Things are a bit frantic here at the moment. Lots of balls in the air but plenty of good
results !!!I'm currently in the process of organizing planting days for the Western District Tree Muster Project. It looks like we'll have some 26 on ground projects, which will involve some 6-7 school groups, 3 community groups and 2 corporate group volunteers invloved in planting some 100,000 trees (about 15,000 seedlings and the remainder through direct seeding). We're also exploring some new ways to get our Kickstart Your Reserve Initiative off the ground (see Feb blog entry). We hope that this will evolve into a large part of what we do. We'll be having a Kickstart Your Reserve coach tour in September to help generate interest in the initiative - more details closer to the date. We just missed out on a submission to DSE for a Capacity Building Coordinator to oversee the project and faciliatte 10 on ground projects. There were 14 submissions and we came in 3rd but with plenty of encouragement to make the project happen. we're also in the process of looking for funding to help revegetate the first stage of the Warnambool-Port fairy Rail Trail. I'll keep you posted if we are successfull. The stategic plan and website are about 2 weeks off being complete. We will also have our Annual Report Card availible on the website for download. The website will also have availible for download, a shelter belt brochure and a Basalt to Bay brochure aimed at farmers.In terms of Revamping Landcare capacity building events, we have 2 direct seeding field days coming up in August and also in August we'll be assiting Heytsbury Landcare Network to deliver a Dung Beetle workshop in Koroit with John Feehan (International Dung Beetle Expert).Although personally I'm not a fan of the man made climate change model, I think we really need to look carefully at how we can change the way we live. Paul Gilding had some interesting things to say about this subject on Background Briefing recently :http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/And lastly, the results of Caring For Our Country funding applications should be out shortly. It will be interesting to see if some of the larger projects in our region have been successfull in getting up - particuarly the Outback to Ocean project and Kanawinka project.
Well, things have been busy here at the network. We've almost completed our strategic plan for the next 6 years and will be having our final planning day in the next fortnight. The plan will be availible as a download on our website. Talking of which, Tim Umney of Umney Media has just completed our new website (www.basalttobay.org.au) and I hope to finalise content and have it up and running by the end of the month. Feel free to give us your feedback on what's good and what's not. I reckon Tim has done an awesome job on the site - so thanks Tim !
Thanks also to David Nichols from the Glenelg Hopkins CMA, for his ongoing support for the network and the $9,000 from the GHCMA to complete our strategic plan and website.I am also pleased to announce that we were succcessfull in recieving $3,308 from the Victorian Volunteer Small Grants scheme for our Revamping Landcare in Gunditjmarra Country project, which will assist towards the provision of Landcare based training activities later in the year. Thanks to the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development and the Minister for Community Development.
Landcare Coordinators/Facilitators from all around Victoria met in Castlemaine on Tuesday the 28th April, to explore the concept of forming a Landcare network. The forum was organised and facilitated by Ross Colliver from the Landcare & Community Engagement Unit of DSE. Around 35 people turned out from a wide range of groups - some departmental, some community. Key themes to emerge from the forum included :- The benefits of forming a network
- Challenges to forming a network
- How to engage stakeholders in forming a network
- Different regions have different styles of network
- There is 'no one model fits all' approach for networks
- Communication & relationships are the keys to successfull networks
- With current funding scarcity, only well organised networks will survive.
From the days dialogue, it seems that the picture of a succfull network, is one that :- Has a clear structure & function
- Has a steering committee or board with clear roles
- Has good communication with individual Landcare groups
- Respects individual Landcare group autonomy, while looking at the big picture
- Has multiple funding sources
- Has a well thought out strategic plan, that has considered the views of the network and Landcare groups
- Has a proactive coordinator and good communication between staff and the board.
The event was a great opportunity to network with other people in a similar situation. The forum will meet again in July and August.
The Glenelg Hopkins CMA & Carbon Smart officially launched their carbon pool partnership in Hamilton yesterday. The new program will see the CMA helping to facilitate Carbon Smart partnerships with land holders in the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment. Minimum requirements to be eligible for the scheme are 10 ha of native (local providence)/biodiverse reveg planted after 1st January 1990 (min height 2m). Carbon Smart can also fund reveg works. All participants must have their projects pass a comprehensive assessment and sign up to leaving the carbon (trees) on site for 130 years. Participants recieve an annual 60 % of the total sale price of their carbon.
Matthew Reddy (Manager of Carbon Smart) said that the program will target larger holdings first, then move towards smaller holdings later. Matthew also suggested that the Glenelg Hopkins area was the only area of 56 regions in the state to take up the program. Which means that all Victorian corporate sponsorships for Carbon Smart will come into our region, until such time as other regions come on board.Further information about Carbon Smart can be found on their website http://www.carbonsmart.com.au/or by contacting the GHCMA on 55712526.
Basalt to Bay Landcare Network and Glenelg Hopkins CMA, will be co-hosting a series of activities later in the year, aimed at revamping interest in Landcare and supporting current 'Landcarers' in our region. Activities are set to include shelter belt tours, designing the landscape bbq's, direct seeding field days and 1 or 2 catchment tours looking a wide spectrum of environmental works in the B2B area. Thus far areas to be included in shelter belt tours and bbq's include the Moyne area (around Port fairy, Rosebrook, Toolong & Killarney), the Merri catcment area (Purnim, Warrnamboo & Dennington) and Mortlake area (Mortlake, Woorndoo, Caramut & surrounds)I hope to post further details in the next month or so, once we have confirmed some additional details. Publicity (inlcuding flyers) will be distributed about 6-7 weeks prior to each event.
Even though it's a long way, there is a seminar that maybe of interest to local land holders.The flyer I've been sent says :“WILL OUR RAIN RETURN? WHAT HELP CAN WE GET?”4.00 p.m. – 8.30 p.m. Wednesday March 11, 2009Mechanics Hall, 143 Inglis Street, Ballan. Four speakers from 4.00-6.00 pm on drought assistance:What can a Rural Financial Counsellor do for you? (Brian Gardiner)Assistance available to farmers through Centrelink (Janine Ryan)Availability of stock water from Shire stand pipes (Andrew Bainbridge)Bores as source of stock water (Elissa McNamara, South’n Rur. Water)Dr Harvey Stern, Bureau of Meteorology, at 7 pm on“What has happened to our rain?”Prof David Karoly, Earth Science, Melb Uni, 7.30-8.30 pm“Why has our rainfall declined? What is the likely future trend?”Ring or leave message for John on 0428 354 635: State number of people, name(s), phone number and which parts you will attend. OR: E mail same details to John at: .
Further information is availible from the South West Climate Change Forum website at : http://www.swccf.com.au/ .
Yesterday I went to a televised information session of the federal governments Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. It's quite an extensive scheme, that will impact on most of us through additional down stream costs incurred by the goods and services that we use. The bottom line is this :- The CPRS is a cap & trade system
- The government will cap the no. of permits
- 70 % of permits will be auctioned off, 25 % will go to trade exposed sectors that are emissions intensive and 5-6 % will go towards the electricity adjustment scheme
- The scheme will target the 1000 highest emitters, who represent 75 % of all emissions
- The feds are committed to reducing Australia's emissions by 5 % (unconditionally, even if there is no international agreement on set reductions) and up to 15 (if there is an international agreement on emissions reductions)
- Incentives and financial support will be offered to offset additional costs but this will be reduced over time
- The Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority will be established in 2010
- Business will be encouraged to favour clean energies or more efficient energy practices
- Agriculture (which represents 16 % of emissions) will not be included until 2015 (with the final decision to be made in 2013)
- revegetation of the native environment is seen as a viable means to offset costs through the aquisition of carbon credits
Further information can be found via the Department of Climate Change here :http://www.climatechange.gov.au/index.htmlhttp://www.climatechange.gov.au/emissionstrading/index.htmlDPI & South West Climate Change Forum will host an information session on Emission Trading Schemes and Carbon Calculators on Monday 2nd March 2009 1.00-3.00pm at DemoDairy (7161 Princes Hwy, Terang). Further information is availible from the SWCCF website http://www.swccf.com.au/ .
Stock and Land have an interesting article this week on the future of Landcare after the release of the federal governments stimulus package. The issues raised are the very same one's we're dealing with. How will Landcare survive in the face of fading volunteerism and a lack of government support. The article cam be found here : http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/agribusiness-and-general/general/the-future-of-landcare-in-doubt/1438841.aspx . If you have any thoughts on this, kick start a discussion of the issue here : http://b2blcn.ning.com/forum/topics/the-survival-of-landcare . It would be great to know what you think.
Australian scientists have developed a new model for understanding Australian climate, which goes beyond the El Nino/La Nina model. An article on the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) can be found here : http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/agribusiness-and-general/general/major-change-in-climate-thinking/1424667.aspx?src=enews .
For anyone interested in Fire, I heard Stephen Pyne on ABC Radio the other day - some consider him the world expert on the history and management of fire. He's written a couple of great books Burning Bush (1991) and The Still Burning Bush (2006) and is an expert on the Australian situation. Check out his website at : http://www.public.asu.edu/~spyne/ .
The recent Victorian Bushfires present many valuable lessons for Landcare. The two that really stand out are good weed management plan (to avoid the accumulation of inaccessible and high fire risk areas) and careful revegetation planning (especially near houses). I guess for a lot of communities as well, all the work they have done has gone up in smoke. Lets hope that there's a lot of regeneration. If Bushfires and Landcare work are an issue of concern that you would like B2B to explore with DSE/CFA/CMA/DPI, please contact me (richardb2b@gmail.com or mobile 0458 268 119) and I'll see if we can organise some kind of information/planning day.
On behalf of all of the members of the Basalt to Bay Landcare Network I would like to offer my heart felt condolences to all of the families of people affected by the recent Victorian Bushfires.
I also offer my condolences to those families who have previously been affected by bushfires. For many of you recent events will have awoken the trauma that you have suffered.
I also would like to offer my praise to all the emergency service workers (including police, ambulance, doctors, pilots, CFA members, counsellors, etc.) and the many members of local communities who have shown great courage and compassion in assisting their fellow human beings. Great work !Lets hope the 2008-2009 Victorian fire season is finished.
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