Welcome to the September edition of Park Watch! Join us for a stroll through our activities, citizen science and campaign work in Victoria’s natural world.
The arrival of Spring brings bursts of wattle-yellow, busy pollinators and Australian Wood Ducklings. It also brings a renewed sense of optimism. For our community, our main hope is that we may actually witness the creation of our central west national parks. By mid-September, when you read this, we hope legislation will have finally made its way through the Victorian Parliament.
On a national level, the Federal Government has committed to the ’30 by 30 target’ to protect and conserve 30 per cent of land and 30 per cent of marine areas by 2030. The roadmap offers an enticing plan to give nature a fair go.
In further good news, Ben Gill reports our relentless advocacy to rescue the Mt Cole Grevillea from extinction has borne some handy fruit in the form of emergency funds to support recovery. While Sera Blair reflects on the ups and downs of two decades of pushing for protection of the iconic Leadbeater’s Possum.
Elsewhere in this jam-packed edition, Shannon Hurley updates us on the marine implications of renewable energy; Adrian Marshall reports that our precious grasslands might be finally getting the attention they deserve; Clare Wilson introduces us to the exciting world of ecoacoustics; and Laney Callahan delves into her PhD research into seagrass restoration in Western Port Bay.
Plus, all our regular features and so much more!
Thank you for your ongoing support, enjoy the read and enjoy the season.
Cover image: Variable Groundsel (Senecio pinnatifolius var. lanceolatus), Babbington Hill, Wombat Forest, Dja Dja Wurrung Country. (Credit: Meghan Lindsay).
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