Event Type
Landcare Region
BCT Region
Facebook posts – several – SE Landcare Facebook Page
Event description
‘Celebrate, be inspired and share your biodiversity story’
Join us to celebrate private land conservation in south eastern New South Wales. Seek inspiration and share stories with ecologists, landholders and Local Landcare Coordinators. Learn about the Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) and how they work with partners to protect and restore biodiversity. Visit Wandiyali a property with three different types of BCT agreements.
The muster is about how we as a community work together to protect and restore biodiversity. With 60% of Australian land privately owned or managed, private land conservation presents a big opportunity to turn the tide on nature loss. Together we can make a difference.
Who should attend
The muster is for anyone interested in biodiversity. Specifically, it's a good opportunity for farmers, conservation agreement holders, Landcare members, Local Landcare Coordinators and conservation practitioners to connect and learn about biodiversity conservation.
What to expect
The morning session and lunch will be at the Jerrabomberra Community Hall (just south of Queanbeyan) with presentations from Dr Damon Oliver, Senior Team Leader – Ecosystems and Threatened Species – South East, Sally Miller and Kirrily Gould – NSW Koal Strategy, BCT staff, Local Landcare Coordinators and landholders with conservation agreements on their properties.
The afternoon session is a paddock walk with Carolyne Larcombe from Wandiyali, Damon Oliver and BCT ecologists.
This is a free event, registration is essential for catering purposes. For the paddock walk you will need to bring long pants, sturdy shoes, a hat and water bottle. You will be walking approximately one kilometer or more (uphill on the way back) in long grass. If you have mobility concerns, please let us know when you register. You will be asked to carpool to the property if possible as parking at the site is limited. At the paddock walk you will see restoration ideas including habitat augmentation and monitoring for threatened species and take part in discussions about conservation.
Meet the guest speakers
Dr Damon Oliver is the Senior Team Leader – Ecosystems and Threatened Species -South East, Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water.
Dr Sally Miller -NSW Koala Strategy, Regional Partnerships Officer – Southern Tablelands.
Carolyne Larcombe - Wandiyali Conservation Trust.
And our wonderful Local Land Care Coordinators and BCT landholders sharing their stories and experience of private land conservation.
Why it’s important
In Australian almost 1000 species of plants and animals are facing extinction, which is part of a broader extinction crisis across Australia and the world (NSW Government 2024). At this muster you will have the opportunity to connect with BCT staff and conservation agreement landholders to ask important questions and learn what is possible from people walking the ‘biodiversity talk’.
Event Topics
Event Outcomes
Growth in learning measure (Scale 1 - 100)
Feedback from the attendees
What they liked about the event?
1. **Quality of Speakers**: Attendees appreciated the great speakers, noting they were from diverse areas and easy to listen to.
2. **Event Organization**: The event was well-organized, with smooth execution and a good mix of content. The interaction between presenters and attendees was particularly noted, especially in the afternoon paddock session.
3. **Field Walk and Talk**: The opportunity for field walks and talks was highlighted as a valuable experience.
4. **Networking Opportunities**: Attendees enjoyed hearing about the activities of other Landcare groups and networking with peers.
5. **Showcase of Regional Projects**: The snapshot of SouthEast Landcare groups and their regional projects was well-received. The attendees were impressed by the implementation of government-funded projects related to native species protection, paddock tree management, and landscape regeneration.
6. **Conservation Agreements**: The guest speakers who shared their experiences with conservation agreements were appreciated, along with the practical demonstration on how conservation areas are assessed for applying for such agreements.
7. **Catering**: The catering was also noted as a positive aspect of the event.
Overall, the feedback suggests the event was successful, with great speakers, well-organized sessions, and valuable field experiences.
What would attendees like to learn next:
1. **Biodiversity Restoration for Small Landholders**: Attendees are interested in learning what small landholders can do for biodiversity restoration, particularly when their neighbors are not engaged, especially in riparian zones.
2. **Cool Burning on Private Land**: There is a desire to learn more about the practice and benefits of cool burning on private land.
3. **Case Studies**: Attendees are seeking more case studies, particularly real-world examples of long-term biodiversity restoration journeys.
4. **Property Requirements and Financial Implications**: Some attendees want to understand how to determine if their properties meet the requirements for conservation efforts, as well as the financial implications involved.
5. **Engaging the Broader Community**: There is an interest in learning how to engage the broader community in biodiversity work and help them understand its importance.
In summary, attendees are looking for practical knowledge on how to implement biodiversity restoration on their properties, engage with the community, and understand the financial and regulatory aspects of conservation efforts.