CEO Report
Welcome to the Bush Heritage Australia website, which is being constantly developed to connect you more closely and easily with our work, our partners and our people. Several videos can be easily reached on this site, taking you directly to one of our wonderful Bush Heritage reserves.
There's nothing quite like waking up on a Bush Heritage reserve. I am fortunate to often have that experience during the year and whether arid, tropical or temperate Australia, there is invariably a wonderful bird call giving first signs in each day of the healthy environments we manage. Spending time in these landscapes during the day and knowing that they are protected and have been secured with the support, generosity and often sacrifice of our many supporters is very humbling indeed.
With increased support and capacity we are extending our influence and protecting more land, water and wildlife in Australia. If you are already on this journey with us you will know how stimulating and successful it's been. If you're reading this for the first time then please join us to find out more because Bush Heritage has entered an exciting new phase.
There has been a frightening loss of native vegetation in Australia since settlement. A significant number of ecosystems are depleted, and have suffered regional extinctions; many are failing as functioning systems. There are 90 native animal species that have been specifically identified as being at risk from climate change alone. These include the State emblems of Victoria (Leadbeater’s Possum), South Australia (Hairy-nosed Wombat), and Queensland (Koala). These studies that have discovered these facts are far from comprehensive and the actual number is likely to be much greater. The list of species at risk includes mammals, insects, birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians, and they live in all parts of Australia.
One of the great things about being part of Bush Heritage is to see how your support directly contributes to protecting our landscapes, waterways, native animals and plants. You are helping to build more robust natural systems that, amongst other things, will be better able to withstand the effects of climate change. Bush Heritage is focused on protecting some of Australia's most depleted natural systems. Despite their condition they still support an abundance of life. Our assessment of the likely impacts of climate change, together with our capcity to help rebuild resilient natural systems, has been a key criteria in selecting the five key 'anchor' regions in which we have chosen to work.
In July 2008 we announced the acquisition of our 30th property, Bon Bon Station, a vast 216,000 ha property in the middle of South Australia. This is an unprecedented partnership between a private organisation and the Federal and state government. Bush Heritage now protects over 940,000 ha of land making us one of the largest owners of private land for nature conservation in Australia.
The launch in late March of our 25th property, Scottsdale south of Canberra, was at a different scale but demonstrates the inspiration Bush Heritage draws from people and from partnerships. We are not afraid of big ideas. Scottsdale is a property in a region at risk. It has immense natural values and is ideally located to help reconnect areas of natural habitat and at landscape-scale. Our aim in this project known as Kosciuszko to Coast is to reconnect habitats along the Great Dividing Range to the sea. This project recently received global media attention through CNN.
Bush Heritage is developing other landscape-scale projects like Scottsdale, in collaboration with other organisations, regional networks and neighbouring landholders to reconnect fragmented landscapes and provide habitat corridors across latitudes and along altitudinal gradients. Thus we work, not only on our own reserves where we adapt our management of the land to the individual needs or our reserves, but we also work with others ‘beyond the boundaries’ of these reserves to develop regional conservation initiatives. As a result exciting new partnerships are emerging with our reserve neighbours and Indigenous people. We will be reporting more on these partnerships as they develop so keep an eye on this website.
Critically, we must continue to recruit staff and develop partnerships and put resources on to the ground in order to manage our reserves in to the future. Continuing financial support and public donations are essential for this on-going work.
Our work is possible because of widespread community support through donations (which are tax deductible) and through people donating their time as volunteers. We welcome and applaud the fantastic support we receive from tens of thousands of Australians - thank you.
The acquistion of properties such as Bon Bon and Scottsdale was possible because of this support, and because of the support that we have received from local, State and Federal governments. Arguably one of the best and most cost effective programs that supports biodiversity conservation in Australia is the Australian Government's National Reserve System program which has provided funds for the acquisition of Bon Bon, Scottsdale and many other Bush Heritage properties.
We will continue to strive to meet the ambitious goals we have set to extend our work and influence. We have a growing and enthusiastic team working all over Australia and there are many opportunities to get involved.
Please browse this web site and contact us if you would like further information or to offer your support.
Doug Humann
CEO Bush Heritage Australia
Photograph of Doug Humann having a refreshing splash at Yourka Reserve, Queensland