Friends of Strzelecki Koalas

The Friends of Strzelecki Koalas is a project set up under the South Gippsland Landcare Fund.

The Landcare Fund has been established to "support the environmental objects of the South Gippsland Landcare Network as defined in the Role and Statement of Purpose".

Role of the Network

SGLN works with our local community to improve the long-term sustainability of farming and the environment in South Gippsland

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

South Gippsland Landcare Network, through community action, helps to preserve, protect and enhance the environment of South Gippsland by working with government agencies and local businesses to achieve natural resource management outcomes.

Why are we collecting funds?

Friends of Strzelecki Koalas- Habitat for Life is a community based three year project to increase habitat and the ecological resilience of landscape for Strzelecki Koalas and other important native species.

The project will involve identification of key remnant patches and identification of revegetation area to create biolinks. On ground works will be a key component of overall project, starting in year one and becoming a larger part of the project in years two and three. Active management of our remnants and revegetation areas will be a key to the long term ecological resilience of the landscape and ultimately the protection of our native species. Community awareness and education will further enhance the project by actively engaging the community in seed collection, propagation, tree planting, koala counts, weed control and assistance to research projects.

All revegetation efforts as part of Friends of Strzelecki koalas will contribute to our overall goal of One Million Trees for South Gippsland over the next 5 years.

The funds will be used in two ways

1. Grants to Landcare members to undertake specific activities such as
   • Revegetation work to repair and restore the treed landscape
   • Developing and planting wildlife corridors, linking areas of fragmented bushland
   • Fencing off and replanting riparian areas to rehabilitate waterways and improve water quality, both in the river or stream and the inlets they flow into.
2. By SGLN to produce
   • Education programs that empower landholders to understand their responsibilities, identify threats and developing solutions to pest plant and animal control, revegetation and land use.

Key areas of expenditure:

• On ground works
  • Tubestock, fencing, chemicals for weed control,
• Mapping and monitoring
  • Photo point monitoring
  • Recording on ground work on digital maps for reporting and publicity purposes
• Education and Promotion
  • Guest speakers and advertising for field days/ information sessions
  • Production of educational material - flyers, information sheets, activity sheets