Rainforest Plant ID Workshop

Transcription

1 FEBRUARY Rainforest Plant ID Workshop Join the fabulous Nan and Hugh Nicholson to learn how to use the new interactive key to identify rainforest plants. These practical workshops (two half-day sessions will focus on the new interactive USB key "Rainforest Plants of Australia - Rockhampton to Victoria". Saturday March 14 th. Choose the morning or afternoon time slot - 9am to 12 noon or 1 pm to 4 pm Will be held in Kyogle venue to be confirmed. Refreshments tea will be provided. It would be great if participants could bring along a laptop. If this is not possible please let us know when you RSVP. Please also bring any plant samples you would like to key out. The key will be available to buy on the day. To RSVP please call Angie on or angie@nlss.com.au Supported by Be Alert for Chinese Violet Class 1 declared Noxious Weed The subspecies of Chinese violet, Asystasia gangetica ssp. Micranth), is an aggressive form of Chinese Violet with white bell-shaped flowers (20 25 mm long) and two parallel purple stripes in lines on the inside. The seed capsules are clubshaped. The opposite leaves can be up to 165 mm long, are oval to triangular in shape, and both the leaves and stems have scattered hairs. Chinese violet weeds grow in tropical and subtropical areas, being native to India, the Malay Peninsula and Africa. Plants are thought to tolerate a wide range of soil types and prefer full sun or part shade. What does this mean for me? To gardeners, this means that we mustn t intentionally plant Chinese violet weed in our gardens, and if we find it, then we must contact your local Weed Control Authority. Once established, the plant forms thick foliage about half a meter above ground. The foliage excludes light so that lower growing plants are crowded out and quickly die. This is a serious issue for farmers who may have infestations in their fields. What do I do if Chinese violets are in my garden? If you think you have found Chinese violet weed, you should contact your local government weed control agency. Following identification, they will work with you to control the weed. It is important that you not try eliminating Chinese violets yourself, as this is likely to cause further spread. Chinese Violet is a High Risk species on the Far North Coast and a primary focus for this region. For more information contact Far North Coast Weeds on

2 Grassy Pathways Project The Northern Rivers Fire and Biodiversity Consortium (NRFABCON) is pleased to announce that it has recently received funding from the Office of Environment and Heritage to work with researchers, ecologists and indigenous partners on scoping a project to investigate linkages between historical cultural burning practices of grassy pathways/islands and the ecological requirements of grassy island specialist threatened species. Tara Patel from the NRFABCON said This project will involve research, the use of fire and will have significant cultural as well as positive biodiversity outcomes for endangered species such as the Eastern Bristlebird and Hastings River Mouse. The NRFABCON is a network of land managers and other community, indigenous and industry stakeholders delivering a coordinated, landscape scale approach to appropriate fire management for the maintenance and improvement of biodiversity outcomes across the region. It was established as a key action of the Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan in regard to addressing the landscape scale threat of inappropriate fire regimes on the regions biodiversity (DECCW NSW 2010). The NRFABCON covers seven local government areas in northern NSW encompassing an area of approximately 21,000km 2, from the Queensland Border to just south of Wooli and inland to the Tablelands. While many of the regions species and vegetation communities have developed ways of coping, adapting and thriving with fire, the inappropriate use or occurrence of fire has been identified as a major threat to the biodiversity of the region (DECCW 2010). Inappropriate fire can be too frequent, too hot or not frequent enough and in the Northern Rivers inappropriate fire has been identified as contributing to the loss of some habitats and its associated species. Tara said Well planned and managed Ecological burns may also be useful to address weed infestation and promote the regeneration of native vegetation and improve the habitat for native animals including some threatened species. For more information about this and other ecological fire management projects in the Northern Rivers go to

