Up2Us-Landcare-Alliance Details
Facilitator: Kim Magnay
Description:
Up2Us Landcare Alliance brings together passionate locals across Mansfield Shire who share a common goal: protecting and enriching the natural landscape we call home.
Working hand-in-hand with landholders, farmers and community members, Up2Us is tackling environmental challenges through practical action and shared knowledge
Up2Us' work spans from restoring native habitats to running hands-on educational programs that help our community better understand and care for our unique environment. Whether you're a longtime resident or new to the area, your knowledge and energy can help shape Mansfield's environmental future.
The Up2Us-Landcare-Alliance at a glance in 2023/24
A motivated and connected community leads to positive change
The Up2Us-Landcare-Alliance were successful with two Victorian Landcare Grants from the State Government provided $40,000.00 for Engagement events, Revegetation, Pest animal control, Pest plant control, Fencing and Nest boxes.
Up2Us-Landcare-Alliance Case Study
With no formal bird watching group in the Mansfield region, community members, through the Up2Us network, had mentioned that they would like to start a bird watching group. Others reported that they would love to be involved but felt they did not feel confident or have the skills required to participate. This program was designed, with local ecologist Bertram Lobert to lead monthly bird events. Participants would meet at different private and public sites in the region to have a guided bird walk with Bert. Participants were introduced to different resources and recording platforms that they could utilise to assist in building their bird identification skills.
Participants reported that through this program they visited areas that they would not have visited without the support of the group. They connected with like-minded people and made new friends. Everyone loved having Bert Lobert’s expertise and enthusiasm at each event. Follow up online exercises provided by Bert gave participants the chance to hone their skills acquired at the events through identifying bird calls through recordings. The project has built participants knowledge and general awareness of what species are present in the area.
We hope that participants will continue to meet and conduct informal surveys of areas with the skills they have developed throughout the sessions. The idea is that they will then share their knowledge with new participants.
To help build capacity of this group we have offered participants first aid training to enable them to meet and get out bird watching without the support of Up2Us staff. Up2us have recently received funding through the Bendigo Community Bank and will be hosting a series of events in a similar model recording arboreal mammals in the region.