The Truth About Trees
The Truth About Trees
Restoring connectivity and improving biodiversity and productivity in the Yass area.
Stronger Together -
LLCI011-010
The issue
Fragmentation of remnant vegetation and loss of paddock trees is recognized by the Yass Area Landcare network (YaN) as a significant issue. YaN has been successful in obtaining funding through the Environmental Trust's Bushconnect program to restore wildlife habitat and vegetation across the working agricultural landscape. By returning areas to native vegetation, linking older remnant stands and protecting the grand old paddock trees across public and private land YaN aims to improve outcomes for both productivity and biodiversity, however, in order for this to happen the whole community needs to be on board.
The solution
The Truth About Trees was an opportunity to bring the local community together with ecologists, practitioners, private and public managers, and other related service providers to hear from the experts, share local knowledge and have a conversation about addressing the issues around habitat loss, fragmentation and declines in productivity and work out how we, as a Landcare community, can work together to improve this situation.
Speakers on the day included Professor David Lindenmayer from the ANU Fenner School, a leading expert in landscape ecology, conservation and biodiversity and two local landholders, Margie Fitzpatrick and Matt Doyle, who have been engaged in major revegetation and landscape repair on their properties over the years and have seen great changes in productivity and biodiversity on their properties and most importantly great satisfaction and improved mental health.
The impact
The event was sold out with 140 people registering and a further 20 on waiting list. Many of the people were new to Landcare or had not been involved for some time. The combined effect of having everyone in the room at the same time, all of the funding bodies, practitioner's, researchers and interested and willing landholders has resulted in a great uptake not only in the Yass Habitat Linkages program but also in many of the other opportunities that were on offer such as Greening Australia, Rivers of Carbon, South East Local Lands Services.
Key facts
- 140 people attended EXPO
- Colloboration between Landcare, Local Lands Services, Greening Australia, other agencies and organisations
- Presentations from experts and local land managers
- Aimed at boosting biodiversity and productivity outcomes