park, and Toomuc Creek Landcare Group. The Growing Connec ons projects bring people together to foster conserva on. This is one of the main goals of the Western Port Biosphere. Growing Connec ons is supported by the Australian Government. Photo:Landcare work is underway at the Holden Proving Ground. Tully Gray (BCLN), Tony Rogers (Holden), Derek Snowden (BCLN), and Sam Daikin (BCLN). Photographer: Robbie Gray THE BIOSPHERE CONNECTOR ISSUE FIVE APRIL—JUNE, 2015 3 Threatened shorebirds prepare for return migration Holidaymakers from across the state were not the only ones flocking to Phillip Island’s shores in summer, as thousands of migratory birds set up camp around Phillip Island’s Rhyll Inlet. The birds are soon to make the return the journey north for the Arc c summer. The shorebirds complete one of the world’s greatest migra ons, flying thousands of kilometres south along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway from their food-rich Arc c breeding grounds. The birds arrive between October and December with severely depleted energy reserves. Western Port’s dal mudflats provide a welcome and much-needed feeding ground before the shorebirds begin their non-stop journey back to the Arc c between March and April. Dr Roz Jessop, Environment Manager at Phillip Island Nature Parks, explained: “Rhyll Inlet is a declared Ramsar wetland of interna onal significance and eastern curlews, bar-tailed godwits, red-capped plovers and rednecked s nts can o en be seen feeding on the dal mudflats or res ng on high- de shorelines.” At September’s Australasian Shorebird Conference in Darwin, scien sts warned that many of the migratory shorebirds are disappearing by the tens of thousands. The declines are a ributed to increasing habitat loss, par cularly in the northern hemisphere around the Yellow Sea where the birds ‘layover’ to refuel along the long migra on route. THE BIOSPHERE CONNECTOR Eastern curlew numbers are reported to have collapsed by 75 per cent in Tasmania, the southern end of the flyway. The drama c decrease may push eastern curlews onto the Australian threatened species list. “The alarming reports of shorebird popula on declines filtering in from around the world highlight the importance of places like Rhyll Inlet as cri cal habitat refuges. “We’re very fortunate to have these special shorebird conserva on areas within our own backyard and to be able to welcome these migratory birds given the challenges they’re facing elsewhere in Australia or the world,” Dr Jessop said. Walks through Rhyll Inlet afford excellent views of the birds and wetlands, and new interpre ve signage is scheduled for installa on in the coming months. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars and a bird book, and to remain on designated pathways and observe local dog regula ons to ensure the best chance of not disturbing the birds. Find out more about Rhyll Inlet at h p:// www.penguins.org.au/a rac ons/recrea onal-areas or join an Island Bird Tour with a ranger from Phillip Island Nature Parks - Ph: 5951 2800. ISSUE FIVE APRIL—JUNE, 2015 4 Orange Bellied Parrot - Neophema chrysogaster Conservation status: Critically Endangered Moonlit Sanctuary is suppor ng the na onal Orange Bellied Parrot recovery program by breeding Orange Bellied Parrots in a specially constructed breeding facility, which was built with the support of the Avicultural Society of Australia. With fewer than 70 Orange Bellied Parrots s ll in the wild, Moonlit Sanctuary keepers have been thrilled to have had two successful breeding seasons in 2014 and 2015. Recently, we have fledged six Orange Bellied Parrot chicks - five from just the one mum! In 2014, Moonlit Sanctuary’s first cap ve bred bird was released into the wild of south-western Tasmania to help boost the wild popula on of this cri cally endangered species. Fantas c news is that he was seen recently at a feed table looking very healthy. Orange Bellied Parrots breed in south-west Tasmania over summer then migrate to the southern coastline of Victoria, including the shores of Western Port Bay 500 metres south of Moonlit Sanctuary, every winter. Ella Boyen Moonlit Sanctuary Like us on Facebook! A new look for www.biosphere.org.au We’re delighted to announce that our website has been redesigned. It should be much easier for you to find informa on about our projects and upcoming events. Did you know we have a Facebook page? Like us on Facebook and you can keep up to date with the latest news from the Biosphere Founda on. We also like to share news and informa on about what is happening in the Biosphere Reserve. We’ll be upda ng the site regularly, so keep checking in! Our web address remains the same – www.biosphere.org.au. 5 Making a difference: two hands- on projects The Western Port Biosphere is a partner in the Protec ng the Ecological Values of the Western Port Ramsar Site Project. The aims of this project are to reduce threats, such as pest plants and animals, and to increase community understanding of the importance of wetlands and how to protect them. Warneet and Blind Bight are key areas for this project. Join us at a Field Day Learn about your coastal reserve and na ve plant and weed iden fica on and control techniques with Naturelinks. What native and pest animals live in your area? Cost: Free We have deployed photo monitoring cameras in the Bonnie Watson Reserve where we captured shots of birds and possums (see pictures). We also captured shots of cats and dogs. It is very concerning that we did not capture more na ve animals – mammals, birds and rep les. A likely reason is roaming predators such as cats, dogs and foxes. For more informa on please don’t hesitate to contact Sally Jacka. But photo monitoring alone does not tell the whole story. Where: Warneet Coastal Reserve When: Sunday 3 May Time: 10am to 12 noon Project Contact: Sally Jacka, Project Officer, Western Port Biosphere You, the residents on any size property, can help us find out more by recording what you have seen on our animal survey forms. More informa on and animal survey forms are available from Sally Jacka. t: 03 5979 2167 or e: [email protected] This project was made possible through Australian Government Caring for our Country funding to the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority. 