MEDIA RELEASE
24 August 2010 Natural Connections grants to boost biodiversity in the Cradle Coast
Financial grants totalling $218,100 were awarded today to fifteen land managers and community groups as part of the Cradle Coast Natural Connections Grants Program. The program was administered by Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management (NRM) targeting landholder and community projects that will protect threatened species and their habitats. Individual grants up to $25,000 have been provided for on‐ground works that will help protect species such as the Orange Bellied Parrot, Giant Freshwater Lobster, King Island Scrub‐tit, and Tasmanian Devil, and habitats including lowland grasslands, swamp forests and wetlands. As a result of the grants program, 25 kilometres of protective fencing will be installed to protect riverbanks, remnant vegetation and vegetation corridors throughout the region and 4,500 hectares of land will be featured in the protective works. Cradle Coast NRM’s Natural Connections Grants Program is based on the concept of ecosystem services. Ecosystem services reflect the way animals, plants and the environment are connected and how they interact to deliver benefits to people living in and visiting the region. Benefits such as food production; water security; coastal stability; carbon storage; resilience to climate change; tourism and recreation; quality of life; and biodiversity conservation are important considerations in managing the region’s natural resources. Cradle Coast NRM is leading the nation in its use of ecosystem services as a model for defining natural resource management priorities, incentives for works and measurements for success. Alison Dugand, Biodiversity Coordinator at Cradle Coast NRM, said the Natural Connections grant applications included excellent examples of the community working together. “In one project, eight land holders are joining forces with Greening Australia to create 2 kilometres of continuous protective river works across their properties in Gunns Plains,’ Ms Dugand said. “Not only will this assist with conserving Giant Freshwater Lobster habitat, but it will also reduce erosion and assist with downstream water quality.” Grants were awarded today to deliver: o Surveillance equipment for installation at key locations around the region where either species poaching or unlawful habitat damage is suspected (grant recipient Parks and Wildlife Service). Assists with biodiversity conservation of the Giant Freshwater Lobster.* o Gorse weed control, native revegetation, protective fencing and off‐stream water point installation on private land in the Stanley area. Assists with biodiversity conservation of wetlands.** o Weed control of Blue Periwinkle, Arum Lilly, Asparagus Fern and Serrated Tussock at Colliers Swamp on King Island (grant recipient King Island NRM Group Inc). Assists with biodiversity conservation of the King Island Scrub‐tit and native flora.*** o Weed removal and native revegetation on private land on Cradle Mountain Road. Assists with biodiversity conservation of lowland grasslands. o Protective fencing, revegetation and weed control along the Sea Elephant River on King Island (grant recipient Australian Farms Fund Management Pty Ltd). Assists with biodiversity conservation of the Orange Bellied Parrot. o Fencing of the eastern and western bank of the Leven River downstream from Marshalls Bridge in Gunn’s Plains (grant recipient Greening Australia on behalf of eight private landholders). Assists with biodiversity conservation of the Giant Freshwater Lobster. Continued….
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Holly infestation removal and native revegetation on private land in Menga. Assists with biodiversity conservation of Grey Goshawk, Green and Gold Frog, Tasmanian Devil and Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Protective fencing of remnant vegetation on private land in Nowhere Else. Assists with biodiversity conservation of Burrowing Crayfish. Protective fencing and revegetation on private land along Boradale Creek in Milabena. Assists with biodiversity conservation of the Giant Freshwater Lobster, Tasmanian Devil and Burrowing Crayfish. Protective fencing of remnant vegetation and minor tributary area on private land in Milabena. Assists with biodiversity conservation of the Giant Freshwater Lobster. Weed control including three species on the Weeds of National Significance list in Waratah‐Wynyard municipality (grant recipient Gunns Ltd). Assists with biodiversity conservation of rare and endangered Montane Grasslands. Protective fencing of remnant vegetation in the Latrobe area (grant recipient Mersey NRM Group Inc). Assists with biodiversity conservation of Melaleuca ericifolia swamp forest vegetation and the Green and Gold Frog. Native revegetation and protective fencing of remnant vegetation and minor Leven River tributaries on private land in Preston. Assists with biodiversity conservation of Tasmanian Devil and Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Erosion control within Squeaking Point conservation area (grant recipient Rubicon Coast and Landcare Inc). Assists with biodiversity conservation of the Tasmanian Devil, Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Burrowing Crayfish, White Bellied Sea Eagle, and a variety of threatened orchids. Native vegetation protection on private land on King Island. Assists with biodiversity conservation of King Island Scrub‐tit.
End… Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management (NRM) works with community, industry, private enterprise and government to manage and improve our natural resources to ensure a healthy future for our region. Cradle Coast NRM is a committee of the Cradle Coast Authority. This initiative is supported by Cradle Coast NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country. Media Contact/s: Alison Dugand Amanda Wilson Biodiversity Coordinator, Cradle Coast NRM Communications Manager, Cradle Coast Authority Ph: 0417 579 550 Ph: 03 6431 6285