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Conservation by the Araucaria team

On the Araucaria property

• Conservation of native habitats on the Araucaria property: seasonally-dry rainforest and rainforest regrowth, Eucalyptus tereticornis with understorey of native grass (mostly Themeda), riparian forest of sheoaks, melaleuca and others, and the creek itself
• Restoration of rainforest - fencing off from horse-grazing, clearing weeds, sometimes planting young local trees
• Control of weeds and feral animals - we wage a continuing battle against introduced weeds such as lantana and crofton weed, and swiftly dispose of the introduced cane toad (which poisons our wildlife if eaten)
• Monitoring of fauna and flora - a standard bird count in five localities on and adjacent to our property is undertaken quarterly, live traps for mammals set at least twice a year, and other observations of all animals plus fruiting and flowering of all plants  more opportunistically. We can thus keep alert for any changes over the years
• Use of Scenic Rim Wildlife Ecology Centre for local group meetings and education
  

Elsewhere

• Involvement in community education, especially through Scenic Rim Wildlife, of which Ronda is chair - running workshops and an annual Wildlife Expo, discussions on the Scenic Rim Wildlife Facebook, attendance and participation in various events
• Input into sustainability of wildlife tourism, especially through Wildlife Tourism Australia, of which Ronda is chair, and runs the WTA Facebook page as well as organising workshops, regularly contributing to the website and to the wildlife research network, communicating with members, sending newsletters etc.
  
• Ronda and Darren are both on the committee of Protect The Bush Association, and started its Facebook site, which they still contribute to
  
• Research on the interdependence of plants and animals - especially fruit-eating animals that disperse the seeds of native trees, shrubs, vines and other plants
• Rescue of injured or orphaned native animals and transport to vet or carer
• Through our environmental consultancy we assist with the designation of conservation areas, monitoring and advice on conservation management or minimising of developmental impacts
• Also see our tourism and conservation page
  

• helping to find (and where possible photograph) koalas, gliders, platypus, threatened bird species and others to send information to Wildlife Preservation Society, Australia Koala Foundation, academic researchers and local councils to assist development of conservation management plans including where corridors may be needed,
• helping to record seasonal changes (what do animals eat and where do they need to go in different seasons) and visitors to flowers and fruits (some of which may need the animals for pollination or seed dispersal), which will assist in assessing whether needs re adequately met in protected areas and habitat fragments on private or public lands
• collecting native seeds and preparing experimental plots for research into the needs of local plants dispersed by birds and other animals
  

• helping to clear lantana on creek banks where it might impede establishment of platypus burrows,
  
• weeding around young natives
• planting of food-plants for wildlife in damaged habitat fragments.