• SUMMARY OF UCLN ACTIVITIES FOR 2016
• AVAILABLE GRANTS
• STAY SAFE THIS SUMMER

WISHING ALL LANDCARERS AND FRIENDS A SAFE AND HAPPY XMAS!

 

 

 

 

Somehow it is almost Christmas and another year has past.A big thank you to all those Landcarers for looking after our Environment. As Anthropologist Margaret Mead said many years ago – “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

 

 UCLN ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2016

The Upper Campase Landcare Network has had a busy year. Some of our main achievements have been:

• Two Field Days which engaged indigenous elders, highly regarded ecologists, and landcare “heroes” to explain concepts of connectivity and biolinks, and to speak about restoring and repairing Landscapes. Examples of Landcare success projects were shown.

• Two ‘cluster groups’ formed within the Network, meaning landcare groups are joining forces to work across  boundaries on biolink projects. The two projects are: The Coliban Corridor and the Cobaw Connections. These projects will help develop the capacity of the Landcare groups to work strategically and collaboratively across these priority areas which were identified in the UCLN Strategic Plan.

• Two Action Plans produced by Dr Sophie Bickford, which further explore ways of restoring connectivity in these two areas to achieve greater ecological outcomes and improve habitat for threatened species and ecological communities.

• A New Partnership formed with Kyneton Secondary College Students and UCLN. The students have been working with The Kyneton River and Land Management Committee to plant threatened species along the Campaspe River. They have also been installing nest boxes and remote cameras to monitor phascogales and gliders at the Bald Hill Reserve.

 

• Three successful Workshops – Rabbit Busters,Weed Busters and Soil Health. These workshops, all attended by over thirty people, helped landowners gain a better understanding of ways of dealing with rabbit and weed problems.Participants to the Soil Health Workshop learnt how to evaluate the condition of their soil and improve it.

• A new group – The Friends Of Trentham Creeks and Reserves, has joined the Network, and with the help of the Network has recently received a Victorian Government Riparian Grant to begin restoring Trent Creek,a tributary of the Coliban. Students from Trentham Primary School will be involved in the project.

• Water Watch Program begun at Trentham Primary School

• 16 Articles in the Media regarding UCLN and member group activities.

• UCLN Gorse Task Force grant implemented. This project targeted gorse on seven private properties and achieved approximately eight hectares of control. The project focused on private land areas with an emphasis on controlling resprouting gorse burnt in the Black Hill fire. The Langley Landcare members also carried out an assessment using a weed prioritization formula that identified gorse as a high priority following fire. The  project aimed to control gorse,encourage native vegetation growth and protect grazing production.

• Submissions made by UCLN to Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) and Hepburn Shire Biodiversity Strategy.The Environment Minister asked VEAC to investigate the values of forests in the central west of Victoria, including the Wombat Forest. The purpose of the investigation is to : (a) identify and evaluate the condition, natural and cultural values and the current uses of public land in the specified area; and (b) make recommendations for the balanced use and appropriate management arrangements to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural values.UCLN advocated for  protecting the important biodiversity values in the Wombat Forest, including the many threatened species, before they are lost to us.We also had input into the Hepburn Shire Biodiversity Strategy,which is being done by Deakin University.

 

 

AVAILABLE GRANTS:

Citizen Science Grants
Citizen Science Grants is an element of the Inspiring Australia – Science Engagement Programme. It provides grants on a competitive basis to support community participation in scientific research projects that have a national impact. Closes on 17 February 2017. Read more

Norman Wettenhall Small Environmental Grant Scheme
The Small Environmental Grant Scheme provides support for groups or individuals undertaking biodiversity conservation projects in Australia. Projects of up to $10,000 based on monitoring, recording and sharing data, delivering community education, providing community capacity building (training), research and science, or landscape restoration and education. Grant round opens 20 December.  Read more

 

STAY SAFE THIS SUMMER -NEW VIC EMERGENCY APP LAUNCHED.