Dungog Area Workshop Wrap-Up
Koala habitat mapping as part of the NSW Koala Strategy 2021 – 2026 identified Koala ARKS (Areas of Regional Koala Significance), one of which (Barrington ARKS) falls within the Hunter Region. Private lands play a crucial role in improving and connecting habitat across the region (in and outside of established ARKS); Citizen science has great potential for filling data gaps to help inform koala conservation efforts.
After discussions with stakeholders, it was decided to run a Landcare led Koala Habitat Restoration Workshop in Dungog in late May 2024, offering a collaborative platform to address critical data gaps and enhance community understanding and involvement in koala habitat restoration. The event featured a rich agenda of presentation and activities focused on practical restoration and conservation techniques as well as programs available to support landholders.
Represented were Hunter Local Land Services (HLLS), Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT), Hunter Region Landcare Network (HRLN), Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Dungog Common Recreation Reserve Land Management Trust and Dungog Commoners Landcare, who each presented information on their expertise and role in habitat conservation and science and opportunities available to landholders needing support for on-ground actions. Whitney Ridgeway, HLLS, gave a heartfelt welcome to Country and led us through a walk and talk on cultural management on the Dungog Common and the significance of the koala to traditional people and connectedness of people of all walks of life to Country.
The HLLS koala landholder program is available for landholders in and around the Barrington ARKS; The HRLN Koala paddock tree program is allowing landholders to obtain electric fencing to put around an isolated paddock tree to bring about a new generation of koala feed trees as the parent tree reaches senescence. To enter into conservation agreements, the BCT is available to assist with vegetation assessment and options for each situation. Attendees will be kept up to date with the I-Spy koala app developments and citizen science initiatives in the coming weeks and months.
A huge thank you to all the committed individuals and Landcare members that came to the workshop and are taking action to support koalas.
