Restoring Jali Lands at Wardell
WetlandCare Australia and Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council have been highly successful in undertaking the Restoring Jali Lands at Wardell Project. This has involved managing the ecological and biodiversity values of these culturally and environmentally significant lands with funds from Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. The Jali lands at Wardell are part of Bundjalung country, and have immense cultural and environmental significance and value. They are home to 38 threatened animal species, five threatened plant species, eight endangered vegetation communities, a number of scar trees and many important cultural sites. Adam Gosling, Project Coordinator from WetlandCare Australia highlighted the value of this project saying “this land has immense environmental value due to the broad range of vegetation communities and wetlands that it contains. And combined with the wonderful cultural values of the land, it is essential that it be conserved”.
This land is one of the largest parcels of intact native floodplain vegetation remaining in the Lower Richmond catchment. It has immense environmental value due to the broad range of vegetation communities and wetlands that it contains. The combined on-ground action and dedication shown by the Mibinji Bush Restoration Crew, Newtrain Green Team, WetlandCare Australia and their community environment partner the Ramada Hotel and Suites Ballina has seen the removal of Weeds of National Significance (WONS) such as lantana, and the restoration of Littoral rainforest and Endangered Ecological Communities. The Ballina Shire Council has also provided trees for re-vegetation to improve areas which were void of vegetation.
Above: Before restoration at Bingal Creek on the 3rd December 2010 this area had a serious paramatta grass infestation.
Below: After restoration at Bingal Creek on the 6th June 2011, with the weeds removed and the area re-vegetated.
Along with restoration, there has been extensive work done to control feral animals such as cats, Indian mynas and foxes. This has included training for the Mibinji Bush Restoration Crew so they can continue to reduce and control feral animals and weeds on the Jali lands, and use their skills on other projects. Marcus Ferguson, Coordinator of the Mibinji Bush Regeneration Crew says ”It’s great now to see nests dotted all along the mangroves and eagles, Braminy kites, Tawny frogmouths and possums here, the work has really paid off! I’ve enjoyed being a part of the project and the boys have loved it. It’s given the boys jobs working on their country. I’ve got 25 blokes wanting to do stuff and the contacts now to make it happen. We are helping other Indigenous communities with pest control now too”.
Mr Gosling also commented on this saying “A wonderful outcome of this project is that it gives the opportunity for the indigenous bush restoration team to play the major role in the management of their land. To see this well trained group of bush regenerators take such pride in their land, and work incredibly hard to protect it, is incredibly rewarding.” For more information on this project or other works undertaken by WetlandCare Australia, please contact Adam Gosling on (02)6681 6169 or visit us at http://www.wetlandcare.com.au/. Follow our restoration projects at http://www.facebook.com/wetlandcare.
To celebrate World Environment Day, Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council and WetlandCare Australia, together with their community environment partner the Ramada Hotel and Suites Ballina Byron and the Mibinji Restoration Crew undertook a tree planting day at Bingal Creek near Wardell, planting over 100 trees. Marcus Ferguson coordinator of Mibinji Bush Restoration crew also gave an insightful cultural heritage talk which was very well received by project partners who were both fascinated and eager to learn about the cultural history of this culturally and environmentally significant Jali land.
Take a look at the Advocate article here