6 Seals, birds and a boat: Western Port up close Western Port Biosphere Founda on and Phillip Island Nature Parks supported the Western Port Catchment Commi ee in hos ng a boat tour of southern Western Port for members and community on Thursday 19th February. Ian Stevenson, Western Port Catchment Commi ee Execu ve Officer, said “Today’s boat trip was a great example of how the Catchment Commi ee brings people together to exchange informa on and ideas. This trip was a chance to explore the southern sec on of Western Port and see our marine environment up close. For many people this was their first chance to explore this area first-hand.” Representa ves from community groups, Parks Victoria and local government joined with the Biosphere Founda on in the opportunity. Par cipants were able to share specialist knowledge about the conserva on work that takes place is this incredible marine area. The boat visited Seal Rocks, Reef Island and Elizabeth Island, as well as looking at Middle Bank, the channels, the Phillip Island Surfing Reserves. “As custodians of this region this boat tour was a fabulous opportunity for our partners to see a part of Western Port not many people visit. We were able to exchange ideas on how we can con nue to work together to foster conserva on and sustainable development for the Western Port Biosphere” said Cecelia Wi on, Execu ve Officer of the Western Port Biosphere Founda on. The Western Port Catchment Commi ee is a community liaison group interested in the sustainability of the Western Port catchment region. The Catchment Commi ee is auspiced by the Biosphere Founda on. Photo: Passengers enjoyed the chance to see new parts of Western Port. Contribute to Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve Founda on Unit 2, 184 Salmon Street Has ngs VIC 3915 Phone: 03 59 792 167 Email: [email protected] The views expressed within this Newsle er are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the editor, Mornington Peninsula & Western Port Biosphere Founda on or any other organisa on. Copyright on images used remains the responsibility of the ar cle contributor and all photographers should give approval for image use and be credited accordingly. Connector THE BIOSPHERE Welcome to “Connector” - a collabora ve newsle er for the Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere reserve. The aim of this newsle er is to share sustainability informa on, educa on and events news across the en re Biosphere region. We welcome all groups and individuals to submit sustainability related news and events for this publica on. Submissions to: Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 59792 162 Connector Submission Deadlines: ISSUE 6: 5th June (July, August, September 2015 issue) ISSUE 7: 5th September (October, November, December 2015) 7 Events in the Biosphere Date Friday17April Time 9.45am – 2.30pm Event Growing Connec ons Biodiversity Planning Forum Location Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne Details www.biosphere.org.au Saturday2 May 10am – 3pm Cardinia Sustainability Expo Cardinia Cultural Centre www.cardinia.vic.gov.au Sunday3May 10am – 12 noon Na ve plant and weed iden fica on and control techniques Warneet Coastal Reserve Sally Jacka Western Port Biosphere T: 03 5979 2167 E: [email protected] Saturday 16 May - Sunday 7 June 9am – 5pm Pop-up art gardens Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne As part of the UK's Chelsea Fringe Fes val, some 'Art gardens' are popping up at the Royal Botanic Gardens! Sunday17May 10am Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Highfield Circuit, Boneo Road, Cape Schanck Ou ng to Mornington Peninsula Na onal Park. Contact BirdLife Mornington Peninsula Sunday24May 8am – 1pm Friday5June 10am – 12 pm Wednesday10 June 10am Inverloch Community Farmers Market Backyard chooks for beginners The Glade – The Esplanade, Inverloch Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Sunshine Reserve, Mt. Martha. Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick T: 0429 947 893 www.visitbasscoast.com.au Cost: $10 Contact: City of Casey T: 9705 5200 Ou ng to Sunshine Reserve Mt. Martha. Contact BirdLife Mornington Peninsula T: 0429 947 893 Sunday14 June 8am – 1pm Make it, bake it market McBride Avenue, Wonthaggi www.visitbasscoast.com.au T: 0417 370 488 Our supporters and partners We gratefully acknowledge the support of our partners: Bass Coast Shire | Cardinia Shire Council | City of Casey | Frankston City Council | Mornington Peninsula Shire Council 8 Connect today. Join the Western Port Biosphere Founda on The Western Port Biosphere Founda on works to achieve social, environmental and economic sustainability so that future genera ons may enjoy a healthy lifestyle and natural beauty of the Region. It’s only $25 per year to help us achieve this goal. Contribute to this important work now. TAX INVOICE WHEN PAID I / We, whose full name and address are set out below, consent to become members, or renew membership of the Founda on and agree to be bound by its cons tu on. Family Name ………………………………………..…… Given Names ………………………………………..……. Organisa on Name and ABN / ACN / ARBN (if applicable)……………………………………………………………………………. Residen al Address………………………………………………………………………….. Postcode: ………………………………………….. Postal Address (if different from above) ………………………….…………………………………………………………………………….. Postcode: ………........... Telephone: BH …………………...…… AH ………..................... Mobile: …………………….………… Fax: BH …………………………..…… AH ……………………...……email: ……………………………..……………………………..… (Please provide an email address so we may send official communica ons and newsle ers electronically. As an environmentally conscious organiza on, this is our preferred method of communica on) Nominated Roundtable: Bass Coast Frankston Signed: ………………………………… HOW TO PAY Cardinia French Island Date: ……………….………. Casey Mornington Peninsula ………...……………………………………………………………... (Capacity if signing on behalf of an Organisa on) Membership Fee is $25 per year (inc gst). Cheques/money orders payable to: MP&WP Biosphere Reserve Founda on Ltd. Electronic Banking Details BSB 083 781 Account No 56 768 3738 Na onal Australia Bank Account: MP&WP Biosphere Reserve Founda on Ltd 9