HOW CAN WE ALLOW PLATYPUS TO DROWN? MARCH 2018 NO 272 LEARNING TOGETHER TO CARE FOR NATURE NEW PLAN FOR POINT NEPEAN SAVAGE BLOW FOR COASTAL RESERVE TIME FOR NEW APPROACH ON FORESTS LESSONS FROM THE LITTLE DESERT NATURE’S MILLION SECRETS Be part of nature PRESIDENT Euan Moore DIRECTOR Matt Ruchel CONTENTS Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053 3 From the President ABN 34 217 717 593 Telephone: (03) 9341 6500 4-5 Learning together to care for nature Facsimile: (03) 9347 5199 E-mail: [email protected] 5 A champion of the seas Web: www.vnpa.org.au 6 Point Nepean saga: drawing to a close? VNPA’S VISION The Victorian National Parks Association vision is to ensure 7 Savage blow for coastal reserve Victoria is a place with a diverse and healthy natural environment and hooded plovers that is protected, respected and enjoyed by all. 8-9 How can we allow platypuses EDITOR to drown in Victoria? Meg Sobey 10-11 Who’s in charge? GETTING INVOLVED IN VNPA Everyone can help in the conservation of Victoria’s 12 Park’s chance to heal wild and beautiful places. You can: • make a donation 13 Minister for Resources revokes mining • become a regular giver or member exemption over toxic tailings dam • volunteer. You’ll be welcome in the office, on a campaign or in a park • leave a bequest to VNPA in your will. 14-15 Enough already: ten reasons why we need a new approach PUBLISHING POLICY to forest management All advertisements should be compatible with VNPA policies. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the VNPA 16-17 New investigation for Inc. of the advertised product or service. The VNPA reserves the right to south-west woodland wonders refuse any advertisement at any time. 17 Policy ideas to protect nature: Park Watch may be quoted without permission provided that Trust for Nature Revolving Fund acknowledgement is made. The opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the VNPA Inc. 18 Authority-mad government GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS blinks on marine You’re always welcome to contact the editor to discuss ideas for articles. Phone the VNPA or email [email protected]. Articles may be 19-21 Lessons from the Little Desert submitted by email, on disk or as hard copy. Include your contact 22-23 Nature’s million secrets details and brief biographical information. Photos, maps and drawings are needed too. Digital photos should be 300dpi and 24-25 Advancing the nature of science around 8cm by 12cm. COPY DEADLINE for June 2018 Park Watch is 20 April 2018. 26-27 Special species: nudibranchs DESIGN Mary Ferlin PRINTING Adams Print 28-29 In Parks: Cape Otway FRONT COVER 30-31 New benefits for Members They are one of our most beloved native animals, but platypus are dying unnecessarily in Victoria. 32-33 A tiny bird in the big city See pages 8-9. Photo: Doug Gimesy. 34 Greater diversity in the Park Watch ISSN 1324-4361 Great Victorian Fish Count Authorised by Matt Ruchel, Executive Director, Victorian National Parks Association. 35 Wild Families: Learning side by side 2 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2018 NO 272 From the President I spend a lot of time thinking about many people enjoying the natural and our VNPA Excursions group. Both the declining state of the natural environment. TV documentaries in groups provide an easy introduction environment and how we can turn particular raise expectations and fears to the bush for people who may not it around. While rapid in ecological to a level that is rarely realised in life. have spent a lot of time outside the terms, for individuals it is often a city. Our experienced leaders help make slow change that goes unnoticed, However if we are to protect our these experiences safe and enjoyable. particularly for the majority of people natural environment, our native The Walk, Talk and Gawk activities are who give little attention to the natural plants and animals, we need people particularly good for teaching people environment in their area. across the community to support and about the bush while on easy walks, advocate for that protection. We need usually within an hour or two’s drive This decline has been going on for many more people who are familiar from the city. centuries as each of us modifies with and comfortable visiting the our personal habitat, yet for each bush, who appreciate its wonders in In coming months we will be changing generation what is ‘normal’ and what all its diversity, and value all life forms, our activities registration process so represents a ‘good environment’ not just the cute and cuddlies. that we can provide our participants is less than that for the previous with more information about VNPA and generation. Think about what your VNPA’s Wild Families program (see our activities. It is important that we children and grandchildren