The Sydney Basin Koala Network ( SBKN ) has been established by the Total Environment Centre ( TEC ) and WIRES . Our aim is to protect and expand connected , thriving koala core habitats and corridors across the Sydney Basin . National Science Week is Australia ’ s annual celebration of science and technology running from August 12-20 . www . thepioneertavern . com . au
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Sydney Basin Koala Network comes to the Hawkesbury TRAINING FOR KOALA ADVOCATES
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The Sydney Basin Koala Network ( SBKN ) has been advocating for stronger protection of koalas in the Hawkesbury , and is now calling on locals to come and join SBKN and koala ecology experts Biolink for a day of citizen science training in Kurrajong on Saturday 12 August .
Learn how to find koalas , record data , and help koala conservation efforts in the region . Whether you are a regular koala spotter or have never seen a wild koala before , this training day is a chance to learn from experts and develop the skills to become a Koala Citizen Scientist .
“ In the last year in the Hawkesbury there have been koala sightings from Bilpin , Kurrajong , Mount Lagoon and Wilberforce right across to St Albans , Upper Colo , and Mogo Creek . The Hawkesbury is full of koalas who may have come closer to urban areas after the fires ,” said Stephanie Carrick , Manager Sydney Basin Koala Network .
“ We want to help the local community find evidence of koalas , and make sure that data is being used by decision makers in government . “ Only last weekend we found koala scats , most likely to be a mother and joey , under a tree at the Bilpin Rest Stop . And on 21 July , a koala was sighted in Grose Vale by a work crew .”
A key part of the SBKN project is to record data on koala populations , their habitat and how it connects , which will be used to develop stronger conservation efforts . If you are passionate about protecting koalas but not sure what to do , this training day is for you .
Known facts :
• Koala Persistence : Historical records show 1,489 ha of scattered long-standing resident koala populations across the Hawkesbury LGA . But it ’ s worth noting that in this large area of habitat , field surveys have been limited .
• Habitat : The Hawkesbury LGA is dominated by native vegetation and areas of National Park . Over half ( 57.1 %) of the vegetation in the Hawkesbury is preferred koala habitat - that ’ s 158,435 ha . Koalas in the Sydney Basin have large home ranges so they require more habitat to meet their nutritional needs than in other parts of NSW , as such , protection of this habitat is critical to their survival .
• Threats , fire : Fire is a huge threat to the Hawkesbury koalas : the 2019 / 2020 bushfires burnt over three quarters ( 78.7 %) of the koala habitat in the Hawkesbury . The impacts of these fires on the koalas here is yet to be fully understood , but it is known that substantial fire impacts occurred in areas where longstanding resident koala populations live . The extent of fire here illustrates the importance of protecting unoccupied habitat for koalas to move into .
What : Sydney Basin Koala network citizen science training day When : 12 August 2023 10am - 4pm Where : 1st Grove Vale Scout Hall ,
Kurrajong Cost : $ 25 or free for Hawkesbury locals with the code “ KOALACHAMPION ”
Link : events . humanitix . com / koala-citizen-science-trainingday-in-the-hawkesbury or head to sydneybasinkoalanetwork . org . au
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The Sydney Basin Koala Network ( SBKN ) has been established by the Total Environment Centre ( TEC ) and WIRES . Our aim is to protect and expand connected , thriving koala core habitats and corridors across the Sydney Basin . National Science Week is Australia ’ s annual celebration of science and technology running from August 12-20 . www . thepioneertavern . com . au
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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 159 // AUGUST 2023 23