Hi everyone,
What a disruption to our Landcare Programs, with Creating Canopies, Streamwatch and the Cumberland Plain Restoration Program, on hold due to Lockdown and Covid 19.
The Landcare community are very excited this week though, as the National Landcare Conference is here... coming up on Thursday and Friday, 5th and 6th August - and because it is virtual, it's Free... Link below for registration and conference program.
If you would like to share any online resources, webinars or videos to help us all get through Lockdown - please send it though to me at xuela.sledge@greatersydneylandcare.org
Take care,
Xuela Sledge
Local Landcare Coordinator
Greater Sydney Landcare Network
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2021 NATIONAL LANDCARE CONFERENCE AND AWARDS VIRTUAL EVENT
- Thursday 5 and Friday 6th August
Do something this Landcare Week and get connected to Landcarers across the country with the National Landcare Conference & Awards and be inspired to do something in your community
Landcarers from across the country will gather this Landcare Week to share knowledge, ideas, and plan for the future – as part of the 2021 National Landcare Conference & National Landcare Awards.
With over 60 speakers from across the country, this free online conference is an opportunity for all Australians to learn more about landcare and how they can get involved in their local community to care for their local environment.
The National Landcare Conference is a timely opportunity for people interested sustainable land management and conservation activities on their farm or land, in an urban environment, along the coast or in their backyard, to come together to share ideas and experiences in an inspiring forum.
For more information about the program or to register please visit: https://nationallandcareconference.org.au/
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Greater Sydney Landcare to present at the National Landcare conference... Thu 5th August @ 2:35pm
Need a oartner on your next environmental project? If so, think Landcare!
This is exactly what NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) thought when they decided to apply for a Saving our Species grant to help conserve the Cumberland Plain, also known as Sydney’s western suburbs – a place where almost all remnant vegetation is threatened by development.
Landcare’s administrative and governance systems and broadscale network which brought in eight other project partners… was the key to getting the grant.
The Greater Sydney Landcare Network – NPWS partnership saw Parks access Landcare’s governance systems, administrative expertise, engagement experience and unparalleled network (which resulted in eight other project partners coming on board) and ultimately win the grant.
The Cumberland Plain Restoration Program, as it’s now called, centres on restoring Threatened Ecological Communities in Sydney’s west through ecological and cultural burning and habitat enhancement including weed control, artificial hollow installation and the distribution of woody debris.
This presentation will outline how partnering with Landcare networks can support agencies and organisations to plan for and deliver on-ground actions to drive social, cultural and environmental change. It will also outline the benefits of having a threatened species recovery project that crosses all tenures.
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Landcare Australia Webinars
The most recent webinar of the National Landcare Conference series was a great one!
Nicole Maher, Regional Landcare Coordinator for the Riverina talked about the grassroots and family friendly Urban Landcare group in Wagga.
Mik Petter and Wayne Cameron, from Bullimba Catchment Coordinating Committee, told a story applicable to anyone doing Landcare or Bushcare in a city environment... introducing Industrial Landcare.
This Webinar is just one of over ten available on the Landcarer platform...
https://www.landcarer.com.au/webinar/
Thanks to the National Landcare Program for supporting the webinar series.
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Greater Sydney Landcare is hosting its own Webinars as part of a Creating Canopies initiative
Save the dates - links for registration to follow...
12 August – Danielle Packer, Greater Sydney Landcare and Cattai Hills Environment Network
Platypus Protection
Join Greater Sydney Landcare’s Project Coordinator, Danielle Packer, for a fascinating talk about one of our most unique and precious little critters, the platypus. She will be helping us to understand the importance of revegetation and bush regeneration along our waterways to help improve and protect platypus habitat. Danielle also works for Cattai Hills Environment Network (CHEN) and she will also be enlightening us about all the significant work CHEN have been doing in their region to help bring these incredible little animals back to our environment and what we can do to help.
19 August – Bill Avery – The Walking Volunteers
An Adventure on the Great West Walk
Join the intrepid walker, Bill Avery, one of the founders of the epic Great West Walk to learn more about Sydney’s longest walk which stretches for 65km, all the way from Parramatta to the Blue Mountains. Bill will give us incredible insights and information on the trail, the iconic landscapes it passes through, and how our Creating Canopies project has been helping to improve it. He’ll be talking about what inspired his group, The Walking Volunteers, to create and map the walk, how they went about achieving it and how we can all continue to help green the trail.
26 August – Xuela Sledge – Greater Sydney Landcare, Local Landcare Coordinator
The Cumberland Plain Conversation
Join Greater Sydney Landcare’s Local Landcare Coordinator, Xuela Sledge, who will take us on a journey through one of our most unique, endangered and lesser known ecosystems, the Cumberland Plain Woodland. Travelling through Western Sydney, most of us have ventured through this country without knowing too much about it, so join us to learn more about the plants and animal communities that live right on our door step that need all the help they can get. Xuela will tell us about all the important work they have been doing as part of the Saving our Species project and what you can do to help to protect it.
2 September – Jessica Lumbroso – Greater Sydney Landcare, StreamWatch Coordinator
Splash into Streamwatch
Join Greater Sydney Landcare’s Streamwatch Coordinator, Jess, to learn about our important Streamwatch program and how hundreds of volunteers from all around Sydney have been helping to monitor water quality and pollution in our local streams for over 30 years. Find out about where and how we monitor water quality, what sort of information we collect and why, the of vegetation along our waterways and what you can do to join in!
