Fungi Festival debate

In April 2012 in conjunction with Fungimap we held the inaugural Fungi Festival. Here is the audio of the debate on the merits of eating wild fungi.

• Fungi Festival debate: Eating wild fungi - fun or foolhardy? Part 1
• Fungi Festival debate: Eating wild fungi - fun or foolhardy? Part 2
• Fungi Festival debate: Eating wild fungi - fun or foolhardy? Part 3

It's your backyard too!

 In April we launched our "It's your backyard too" campaign. The campaign provides an insight into the work that NRM South and our partners carry out and aims to encourage community involvement in natural resource management projects. The campaign focuses on our recent success stories.

For more information about opportunities to get involved in natural resource managemen sign up for our e-newsletter, check out our Events page, or visit our volunteer-support website www.naturehub.org.au.

TV commercials

Here are the four TV commercials. Scroll down to see the extended versions.

Rejuvenating our rivers

Crack willow and blackberry are common weeds along rivers and streams in southern Tasmania. Until recently Nicholls Rivulet, east of Cygnet, was becoming progressively choked by crack willow and other weeds. Willows cause problems because they are deciduous, dropping enormous amounts of organic matter into the water in autumn, causing a decrease in valuable oxygen for animals. In summer willows require vast amounts of water, often taking it up from the waterway at the expense of other users. They out-compete native plants, which are important food and habitat for native animals. In addition, their shallow roots cause the river bed to silt up and rise, causing flooding and braiding of the waterway.

The Nicholls Rivulet Landcare Group has worked hard to clear weeds, install fences and replant native vegetation, with assistance from NRM South and the Huon Valley Council.

Protecting shorebird breeding areas

NRM South and Glamorgan Spring Bay Council teamed up for an education campaign aimed at protecting the area's shorebirds. The local community, including schools and tourism operators, are now helping to spread the word about how we can protect these birds, for example by keeping dogs on lead and not walking near the upper reaches of the beach. Popular nesting areas were fenced in the hope that new bird families would flourish.

Helping students learn about their natural environment

The Austins Ferry campus of St Virgil's College sits on 50 acres of land comprising remnant bush, native grassland, and the sports and lawn areas you'd expect to find at a school.

Over the past eight years students have been working with the school’s Landcare Officer to rehabilitate wetlands and revegetate the grounds.  The students have been learning how to sustainably manage land and identify flora and fauna. The school has been successful in receiving two grants for landcare works through NRM South’s Naturally Inspired Grants.

Improving their land and attracting wildlife

Farmers Kim and Jason Evans run sheep on their 400 hectare farm on Bruny Island. They are looking for sustainable ways to make a living from the land while also protecting native wildlife and habitat on their farm.

They have worked closely with NRM South’s Mountain to Marine coordinator to identify potential issues on the property and solutions, as well as attending various training workshops.  The Evanses now have trial sites using sheep to re-invigorate the soil and pasture, and with the help of funding from NRM South have fenced off areas of remnant native vegetation to protect critically endangered species such as the forty-spotted pardalote and swift parrots.

If you'd like us to help you with a project, please get in touch.