On Thursday 22nd October members of the Wedderburn CMN attended an informative presentation on the work of the Malleefowl Preservation Group based in Ongerup WA. Susanne Dennings who is the group`s environmental projects coordinator shared her group`s experiences in their efforts to conserve malleefowl in that part of the country. We were informed that this grass roots group which prides itself on getting things done boasts a membership of over six hundred with the majority being farmers. There are however members from many other walks of life. The group have participated in a number of activities akin to those carried out by the Wedderburn CMN such as fencing off of native vegetation, the creation of wildlife corridors, fox baiting to reduce predation by foxes and monitoring of malleefowl mounds. The group has developed a novel means of surveying areas of bush for malleefowl mounds which involves up to twenty five people in a line moving through the bush in a coordinated fashion. The group has surveyed large tracts of bush using this human chain method. Raising public awareness has been achieved by means of displays and activities at their community owned environmental centre, which has proved to be a great tourist attraction, and a primary school education programme which has to date involved over one hundred schools in WA. It has been decided that both groups will at least maintain contact in the future through exchange of information and ideas via websites and newsletters. The possibility of exchange of personnel was also discussed. The fine results achieved by this group in conservation of malleeefowl is attributable to the tremendous work done by a concerned, committed and enthusiastic community.
Michael Moore
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