Hosting Trust for Nature

On Sunday 22^nd June we hosted a Trust for Nature event to promote their Priority Birrarung (Yarra) Parcels project. This project, funded by DEECA, seeks to enact Action 14 from the burndap birrarung burndap umarkoo (Yarra Strategic Plan): Promote the use of conservation covenants to protect priority conservation values on private land as well as enhancing habitat connectivity and, where possible, incorporating Traditional Owner aspirations and involvement. 

Although the Co-op is not on the river, it is part of the Yarra Strategic Plan as it forms a critical part of the Warrandyte-Kinglake wildlife corridor. Trust for Nature has identified 1,723 properties along the Birrarung and ranked them based on area of native vegetation, area of wetlands and overall property size. Interestingly the Co-op ranked 23^rd on this list.

The event was an opportunity to invite landowners on the river in the Bend of Islands to hear about the project and to consider placing a covenant on their property to help protect the corridor in the long term.

The morning started at our community site with an enlightening Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony delivered by Wurundjeri man Thane Garvey.

Following a brief chat about the Co-op and its new connection to Trust for Nature the group of about 26 took a walk down A Track to view some of our property, returning to finish at Richard's house where Maya Ward spoke about her early 2000’s walking pilgrimage along the length of the Birrarung from the sea to its source. She spoke of her deep connection to the Birrarung and how her work explores the ecological and cultural significance of the river, offering a unique perspective on its role in shaping landscapes and communities.

This was followed by lunch, well catered for by members of the Co-op. People enjoyed the warmth of Richard's mud brick house, the tasty food and the opportunity to connect with those who already have covenants, Trust for Nature staff and Co-op members.

As an organization we see great merit in what Trust for Nature are trying to achieve under challenging circumstances and will certainly help promote covenants for this project as well as within the Bend of Islands generally.

To learn more about Trust for Nature, you can visit their website