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The Wonyip Biodiversity Survey is supported by the Victorian Government through the Volunteering Innovation Fund. The Wettenhall Environment Trust and the Wonyip Landcare Group are also supporting the project. We thank all our funders, volunteers and experts - with your support we will together deliver a better future for our environment.
“Our dedicated volunteers do incredible work all across the state to help conserve our precious environment and ensure it’s thriving for future generations... These grants will help inspire more people in the community to get involved and begin new projects that protect and reinvigorate their local green spaces and wildlife.” Victorian Minister for Environment, Ingrid Stitt.
“Our dedicated volunteers do incredible work all across the state to help conserve our precious environment and ensure it’s thriving for future generations... These grants will help inspire more people in the community to get involved and begin new projects that protect and reinvigorate their local green spaces and wildlife.” Victorian Minister for Environment, Ingrid Stitt.
Our project, and how you can continue to be involved!Wonyip Biodiversity Survey - Volunteers, experts and technology unite for impact
Thanks to the generosity of VicParks' Volunteer Innovation Fund (VIF), the Wettenhall Environment Trust and the support of the Intrepid Landcare, Wonyip Landcare Group undertook a Wonyip Biodiversity Survey, a 12-month project to map the biodiversity across the Wonyip region. We brought together citizen scientists, wildlife experts and technology to explore the flora and fauna range in our region. To improve the future of our many threatened species in Wonyip, our Group sought to establish baseline data on the species we have in the region and the health of their populations. Our Group collected baseline data, by bringing together volunteers and experts on a series of events from May 2023 - May 2024:
Good projects which build community engagement also involve good food and some fun activities, so we included a movie night (bringing back the WIFF - Wonyip International Film Festival) and guest speaker, Nick Clemmen, Reptile and Frog expert. 
Preparing our outdoor movie screen
Wonyip Trail
Reports
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So where is Wonyip, exactly?Wonyip is located at the most western boundary of the YYLN region, in the Strzelecki Ranges. Our wet and damp forest is home to unique biomes. Clearing of land for farming and forestry has impacted the habitat for a huge range of flora and fauna - and a concerning number are now being included in lists of threatened to critically endangered species.
Wonyip Aquatic Survey (Mon, Tues 25-26 Mar 2024)Our aquatic survey was undertaken over two days by Aquatica Environmental and included a range of aquatic sampling:
Koala and Bat Survey (Sat, 23 March 2024)On 23 March 2024, Wonyip Landcare Group hosted the last formal event of the year-long 'Wonyip Biodiversity Survey: Experts, Volunteers and Technology Unite for Impact'. This event saw 25+ volunteers learn all about koala and bat ecology with Kelly Smith of the Great Victorian Koala Survey and Laura Owen of Wildlife Unlimited - and then go looking for them! Several koalas were found in the Mountain Grey Gums and skats collected for inclusion in the project data and in the Great Victorian Koala Survey. The group detected a number of white-stripe free-tailed bats and set up an Anabat Swift for ongoing monitoring of bat action in Wonyip!! The Wonyip Group found more koalas over Easter and the observations will now be logged with the Friends of the Strzelecki Koala.
Information on how to collect koala skats is available below: 
Wonyip Bioblitz (3 - 4 February 2024)After all the seriously wet weather in Gippsland in recent months, we could not have asked for more ideal conditions on 3-4 February, as 34 volunteers met in Wonyip for the bioblitz - the peak event for the year-long Wonyip Biodiversity Survey. Volunteers from Intrepid Landcare, YYLN and the Landcare community/friends were led by experts Dallas Wyatt (Birds) and Jenny Wolswinkel (Flora) on a two day surveying exercise across private land and Brataualung Forest Park. Using iNaturalist, the group was able to register over 450 observations covering 211 species, and counting. In the evening the group welcomed Nick Clemann, frog and reptile expert who delivered a session that was both passionate and inspiring on the importance of biodiversity and the frogs and reptiles found in the Wonyip region.
For more information, contact: Helen Spittle M. 0425 710001, E. [email protected]. Wonyip Bird Survey (8 December 2023)It was a VERY rainy day, but the skies cleared for a moment and a handful of intrepid Landcare volunteers, led by Dallas Wyatt, undertook a 4 hour bird survey across the Webb property and part of the Bratuaulung Forest Park. Yes there was rain, yes there were leaches, but the dedicated group still had a blast and the bird life did not disappoint!!
Wonyip Bird and Platypus Survey
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