3 Saving Our Species Priorities Action Statements on public exhibition Saving our Species Conservation Projects have been developed for 28 Site-managed species. In accordance with section 90C of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, OEH has placed these draft amendments to Priorities Action Statement (PAS) on public exhibition from today, 17 December 2014, until 13 February An advertisement has been published today in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph. The draft amendments to the PAS can be: 1. Inspected at the Office of Environment and Heritage, Level Goulburn Street Sydney (Monday- Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm) 2. Viewed at Following public exhibition and subsequent consideration of submissions received, OEH will replace the current recovery and threat abatement strategies with the revised statements. Both are on public exhibition so you can compare them. Biodiversity Legislation Review Update In June 2014, the Minister for the Environment appointed an independent panel to conduct a review of the legislative and policy framework for the management of native vegetation, threatened species and other protected native animals and plants in NSW. The panel has now completed its final report and has submitted it to the Government. The Government is now considering the panel s findings and recommendations. Please visit Lismore Draft Biodiversity Management Strategy We have recently placed a Draft Biodiversity Management Strategy (BMS) on public exhibition for community comment. The BMS will be a guiding document that details a range of management activities and incentives in order to manage Lismore s high-value biodiversity while ensuring the preservation of productive agricultural land. The objective of the BMS is to recognise rural landholders as the primary stewards of biodiversity and facilitate partnerships with them, industry and Aboriginal and community groups to manage biodiversity in the long-term. The BMS will help us to develop policy and will inform strategic planning and development approval to ensure we have a consistent approach to biodiversity management. The BMS will also outline how to reduce pressures on biodiversity, promote biodiversity education and encourage landowners and the community to get involved in on-ground activities. The greater aim is to restore native vegetation across all land in the Lismore LGA from the rainforests of the Nightcap Range through our urban and village centres right down to the Richmond River floodplain. The BMS promotes vegetation connectivity throughout the LGA as the basis for biodiversity management. The Draft Biodiversity Management Strategy is on exhibition until 24 February To read the document or make a submission, please go to Lismore City Councils Public Submissions page

4 Upcoming TAFE courses Lismore Biological Farming I and II When: Thursdays, 4.00PM to 8.00PM, starting 5 February 2015 Where: North Coast TAFE Wollongbar, corner Sneaths Road and Bruxner Hwy Course duration: 9 x 4 hour sessions Teacher: Dave Forrest Cost: 15 participants $ per person; 12 participants $ per person Class members will evaluate soil health and management practices on their respective farms and develop a Biological Farming Farm Plan (BFFP) for their farms using biological farming principles and the Northern RiversSoil Best Management Practice Guides. For more information or to book for the course contact SoilCare at info@soilcare.org or ring Bonnie Walker on Natural Area Restoration - Teacher Stuart Hanna This course is for people wanting to enter the Conservation Land Management and bush regeneration industries. The course covers the process of managing natural area restoration programs. You will learn how to plan a restoration program, inspect and assess a site for the replacement of vegetation, monitor natural area restoration works and review the program. This course is suitable for people who work or want to work in the conservation and land management industry. Mondays (8 hrs per day) for a full year - Certificate III course Beef Cattle Production - Teacher - Jacqueline Heap Wednesday - 9am till 4pm, 18 weeks per semester Beef Cattle Production Semester 1: beef cattle health/nutrition and pasture management/supplementary feeding Beef Cattle Production Semester 2: beef Cattle Breeding, artificial and natural mating, marketing and quality assurance Plant propagation - Teacher Mark Goltz Tuesdays 8:30 to 12:30 Crop Husbandry - Teacher Mark Goltz Organic vegetable growing, fruit and nut crop maintenance. Tuesday 1.00 PM to 4.30 PM Soils - Teacher Alan Coates Every second Monday, starting 9 February, 8:30 AM to 4.00 PM Pest Management - Teacher Dave Forrest Every Second Monday starting 2 February, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Macadamia Production - Teacher Alan Coates Every second Monday evening starting 9 February, 5.00 PM to 9.00 PM Course costs are determined on individual's previous qualification or whether participant registers in a specific skill set or certificate. Contact the TAFE office for individual costs. Courses run on a commercial basis (i.e. Biological Farming, Macadamia Production) will have fees based according to number of enrolled participants. For more info contact TAFE or SoilCare: Wollongbar Campus, 61 Sneaths Road Wollongbar, 2477 phone: Soilcare at info@soilcare.org or ring Bonnie Walker on

