The R’s of Restoration –Restoring biodiversity through resilience, regeneration, reintroduction and reconnecting to country
Presentations and the Presenters
Restoration Approaches
Tein McDonald: Yes it’s all about resilience assessment – but accurate prediction requires ongoing trial and error.
The National Standards describe how four restoration approaches fit along a continuum of resilience – with spontaneous natural regeneration at the highest resilience end and full reconstruction at the lowest. But the tricky questions arise in the middle zones of the continuum where it is harder to predict where a facilitated regeneration approach may be sufficient alone and where some level of reintroduction may also be needed. Tein draws on recent case studies that tested her assumptions about both regeneration potential and the value of reintroductions.
Tein McDonald led the team that produced the National Standards, a document that brings together lessons from restoration from around the globe. Straddling the two worlds of science and practice, Tein particularly draws on the ecological literature about resilience and disturbance as well as her ongoing experience in on-ground restoration of sclerophyll, rainforest and grassland sites in eastern Australia.
Craig McGrath: Applying the 12 elements from the national standards to contract specs. Craig will share how to apply the National Standards to contracts and cover
- Designing restoration, regeneration, resilience programs around urban systems that don’t have an actual reference pallet
- Incorporating National Standard elements within a repeatable rapid assessment tool that incorporates ecological function indicators > EVC extent > structure > systems recovery
- Adapting data into trending information .. (adaptive management principles)
- A design of contracts to measure outcomes & weighting imperatives to resolve agreed performance
Craig is the Biodiversity Officer for the The City of Yarra
Brian Bainbridge: Wait & See – The benefits of time to explore resilience.
A case study on a delayed riparian restoration project intended for planting but ultimately no planting required.
Monitoring Resilience
Lincoln Kern: Sorting out the R words: Using the National Ecological Restoration Standards to Improve Restoration Project Design.
The talk will introduce the standards and demonstrate how they can be “localised” through developing local restoration design guides with process and resources to inform integrated designs that respect the power of natural regeneration.
Lincoln Kern is an ecologist with a keen interest in indigenous biodiversity conservation and environmental issues who aims to apply integrated ecological knowledge to complete effective restoration projects and to guide land use planning. Lincoln was trained in botany and environmental science in the USA, went on to study environmental management at Deakin University in Melbourne then learned about Australian flora and fauna, ecological restoration, development planning and infrastructure management through working on many real projects on the ground across Victoria over time. He has owned and managed Practical Ecology P/L, an ecological consultancy and restoration contractor, since 1993.
Prior to starting Practical Ecology, he worked for Greening Australia Victoria and the National Trust’s Save the Bush as project officer and technical supervisor respectively. Lincoln has been providing expertise in flora and fauna survey, environmental planning, bushland restoration, environmental and noxious weed control, revegetation and land management services for over 30 years for a wide range of clients.
His mission as a consultant and company is to help people, whether in government or as private citizens, to protect and manage indigenous flora and fauna during planning and development processes, and restore habitat and ecosystem services where possible.
Ian & Michael Davidson : COVRAM – A simple tool for better native vegetation management
A new free user friendly App to monitor condition – focusing on resilience elements . COVRAM stands for condition of vegetation rapid assessment method
Ian Davidson – Ecologist
- Over 30 years of experience in native vegetation assessments and providing land management advice
- Developed the Covram methodology to provide land managers with a framework to make informed decisions about the management of native vegetation
Michael Davidson – Tech guy
- Engineering background
- Previous experience reviewing emissions calculations in the Sustainability and Climate Change team at PwC
- Co-Founder and CTO of an e-commerce company supplying retailers and individuals across the US and Australia
Danny Pettingill: Utilising Drones in Weed Surveillance Treatment and Management.
The adoption of drone technology is increasing across industries providing advancements and efficiencies in data collection, analysis and on-ground outcomes. This technology provides significant opportunity in the landscape management sector to collect data, utilise multispectral and GIS workflows and deploy on ground outcomes more efficiently whether deploying drones or traditional boots-on-the-ground workforce. This talk will dive into how drones can be deployed as a data collection and decision-making tool to provide better outcomes for the industry and in restoring landscapes.
Danny is the Director of Firetail Environments, specialising in environment and sustainable agriculture & carbon projects, and drone workflow and deployment services. Firetail works in the niche between agriculture and conservation to promote management for biodiversity and production through sustainable environmental management techniques
Danny’s passion is in collaboration and design, having made a career as a designer, artist, engineer and educator at the forefront of innovative practice, and he brings this energy into landscape development, restoration and sustainable farming projects.
He is the former Manager – Operations and Projects with Loddon Plains Landcare Network, has recently finished his term as a Director of Landcare Victoria Inc. and currently sits on the City of Greater Bendigo Farming and Agribusiness Advisory Committee.
In 2020, Danny was a top 12 finalist for the National Landcare Australia Bob Hawke Award for efforts and actions in promoting sustainable agriculture in Victoria and is a former recipient of the DEECA Our catchment our Communities Leader in Innovation Award undertaking research in advancing techniques in landscape function, catchment health and decision-making in land management and project design.
Reconnecting to Country
Liam Gallagher : Igniting change: Collaboration for cultural fire.
