Landcare Tasmania member group and highly active nature conservation group the North East Bioregional Network (NEBN) have won a prestigious international award for the Restore Skyline Tier project which involves restoring Radiata Pine plantations back to biodiverse native forests at a landscape scale.
Image: The Skyline Tier Project before and after regeneration, The North East Bioregional Network
The Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia (SERA) International Award for Restoration Excellence (Larger Scale Projects Category) was presented to the NEBN at the SERA Conference in Darwin this month.
The award acknowledges individuals or organisations that have made a significant, enduring or internationally recognized contribution to the science and/or practice of ecological restoration through achieving high standards of practice at a site, the development of innovative new approaches and methods and also strategies for involving the public in restoration efforts.
North East Bioregional Network President Todd Dudley said “We are very proud and excited to receive such a significant award from SERA”
“We acknowledge and thank our major project partners New Forests and Timberlands Pacific for their contribution to the project and their willingness to work constructively with us and be open minded about trying different conservation land management methodologies”.
“The project is a great example of the forest industry and a conservation group working together for positive ecological outcomes including restoring important coastal water catchments, regenerating diverse native forests, recovering habitat for threatened species and improving wildlife corridors”
“The Restore Skyline Tier project has also demonstrated that well planned and implemented ecological restoration projects can generate excellent social and economic benefits for rural communities including providing employment and training opportunities and improving mental and physical health”
“A range of programs (ie Green Army) and grants from Federal Governments as well as support from organisations such as Environment Tasmania, Landcare Tasmania, The Wilderness Society, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Highways and Byways, UTAS, My Pathways and local volunteers have all contributed to the projects success”.
What a great way to bring in the United Nations Decade On Ecosystem Restoration which commences on the 5th of June (World Environment Day).
We are so proud and inspired by the hard work of this group. This is well-deserved, international recognition for their restoration excellence!
Further reading:
Read about the Restore Skyline Tier project.
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
The Society for Ecological Restoration (SERA).
Ecosystem restoration and public health.
Tasmanian Community Landcare Conference - Restoration: Reconnecting People, Place and Nature
