June 5^th is World Environment Day. You may be thinking “so what”?

The idea of having a special day to focus on the environment emerged in the early 1970s, and it was soon formalised by the United Nations General Assembly.

Since 1974, there has been a World Environment Day on June 5th every year. It has been used as a platform to raise awareness, support action and drive change for a healthier global environment. Each year has a theme; this year it’s ‘Biodiversity’.

It can be sobering, if not overwhelming, to think about the pressures on biodiversity on the global scale. Luckily at a more local level there is a lot we can do to leave a positive legacy for the plants, animals, and other organisms that constitute thriving ecologies.

Yass Gorge is a refreshing success story, and is a place we can visit regularly to experience the beauty and tranquility that results from local restoration.

Thanks to the hard work of local volunteers, Yass Gorge has been transformed over the past 30 years. These efforts are ongoing. Over six days in April this year, exotic weeds were removed from seven hectares in the north eastern end of the gorge, including Wild Plum, Blackberry and Hawthorn. Later this year more native plants will be planted.

Also, Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups and Friends of Yass Gorge successfully applied for funds from Local Land Services to undertake a flora and bird survey, fox management, native tree and shrub planting, as well as develop a Fire Management Plan for Yass Gorge.

There is a lot that we can do at a local level. Please get in touch if you would like to get involved.

Check out the wonderful booklet on Yass Gorge by clicking on the cover photo below.

During 2019 members of the YAN Climate Ready project team worked with Nola Hancock from Macquarie University, the author of the Climate Ready Revegetation guide.  This guide was a major reference document in the YAN Climate Ready project. The video below shows Nola Hancock providing an an explanation of the Climate Ready Revegetation Guide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tsHxIWz9v0%20

The second video shows members of the YAN Climate Ready team using the NicheFinder product which enables a user to determine the likely climate tolerance of defined plants - this information enables us to determine if the plant could survive in our regions future projected climate.  Further information on the YAN Climate Ready Project is available under the Project tab. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnVb3KwFHWI&feature=youtu.be

The Wilson family of Yass Landcare are using technology so that Landcare volunteers can comply with COVID-19 meeting restrictions.  Nursery volunteers are regularly required to water the historical Yass Hospital Roses located at the nursery site, to sow some of the groups native seed range, to weed or thin new seedlings etc.  Even in the upcoming cooler months plant nursery maintenance doesn't stop.  So if your Landcare group has a vital project that needs regular maintenance this SignUp product may assist you to comply with COVID-19 meeting restrictions but keep vital projects progressing two people at a time.  

Over the very hot Summer of 2019-2020 while our region had drought and other regions had extensive fires, some the YAN nursery volunteers expressed an interest in identifying plants which have fire retardant attributes. This list is our first attempt of such a list for our region using references mainly from the Australian Native Plant society.  

Bowning-Bookham Landcare members are also keen to expand our regions fire retardant list to include exotic plants.  Exotic seed has been ordered and will be grown at a Bowning-Bookham site over Autumn-Winter. If you have a keen interest in the identification and confirmation of fire resistant plants for our region please email Kath McGuirk YAN Chair, Kath McGuirk. 

  Acacia buxifolia is one of the fire retardant acacias grown across YAN nurseries.