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 project, our progress and how you can get 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, we are launching the Wonyip Biodiversity Survey, a 12-month project to map the biodiversity across the Wonyip region.  We are bringing together citizen scientists, wildlife experts and technology - we'd love you to join us too in bringing this project to life...

To improve the future of our many threatened species in Wonyip, our Group is seeking to establish baseline data on the species we have in the region and the health of their populations.  Our Group is planning to collect baseline data, by bringing together volunteers and experts on a series of events from May 2023 - May 2024:
  • 1 x overnight bioblitz weekends and 4 x Workshops with experts (Q1, 2024)
  • Water-sampling for Platypus DNA (also capturing other species) (Q4, 2023)
  • Galaxiis investigations (Q4, 2023)
  • Bird surveys (all-year)
  • Installation of listening posts for bird life, and analysis (Q3, 2023)
  • Installation of listening posts for frogs, and analysis (Q3/Q4 2023)
  • Installation of remote sensoring equipment for nest-boxes and tree hollows (Q3, 2023)
  • Night workshops to observe local insects, including the Bogong Moth (tbc)
  • Night walks to identify nocturnal arboreal species, including a range of owls and gliders (all year)
  • Walks with Field Naturalists to identify flora in the region (all year)
  • Walks to survey Strzelecki koalas (all year)
  • and the list goes on...
We already have interest from a wide range of experts and volunteer groups, including Intrepid Landcare. 

​Good projects which build community engagement also involve good food and some fun activities, so we plan to include a movie night (bringing back the WIFF - Wonyip International Film Festival) and music at the Wonyip Excelsior Hall! 
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Contact us if you want to be involved as a volunteer, expert or funder - all comers welcome!!
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Preparing our outdoor movie screen
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Wonyip Trail

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 Bird and Platypus Survey

Join us from 3.00pm on Saturday, 21 October 2023 to learn how to undertake a bird survey (yes, we will also be celebrating Bird Week!!), learn about technology that will help ID birds while we are not in the field, learn about eDNA sampling for platypus, koala and other fauna, and then relax by a creek in our region to see if you can spot a platypus!!  Details below... bookings essential!!

Wonyip Fungi Foray (7 May 2023)

The inaugural Wonyip Fungi Foray was held on Sunday, 7 May 2023 marking the first event for the Wonyip Biodiversity Survey.  Despite icy winds and rain, the weather cleared for our survey and we were able to spend over 3 hours in the field, expertly led by Faye Viner.  

​20 volunteers, including quite a number who were new to Landcare, uploaded as many images as they could to iNaturalist and FungiMap.  So far, we have registered over 100 observations of 38 different species, and counting!!  We even found some Ghost Mushrooms - confirmed on our trail late that night!  To see our work, download the iNaturalist app and join 'Wonyip Fungi Project'.

Thank you to all our volunteers - it was such a fun day and a brilliant way to kick off our project!!

Contact

Interested in getting involved or supporting our efforts to protect our unique flora and fauna, then we'd love to hear from you:
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Contact: Helen Spittle
T: 0425 710001
E: helenf.spittle@gmail.com
F: wonyiplandcareteam
© 2023 Yarram Yarram Landcare Network