Vegetation mapping project
Since its inception, Cooloola Coastcare Assoc Inc and Tin Can Bay City Farm Nursery have been involved in the identification, propagation and use of native plant species for local environmental projects. Cooloola Coastcare has sought to promote the values of coastal native vegetation to the wider community through educational displays, field outings, media releases and engagement in a variety of environmental forums and management processes. The use and monitoring of vegetation resources on the Cooloola Coast are central to the group's on-going activities.
Now with $30,000 in funding for a new 18-month project from the Burnett Mary Regional Group, Cooloola Coastcare Assoc Inc hopes to increase community awareness of the local native vegetation resources through a community activated 'wallum' species database and mapping project. Environmental scientist David Menzies, from Gympie, has been employed as the project officer for two days per week, to oversee the implementation of the Cooloola Coast Mapping Project, and be responsible for on-going activities and delivering expected outcomes.
The project will take place on 32 sites including unallocated State lands; council reserves and Education Qld land. Known in the industry as 'ground truthing', this multi-faceted project will:
- identify and map the occurrence of species within the landscape;
- assess, map and monitor plant populations and their health (including Pandanus tectorius);
- provide a ready reference for seed collection sites of indigenous species;
- monitor the re-emergence of species after fire and map fire occurrence;
- assess, map and monitor the spread of weed species;
- provide specific information on rare and threatened (EVR) species including description, photo, distribution map, population abundance, flowering and seed availability, and propagation techniques;
- build capacity within the local community through a mentorship of local volunteers in on-ground monitoring techniques; GPS/GIS use and reporting;
- collect seed samples for research and propagation.
The Qld Government's Gambling Community Benefit Fund is proud to provide funding for the Cooloola Coast Mapping Project equipment, which includes two GPS units; a laptop computer with mapping software and a data projector for community presentations.
Mr Menzies, Project Officer (pictured here), and the volunteers will maintain a database, as well as participating in field activities promoted by Cooloola Coastcare to the general public and to educational groups, including the Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay P-10 State Schools. It is a great chance for people to gain an understanding of the science behind the recognition of the vegetation, Mr Menzies said. He is excited to have landed the role on graduation from his studies at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
The project includes upcoming workshops such as weed identification and control, native plant and animal identification, seed collection, storage and propagation techniques, and GIS mapping and data management. Weekly data collection involves up to six hours of field time, with six volunteers participating per outing.
At the end of the project, participating groups will have developed an active GIS monitoring and mapping system on the Cooloola Coast. They will have mapped areas of significant vegetation and landscape features; trends in vegetation growth and health and significant weed threats within the Cooloola Coast.
