PROJECT hot spot
ENVIRO
Saving Squirrel Gliders & providing education
3
One community at a time
KIRSTEN VELTHUIS
Our Natural Resource Management team has been out and about for RMS monitoring microbats, birds and squirrel gliders. The NRM team manage a threatened species monitoring program on the bypass of the towns of Tarcutta and Woomargama, and as of Spring 2013, Holbrook.
Kirsten invited a representative from the Holbrook Landcare Network to join her during the Spring 2012 monitoring program for environmental education and community liaison. This was to allow the local representative to see how SMEC works and raise our profile with them.
During the Autumn 2013 monitoring program SMEC, again, teamed up with Holbrook Landcare Network, this time to organise a community talk about the squirrel gliders.
The talk was presented by Dr David Sharpe (SMEC Brisbane), who expertly engaged both adults and children in the audience. (Image above - lower left) The talk was followed by a nocturnal spotlighting session in the nearby reserve, led by David and Kirsten.
It was a highly successful night attended by over 40 people
It achieved the aim of providing education on the threatened squirrel glider and simple techniques for local landowners to aid in the recovery of this species. As the team will be working in the area for another three years, they are keen to continue to build their relationship with the Holbrook Landcare
Network and to continue to provide
environmental education within
the local community.
For more info Contact Kirsten Velthuis or
Jennifer Anson