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Free online course in Ecosystem Restoration... UN's Learning for nature...
About the course
The course serves as an introduction to the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration (STAPER) - a flexible framework adopted by the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to support, inter alia, governments in the development and implementation of their national restoration strategies. The course is geared to government representatives interested in creating a blueprint for ecosystem restoration at the national or subnational level, but is open to everyone. The course is currently offered in English. Versions of the course in French and Spanish are forthcoming.
Course highlights and outcomes
- Gain the skills needed to create a blueprint for ecosystem restoration
- Join a community-of-practice committed to preventing, halting, and reversing the trend of ecosystem degradation
- Explore rich learning materials, diving into detailed content based on your needs
- Learn how to select the most appropriate interventions for your context from a range of restorative practices
- Receive a certificate of completion from the course partners
Source of information & more info: https://www.learningfornature.org/en/courses/ecosystem-restoration/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_dde6dcc7b0c9923f39ba72c674e148567c3ce779-1627963818-0-gqNtZGzNAfijcnBszQii
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The Biggest little Farm...
A lovely film for anyone who likes the thought of leaving the big smoke for the fresh air of the country... not without its challenges... but a film based on building biodiversity and healing the soil. Worth a watch!
Available on Netflix, if you have it - or would you like GSLN to host a viewing???
http://www.biggestlittlefarmmovie.com/
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Group in the loop...Nangarin Landcare Group
 
This month’s feature group is Nangarin Landcare Group in Picton. Established in 2016, the group manages Nangarin Vineyard Estate’s 6.52 ha nature corridor of remnant Cumberland Plain Woodland in Picton.
“We often encounter significant fauna including wombats, echidnas and lace monitors all of which are now rare on the Cumberland Plain, as well as the endangered Cumberland Plain Land Snail.”
What are the group’s goals? The objective is to attain a level of weed management that supports natural regeneration, providing a basis for long-term sustainability of the natural ecosystem with maintenance by our group. We target lantana, privet, African olive, moth vine, blackberry and asparagus vine.
What are the main activities? We alternate between initial treatment of mature thickets of woody weeds by ‘cut & paint’ and follow-up on previously treated areas to manage regrowth/seeding. Some steep slopes require soil retention and revegetation. We use photographs to monitor the effectiveness of our work and Wollondilly Anglican College students have worked with us to gain familiarity with the principles and practical aspects of Landcare.
Which of the group’s achievements are you most proud of? The long-term commitment of the members. Nine residents met in 2016 to form what would become our group. Five years on, eight of the original group remain dedicated, active members. The group now comprises thirteen residents who have effectively treated weeds across 2.5 ha of the site.
What is one of your group’s biggest challenges? And, how are you dealing with this? Given the density of weeds, steepness of terrain and the size of the infested area, it was clear from the outset that our small team would struggle to undertake all the primary weeding and effectively do the follow up maintenance. We have received two grants which enabled us to engage professional bush regenerators to tackle some of the more difficult areas. We’ve also learnt techniques from professionals and developed our knowledge and understanding of native plants.
What is the best way to get in touch and stay up to date with the group? Our Nangarin website contains information on the Landcare Group: www.Nangarin.com.au
Contact person: Reg Collins regcol39@gmail.com
Which group do you want to see featured next month and why? Wollondilly Community Nursery. They have provided invaluable support to our Landcare Group with supply of plants endemic to our local area. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff hold events and information sessions to empower community management of the environment.
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Wanted! More Steering Committee members for Greater Sydney Landcare
The Team at Greater Sydney Landcare Network need more people to help guide their growing network and programs. At the moment we have three main programs, including:
1. Creating Canopies across Greater Sydney
2. Stream Watch
3. Cumberland Plain Restoration Program
There are many other projects going on behind the scenes.... and its a big ask of the group of volunteers we currently have on the Committee.
Could you help?
If you have a passion for restoration and conservation across greater Sydney, are a landholder, a member of a Landcare or Bushcare group, a professional, a student, an accountant, an editor, an IT specialist, designer, or someone who would like to be more involved... We want you! There is one monthly meeting, otherwise the odd email, but it all depends on how much you would like to be involved.
To find out more please email Bev Debrincat, our Chair at e: bev.debrincat@iewf.org
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Landcare newsletters across Greater Sydney
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Its annual renewal time, so you may recieve a renewal reminder via email... if you havent received one, check your SPAM box, or hold tight - as we will get one to you ASAP.
Membership to Greater Sydney Landcare gives you access to a number of great incentives, including:
- Access to Landcare support and resources
- Access to networking events and the facilitation of people and project linkages
- Access to Landcare related tools and equipment
- Advice on funding opportunities, restoring your land, environmental issues and concerns – and, more
- Representation to strengthen Landcare NSW in seeking NRM funds for our region and NSW
- Free or discounted training workshops
- Free trees through the Creating Canopies project (conditions apply)
- Promotion of your events through GSLNs 1000+ Facebook following, Instagram, Twitter, website and eNewsletter
- Sponsorship and administration of grants for unincorporated groups
- Support in bringing new volunteers to your group via our Local Landcare Coordinators and funded projects
Help support the environmental volunteering community in Greater Sydney,
and join us here.
If you think you have missed the invoice in your inbox, please check your spam folder.
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Members, please send us your events!
We would love to promote any events your groups have planned in our newsletter, and on our website, and Facebook and Twitter pages.
Please email events to LLCs Xuela.
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