4th December 2014 – Albury Conservation Company secures $54,560 in funding to study and conserve hollow-bearing trees in Thurgoona / Wirlinga

Albury Conservation Company has just received news that it was successful in securing $54,560 from the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust (Education Stream) for the project “Urban Developers constructing a hollow future for Albury’s wildlife“.

This two-year project aims to increase retention of hollow-bearing trees (HBTs) in Thurgoona/Wirlinga through collaboration with key stakeholders that have responsibilities for HBT conservation during the urban development process. The project will achieve its aims through implementing the following activities:

• survey and map HBTs in Thurgoona/Wirlinga in partnership with key stakeholders and community groups
• establish a HBT Working Group involving key development stakeholders (e.g. Albury City Council) to exchange information regarding HBT distribution, conservation values, threats, and opportunities to increase retention rates
• conduct training events for working group members to exchange information and promote increased protection of HBTs
• host a pilot Awards Program recognising local best practice in HBT retention

Hollows can take 100+ years to develop and are critically important for biodiversity, providing homes for 1 in 4 native vertebrate species, including birds, mammals, bats, and reptiles. In the Thurgoona/ Wirlinga area the protection of hollow-bearing trees will be essential if the community is to ensure that many local threatened species, including the Squirrel Glider, have viable populations.

The project is due to commence in March 2015.

For more information click here or contact the Albury Conservation Company via email: [email protected], or phone: 0448 806 256