Rejuvenating habitats for Australia’s unique biodiversity after the devastating bushfires
Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) has made significant strides in the last 12 months to reverse the impact of the 2019/20 bushfires on the Glossy Black Cockatoo. The bird, known scientifically as Calyptorhynchus lathami, faced significant habitat loss due to the fires, prompting immediate conservation efforts.
Thanks to a generous donation from local philanthropist Mark Tidswell, CVA has been able to collaborate with over 25 dedicated volunteers. Together, they have planted over 2,000 habitat and food trees across six different locations in the Tweed, Byron, and Brunswick shires.
Mark Tidswell said, “From raising birds in my childhood to working on rural lands, I’ve seen firsthand how essential birds are to a healthy ecosystem. Many Australian birds play profound roles as ‘ecosystem engineers’. However, with the significant loss of habitat, it’s vital we maintain what’s left and create new corridors for seed dispersion and pollination. Given that 45 per cent of the 830 bird species in Australia are unique to our lands, it’s imperative we act now. Otherwise, species like the Glossy Black Cockatoo risk extinction.”
CVA remains dedicated to its vision of empowering every Australian to take simple yet powerful actions for nature. The commitment is clear in their efforts to conserve the Glossy Black Cockatoos of South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers, ensuring these remarkable birds have a fighting chance of survival.
The Glossy Black Cockatoo, distinguished by its browner shade and unique tail feather patterns, plays a crucial role in Australia’s ecosystem. Its reliance on specific food trees like the black she-oak (Allocasuarina littoralis) and forest she-oak (Allocasuarina torulosa) has made habitat conservation even more critical.
The devastation from the 2019-20 bushfires was a stark reminder of the threats faced by Australia’s unique wildlife. However, every tree planted and every habitat restored signifies hope. As CVA continues its mission, they not only bring back the Glossy Black Cockatoo but also create a more sustainable future for other threatened species across the Australian landscape.
The Glossy Black Cockatoo Project offers Australians an opportunity to get involved directly. Whether through donations or volunteering for planting events, every contribution is a step towards a more biodiverse and resilient Australia.
To make a donation to CVA’s Glossy Black Cockatoo Project, visit https://
About Conservation Volunteers Australia
Conservation Volunteers Australia is the nation’s leading practical environmental group, committed to making a significant impact in conserving Australia’s unique biodiversity through its pioneering initiative – Nature Blocks
. Through community involvement, and app-led conservation activities, CVA has been able to rejuvenate numerous habitats, ensuring that Australia’s natural wonders continue to thrive for generations to come.
To find out more about CVA’s actions for biodiversity and threatened species, please visit https://mynatureblock.org.au/ or download the new CVA app.
About Conservation Volunteers Australia’s Nature Blocks initiative
The Nature Blocks program by CVA is proudly supported by the Bupa Foundation. The national campaign is designed to encourage every Australian to assist in rejuvenating and restoring Australia’s unique biodiversity by connecting with nature.
The Nature Blocks involves participants building a native garden of any size in their backyard, on their balcony, in their office, or in their local environment to provide a source of food and shelter for native species.
Nature Blocks create micro-habitats and collectively contribute to the habitat available for native wildlife in our major cities and towns. Research has found that almost half (46 per cent) of Australia’s nationally listed threatened animals can be found in urban areas and these environments are the last remaining places that 39 threatened species exist.(1) By creating Nature Blocks, each person can take a positive step to support Australia’s biodiversity and help our communities to be healthier places for us all to live. Individuals can also enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that come from spending time in the environment.
Participants can visit the CVA website, or download the new CVA app, to access explanatory videos and resources on how to build a Nature Block to suit their location, space, and level of experience. Participants can also join the online CVA community to share their stories of success and encourage others to get involved. In addition to the fun and vibrant digital campaign, the Nature Blocks will include on-the-ground events and celebrations, creating a platform for interaction, collaboration, and conservation.
The goal of Nature Blocks is to build a community of more than one million like-minded people by 2026, who will all take simple yet powerful actions to build back Australia’s biodiversity, one block at a time. By making conservation accessible, fun, and fulfilling for all, Nature Blocks is designed to help preserve biodiversity and promote healthy, resilient living environments which are more able to withstand the effects of a changing climate.
Everyone has a role to play in protecting and restoring the natural environment. By taking action together as a community, CVA and the Bupa Foundation are certain that a significant impact can be made. As little as one square metre can make a difference, and both CVA and the Bupa Foundation are passionate about creating a world in which people and nature thrive, together.
Reference:
(1) Soanes and Lentini, When cities are the last chance for saving species, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environmental, 1 April 2019 https://esajournals.
