Restoring Habitats: Corridors and linkages – the dots that join us

Michael Petter has been involved in the conservation movement since the late 70’s.

He was the foundation president for both the Norman Creek Committee and the B4C. B4C is an acknowledged leader in ecological restoration in Brisbane. Through his time as chair of the NHT assessment panel, SEQ NHT technical assessment panel and SEQ Regional Strategy Group he developed an intimate understanding the landscape and rehabilitation priorities in SEQ.

Michael has also served on the QLD Landcare Catchment Management Council and the Qld Ministerial Advisory Committee on Vegetation Management. He was also the coordinator for the Brisbane Region Environment Council for 10 years and was awarded a Land and Water Australia Community Fellowship 2003 and recognised as Queensland Conservation Council Champion of Conservation in 2009. With the B4C he helped win the Theiss National Riverprize 2005 for the Oxbow Restoration Project.

For the last 9 years as well as being the chair of the B4C he has been involved, at SEQ Catchments, in the development of the SEQ Natural Resource Management Plan and Atlas for SEQ. In this role he has also assisted in the development of Nature Conservation Strategies with Council and State Agencies across SEQ.

Don’s research history runs from vegetation history to evolutionary ecology, and includes work on several important themes in landscape ecology; notably, plant invasions, threatened species and ecosystem recovery, effects of disturbance (fire, grazing, ploughing), as well as plant functional traits, and their integration into life-history strategies. Besides research, I’ve a background in vegetation survey and mapping as well as policy development and implementation (mainly vegetation clearing, nature refuges & biodiversity offsets). Broadly speaking, I’m interested in comprehending broad-scale patterns and processes affecting plants, and applying that knowledge to help people and the rest of life get along.

Professor Darryl Jones is a behavioural ecologist working in the fields of urban ecology and wildlife management. He is especially interested in urbanisation and the way certain species are adapting to this process.

Pollinator LinkTM Project Director, Michael Fox has a vision of 30,000 Brisbane backyards combining to create 800 hectares of urban wildlife habitat and bringing native animals back into our city lives. Michael draws on a background in marketing to help people see their gardens as part of a greater urban wildlife habitat.

Our communities are characterised by rapidly growing population, busy lifestyles, a culture of “quick fix” and barriers isolating people, as well as, wildlife. Brisbane has over 300,000 detached houses representing over 8,000 hectares of private garden space. The objective is to tap this opportunity by showing three simple steps a family can take at home to enhance even a small backyard, or balcony garden, with the colour, movement and song of native birds, butterflies and bees.

Recent Australian research shows obvious health benefits as well as significant increases real estate value. At the same time a Pollinator LinkTM initiative will create links among community members and create a sense of hope as individual households see how their backyard is part of local wildlife corridor and urban wildlife habitat.

An ambitious community Keep Sandgate Beautiful Association (KSBA) project partnering with Brisbane City Council to ensure Cabbage Tree Creek functions adequately to allow for genetic exchange and longterm survival of the gliders in suburbia.

Frank started his first bushcare group, which continues today, in 1973. He formed the Australian Nestbox Company in 1996. Now retired, he is immediate Past President of Keep Sandgate Beautiful Assn Inc and founder of the Glider Alliance. He has long had a passion for native plants, wildlife and natural places and will tonight talk about the challenges that squirrel gliders face in Brisbane and recent moves to secure their future.

Adrian was a Soil Scientist with Qld DPI 1965-1992 and consultant to federal and state governments in natural resources management 1992-2008. Adrian has a wide experience in natural resource assessment and management nationally, land management research in cropping and grazing lands, ecological research, program evaluation, staff development. Now retired, he is an active member of the Moggill Creek Catchment Group in a wide range of resource management aspects including creek health monitoring, assessing the distribution and threats from exotic vine management in the catchment and developing projects for their management. Enjoying collaborating with wonderful officers of BCC, Biosecurity Qld, SEQ Catchments and other volunteers and landholders in the region.