Linking Landscapes: The Grampians/Gariwerd to Pyrenees Biolink Community Launch brings together Landcare groups, researchers, and the local community to launch the next chapter of habitat restoration across our region. Hear from specialists about how citizen science and new monitoring tools are helping map fragmented habitat and build a shared plan to reconnect it. We'd love you to be part of what happens next!
Join us to launch this exciting new chapter, just in time for the 40th anniversary of Landcare in Victoria. Whether you're in the room at Ararat Town Hall or joining remotely, a livestream option is available so no one has to miss out.
Dr Elia Pirtle (Project Platypus) on habitat fragmentation and how biolinks can help our beloved native species thrive.
Dr James Maino and Dr Rafael Schouten (Patchweave) on cutting edge monitoring and mapping tools that can help Landcare achieve new, ambitious goals.
Jonathan Starks (Hindmarsh Landcare) on the Hindmarsh Biolink Project, and going from a bare paddock with a single tree to thriving habitat, and the birds that followed.
All welcome. Refreshments provided. Come along and be part of shaping the future of habitat and wildlife in our region!
Agenda
2:00pm Welcome
2:00pm Introduction: Biolinks from global to local: Elia opens with why biolinks matter, and what's possible with the right data and teamwork. We will walk through how our local landcares formed the Grampians/Gariwerd to Pyrenees Biolink idea, and the three-step approach to building biolinks.
2:30pm Break
2:40pm Building the Tools: James and Raf on developing the tools and methods that enable community to link landscapes at scale, including AI technologies (BirdPUCs, iNaturalist, Trail camera footage sorting) and a new collaborative mapping system created by Patchweave for our Landcares, with a live show-and-tell.
3:20pm Break
3:40pm Birds & Biolinks: Jonathan gives us inspiration for what we can achieve with the Hindmarsh Biolink story.
4:10pm Wrap up: Elia will tell us about what comes next, and how the community can get involved.
4:20pm Open Mingling & Exploration: connect with others, explore the stations, and try out the tools!
Please indicate when registering whether you will be attending in person or via livestream.