Friends of Lane Cove National Park Inc.
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Events for everyone - friends, locals, volunteers

See also: Friends events | What's on in the park | Events for volunteers

Earthwatch Australia

Earthwatch has some fascinating projects on the go – including the water rat surveys around the harbour which will be the subject of the talk at Sydney Aquarium in a couple of weeks. If you would like more information or wish to get involved check their websites about the projects below.

Scientist for a Day: http://www.earthwatch.org/australia/expeditions/1_day

There are 3 projects running out of Sydney at the moment:

Sydney's Hidden Mammals - looking at the Rakali, Sydney's native water rat, with Dr Peter Banks from UNSW. (Dates available in Aug, Oct, Dec)

Bushwalks for Healthy Habitats (or Amazing Ants!) - looking at ants as indicators of ecosystem health, with Dr Dieter Hochuli from Sydney University.

Sydney's Tropical Damsels and Surgeons (or Finding Nemo!) - investigating the impact of climate change on tropical fish species on the east coast of Australia, with Professor David Booth from UTS. (Dates available in Oct, Nov, Dec)

Expeditions: http://www.earthwatch.org/australia/expeditions/

These are run both in Australia and overseas, and generally last 2-3 weeks.

For any further information or to book on Earthwatch expeditions, including Scientist for a Day projects based in Sydney, please contact Yohanna Aurisch in the Melbourne Office, who is Earthwatch's Field Operations and Expeditions Manager. Yohanna's contact details are: yaurisch@earthwatch.org.au and the office number is 03 9682 6828.

ClimateWatch: http://www.climatewatch.org.au/

This program will be launched in September and is about to undergo trialling of the data entering and exporting. If you would like to be involved in this stage, please contact either Rachel Maitland (RMaitland@earthwatch.org.au) or Andy Donnelly (adonnelly@earthwatch.org.au) and they will be in touch. If you require any more information on ClimateWatch, please do not hesitate to contact Rachel – there is soon to be an email newsletter coming out about this, and if you would like to be kept in the loop please also contact Rachel

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NPWS Wildlife Atlas

Want to learn more about how NPWS keeps its records on wildlife sightings? Are you interested in having your own sightings contribute to these records? How about how we monitor the progress of threatened fauna in Sydney North? How does our fox baiting program work? And how do we monitor its effects on local wildlife populations?

For those who are keen to get straight into it, or who can’t get along on the 6th, see the information and links below for the Wildlife Atlas.

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Blue Gum High Forest at St Ives safe at last

Ku-ring-gai Council has purchased the “missing piece in the jigsaw” of Ku-ring-gai’s treasured Blue Gum High Forest site at 102 Rosedale Rd, St Ives, Mayor Nick Ebbeck has announced.

Cr Ebbeck said the sale of the half hectare piece of land, which has been finalised this week after a lengthy negotiation process, means the entire 18-hectare forest site will be kept intact and protected for future generations.

“This is a great win for Ku-ring-gai and has been a real combined effort with funding from the Federal Government, Council and the community via a public campaign led by well-known local conservationist Nancy Pallin,” he said.

“I would like to congratulate Ms Pallin and all those involved in the Blue Gum High Forest Action Group, as well as Bradfield MP Dr Brendan Nelson, who secured an extra $150,000 in federal funding in October, bringing the Federal Government’s contribution to $350,000.

“I also thank all members of the public who have donated and pledged money to the campaign over the past few years.

“This was the last section of land within the site still in private ownership – so it was very important that we acquired it to protect it from any future development.”

Cr Ebbeck said the sale guaranteed the future of the site, which provides a snapshot of this once majestic forest that originally covered 40 per cent of Ku-ring-gai.

“All Blue Gum High Forest remnants, which stretch from Willoughby to Hornsby and Baulkham Hills, have been listed as critically endangered by both the Federal and State governments. Less than five per cent of the original forest remains intact.

“Earlier this year, 100 Rosedale Rd, next to the 102 Rosedale Rd site, was acquired by the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation under an “environmental offset” deal for the removal of a small tract of forest in Hornsby to make way for railway improvements.”

Cr Ebbeck said Blue Gum trees are one of Ku-ring-gai’s most recognisable attributes and are featured on Council’s new logo and corporate identity.

“We will continue to work with the State and Federals Governments and groups such as the National Trust to ensure this rare forest is protected from threats such as urban development and preserved for future generations to enjoy.”

Click here for more information

The Friends of Lane Cove National Park Inc.donated $3,000 towards the purchase.

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The Birds in Backyards program has just produced new Guidelines for developing urban bird habitat.

Funded by a NSW Environmental Trust Grant, this project has produced guidelines for the development of bird-habitat for seven different user groups including domestic gardeners, schools, landscape architects, planners, and open space, streetscape and bushland managers. These can be downloaded at http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/spaces/guidelines.cfm

The Guidelines are based on a review of the scientific literature, and the complete report can also be downloaded from the site.


Recycling old phones will help plant 75,000 new trees

Australians have responded to the call to dig out their old mobile phones and recycle them through MobileMuster with a terrific effort – handing in 75,000 phones during the six week “Old Phones, New Trees” campaign.

As a result 75,000 native trees will be planted across Australia to restore and protect the environment, including repairing landscapes damaged from Cyclone Larry in Queensland and protecting the habitat of the endangered cassowary.

If you missed the campaign, don’t worry, it’s not too late, you can still hand in your old mobile phone, batteries and accessories for recycling at any one of the 1900 collection points across Australia. To locate your nearest MobileMuster collection point simply visit www.mobilemuster.com.au or call 1300 730 070.

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The wildflowers are out!!!!

There's something flowering at any time of the year!

Take a walk in your local remnant bushland, whether it be in Pennant Hills, Macquarie Park, Lindfield (just to name some random suburbs) or wherever it may be.

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See also: Friends events | What's on in the park | Events for volunteers

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