5 UPCOMING EVENTS Date Event or Workshop Location For more information and to RSVP 10th February 7pm Kyogle Landcare Group Inc Annual General Meeting Northern Landcare Support Service 40 Summerland Way Kyogle Wendy Sibley or 18th February noon Media for Landcarers Conference Room Byron Shire Council Offices Station Street Mullumbimby Please contact Alison Ratcliffe Phone Friday 6th February 10am-3pm Public Dialogue on Childhood - Nature Is nature fading in Australian childhood? SCU Gold Coast (Beachside) Southern Cross Drive, Bilinga QLD (Access via Terminal Drive, Gold Coast Airport) Level 3, B Block Register for the Dialogue at: cudialogue Saturday 14th March Rainforest Plant ID Key Workshop TBC Angie@nlss.com.au or phone Northern Landcare Support Services on UPCOMING GRANTS AND FUNDING The Dairy Industry Fund The dairy industry fund has been established to fund projects that will contribute to the growth and efficiency of the NSW dairy industry. The fund commences in 2014/2015 with funds for a 5 year period or until funds are expended. The inaugural call for project applications closes on Friday 6 February To submit an application read the Dairy Industry Fund project funding guidelines and then complete the Dairy Industry Fund application form. Tenders open for 20 Million Trees The Australian Government released a Request for Tender, seeking one or more service providers to undertake large-scale re-vegetation projects across Australia. The Request for Tender seeks Service providers to work with the Australian Government to help deliver largescale tree planting projects across the country that will benefit both the environment and local communities. Service providers will work with community groups and landholders to deliver the Programme. Information about the 20 Million Trees Request for Tender is available on the AusTender website. Resources Photo-monitoring app for on-ground projects Do you or your group regularly undertake photo-monitoring and have access to a Smartphone? You may be interested in a free App, called Photomon, which has been developed specifically to help with photo-monitoring of on-ground environmental projects. The benefits of using Photomon over photo-monitoring with a standard digital camera include: Reminder function (both day and time) to prompt when the next photo is due; Overlayed transparent reference photo (ghosted image) for consistent field-of view for each monitoring point; Automatic naming and geotagging (time, date & direction) as well as space to write notes for each photo. Overall use of Photomon can reduce the time involved and improve the quality of the data collected.photomon is available through itunes and Google Play. It was developed in Western Australia by the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) as part of a Caring for Our Country project. Groups that are not associated with NACC need to use the App in 'Demo' mode.

6 Resources Create More Butterflies : a guide to 48 butterflies and their host-plants for south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales By Frank Jordan & Helen Schwencke. Brisbane: Earthling Enterprises, 2005 $30 plus $5 postage and packing This book contains over 250 full colour photos of butterfly lifecycles and caterpillar food plants for 48 different species of butterflies that occur in the south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. Thirty-one of the 48 species covered were raised from butterfly eggs laid on host plants grown in a 16 perch (405m2) inner suburban garden in Brisbane. All photos are of living animals. Much other information is also covered. Australian Stingless Bees : a guide to Sugarbag Beekeeping By John Klumpp Brisbane: Earthling Enterprises, 2007 $35 plus $5 postage & packing Australian Stingless Bees: a guide to Sugarbag beekeeping by John Klumpp is a 120 page book packed with over 200 photos and illustrations. People tell us that it is easy to read, whimsical, engaging, sometimes amusing, and is crammed with useful information Tools and information for the regional NRM management and Landcare community The Department of Agriculture recently launched an online database of information used to track trends in farmers land management practices in the broadacre cropping, dairy, grazing and horticulture industries. The data can be downloaded as charts or tables presented at the national, state or natural resources management region level here The 2014 catchment scale land use mapping dataset (at scales of1: to 1: ) is now available. The dataset was compiled by Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences from data prepared by state and territory agencies, through the Australian Collaborative Land Use and Management Program. You can preview a version with a broad land use classification, download the dataset for use in Geographic Information Systems, or download as a web mapping service. This dataset can also be viewed in the NICTA national map (The land use data is listed under the Land section under National Data Sets ). Sine Cera Grounds Maintenance Role Sine Cera is looking for an environmentally minded person/group to take over a 4 bedroom house with free utilities and rent in return for grounds maintenance of about 3 hectares of the beautiful property bordering the National Park. For more information please contact Lyndal Hose / info@sinecera.org.au Prepared by Northern Landcare Support Services for Landcare Groups & landholders in the Richmond & Upper Clarence Catchments. All contributions to the newsletter are welcome. If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically please info@nlss.com.au. 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) info@nlss.com.au Supported by