Superb Lyrebird - Conservation Grants Australia - FNPW

Caught on Camera

NatureWatch Project

  • YEAR: 2014
  • STATE: Victoria
  • FOCUS AREAS: Saving Species/SDG 15: Life on Land

The ‘Caught on Camera’ project is a key part of the Victorian National Parks Association’s NatureWatch program. Caught on Camera is an innovative NatureWatch project that involves working with local community groups, land holders and contracted professional ecologists to carry out community based, long term monitoring of wildlife using motion-sensing cameras. The project involves bringing these groups together to develop the project objectives and methods and train volunteers in the use of remote sensing cameras. The project objectives for each project location are based on local interests. This grant was primarily applied to our Caught on Camera project at two locations: Bunyip State Park and Wombat State Forest. For both projects we are exploring the response to fire; wildfire in Bunyip State Park and planned burning in Wombat State Forest.

FNPW support

This project was funded through generous donations from FNPW supporters across Australia and beyond.

Project overview

This FNPW grant was primarily applied to two Caught on Camera locations in Victoria – Bunyip State Park and Wombat State Forest.

During the grant period approximately 12,000 high quality fauna records per year were collected across the two project locations. This included approximately 150 records of feral species, which were reported to local land managers immediately after they were recorded.

Each year, two 3 month-long wildlife monitoring seasons were held – monitoring Wombat State Forest in Autumn and Bunyip State Park in Spring. The project was conducted in partnership with three community groups; the Friends of Bunyip State Park, Friends of Kurth Kiln and Wombat Forestcare, with the support of local land managers, Parks Victoria, as well as the Victorian Department of Environment Land Water and Planning.

This is a long-term project, for which VNPA have developed a 10 year strategic plan to continue our wildlife monitoring activities until at least 2025.

We’re in a unique position, with the generous support of organisations such as FNPW, to be able to collect important and rare long-term data about wildlife responses to threats such as fire. We’re very excited to review our data over the coming years and see what our studies reveal.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

FNPW supports projects across Australia. In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

Caught On Camera Bunyip State Park 2017 - Australia's National Park - FNPW Christine Connelly

PROGRESS OF THIS PROJECT

The project was completed in 2015.

This project was funded by FNPW in 2014.

PROJECT PARTNERS

The Friends of Bunyip State Park, Friends of Kurth Kiln and Wombat Forestcare are the lead organisation for this project.

Further information about our project partners can be found on their websites:

Friends of Bunyip State Park Facebook Page

www.friendsofkurthkiln.org.au

www.wombatforestcare.org.au

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