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LAND FOR WILDLIFEClarence Valley Branch
Clarence Environment CentreSkinner St, South Grafton
Newsletter No 7November 2013
I am having to admit defeat in trying to achieve our success of last year, when 14 registered properties took us to the top of the NSW leaderboard. So far we have just 10 additional properties on the books for 2013, and 2 others waiting only the paperwork to complete the job.In no way has there been a slowdown in enthusiasm by landowners for land conservation, but more a product of circumstances throughout the year. While the list of potential members continues to grow, the time available to our small pool of trained assessors has unfortunately (or fortunately from many angles) gone in the opposite direction, more of which later.
The major event of 2013 was the Land for Wildlife forum in August, for which the Clarence Environment Centre was invited to make a presentation for the case study segment. This meant me, and not being very familiar with public speaking meant preparation took priority to give it the best possible shot. The angle chosen was not a case study as such, but rather a rundown of our achievements in the Clarence to date and what we hope to achieve with the program in the future. In a
20 minute session entitled Land for Wildlife around the Clarence Valley, the audience was shown how we had grown, and the learning processes involved in assessing the variety of
LfW properties now scattered across all areas of our huge CV local government area. This included the value of smaller properties as wildlife refuges, using the Mussared's incredible achievements at Waterview Heights (revegetated gully left), and the lovely Beeman property on Woodford Island (map below) as examples of the vital habitat being created, and the significance of their expansion of already protected wildlife habitat.
A series of slides amply demonstrated the amazing range of landscape types within such a big area, from the coastal range; the sandstone ridges; the hinterland wilderness to the ocean, then explained the associated habitat types within those landscapes, from fresh and saltwater reedbeds, wetlands, floodplains and swamps, wet and dry sclerophyll types and woodlands to the coastal heath shrublands.. The slide, right, for instance, shows how the Kangaroo Creek sandstone ridge vegetation and gully lines can make ruler sharp distinctions within the landscapes, such as this on the Leehman property, Copmanhurst
The next segment covered our flora surveys, the value of the NSW Wildlife Atlas and how LfW is opening doors for an important expansion of understanding of local vegetation types in previously unsurveyed and inaccessible areas.
I also explained my personal learning curve in working out which veg communities fit where in the more complex landscapes, which is important in helping with the atlassing process. A good example of this is the array of vegetation types found on the Maple property, adjoining the fabulous Nymboi-Binderay national park (see map below). The end map should not be used in any scientific studies, but an on-ground scan by a more experienced botanist suggested the predictions in this instance were likely to be relatively accurate
Another mentioned significant positive derived entirely from the Land for Wildlife program is our bush regeneration work. Evidence of our success with this is the now rapidlly growing connective corridor along the western boundary of the beautiful Clarence B & B property at Seelands (left)
To finish the presentation I explained another reason for our drop-off in registrations this year. When the federal government's Biodiversity Fund opened for grant-seekers in February, the Sydney-based NSW Nature Conservation Council went scouting for a worthwhile project to help with the large sums of money on offer for environment works. The impressive corridor of LfW properties building up around Firth-Heinz Road (left) caught their attention. Many discussions, meetings, phone hook-ups, site visits and one tedious application later, the CEC and NCC are now in partnership, with funding
to eradicate feral pigs, dogs, foxes and invasive weeds from an approx 14 km of linked
properties in Pillar Valley (project site, left)This is a very exciting outcome for the Clarence Environment Centre and will ensure its viability well into the future.However nothing comes without sacrifice. Not only land assessments but several projects that our volunteer bush regeneration team were to work
on - to fulfill the terms of a State Government Private Land Conservation grant - are also the victims of success. Most of my team have transferred to paid labour through the federal grant, meaning their time in the last weeks have been absorbed in insurance covers, contracts, and negotiating all the tedious ins and outs that goes along with anything associated with money.
Team leader, Tom, assures me he will still find time for Land for Wildlife projects. I know the others would share his sentiments, but they do need a life outside of work and it's difficult to demand time and free labour from such a great bunch of workers even if they could fit it in.
Nevertheless it is satisfying and rewarding that due to Land for Wildlife most can now enjoy some regular cash inflow, as well as the benefits that being in paid work can bring.
Meanwhile our smaller projects are still underway and they will be completed, only most likely not to plan, and quite possibly not on time.
Another glitch this year was an upheaval in head office, with their main administrative staff member leaving. The reins thankfully are being gathered up efficiently now by Carolyn, but for a while records were getting out of control, assessments not just from our branch were on hold, and for a time even the future of the program in the Valley seemed somewhat bleak.
John, Pete & Rob attack camphor laurel on the Barkess property, Pillar Valley
Groundsel bush, Barkess property, work is underway at tackling the problem
Despite all this, we have still done well, and are happy to thank Greg Whyman, and Patrick Vacchiano and Deborah Tugwood for expanding that all-important Pillar Valley chain. Greg has added his small home property to the inventory as well as a large wilderness tract along the Coastal Range, which protects an important mix of wet and dry sclerophyll and dry and subtropical rainforest (right).
Patrick & Deborah's property (above) has instantly become the focal point for a revegetation project, with the aim of restoring and linking breeding and foraging habitat for the Coastal Emu. This project, initiated and managed by Pete Turland, is now underway, with approval gained to build a shallow pond in a currently cleared gully. Once done, the gully and its surrounding vicinity will be planted with local native species already identified on the property, with an especial focus on fruiting species enjoyed by the emus.The goal is to complete this work during the current planting season, and as it involves active revegetation by planting it can be listed as one of the Land for Wildlife projects, so will tick a few more boxes for the smaller grant. Most of the seedlings have been bought through the LfW grant and some are already in the ground.We also extend warm thanks to the following landowners, with appreciation for the habitat values they have added to our growing inventory : -
Darryl Christensen and Alwyn Morgan's lovely Smokey Haven, grey box and ironbark grassy woodlands and dry sclerophyll communities on the Glen Innes Road
Marty & Jenny Swain's mix of coastal floodplain forests, wetlands, reedlands and wet and dry sclerophyll forests at Upper Corindi(left)
Geoff Nanto's lovely hideaway beside the Nymboida River (below), which supports a mix of wet sclerohpyll and
Clarence and North Coast dry sclerophyll forests above and along the river
Martin, Jane & Hannah Mitchell's small but important river front property, with its remnant northern warm temperate forests bordering the Orara River at Glenreagh (below)
John at work on aflora survey ofSmokey Haven
Michael Muscio's and Lyndy Moss' farming property (right), which protects dry sclerophyll grassy woodlands and eastern riverine type vegetation, and provides another known movement corridor for the seriously threatened coastal emu.
And Adam & Kylie Kelly's West Lanitza's coastal valley grassy woodlands and significant wet sclerophyll river riparian vegetation along the Orara River (right). This also supports suitable habitat for dispersing koalas, recently identified in the near vicinity
The little backwater hamlet, Glenreagh, nestles in large tracts of bushland habitat
One final thing that the speeding by of the year has sacrificed is our annual LfW get-together. I sincerely apologise for this. We can only now wait and see how we stand in the New Year, and hope to be able to plan for another pleasant outing when things settle down to routine in the not too distant future.It only remains to wish you all a very special, safe and happy Christmas, and our warmest gratitude for your consideration of our native wildlife and the safe retreats you are providing for themA happy, prosperous and peaceful 2014 to you all.Cheers and thanksPat