This presentation explores the need for agencies to enhance their engagement with Aboriginal fire practitioners and each other to effectively support cultural fire practices. It will delve into:
– The significance of cultural fire: Understand its role in Aboriginal culture, land management, and environmental health.
– Barriers to collaboration: Explore the challenges hindering effective engagement between agencies and Aboriginal communities.
– Building collaborative pathways: Discover practical strategies for fostering productive partnerships and supporting cultural fire initiatives.
Liam Gallagher is a Gunditjmara man and the current Cultural Burns Officer for the Port Phillip Region; working for Forest Fire Management Victoria. Liam has a Masters in Disaster and Emergency Management with Charles Darwin University and has been with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action for 3-years working previously as a Forest and Fire Operations Officer.
Liam’s role as a Cultural Burn Officer is to support the cultural fire and other land management goals of Traditional Owners across the Port Phillip Region which includes all of metropolitan Melbourne. Liam is passionate about Traditional Owner cultural fire rights, and the environmental benefits of cultural fire in the Victorian landscape.
Jillian West & Uncle Shane: Cultural protocols
Ben Cullen : Sharing, Learning and Working Together: On Country Learning
Ben Cullen, Chelsea Cooke and Renee Sweetman have been working on the Warreen Beek Conservation and Ecosystem Course for First Nations Students. Chelsea and Renee are ex students who have come back to the course to help teach future students. The course has been running for 7 years and allows a chance for First Nations students from all around Australia to come and learn from Elders and Community members on country. We will talk about the course, Indigenous Land Management and pathways
Welcome to Country –
Plenary Panel of presenters chaired by Tein McDonald
How can we progress good quality outcomes at scale?
Social Networking
During the Forum and informally at the 4-5pm Napier Hotel.
The forum in fully catered by Asylum Seeker Refuge Centre – sponsored by The City of Yarra
Tickets
- Student – $20
- Unwaged – $60
- AABR individual member -$85
- Individual non-member -$105
- AABR member Agency/local Government – $120
- Non-member Agency/local government – $150
By joining AABR you will be supporting our mission to foster healthy environments by supporting communities, professionals and governments to more effectively protect, repair and manage Australia’s native bushland & biodiversity. You will also be eligible for discounts on future events and receive a quarterly AABR Newsletter.
Sponsors & Stall Holders
Platinum – City of Yarra
Gold – Arborgreen, DNA Training
Bronze – ECAVic, Stantec Australia, Merri Creek Catchment Committee ,Globalgreen Environmental
Promotional sponsor – NRM Jobs, Naturelinks
Hosted by The Australian Association of Bush Regenerators- Victoria
In 2019 the Victorian branch of The Australian Association of Bush Regenerators was established – AABRVic.
The branch reflects the organisational ethos to promote the study and practice of ecological restoration, and foster and encourage effective management of natural areas by qualified people, based on sound ecological principles.
Program Outline
The program is now finalised. The day will provide lots of opportunities for learning and connecting with members of the bush regeneration sector.
8:30 – 9:00 Registration
9:00 – 9:05 Official Welcomes
9:05 – 9:10 Housekeeping
9:10 – 9:20 Welcome to Country
9:20 – 9:40 Cultural protocols – Jillian West & Uncle Shane
9:40 – 10:00 Yes it’s all about resilience assessment -but accurate prediction requires ongoing trial and error – Tein McDonald
10:00 – 10:10 Applying the 12 elements from the national Restoration Standards to contract specs – Craig McGrath
10:10 – 10:20 Q & A
10:20 – 10:50 Morning tea/Networking
10:50 – 11:20 Sorting out the R words: Using the the National Ecological Restoration Standards to improve restoration project design – Lincoln Kern
11:20 – 11:50 Wait & See – The benefits of time to explore resilience – Brian Bainbridge
11:50 – 12:20 COVRAM – A simple tool for better native vegetation management – Ian and Michael Davidson
12:20 – 1:20 Lunch/Networking
13:20 – 1:50 Utilising Drones in Weed Surveillance, Treatment and Management – Danny Pettingill
1:50 – 2:20 Igniting change: collaboration for cultural fire – Liam Gallagher
2:20 – 2:50 Sharing, Learning and Working Together: On Country Learning – Ben Cullen, Chelsea Cooke and Renee Sweetman
2:50 – 3:00 A few words from our Gold Sponsors Arborgeen and DNA training Solutions
3:00 – 3:30 Plenary: How can we progress good quality outcomes at scale.
3:30 – 3:50 Close of Forum proceedings
4:00 – 5:00 Social/Networking at the Napier
17:00 – Finish
Getting There
Directions to Fitzroy Town Hall, 201 Napier Street, Fitzroy with public transport.
The following transport lines have routes that pass near Fitzroy Town Hall
Bus: 200, 246, 250, 251, 302, 402- Tram: 109, 11
The nearest stations to Fitzroy Town Hall are:
- Brunswick St/Johnston St (Fitzroy) is 52 meters away, 2 min walk.
- 15-Bell St/Brunswick St (Fitzroy) is 180 meters away, 3 min walk.
- 18-Hodgson St/Smith St (Fitzroy) is 408 meters away, 6 min walk.
- St Vincent’s Hospital/Victoria Pde (East Melbourne) is 522 meters away, 7 min walk.
The venue is the glorious Fitzroy Town Hall
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