Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s next Environmental Sundowner will showcase conservation innovation, giving us hope that positive action is happening despite many threats to nature.
Not the End of the World: Conservation in Action will be held at the Margaret River HEART on Tuesday, February 25 from 6pm-8.30pm, with three expert speakers followed by an audience Q&A. Tickets are $15 for Nature Conservation members and $25 for non-members including a free drink and canapes, and can be booked HERE or by following the links on our Events page.
Already confirmed as a speaker is Dr Sophia Callander, a senior wildlife ecologist from the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, who says innovations in technology are transforming and boosting wildlife management, monitoring and research.
She will discuss the Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary on Badimia Country on the eastern edge of the WA Wheatbelt, where the chuditch or western quoll and the gumal or common brushtail possum have been released outside a fenced safe haven into an environment where cats and foxes are present but managed.
“Several reintroduced species, including woylies and numbats have also self-released from inside the safe haven to beyond the fence,” Dr Callander said.
The conservancy is using AI to identify individual species from extensive camera footage from feral animal monitoring. “In addition, we’re trialling the individual identification of cats and chuditch, based on characteristics recorded on remote cameras, to estimate population densities,” she said. “Simultaneously, we are using an advanced drone-mounted radio-telemetry system, capable of detecting multiple animals at once, to track survival and dispersal of recently reintroduced species.
“Together these tools and technologies are significantly reducing the time spent monitoring species of interest for on-ground conservation organisations and improving management outcomes for vulnerable species in Australia.”
The next sundowner is the 10th in Nature Conservation’s series, each putting the spotlight on a conservation topic and covering ways which the community can help the local environment, native flora and wildlife.
Nature Conservation general manager Drew McKenzie said we are often bombarded with bad news stories about the environmental, but he said success stories abound as well. “Our next sundowner is the perfect opportunity to look at some of the wins – both locally and further afield – to celebrate significant impact and see what we can learn from what’s happening elsewhere,” he said.
Nature Conservation ’s sundowner series organiser Jodie Passmore said the evening would be a fantastic opportunity for the community to learn more, be informed and ask questions from leading experts, and combat the “doom and gloom” by celebrating some good news stories.
“Our other two speakers are almost finalised, and we’re really excited about the expert talent that our community will have the chance to hear and learn from,” she said.
Nature Conservation’s Environmental Sundowner Series is possible thanks to funding from the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.