accept page 35) is one area where we are do this. We urgently need more people as a natural environment compared working to engage the next generation who understand and love the bush with what you grew up with or, going of environmentalists. This program and who are at a minimum willing to the other way, what you see now aims to excite a younger audience support those who are fighting for its compared with what your parents or about the wonders of the bush while protection. Without that, the quality of grandparents knew. This is not a case they still have unbridled curiosity the natural environment will continue to a looking back through rose-tinted about all that surrounds them. decline for each generation. • PW glasses. Think how wonderful it would be to still have regent honeyeaters For older groups we have our program Euan Moore, VNPA President or eastern barred bandicoots as an NatureWatch and related projects. integral part of our wildlife in Victoria. Projects like Caught on Camera and Communities Listening for Nature Today most of us live in highly tend to cater more for those already urbanised communities. Air- familiar with the bush, but take conditioned homes and work places this engagement to a higher level. leave little opportunity for interaction Ideally these people will become with nature. For most people, contact ambassadors for the bush and recruit with nature involves watching an more people keen to protect it. Think about what Attenborough documentary or a your children and visit to the zoo. Important though Our ReefWatch program has been they are, these are still very sanitised going from strength to strength with grandchildren and remote contacts with the new records set each year for the accept as a natural natural world. number of participants in the Great Victorian Fish Count. Last year had environment Talk to people outside your circle of more than 700 people in the water compared with what friends and you may be surprised how counting fish (see page 34). This few venture beyond areas covered by program does a great job of raising you grew up with... street lighting. A common perception awareness about an environment that is that the bush is dangerous, that is usually out of sight. there are snakes and other things that bite waiting to attack at the Probably our main area for engaging first opportunity. There is a fear those unfamiliar with the bush is our of the unknown which prevents Bushwalking and Activities Group PARK WATCH • MARCH 2018 NO 272 3 PHOTO: IT'S A WILDLIFE A IT'S PHOTO: Learning together to care for nature VNPA’S COMMUNITY LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER CAITLIN GRIFFITH INTRODUCES THE THEME OF NATURE-BASED LEARNING FOR THIS EDITION OF PARK WATCH. The Victorian National Parks Today, VNPA continues to offer many would adjust their own behaviour in the Association’s vision is big: “Victoria learning opportunities for our members light of their knowledge about problems has a diverse and healthy natural (such as yourself), supporters, volunteers, and impacts. It is now accepted that this environment, protected, respected and staff, council and committee members, is not the case. We often have knowledge enjoyed by all”. This vision is about project partners, environmental groups, that there is a problem, but knowledge both nature and people. We recognise schools and the general community. alone does not necessarily (or even often) that learning, education and knowledge lead to appropriate action.” This includes through our: sharing are essential to achieving this • activities and events; vision, and we are delighted to share a VNPA Community Education and • citizen-science and community diverse range of nature-based learning Engagement Strategy, 2012 engagement programs NatureWatch, projects, events and activities from our ReefWatch and Wild Families; Learning about and connecting with and other organisations in this edition • campaign work, educating politicians nature are still essential to fostering and of Park Watch. and the public; encouraging a sense of care for nature. How is the VNPA involved in • creating school resources and Addressing the gap between knowledge and pro-environmental behaviour is not learning and education? presentations; and • producing high-quality and interesting straightforward and not yet strongly VNPA has been committed to learning communications materials about understood. However, it is important and education throughout our full Victoria’s nature and related issues, for us to continue to learn new ways to 66 year history. both online (our website, social media address this gap. One valuable way is and emails) and print (books, booklets in creating opportunities for people to One fine example early on was in and Park Watch magazine). participate and take action.