The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife provides funds to research and education projects with tangible conservation outcomes.
The Foundation funds scientific research programs that are run to better manage native species conservation. These programs give us more knowledge about threats to species, distribution, behaviours, and population numbers so that initiatives can be taken to ensure their survival into the future. We fund research and monitoring programs run by universities and government agencies.
The Foundation also provides environmental education through the highly popular Backyard Buddies program, via the PAWS newsletter, and through a number of other communications and programs.
Foundation Research Projects
Population Census & Potential Predator Assessment of the Black-footed Rock-Wallaby
From September 2009 to January 2010 the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife funded a project to assess the occurrence of Rock-wallabies at ten key sites within the MacDonnell Ranges including an area (Trephina Gorge Nature Reserve) where anecdotal information suggests that the species may have become extinct over the past ten years as a result of predation.
Marine Science Research Grant
During 2010 Gwenael Cadiou, PhD student of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) received a $7,000 Marine Science Grant from the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. This grant will help fund his research on fish movements, habitat use and connectivity within the Jervis Bay Marine Park. His research aims to explore the implications of his findings for the conservation and management of coastal ecosystems.
Ethical Sampling Techniques for Threatened Fauna
Recently, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife has sponsored a three-year project with the primary aim of developing efficient and ethical techniques for detecting bandicoots and potoroos.
Automated Acoustic Monitoring of Threatened Fauna
One of the ways to detect cryptic species is to listen for their calls. An innovative new method is automated digital field recorders used in conjunction with call recognition software. Such software allows days of recordings to be analysed in minutes by a computer.The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife is funding the deployment of a number of automated acoustic monitoring units by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
Triplarina Nature Reserve Interpretive Signage
Foundation funds of $10,6000 to the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) enabled the development, manufacture and installation of nine interpretive signs in Triplarina Nature Reserve. These signs will help visitors understand the values of the reserve, particularly the threatened Triplarina nowraensis and the threats to that face the area.
Ecological Interpretation of Wildlife Carer Records
The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife is currently funding critical research on an ecological interpretation of the distribution of native fauna from wildlife carer records. This is a project of the Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water (OEH).
'Remnants of Gondwana' Publication
The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife received donations from the National Parks Association and the Warwick Shire Council to help fund the publishing of the book 'Remnants of Gondwana'. This book promoted the northern NSW rainforest parks and reserves, and encouraged sustainable use of the national reserve system with a minimum impact to conservation values.
Foundation Education Projects
Backyard Buddies is free to join and participate. Members receive a free monthly Bmail about native plants and animals you're likely to see in your backyard, with tips on what you can do to look after them. It helps people look out for certain species and get more enjoyment out of their local surroundings. Backyard Buddies also receive the Foundation's quarterly newsletter PAWS, which gives updates on the Foundation's current projects. Backyard Buddies can also post stories, photos and get updates on Facebook. Backyard Buddies can also choose to purchase animal toys as a way to contribute to the Foundation's work - the proceeds from each toy go back into on ground native animal conservation projects.
