This project strategically addressed important conservation issues across the states - feral cats, seed resilience, community waterwatch, on-ground works.
Projects were selected from the Landcare Tasmania Project Bank and potential partner projects that align with the Landcare Action Grants outcomes. Many of the projects for this grant round lie outside, or in addition, to the primary focus of our other Landscape Restoration projects in catchments like Meander, Coal River Valley, the South East, and Channel Huon.
There were two main components to these projects: on-ground works to address Landcare-based issues and outreach activities to build long-term community capacity in addressing such issues.
- On-ground activities involved riparian restoration works such as fencing, planting, weed control and erosion control.
- The outreach workshops and training covered feral cat management, waterwatch training, threatened species awareness, seed collection, and propagation techniques.
Overview of projects:
Pages Creek Catchment Restoration Project
Landcare Tasmania completed a Pages Creek Catchment Restoration Plan, with the aim of developing a catchment-based strategy to improve the health of Pages Creek to protect and restore the habitats of the Green and Gold Frog, along with other native aquatic and land-based species. This included the formation of the Pages Creek Catchment Landcare Group and planting and education for threatened species at ZooDoo Zoo.
A short video was created about the planting project, thanks to ZooDoo Zoo Tasmania.
Seed Resilience Project
Landcare Tasmania's Seed Resilience Project was initiated to address a decline in native plant propagation and the growing demand for local provenance plants for biodiversity projects.
Aimed at identifying local issues and gaps in native seed collection, a community meeting was held, and a survey was distributed among stakeholders. The findings from the meeting and survey were compiled into the 'State of Tasmanian Native Seed Report' by Ruth Mollison.
A communication network was set up to facilitate the conversation about native seed collection, storage, propagation, and training. The Facebook group, Native Seed Collectors Network Tasmania, was established, and Landcare Tasmania initiated the formation of Huon Valley Volunteer Landcare Nursery in 2023, in partnership with Huon Valley Council, providing training and resources for native plant propagation.
Community Waterwatch Pilot Projects
Landcare Tasmania delivered two pilot community Waterwatch projects in the South East and East Coast of Tasmania. The aim of these pilot projects was to build community capacity to monitor water quality and promote catchment health. Partnering with Kingborough Council, John Gooderham from the National Waterbug Blitz and Simon Roberts, Landcare Tasmania held two Water Quality Information & Training Session events for Landcare groups and interested community members of the North West Bay River Catchment and Bicheno.
The following groups were trained in water quality assessment and waterbug ID, and provided with equipment to carry out these activities:
- Allens Rivulet and Sandfly Landcare Group and the Friends of Longley Area Group (South East)
- Bicheno Landcare Group and Seymour Community Action Group Inc (East Coast)
The following locations are being regularly monitored by the community:
- North West Bay River
- Doctors Creek
The data is being collected and stored in a central location via an online form.
Feral Cats (East Coast)
In 2023, a pilot cat management project was undertaken on a private property on the East Coast. Landcare Tasmania and the landowner developed a feral cat project with the aim of monitoring and dispatching feral cats on private property. Due to the difficulties navigating legalities around trapping and dispatching feral cats, we are now working with experts in the field to develop a decision-making support tree. In six months of trapping, 44 cats were dispatched.
A community information session was held on the East Coast to increase awareness about the impacts of feral cats on wildlife, biodiversity and production.
On-ground projects
On-ground activities were undertaken with Landcare members across the states. Activities involved riparian restoration works such as fencing, planting, weed control and erosion control.
Figure: Map showing all the projects in the Landcare Action Grants Additional Round 2022-2024. (Credit: Lily Fraser 2023)
Click here for Additional Projects Round Updates
This project is funded by the State Government's Landcare Action Grants Round 7 and is part of Landcare Tasmania's Landscape Restoration and Community Outreach Programs.
