Coming Events

Future exhibitions, workshops and conferences relating to wildlife tourism

Wildlife Workshops (two more to go: July and September 2008) Beaudesert southeast Queensland

Wildlife Festival, including WIldlife Expo and other events, Scenic Rom Shire, southeast Queensland

Ecotourism Australia Conference Adelaide 17-20 November

National Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference Canberra - 21-25 July, 2008

Wildlife Workshops

Hosted by Logan and Albert Conservation Association and Wildlife Tourism Australia, sponsored by Beaudesert Shire Council through the Community Environmental Assistance Grants Program and Community Events Program

Celebrating our wonderful wildlife now and into the future

Free wildlife workshops in Beaudesert, southeast Queensland have proved very popular throughout the year.

Click here for previous workshops

WIldlife workshops:

Saturday July 26 th 2008 1.30 – 5.30 pm Wildlife Corridors that really get used by wildlife

September 27 th 2008 10.30 – 4.30pm Our wildlife, past, present and future. A final celebration of our local wildlife, a summary of previous workshops and discussions on the outlook for the future. Venue for this workshop only: The Centre, Brisbane St., Beaudesert.

RSVP Ronda Green

Also:

Wildlife Expo. Friday-Saturday 12 - 13 September . Beaudesert Information and Arts Centre, Brisbane St., Beaudesert Two days of wildlige displays - wildlife carers, wildlife identification, conservation, careers in wildlife, children's activities .....

Next workshop:

Next in a series of workshops hosted by Wildlife Tourism Australia and the Logan and Albert Conservation Association, funded by Beaudesert Shire Council. Primary host for September's workshop: LACA

Saturday 27th September 2008 130-5.30pm  

Wildlife Corridors that really get used by Wildlilfe

Wild animals need to move for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes they run out of food during a lean season and have to reach another supply. Sometimes they need to move from a forested hilltop to the well-watered valley during a drought.

Many make regular seasonal movements, such as the dollarbird and channel-billed cuckoos that arrive from the north to breed every summer, or the wompoo fruitdove and the golden whistler, which move from the mountain forests to loweraltidtudes where fruits or insects are more plentiful during winter. Others, like the mistletoebird and the black-winged stilt, move around nomadically, opportunistically following the best food supplies.

Sometimes also there is a particularly severe bushfire, an outbreak of disease or other event that drives a local population to near or actual extinction, and without adequate corridors these species will not be able to recolonize from elsewhere.

Young animals often need to move from their parental home range to seek new territories and ultimately produce the next generation

Many birds fly readily across open paddocks to reach the forests or wetlands they need, but some are reluctant to do so. Some mammals and reptiles can occupy the 'wrong habitat for a while when traveling but others are unable or unwilling to do so.

'Wildlife Corridors that really get used by Wildlife' is the next in a series of wildlife workshops hosted by Wildlife Tourism Australia and the Logan and Albert Conservation Association, funded by Beaudesert Shire Council. The title reflects the facts that: (a) too often a wildlife corridor is a green strip that looks good on a map but no real study has determined whether it is likely to be useful to the wildlife it is intended for, and (b) what is a corridor for one species may not be useable by another.

Local zoologist and WTA vice-president Dr Ronda Green will be speaking on why animals need corridors, how corridors may need to be designed to suit different species, and the sorts of questions we need to ask when planning where and what kind of corridors should be provided.

Keith McCosh, Narual Resources Officer of the Scenic Rim Council, will speak on protected corridors which already exist in the Shire, and where some of the major gaps are.

Jennifer Davis, wildlife officer of the Redlands Shire Council will speak asbout corridors for koalas and some case studies of previous corridors having been broken.

An open discussion will follow on what we need to know about actual and potential corridors within our Shire, the animals that may need them, and what action is needed by researchers, local government, private landwoners and others to ensure sufficient useable corridors to preserve the wondeful diversity of willidfe species within the Scenic Rim well into the future.

The workshop will be held at the Information and Arts Centre on Mt Lindsay Highway near the Beaudesert High School from 1.30 to 5.00 pm. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome, and the workshop is free, but space will be limited, so interested persons should contact Ronda Green on platypuscorner@bigpond.com or 5544 1283.

Tweed artist Andy Remainis has donated a print of his
dramatic painting of a young wedge-tailed eagle to be raffled for wildlife conservation, in association with the wildlife workshops and Wildlife festival organized by  Wildlife Tourism Australia and Logan and Albert Conservation Association, funded by Beaudesert Shire Council.

Mr. Remainis is ‘artist in residence’ at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary as well as the World Heritage Rainforest Centre, Murwillumbah, and also the coordinator of the Tweed Naturally Art Awards (depicting the regions natural landscapes, flora & fauna).

The pastel painting “Young Wedge-tailed Eagle” is part of a series of 'Wildlife with Attitude' paintings by Mr Reimanis. "Australian wildlife art is only gradually coming of age" says Mr Remainis. "The depiction of our native fauna (and flora) is still  not recognised here, or overseas, as a significant art form.
 
"The U.S is the world’s stronghold of wildlife art. The sales of paintings of bears, mountain lions, wolves and (usually) other predators, by recognised American artists, fetch huge sums. As a result of the generosity of most artists in the US, a percentage of the proceeds of sales is donated to wildlife conservation organisations, funding many worthwhile projects. Many talented Australian wildlife artists need to go overseas to earn a living depicting North American or African species. Subsequently, opportunities for  potential funding of conservation projects here, is  lost."

So why should this be? Mr Reimanis feels we have not sufficiently shown the more dramatic side of our fauna.

"One explanation for this perceived lack of interest from the buying public" he says "may be that our fauna is portrayed as too benign.....koalas sleeping in trees, kangaroos lolling about under a shady bush, Kookaburra sitting on a fence post, etc., etc. The painting of “Young Wedgie” was done to show that our wildlife can be as interesting , and exciting, as the big American and African game species. It is up to our local talented artists to showcase the huge diversity of wildlife found in this region, in a more creative and spectacular manner."

With the Arts Trails that have been the subject of lively discussions at monthly dinners at the Centre in Beaudesert for the past few months, plus a project involving nature-based art throughout the Border Ranges, local artists have a special opportunity to be involved in turning around some of the attitudes to Australian wildlife art.

"The much anticipated Mt.Warning Caldera Landscapes project (an initiative of Tourism Australia) embraces the Gondwanan Rainforests in and around the remnant volcano...involving six shires, including Beaudesert," says Mr Remainis, who will be attending the next Arts Trail dinner in Beaudesert (February 21). "In collaboration with key stakeholders, the Beaudesert Shire is leading the way in exploring the possibility of incorporating  a ‘Wildlife Art Trail’ in the region.

Visitors could explore galleries, studios, public sculpture, and art exhibitions where our native flora and fauna is showcased.  As well as potentially contributing to wildlife conservation through art sales, visitors can usually learn more, and appreciate,  the biodiversity of the region  at the same time.  

The donated painting will soon be on display behind the desk of the Centre, and raffle tickets will be available for sale here, at the wildlife workshops to be held in Beaudesert throughout the year, and other venues.

Speaking of his painting, Mr Remainis says "the recently fledged Wedge-tailed Eagle is looking on with great anticipation and determination to succeed in promoting Aussie wildlife and artists."

[Note: you can also order tickets - $2 each or $5 for 3 - from Ronda Green (WTA vice-chair) or Carla Parker (LACA treasurer)

Ecotourism Australia Conference

From Ecotourism Australia:

Australia's 1st Conference on Green Travel & Climate Change is taking Shape
Mark your Diary now as “Out of Office” from 17-20 November

Australia's first global Conference dedicated to Green Travel, Climate Change, and Ecotourism is confirmed to be held in Adelaide and Regional South Australia from 17 – 20 November this year.

Strongly supported by the SA Tourism Commission, the SA Department of Environment & Heritage and Events SA, this innovative event will bring together the World's leading authorities on Climate Change, a broad range of solutions and best practice examples on the topic of greenhouse mitigation,
creating Green destinations and associated Sustainable travel.

The 2008 Conference on Green Travel, Climate Change and Ecotourism will also immerse delegates in the best South Australia has to offer, coupled with a vibrant, informative, involving,
and stimulating mainstream Conference and Social Program.

The Call for Papers are Now Open.

Early Bird Registration is open at www.ecotourism.org.au/conference

Expressions of Interest to present a Paper can be emailed to ceo@ecotourism.org.au

National Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference

Canberra - 21-25 July, 2008

PO Box 232, Kalamunda, WA, 6926
email - nwrcperth@westnet.com.au
web - www.nwrc.com.au