This year Big Scrub Rainforest Day is delivering a new and exciting format, in response to Covid19 constraints, providing even greater opportunity for people far and wide to get involved.
To celebrate the 22nd annual event, Big Scrub Landcare is switching to an online format, taking place on Sunday September 20.
This year’s topical theme ‘Saving our Rainforests from Fire’ will be relevant to all members of our north coast community and communities further afield.
The feature of this year’s event is two panel discussions facilitated by well-known ABC journalists Kerry O’Brien and Mick O’Regan.
Issues related to the recent bushfires
The experienced panels will discuss important issues related to the recent bushfires in and around Nightcap National Park. The first panel will discuss the impacts of the fires on our rainforests and the lessons that should be learnt.
The second panel will discuss what strategies and on-ground actions should be pursued and how bushfire management should be improved to minimise the impacts of future major bushfires on our local rainforests.
Panel members include Dr Robert Kooyman (Rainforest Botanist-Ecologist, Macquarie University), Matthew Wiseman (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service), Oliver Costello (Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation), Dave Kelly (NSW NPWS/Saving Our Species Program), Andy Baker (Researcher, Southern Cross University) and David Milledge (Wildlife Ecologist).
Big Scrub Landcare’s President Dr Tony Parkes said Big Scrub Landcare is delighted to have such high calibre, skilled, locally-experienced panel members to discuss these contentious issues.
Focusing on bushfires around Nightcap National Park
‘Big Scrub Landcare is specifically focusing on the recent bushfires in our local area in and around Nightcap National Park, with emphasis on our significant Gondwanan rainforests – rather than fires on a broader regional, state or national scale.
‘We are hosting this year’s event in response to our local community’s concerns about the impacts of the recent fires on our precious rainforests and what needs to be done to minimise the impacts of future bushfires,’ said Dr Parkes.
Big Scrub Landcare is working with long-term partners Rous County Council and Envite Environment and our valued supporters Saving Our Species Program and the NSW Environmental Trust to deliver this event and its unique format for 2020.
‘We are very pleased to celebrate the 22nd annual anniversary of the country’s largest community-led environmental Landcare event via its amended format despite the devastating crises of the past twelve months: drought, fires and the pandemic,’ said Dr Parkes.
More information on panel members, and all updates including registration details for this free online event, can be viewed at: www.bigscrubrainforest.org.
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