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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Western Port Biosphere

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Hastings, VIC
Western Port Biosphere

The Biosphere Foundation works with community to create sustainable futures for Western Port

In 2002, the United Nations proclaimed the Western Port region in Victoria, Australia, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Biosphere reserves aim to keep special places – like Western Port – special by fostering conservation and sustainable development.

11/06/2026

Join us in welcoming another 14 new Biosphere Reserves 🌎

04/06/2026

🐚Hands‑on, experiential learning.

🌳Local ecology.

🌏Real impact.

The Biodiversity in Schools program connects students with the unique natural values of the Western Port Biosphere Reserve through immersive workshops and curriculum-aligned resources.

With excursions, incursions, and a brand‑new free Teacher Resource Pack, there’s never been a better time to get involved. Bookings for Terms 3 and 4 are now open.

02/06/2026

🐨 Coolart Conversations returns for 2026 🐨

We're delighted to once again partner with Friends of Coolart, Parks Victoria and Mornington Peninsula Intrepid Landcare to bring back the much-loved Coolart Conversations series.

Join us for our first conversation of the year, Caring for Koalas: A Peninsula Conversation, an evening dedicated to understanding, protecting and supporting one of the Mornington Peninsula's most iconic species.

Hear from a panel of passionate experts and practitioners working on the front line of koala conservation:

🌿 Trish Stewart (Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne) will share innovations being used to reduce wildlife road mortality and discuss her iNaturalist project that collects valuable roadkill data to inform conservation action.

🌿 Belinda Eden (Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation) will explore the challenges facing local koalas and the importance of habitat restoration, wildlife rescue, community engagement and collaboration with landholders to secure their future.

🌿 Kelly Smith (Western Port Biosphere Foundation) will share insights from more than a decade of koala research and conservation, including genetic studies of koala scats, wildlife corridor research, and the Western Port Koala Corridor Project.

Following the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with all three speakers.

Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, landholder, conservation volunteer or simply curious about the future of koalas on the Peninsula, this is a conversation not to be missed.

📅 Bookings essential
🎟️ Secure your place: https://events.humanitix.com/www-coolart-org-au

29/05/2026

🦸‍♂️Western Port’s mangroves are climate superheroes.

🌳In our Blue Carbon & Coastal Ecosystems workshop, students investigate how mangroves store carbon, protect shorelines, and support biodiversity, including the 15,000 migratory shorebirds that visit Western Port each year.

🐚Bring this powerful climate learning to your classroom or join us in the field.

Book your Term 3 or 4 session and download the free Teacher Resource Pack today.

📷Inset image: Adam Liddiard, Mangrove seed image

28/05/2026

As we mark National Reconciliation Week, we reflect on our shared responsibility to care for the landscapes and waters that sustain us all.

At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to caring for Country. Our projects — from habitat restoration to conservation, advocacy and education — are reconciliation in action. We are responding to the impacts of colonisation and the environmental damage that has followed. We recognise that healing these places is inseparable from honouring the First Peoples who have cared for them for tens of thousands of years. This work is strengthened through our partnerships with Willum Warrain and Bunurong Land Council, whose leadership, knowledge and cultural authority guide and deepen our approach.

Today, and every day, we strive to restore, protect and nurture this remarkable landscape in ways that respect and uphold the values, knowledge and custodianship of its Traditional Owners. May our efforts continue to move us toward a future where people and nature thrive together.

📷 of Josh West conducting a Welcome to Country on French Island by Warren Cooke

27/05/2026

Red: Fattening Up – again! (Bohai Bay, China)

Sorry for the silence. We flew in here about a week ago and I’ve been pretty much eating and preening ever since. The tide goes out and we skuttle out onto the mudflats to feed. The tide comes back in and we scuttle up to our roost to preen and digest. Preening is important as the hours and hours, and miles and miles, of flying are hard on our little feathers. We are only about half-way to the breeding grounds here so I need my feathers to be in good shape for the next leg. I also need to get my energy back up ,so I’ll say beck-beck for now and get back to feeding.

Photos: alder-birds.blogspot.com

25/05/2026

We’re pleased to share that the Future Ready Biosphere Reserve Forum has officially reached capacity. Thank you to everyone who has registered to be part of this important conversation about the future of our coastal landscapes, communities and environment.

Due to strong interest, we have now activated a waitlist for the event. If you were hoping to attend, we encourage you to join the waitlist via the Humanitix event page.

If you have registered and are no longer able to attend, please consider cancelling your ticket so your place can be offered to another community member eager to join the discussion.

Thank you for the incredible support and interest in this conversation about building a future-ready landscape for the Western Port region.

Join the waitlist here: https://events.humanitix.com/future-ready-biosphere-reserve-forum

24/05/2026

Meet Sophie O’Neil

What role can local food systems and sustainable agriculture play in a changing climate?

Join us online for the Future Ready Biosphere Reserve Forum featuring Sophie O’Neil, co-owner of Torello Farm.

With more than 20 years’ experience across farming, food marketing and farmers’ markets, Sophie is a passionate advocate for local food systems, sustainable agriculture and community resilience. Through her work at Torello Farm, she supports approaches that strengthen food security, local economies and environmental outcomes.

Together with fellow speakers Dr Greg Holland and Gidja Walker OAM, Sophie will help unpack what a future-ready landscape could look like for the Western Port region.

Hosted by Stephen Brend, this online forum is an opportunity to hear practical, on-ground perspectives and be part of an important community conversation.

📅 Secure your spot: https://events.humanitix.com/future-ready-biosphere-reserve-forum

Address

35C High Street
Hastings, VIC
3915

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61359792167

Website

http://www.biosphere.org.au/

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