Biodiversity Upper Shoalhaven

18/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/100064882440174/posts/902567518582655/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Over a quarter of Australia's butterflies use native grasses as their host-plants – and at least 9 species use ‘Weeping Grass’.

It's a crying shame that this beautiful, distinctive, native grass is not nearly as widespread as it used to be.

‘Weeping Grass’, also known as ‘Meadow Rice Grass’, needs to regularly re-seed itself – but this requires being left to reach maturity and a height of 70cm so that it can develop a seedhead – which causes the stem to arch or ‘bow’ over.

More about Weeping Grass here: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pastures-and-rangelands/rangelands/publications-and-information/grassedup/species/microlaena

[UPDATED POST: with distribution maps and weblinks in Comments]

28/12/2022

A Bit About USLC -
For those of you who don't know, the Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council (USLC) is the umbrella network for all Landcare groups and members in the Lake George, upper Shoalhaven and upper Deua river catchment areas.

Since its founding in 1995, USLC has focused on supporting Landcarers, as well as engaging and enhancing local communities to build and maintain landscapes with sustainable productivity and resilient biodiversity.

We aim to represent our district at the regional and even state-Landcare level and our vision is to help create healthy landscapes and healthy communities locally.

USLC hold regular workshops, field days and other events packed with information relevant to caring for our soils, plants and wildlife, as well as restoring degraded land. Our goal is to protect the environment so it can sustain future generations, as well as the people involved in making it happen.

From Bungonia to Snowball, Bungendore to Mongarlowe, we welcome anyone who's interested in joining Landcare in the region and/or doesn't have an active local group. There are currently active local groups in Bombay, Braidwood Urban, Bungendore, Bungonia, Windellama and Upper Deua/Araluen.

If you're interested in joining a group, or starting a new one in your local area, please get in touch with Local Coordinator for more information.

Have questions or need help with Landcare matters? Reach out to:
Local Coordinator: Erin Brinkley
M 0473 407 079
E [email protected]
OR
Subscribe to our monthly newsletters: http://eepurl.com/ckXkcj
OR
Become a member: https://app.joinit.com/o/upper-shoalhaven-landcare

24/06/2022

VARROA MITE INCURSION DETECTED IN NSW

The NSW Government is urging beekeepers across the state to safeguard their industry after biosecurity surveillance detected Varroa mite in hives at the Port of Newcastle.

NSW Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders says swift measures are being taken to contain the disease, which is the most serious pest for honey bees worldwide.

“We have immediately launched an eradication plan which involved setting up a biosecurity zone, containing the infected hives and euthanising the bees,” Mr Saunders said.

“Australia is the only major honey producing country free from Varroa mite and if it has the chance to establish here, it could cost the honey industry more than $70 million a year.

The Biosecurity Zone covers an area within a 50 kilometre radius of the Port of Newcastle. Beekeepers within this zone must not move or tamper with their hives.

They must also notify the NSW Department of Primary Industries with the location of all of their hives.



“Biosecurity is one of my top priorities and beekeepers have been working with the Government through the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program to act as an early warning system,” Mr Saunders said.

“If it weren’t for their diligence in monitoring hives and catch boxes at strategic locations around our ports and airports, this threat may have gone undetected.”

The mites are tiny reddish-brown parasites and are easily identifiable to the naked eye.

If you have bee hives located within the biosecurity zone please notify DPI of their location by calling 1800 084 881 or completing the form on this website: https://forms.bfs.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forms/9247

18/05/2022

https://worldfishmigrationday.com/event/seminar-workshop-conference-lecture-webinar-assessing-natural-barriers-to-assist-with-environmental-flow-planning-for-macquarie-perch-spawning-migrations-in-the-upper-murrumbidgee-river/

17/05/2022

17/05/2022

As part of the "Reaching for Recovery of the Endangered Macquarie Perch' project run by Local Land Services, we are working with NSW DPI Fisheries to undertake 'Genetic Rescue' of the Mongarlowe Maccas in 2022/231 Watch this space

30/04/2022

No Mow May scheme promotes letting wild plants thrive to provide nectar for insects