Newsletter
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| WELCOME TO THE OOLONG SANCTUARY NEWS! February 2007-December 2007 |
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| Dear Friends, The inventory of flora and fauna, including endangered species, has been undertaken at Oolong Sanctuary over the past years, and is on-going. The list of species is fast growing and specimens are illustrated as they become available. Eleven endangered bird species, and two previously unidentified orchid species have so far been identified at Oolong. In addition, one of the four ecosystems we have at the Sanctuary (White Box – Yellow Box woodland) is part of an endangered ecological community in the NSW Species Conservation Act 1995. The results of this project so far support our concern about the fragility of vegetation remnants linked by wildlife corridors and the need to have them recognised as endangered and in need of protection. Changing weather patterns due to climate change may also affect the flora and fauna within vegetation remnants, making it vital to have them protected. We are slowly but successfully removing the sifton bush, a native woody weed that takes over disturbed land in drought conditions. It is difficult to remove sifton bush with any driven machinery; owing to its large production of seed, the only way to remove it without disturbing the soil is using brush cutters and loppers. By piling up the cut branches we have suitable habitat for all small species. Our seed specialist, assised by our volunteers, is collecting seed at Dalton Park from Joycea pallida, an Australian tassock grass, that is a dominant understorey species that prefers shallow and stony soil. J.pallida is eminently suitable to restore degraded bushland and like many other tussock grasses attract small grain feeding birds. We are seeking the cooperation of Job Future, Green Corps to complete the eradication of the woody weed and start the second phase of reforestation. Our success story continues! A bat survey completed in March 2007 identified six protected bat species. The survey showed that the old mine adits provide habitat for numerous hollow-dependent and two cave-dependent species, both of which (the large bent-wing bat and the yellow-bellied sheathtail bat) are listed in the NSW Threatened Species Act. The vegetation corridor along the crown road to the Sanctuary and mature paddock trees adjacent to the road were shown to provide exceptional habitat for hollow-roosting microbats. The survey’s author noted that the Oolong Sanctuary’s management of the area as a conservation reserve should be highly commended for this reason. The erosion and salinity control project has been recently completed at Dalton Park in the section where a small flock of merino sheep is to run till end of 2008, to provide some funds to the landholder to continue the reforestation of some sections and to assist in the development of wildlife corridors. Earthworks funded by Lachlan CMA and carried out by the former Soil Conservation Service (now Department of Lands), now divert run-off water from the area affected by salinity, to allow native vegetation regeneration. The depression in the western portion of the park is fenced off and protected from stock. This area, except for some small residual wet spots in the lowest depression, is already partially covered by native grasses. With the soil conservation work completed, seeding is now in progress. The large pond is full and is already inhabited by long neck turtles and frogs. Mr Rob Gledhill, Chair of the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (LCMA), has congratulated us on this project, which not only helps control evaporation and has improved the drainage of local runoff, but also benefits the entire catchment: “Your project will improve water quality, soil quality, vegetation and the health of the Lachlan catchment and help to ensure the economic and environmental viability of our community.” - Rob Gledhill Click to go to the top of the page |
This month Givewell released its Australian Charities Financial Analysis 2006 which shows that despite a dip in Fundraising Revenue, the charitable sector continues to grow at a steady rate. Analysis of the 2006 financial reports of a representative sample of around 450 Australian charities listed by Givewell, found positive trends in most key areas. Total Income of the sample increased by 4%, slightly above the inflation rate. Government Contributions and Total Investments grew by 8%, with Net Assets increasing by 7%. Fundraising Revenue was the exception, with Gross Fundraising Revenue declining by 1%. When bequests are excluded from this figure, Fundraising Revenue actually fell by 7%. Although this is the largest decline in fundraising revenue since Givewell has been surveying the sector, this dip can be attributed to the welcome fact that no global disaster inflated the 2006 fundraising figures as the Asian tsunami had done in 2005. In fact, if we look at the fundraising trend across the last two years then we see a healthy increase of 36% across the sector. While we appreciate the general situation we have been fortunate to
have the ongoing support of the John and Joan D'Addario Foundation Inc,
(USA) Trust. We owe to this Trust the continuity of many of our projects
and the new initiatives detailed in our News page. We also acknowledge
with thanks a valuable donation from the Australian Ethical Investment
Ltd and the small donations from supporters and last but not list the
invaluable in-kind contributions by all our volunteers that make us proud. Kay Fredericks, owing to pressure of work, is relinquishing the position
of Secretary/Treasurer but will stay with us as Public Officer. I owe
immense gratitude to Kay for her contribution and guidance since the inception
of the association and through its recognition and endorsement as an environmental
organisation, regardless of her own disrupting - but fortunately passed
- personal problems with her health. Without her efforts we wouldn't be
here today. |
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