Koala Habit Corridor Program - providing landholder support
Working with landholders in Kurrajong to overcome challenges encountered since starting the Koala Habitat Corridor Program 8 months ago.
Capacity to Deliver - LP042-02
The issue
The Koala Habitat Corridor Program started successfully last year and continues to have tremendous results for the local habitat. Contractors have been completing works and landholders have been managing their properties and recording progress as they go. About mid-project landholders and the LLC realised that there were skills which landholders could be better equipped with to accurately record progress, for example setting up and learning how to use photo points for recording and monitoring purposes, both for the project and also long-term.
Covid-19 restrictions also limited the ability for landholders to meet regularly and the group lacked a medium to share ideas and discoveries and address their queries.
The solution
The LLC consulted with landholders and contractors to discuss queries, challenges and strategies to overcome the issues mentioned above. The LLC and LLS staff responsible visited properties to check contractors' progress, set up and demonstrate to landholders how to use photo points for long-term monitoring progress and discuss the next stages of project work on their properties, including in-kind work and future planning.
The LLC also set up a group Facebook page for participants to share photos of what they are finding on their property, gain assistance with identification of species and keep in touch in general to maintain morale. This is crucial in areas such as this where landholders rely on their own motivation to do in-kind work.
The impact
We will hopefully see a better record of before and after images in the next 3 months when reporting is next due. Landholders found the property visits very useful, asked many questions and gained some confidence that project works are happening and successful on surrounding properties. The Facebook group has also been successful, with landholders sharing photos of endangered species such as Cumberland Plain Woodland, the beloved koalas, species they are discovering and works undertaken, such as planting. This has also been an easy and intermediary way to remain up to date with the project and share relevant news.
Key facts
- Landholders can visualise and share the progress of their work when they are taught simple skills for accurate before and after monitoring.
- Facebook group established to act as information forum for the program.