Active involvement by the community is one of the greatest resources available in managing Victoria’s biodiversity across all landscapes. Victoria has a rich history of people coming together to better understand, enjoy and protect our biological heritage. For example, the Field Naturalist Club in Victoria, established in 1880 and with affiliates throughout rural Victoria, has a continuous record of field studies and publications. Similarly, Birds Australia, established in Melbourne in 1901 as the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, plays an active part in the conservation and management of Victoria’s fauna. The extensive coverage of the first Atlas of Australian Birds (Blakers et al. 1986) was the result of hundred of thousands of volunteer hours under the auspices of Birds Australia. Large numbers of volunteers regularly monitor groups of species (e.g. wading species) and specific threatened species (e.g. Hooded Plover) across Victoria.

On-ground management of biodiversity conservation is reflected in the actions of many individual landholders and community groups. Despite the attrition of habitat over this century, many landholders have been successfully managing habitats on their properties — about 800 000 ha of forest and woodlands and about 135 000 ha of wetlands remain on private land. In the 1980s, the Land for Wildlife scheme was developed by Fisheries and Wildlife and the Bird Observers Club of Australia, to provide a voluntary vehicle for landholders to actively and openly protect, enhance and restore wildlife habitat on their properties. The scheme now has over 4000 members who manage over 110 000 ha of habitat throughout the State. LFW has been adopted as a national model for voluntary participation of landholders. At a more formal level, Trust for Nature encourages the covenanting of habitats and properties in order to provide them with permanent legal protection. Currently there is over 8500 ha under covenant.

The Landcare Movement, developed in Victoria in the 1980s, now has over 700 Landcare groups, with a membership estimated at 22 000. Originally conceived to help landholders come together to resolve land protection and pest plant and animal problems, the program has evolved to increasingly incorporate biodiversity considerations into farm planning and environmental restoration. This is evident, for instance, in the involvement of Landcare groups in the recovery program for the threatened Eastern Barred Bandicoot.

There are many community groups involved across the breadth of biodiversity conservation and management issues. Some groups have long histories of assisting the management of specific environments (e.g. sporting shooters and wetlands). Historically, local field naturalists clubs and groups for growing native plants have actively studied, monitored and rehabilitated natural habitats. In some cases this interest evolves into raising funds for land purchases to protect biodiversity values.

Some ‘Friends’ groups focus on a certain area for protection or restoration. Friends of Merri Creek, for example, has focused on the natural rehabilitation of an urban creek and riparian environment. Over 200 Friends of Parks groups assist Parks Victoria in park management. Other friends groups focus on both an area and a significant biodiversity asset, such as Friends of Eltham Copper Butterfly. The Threatened Species Network (Victoria) has liaised with over 100 small community groups that focus on a particular threatened species or community. At present, there are about 15 groups (from Otways to East Gippsland) surveying for the Tiger Quoll. These groups provide invaluable volunteer labour and enthusiasm. Participants are able to acquire on-ground experience and a deeper understanding of the Victorian landscapes. They complement and are coordinated with other programs, for example the Friends of the Regent Honeyeater work with the Land for Wildlife program and the species recovery process.

Botanic Guardians is a scheme that promotes community groups to manage and monitor populations of threatened plant species. In four years of operation over a hundred community groups such as Cemetery Trusts, school groups and Country Fire Authority brigades, have become involved in active conservation management, many for the first time. Such involvement produces valuable conservation information and increases understanding throughout the community. Recent environmental initiatives such as Coast Action also incorporate community group participation.

Greening Australia, through activities such as the spring planting festivals, has provided an opportunity for individuals not involved in specific groups to make a contribution to Victoria’s biodiversity.

As a consequence of their long history in Australia, the Aboriginal people have developed a cosmology that incorporates special and unique knowledge of biodiversity and land management. Their use of fire is a significant example. The current extent of this knowledge base varies markedly across Australia and, where strong, is an irreplaceable asset, some of which the Aboriginal people may choose to share in the public domain. Where such knowledge, or information derived through archeological survey, is available it should be incorporated into our thinking to increase our depth of ecological understanding and the sense of place of all Victorians.

As our knowledge of the management of specific ecosystems increases, natural resource managers need to work in partnership with specific conservation groups to achieve better outcomes across all landscapes.

Key Directions

• Emphasise involving the community in the conservation of biodiversity through partnerships with government and industry.
• Provide local information on biodiversity values and management to facilitate active community involvement.