The Private Land Conservation Matters program was a collaboration between the Biodiversity Conservation Trust and LandcareNSW that started back in June 2023. Here in the MidCoast area, we succeeded with our bid and kicked off the program in October 2023. With ongoing support from Midcoast Council, we have been able to supplement and expand our reach in the Private Land Conservation Matters program over this period to deliver 25 events to over 800 people. Landholders attending the events came from all over the MidCoast area and beyond to learn more about the diverse array of plants, animals, fungi that occupy our landscape. Together, we learnt about ways to enhance the habitat for some of our most threatened species, such as the koala. Max, the Koala Detection Dog from Canines for Wildlife, entertained us with his enthusiasm and keen nose at Minimbah, where he found fresh scats with extreme ease.
We looked at ways to monitor wildlife with camera traps and how to record these observations on NatureMapr so that our wildlife is recorded for the policy makers to reference. We got our hands dirty and pulled weeds, planted trees and then ate very special cake at morning tea. We shared stories and experiences and great lunches on private conservation properties, where hosts would inspire us all with their commitment to the protection of native ecosystems.
We walked in the rain and searched for Platypus.
We walked in the heat of summer amongst Eucalypts, basked in their ancient glory and tried to decipher the complex botanical keys that are used to identify them.
We spent time with botanical royalty, Dr Bill McDonald, in the cool, tall rainforest at Copeland Tops NP; and learnt about the diverse array of native orchids from experts in Krambach.
The program funded practical workshops where landholders learnt about the importance of providing water for wildlife during dry spells; and how to build an effective water pod with cheap and readily available materials.
Landholders were also able to learn more about Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and the Legislation surrounding it, dispelling common myths and misnomers about land reclamation. We visited a site with Culturally Modified Trees and learnt about matters of cultural importance and the oldest living culture in the world, inspiring respect and reverence among participants.
The program has been jam-packed with opportunities to learn and develop skills in restoring degraded ecosystems and aims to inspire landholders to conserve and protect the land on which they live and work, and we look forward to developing new educational programs in the very near future – watch this space!
Written by Isabelle Strachan, July 2025 All images supplied by Isabelle Strachan
