Abstract 1: Restoration of Karst Springs and Associated Alkaline Fen at Eight Mile Creek, South Australia
The Karst Springs and Associated Alkaline Fens of the Naracoorte Coastal Plain Bioregion is a national threatened ecological community under the EPBC Act 1999. This presentation will provide an overview of the Saving our Springs restoration project in the Limestone Coast Region of SA. It will detail the ecological significance of the site, the restoration strategies employed, and the collaborative efforts involved. We will discuss the challenges and opportunities, including the need for ecological restoration and the expected benefits for a range of threatened species, sustainable groundwater management, the dynamic coastal environment, and landholder engagement. The presentation will also explore the role of First Nations partnerships in land and water management, emphasising the integration of traditional ecological knowledge into contemporary conservation practices. This project is critical to restoring one of the world’s rarest wetland ecosystems. In addressing ecological and socio-economic challenges, this project may set a precedent for wetland restoration.
Speaker: Jason Taylor
Abstract 2: Conserving biodiversity in novel urban habitats: opportunities and challenges
This presentation will showcase the opportunities and challenges of conserving biodiversity in urban areas, using two South Coast NRM-led projects as case studies. The Climate Resilient Conservation of Urban Western Ringtail Possums project, funded through the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species program, supports recovery actions and wildlife-friendly gardening in Albany to support the Critically Endangered western ringtail possum. In partnership with the City of Albany, the Restoring Upper Yakamia for Biodiversity project, supported by the WA Government Royalties for Regions program and the Australian Government, addresses habitat degradation in Albany’s most urbanised catchment. Through the construction of living streams and wetlands, it aims to improve water quality and create habitat for native species, including the western ringtail possum and three threatened black cockatoo species. The presentation will highlight how local collaboration can advance urban biodiversity conservation while sharing key successes and lessons from these initiatives.
Speaker: Bronte Van Helden
Abstract 3: Sowing New Horizons: Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seedbank
The Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seedbank has operated since 2001 within the Goulburn Broken catchment of Victoria, on Yorta Yorta and Taungurung Country. Managed by Euroa Arboretum since 2019, the Seedbank plays a pivotal role for meeting increasing seed demand, ethical seed harvesting, and respecting Traditional Owners and the lands from which seeds are harvested. A sustainable seed supply is essential for restoring our changing landscapes and tackling biodiversity decline. Large-scale revegetation requires substantial quantities of genetically diverse seeds. However, diverse native seeds are rare and valuable. The supply of wild seeds is constrained by seasonal variations and ripening; and collection, cleaning, and processing are labour-intensive tasks. Investment in seed coordination, including the establishment of seed orchards or Seed Production Areas (SPAs) and a collaborative network of seedbank facilities, is crucial for securing a robust indigenous seed supply for the future. This presentation will explore potential pathways for achieving this goal.
Speaker: Bek Caldwell
Abstract 4: ReBird the Ranges: Activating partnerships and finance for woodland bird recovery
The Mount Lofty Ranges cover just 1% of South Australia’s land area, yet they support more than half of the state’s bird species. This biodiversity hotspot is at risk of becoming an extinction hotspot—with 12 woodland bird species already lost from the region and another 78 in decline. These trends are driven largely by habitat loss and degradation.
ReBird the Ranges is a bold, landscape-scale response to this crisis. Led by an alliance of over 20 partners—including four regional Landscape Boards—the initiative has developed a shared Action Plan with the ambitious goal of reconstructing 134,000 hectares of woodland bird habitat.
We are building new partnerships across research, marketing and nature-based finance. This includes exploring biodiversity credit markets and blended finance mechanisms to unlock large-scale investment in habitat restoration. ReBird the Ranges aims to transform a regional biodiversity crisis into a replicable model for action.
Speaker: Dr Wendy Telfer
