Enviro-Dynamics

A big thank you to City of Hobart Bushcare, Glenorchy City Council, Friends of Wellington Park, Fern Tree Bushcare and Wellington Park Management Trust for some great field days over the last month searching for spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) in Collinsvale and Fern Tree.

Spurge laurel is an emerging w**d known from only four locations in Tasmania. These surveys have help map the edges of the infestations in the two southern populations and have potentially identified the source of one of the populations.

It is very important and very adventurous work!

This project is supported by the Tasmanian Government through the W**ds Action Fund.

**ds

Did you catch Gardening Australia (Season 37, Episode 11) a few weeks back? You might have seen some of Pippa’s colleagues over in Western Australia if you did!

Phytophthora dieback is a highly destructive plant disease and is regarded as the second greatest threat to threatened species in Australia. To help stop the spread of Phytophthora dieback, it’s crucial to know where it’s occurring, which can be achieved with the help of Pippa and other detection dogs.

The Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is leading a project to develop Dieback Detector Dog capacity across Australia (funded by the Australian Government Saving Native Species Program). This national project aims to prevent the spread of Phytophthora dieback by equipping teams across the country with the skills and resources they need.

Enviro-dynamic’s beloved Pippa was trained using this funding, making it possible to now offer Phytophthora dieback detection services in Tasmania.

You know it’s a good day when you spot a rakali!

Rakali are Australia’s native water rat. As a secretive animal most of the time, seeing one in the wild is a special occasion.

On a recent field trip for a little penguin survey, team member Erin was joined each evening of the survey by a family of three rakali. Over the course of the surveys, she watched them forage along the shoreline, swimming out to catch crabs before returning to shore to eat them.

If you’re walking along the beach in the evening, make sure to keep your eyes peeled!

Does your local area have foxglove?

Enviro-Dynamics is hosting a workshop about the recently declared w**d foxglove. Next week we will be at Mechanics Institute Hall in Scottsdale.

Join local landholders and Biosecurity Tasmania staff, along with experienced w**d control practitioners, for a collaborative workshop. You'll hear from Biosecurity Tasmania staff about what the new foxglove declaration means for your region.

Bring your questions and on-ground experiences to the workshop and contribute to the formation of best practice guidelines to guide effective action across the state.

These workshops are supported by the Tasmanian Government through the W**d Action Fund.

Long before we see the impacts, root rot dieback can be spreading through soil and water. So, how do we get ahead?

Last week at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, we were pleased to bring together project partners, Tasmania’s land management community, and the Threatened Species Commissioner, Fiona Fraser, and her team to explore how detection dogs are changing the way we respond to root rot dieback.

A highlight of the event was a live demonstration from the wonderful Pippa, working with handler Mo McPherson.

Caused by the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, this dieback affects more than 130 plant species and the habitats that depend on them. With no cure available, early detection is critical.

Detection dogs are proving to be a valuable addition to the toolkit, already supporting more informed decisions across threatened species translocations, quarry operations and biosecurity management in Tasmania.

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species Program and delivered by Enviro-Dynamics.

Thanks to our Tasmanian and interstate partners:
Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
TATE Animal Training Enterprises
TasNetworks
Quarry Clean
Plant Diagnostics Lab and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Tasmania
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions and Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia



Threatened Species Commissioner
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Is there a better way to spend an evening than with like-minded people who are as passionate about conservation, the environment, and nature as you are?

Networking was as much a part of the Women in Conservation event (hosted with Tasmanian Land Conservancy) as the panel itself. In the bustling bar before and after the panel, long-time collaborators caught up with one another while new connections formed over canapés.

A core component of our Women in Conservation event with Tasmanian Land Conservancy was hearing from experts about their time working with conservation dogs. Panellists included Sue Robinson, Lynn Baker, Nicole Gill, and Melissa Houghton.

The four had an eclectic, diverse collection of tales to tell, and hearing about their adventures near and far away from Tasmania was both inspiring and thought-provoking with how important detection dogs are for conservation efforts.