2018 Biolinks Alliance, Annual Symposium
Linking freshwater ecosystems at a time of climate change
Bells Swamp near Maldon
Just as our terrestrial species require connected habitats - so do frogs, invertebrates, fish and other aquatic species. Water is the great connector - providing passage and connecting environments.
Southern Bell Frog
The 2018 Biolinks Alliance Annual Symposium will explore the pivotal role that water plays as a connector and the waterscapes and aquatic species that rely on it.
With a strong focus on central Victorian systems - the creeks, rivers and their headwaters, the small temporary wetlands and soaks, the Symposium will provide practical and locally relevant knowledge for Alliance members and anyone with an interest in conservation.
Running across two days, the program will be made up of:
KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS from five leading scientists:
- Professor Nick Bond, Director of the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre - Protecting our catchments to conserve biodiversity in rivers and streams
- Professor Don Driscoll - Director Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University - Frogs in agricultural landscapes
- Dr Michelle Casanova - Federation University - Management of temporary aquatic habitats in an agricultural landscape
- Dr Jon Fawcett, CDMSmith - Groundwater dependant ecosystems <<GDEs>>, just another acronym or do we really need to know
- Darren Griffin, Barnegi Gadgin Land Council - Barnegi Gadgin, the Wimmera River.
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS designed to give participants knowledge to implement new approaches to water in their landscapes, around the themes:
- Environmental water
- River Frontage restoration
- Managing spring soaks, bogs and wetlands
- Leaky landscapes
SYMPOSIUM DINNER at Barney's in Pomonal (Bus to and from Pomonal included in ticket price)
- Archaeologist, Professor Susan Lawrence will speak about how the gold rush changed Victoria's river systems. This is a great opportunity to network with other attendees from across the state
FIELD DAY (23 June) a trip to several wetlands in various stages of health along the base of the Grampians, followed by a visit to Walkers Swamp, to observe the exciting new swamp restoration project, undertaken by the Nature Glenelg Trust.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL PROGRAM HERE
FIELD TRIP TO WALKER SWAMP
Walker Swamp is a 35 hectare wetland situated to the north of Gooseneck Swamp, straddling public (Walker Swamp Lake Reserve) and private land.
The entire wetland was comprehensively drained to its bed level several decades ago, and as a result it very rarely held any depth of water for any significant period of time.
Recently purchased by the Nature Glenelg Trust, we will be visiting the Walker Swamp for a field trip on 23 June to see the results of the trial and ongoing work in the area.
The Walker Swamp sand bag crew
We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of our sponsors in presenting this event:
