Major Native Species Restoration Project Delivered by Hay Plains Landcare
Hay Plains Landcare successfully deliver their “Restoring native species and rehabilitating ecosystems in the Hay Shire” project.
Capacity building - LEP23_036_LLC6_7
The issue
Drought, overgrazing and uneducated choices have diminished native plant and bird species in the Hay landscape. To assist in improving the biodiversity of the region there needs to be education and capacity building activities with landholders and community to inform them of the importance of rehabilitating the endemic species and the value this provides. Hay Plains Landcare are keen to address this environmental challenge and their goal is to build a culture of learning, adapting and appreciating the environment and aspiring to manage it in a sustainable way. Hence the “Restoring native species and rehabilitating ecosystems in the Hay Shire” project was born, assisted by the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust.
The solution
The strategy was to collect endemic native tree and shrub seeds to propagate with the establishment of a Nursery and Demonstration Site on the grounds adjacent to the Hay Gaol. The Nursery is a place where the community can access training, knowledge and resources to successfully establish native vegetation thus rehabilitate native plant and bird species. The project also involved eight Landholder Revegetation Sites, twenty-seven school and community workshops and events, weekly Landcare Alive nursery sessions, two professional informative videos and the production of three episodes of the Landcare Champion Podcast.
The impact
Seed collected and seedlings grown in the Nursery are suitable for planting on landholder rehabilitation sites, travelling stock reserves, crown land, Hay Shire Council land and gardens. Landholder Revegetation Sites have improved biodiversity in the region and will continue to regenerate into the future. A myriad of educational workshops and events have not only raised community awareness of the importance of restoring our landscape with native species, but have also provided information and skills to equip the community to conduct independent land rehabilitation. The Nursery and Demonstration Site, Landcare Champion Podcast and informative videos are valuable community resources for the future.
Key facts
- Native Nursery & Demonstration Site established
- 8 Landholder Revegetation Sites
- 7 Seed Collection and Propagation Workshops
- 19 School Educational Workshops
- This project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust