Conservation SA

Last week, we teamed up with Australia’s State and Territory Conservation Councils to co-host “An Evening with the Minister: Strengthening Our Environment Laws”.
Our Chief Executive, Kirsty Bevan, facilitated the event in which we urged the Federal Environment Minister to take action and strengthen our national nature laws.

Now, we need your voice to make a difference. Join us in speaking up for stronger environmental laws by signing our petition today! Sign the petition: https://www.conservationsa.org.au/strengthen_our_nature_laws

🌊 REEF RAMBLES IS ALMOST HERE! 🌊

The countdown is on! ⏳ Join us at Robe on Saturday August 10th OR at Beachport on Sunday, August 11th, for an unforgettable citizen science adventure at Beachport.

🔬 Learn to monitor marine life, record your findings, and become a true ocean explorer!

🗓️ Date: Robe, Saturday August 10th & Beachport, Sunday August 11th

🕣 Time: 8:30 - 10:00am

👣 Grab your gear, bring a parent or caregiver if you're under 16, and get ready for an exciting morning of discovery! Duration: 90-120 minutes.

🔗 Learn more and register via the link in bio!

Don't miss out – see you there! 🌊🦑

🌊 UPCOMING REEF RAMBLES AT ROBE & BEACHPORT! 🌊

Are you an ocean lover or budding marine scientist? 🔬 Join us for a guided citizen science adventure with Marine Biologists along the rocky seashore at Robe on Saturday August 10 AND Beachport on Sunday, August 11th!

🦀 Discover fascinating rock pool flora and fauna, including reef crabs, dog whelks, intertidal tube worms, variegated limpets, and vivid waratah anemones. 🐙

🗓️ Date: Robe, Saturday August 10th & Beachport, Sunday August 11th

🕣 Time: 8:30 - 10:00am

🔗 Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4bVh4iG

See you there! 🌊🦑

Join us for an enlightening seminar and Q&A on Australia’s nuclear situation.

🗣️ Speakers: Dr. Jim Green (National Nuclear Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Australia) & Dave Sweeney (Nuclear Free Campaigner, Australian Conservation Foundation)

📅 Date: 17th July 6pm and 22nd July 7:30pm
🕒 Duration: 1 hour
📍 Location: Online via Zoom

Get insights into the Dutton Coalition’s plans for seven nuclear power plants across five states, including South Australia. If you’re new to the issue this is the perfect place to ask your questions

Register for this free event: https://events.humanitix.com/conservation-sa-nuclear-briefing

Conservation SA are delighted to announce that Kirsty Bevan has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Conservation Council of South Australia (CCSA).

Kirsty brings over 20 years of experience in management and advocacy roles within the environmental community. She has a proven track record of building and empowering high-performing teams, fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders, and driving strategic initiatives.

A few words from Kirsty:
“I am honoured to join Conservation SA and am truly grateful for this opportunity. As we face the challenges of a changing climate, the need for a strong advocate for South Australia's environment has never been greater and I’m looking forward to working with our Nature Champions to unite our voice and make a lasting impact for nature conservation.”

Celebrating 2024! ❤️💛🖤
This week Conservation SA joins in honouring the rich history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s theme: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud is all about the enduring strength of First Nations culture, symbolised by fire – a powerful link to Country, community, and tradition.

Join us in listening, learning, and celebrating the wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Join us in accelerating the nature positive transition to renewable energy - safeguarding our precious natural habitats. With your support, we can power a brighter, cleaner future and reduce the risk of species extinctions. Donate now: www.conservationsa.org.au/donate

Together, we’ve fought for crucial reforms to safeguard Adelaide’s urban trees. Every donation to Conservation Council SA helps to fuel the implementation of these vital reforms, ensuring our cities thrive with vibrant, healthy trees. Let’s cultivate a greener, more sustainable future for South Australia. Donate now: https://www.conservationsa.org.au/donate

We are proud to launch our second fellowship program to help South Australians Create Positive Change!

If you are passionate about climate action, nature protection and climate justice and want to develop practical skills and confidence to make a difference, we would love to hear from you!

Apply now at conservationsa.org.au/fellowship.
Applications close Monday June 17th, 2024.

Have you ever thought about enviro-volunteering?
The next free session to meet your local group is on Saturday 15 June at The Joinery in Adelaide CBD!

We’re so happy to be supporting Green Adelaide and the Adelaide Sustainability Centre to connect people with their local enviro-volunteer groups and explore the types of support and resources available for the groups.

Saturday 15 June, 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
The Joinery, 111 Franklin Street, Adelaide
Book your spot! Registrations are still open! https://events.humanitix.com/meet-your-local-group

Last night we celebrated South Australia’s amazing nature champions at the 2024 SA Environment Awards on World Environment Day. 🌏

A massive congratulations to all of our winners and finalists! 🏆🌟

You can read more about the 2024 awards at www.saenvironmentawards.org.au/2024

Presented by Conservation Council SA in partnership with Green Adelaide, Department for Environment and Water, and University of Adelaide The Environment Institute. The event was generously sponsored by Adelaide Cemeteries.

📸 Darren Clements Photography

Have you ever thought about enviro-volunteering?
The next free session to meet your local group is on Saturday 15 June at The Joinery in Adelaide CBD!

We’re so happy to be supporting Green Adelaide and the Adelaide Sustainability Centre to connect people with their local enviro-volunteer groups and explore the types of support and resources available for the groups.

📆Saturday 15 June, 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
📍The Joinery, 111 Franklin Street, Adelaide
💻Book your spot! https://events.humanitix.com/meet-your-local-group

Check out all of the finalists for the 2024 SA Environment Awards!

We’re only one week away from the event!

Limited tickets still available here: https://events.humanitix.com/2024-sa-environment-awards 🎟️

Nature has never needed a voice more than it does today. Extinctions are accelerating and the climate is warming faster than expected. Strong action is required.

Can you help us continue to be an evermore effective voice for nature in South Australia? 

Your donation is hugely impactful for the continuation of our conservation efforts.

Please donate now via the link in our bio.

Limited tickets are available for the 2024 SA Environment Awards 🎟️

Secure your seat now by purchasing your ticket via the link in our bio!

Two trees, valued at almost $700K, are facing unnecessary removal. Help us turn that around. 🌳

The trees are on Marion Council land, to be leased to a private developer, who is seeking their “removal”.

This decision goes before Council tomorrow evening. 
Your advocacy before that meeting is crucial. 

Please join us in calling for Council to make the retention of the trees a condition of the lease arrangement and/or development approval.
This would:
▪️Respect the work of Council’s arb team
▪️Acknowledge the increasing importance of canopy across the Council area
▪️Respect the value attached by the Community to trees such as these.

Please personalise your email, rather than simply copying and pasting the detail from this email. Emails that all use the same text are treated as one email, not as powerful stand-alone emails. You might like to tell them why this matters to you.

Don’t miss your chance to experience never-seen-before footage of Australia’s wild and remote Heard and McDonald Islands at this FREE short film screening in Adelaide!

Book your FREE ticket now! Hurry, tickets will disappear quickly.

🔗 bit.ly/iceandfireadelaide

WHEN: 6:00 pm, Thursday 11 April
WHERE: Mercury Cinema, Adelaide

https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/blog/2024/3/29/underplanting-encouraged

Our 'Tree Advocate', Joanna Wells seen here looking she has recently stuck her finger in an electrical socket and survived it!, was recently interviewed about trees, canopy and how we can best mitigate the occasional dropped limb.

There is, in fact, lots that can be done and should be done, as the benefits to us of established trees far outweigh the risks. It's also important to consider the difference between real danger and perceived danger.

If you're not a Parklands Association member, you can access a shorted interview here. For those of you who are financial members the full article is available via your newsletter or the archive.

Underplanting encouraged — Adelaide Park Lands Association More underplanting beneath big trees in your Adelaide Park Lands would help discourage activities directly under them and manage the level of risk from falling limbs. That’s according to Joanna Wells, who’s an outreach coordinator at Conservation SA and a councillor with the City of Mitcham.

Help keep science alive at the South Australian Museum.

The SA Museum's proposed restructure involves abolishing all 27 Research and Collections positions and replacing them with 22 curatorial management positions.

Join us this Saturday 13th of April at 11am, as we march on the Parliament House steps to protest this proposed restructure.

It's time to stand up for our much-loved museum!

Help keep science alive at the South Australian Museum.

The SA Museum’s proposed restructure involves abolishing all 27 Research and Collections positions and replacing them with 22 curatorial management positions.

Join us this Saturday 13th of April at 11am, as we march on the Parliament House steps to protest this proposed restructure.

It’s time to stand up for our much-loved museum!

Nominations are now closed for the 2024 SA Environment Awards.

Stay tuned for more details about this year's event!

Yesterday the government released the report from the Expert review Panel into the Planning and Design Code and the Government’s response to this report. And what a great Easter present it was!

Further information is available in the report, but in short, the recommendations on trees are that:

The State government review and refine the intersection between the PDI Act 2016 and the Native Vegetation Act 1991 to remove confusion within the community and development sector, to ensure native vegetation is retained.
The government supports this recommendation in principle and will undertake further investigation.

The Planning and Design Code should support design innovation to enable the retention of trees. The Government supports this recommendation.

Extend the application of the Urban Tree Canopy Overlay to all new allotments in the Master Planned Neighbourhood Zone.
The Government supports this recommendation.

Extend the Urban Tree Canopy Overlay and the Regulated and Significant Tree Overlay to townships and address any anomalies in current township mapping for this purpose.
The government supports this recommendation in principle and will undertake further investigation.

The Urban Tree Canopy Off-set Scheme fees are increased.
The Government supports this recommendation.

The Government investigate what additional and/or alternative penalties are available for tree damaging activity to disincentivise poor behaviour.
The Government supports this recommendation.

Investigations be undertaken to establish an independent arboriculture advisory body to provide advice on applications pertaining to significant trees.
The Government supports this recommendation.

Apply the tree regulations to all State Government projects.
The government supports this recommendation in principle and will undertake further investigation.

The Government investigate what opportunities and mechanisms are available to encourage tree retention and planting on private land.
The government supports this recommendation.

Unfortunately, the Government has chosen not to support the Expert review Panel’s additional recommendation that they consider putting in place interim measures to prevent people taking out trees in a hurry, while they still can.

Apart from this, we're pretty happy with the result to date - recognising though, that there remains work to be done.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported out campaign so far and stepped out of their comfort zone to contact their local MP, to write a submission, to call talk-back radio. The list of actions goes on. We would not have got to this point without your incredible support, so thank you! The full report is available on the plan.sa.gov.au website - just search expert review panel.

Last weekend we represented the Murray Darling Conservation Alliance at Dupang Pangari – the Coorong Spirit Festival 💙

We joined Senior Elder Major Moogy Sumner for this special cultural festival on the waterfront of Kurrangk (Coorong) on Ngarrindjeri Lands near Long Point. 

🦆 The Coorong and Great Southern Lakes are Ramsar-listed wetlands of international ecological importance, supporting rare and endangered plants and animals, as well as significant populations of waterbird and fish species. They’re sites of enormous cultural significance. These rivers and wetlands are the lifeblood of our continent.

💧Major Moogy says “The government needs to not just be listening, but actually hearing and implementing the teachings from First Nations people on how to look after our rivers and water systems. We need real water returned to the river to keep our waters clean and pure not just for us, but for everyone.”

           

What’s happening to winter? In hot, bushfire-prone Australia our winters are becoming warmer and shorter. Will climate change eventually erase the season, leaving it to exist only in paintings, fairy tales and historical accounts?

'The End of Winter' is a performance essay about loss and resilience. It’s about the places the writer goes in search of the cold weather she loves—places she can reach via public transport and the imagination.

“An elegy for the romance of cold and for the imminent loss of seasons…” Sydney Morning Herald

Grab your tickets to this thought-provoking and timely Adelaide Fringe show here:

The End of Winter | Adelaide Fringe What’s happening to winter? In hot, bushfire-prone Australia our winters are becoming warmer and shorter. Will climate change eventually erase the season, leaving it to exist only in paintings, fairytales and historical accounts? 'The End of Winter' is a performance essay about loss and resilienc....

🌏 Earth Jam photos have just dropped! 🌏

Thank you to the incredible for capturing these magic moments and letting us re-live the fun. 📸

Want to keep the magic alive? 🌟To learn more about the people and causes of Earth Jam, and to give your feedback to help us improve the event, head to the Earth Jam webpage: https://www.ncssa.asn.au/earth-jam