Nature Foundation

Introducing Nature Foundation’s 2026 Research Grant recipients 👏
High quality science underpins our efforts to manage our unique biodiversity for future generations sustainably, and an essential aspect of this is offering research grants for university students and early career researchers, supported by our generous donors.

Since 2000, Nature Foundation has awarded $2,045,786 in research grants to post-graduate students, academics, and the community to kickstart careers in research, supporting 471 researchers.

Five student research grants were awarded in the 2026 round, along with the Mike Bull Award for Early Career Nature Scientists.

We are delighted to share this year’s research grant recipients and their projects with you. Read more about each recipient here: https://www.naturefoundation.org.au/news-events/latest-news/2026-research-grant-recipients

Jack O’Leary, Monash University - Grant Start Grants – Honours
Banded vegetation patterns in arid South Australia

Peyton Hampel, Adelaide University - Nature Foundation Scientific Expedition Foundation RL & GK Willing Grant
Functional Response of Dryland Vegetation to Herbivore Exclusion

Jake Thornhill, Adelaide University - Grand Starts Grants – PhD/Masters
Characterising subterranean biodiversity and assessing groundwater ecosystem response to anthropogenic pressures with environmental DNA

Charlotte Hogan, UNSW - Lynette Aplin 'Knowledge in Science' Research Grant
Understanding the role of soil microbes in maintaining arid-zone brown food webs and biodiversity

Caitlin La Rose, University of Sydney - Roy and Marjory Edwards Scholarship
Investigating the Impacts of PFAS on the Health of Australian Pinniped Pups in South Australia

Dr Pablo Recio Santiago, Mike Bull Award for Early Career Nature Scientists
Understanding the endrocrine mechanisms driving pair bonding in animals, specifically the sleepy lizard

This World Environment Day, we're taking a moment to thank YOU! 🌏💚

Thank you for your care and support for our natural world. Today is a reminder that all supportive actions, no matter how small they may seem, are a step towards a positive future. Ways to help include:

🙏🏼 Learn more about our natural environment—subscribe to our email updates to stay informed.
🙏🏼 Share this message and the work of the Nature Foundation with your friends and networks today.
🙏🏼 Join our upcoming planting days or register your interest for future events to make a difference.
🙏🏼 Volunteer with us—sign up to help outdoors, in our office, or at our events.
🙏🏼 Become a Nature Foundation member today to support our mission and enjoy exclusive benefits.
🙏🏼 Donate now to support crucial conservation efforts, including our fight against invasive w**ds through the 2026 Vital Work Appeal.

There are countless urgent ways to help—every action matters now more than ever.

Much remains to be done; many hands are needed, and each one matters.

Thank you.
Today, and every day.

2026 VITAL WORK APPEAL–YOU CAN HELP KEEP THE BUFFEL AT BAY

In a single March night, Witchelina received more rain than fell across all of 2025. The country responded with extraordinary speed — and so did the Buffel.

A $150,000 collective effort will scale up Buffel control across Witchelina before the outbreak compounds. Your gift directly funds:
▪️Track repair and grading so crews can reach the worst-affected country.
▪️Herbicide, equipment, fuel and PPE for ground operations.
▪️Additional Buffel control crews through the critical treatment window.
▪️New spray-tech hardware that improves accuracy and record-keeping across the season.

Learn more and lend a hand here: https://www.naturefoundation.org.au/get-involved/donate/vital-work-appeal-2026

Recently, our Kids on Country Aboriginal Advisory Group members joined Nature Foundation for the group's first meeting of the year. It was a day filled with dynamic and valuable discussion, and we greatly appreciate the time, experience, and insights shared by the group members. Their shared passion for the junior ranger program and the positive impact it has on Aboriginal young people is strong and proud.

Read more about the meeting: https://www.naturefoundation.org.au/news-events/latest-news/collaborating-for-kids-on-country

There are only a few open spots for our first planting day for 2026! Secure yours today.
📍 Tiliqua Nature Reserve
🗓️ Saturday, 13 June 2026
🎟️ Registration is free and required
💻 See all the details and register: https://bit.ly/49GvxR5

DYK Nature Foundation’s Volunteer Program offers four areas of voluntary service:
🌱 Conservation – science and conservation land management activities on regional reserves
🌱 Reserve Support – visitor support and conservation land management activities on remote reserves
🌱 Infrastructure – assisting with specific projects that maintain or improve existing or create new infrastructure on our reserves to support our conservation work
🌱 Projects – office-based science or business activities to support our conservation work

Nature Foundation volunteers contributed over 3,500 hours of service last financial year, assisting us in advancing nature conservation in South Australia and beyond. Learn more about joining our amazing team of volunteers: https://loom.ly/XfMDsQg

📷 Volunteers Chris and Alice supporting the Kids on Country documentary premiere in February 2025.

Save the date for our next Science & Knowledge Webinar - Thursday 18 June 2026
💻 Webinar: Conservation Conversations: Dr Philippa Horton - Fifteen years of bird surveys at Witchelina
📆 Thursday 18 June 2026
🕐 1-2pm ACST
🎟️ Register for free: https://loom.ly/wR5qvfM

Twice-annual bird surveys at Witchelina Nature Reserve since 2010, conducted by Birds SA volunteers, have provided valuable insights that support our conservation efforts (and your support) make a difference for local and migratory species.

Dr Philippa Horton, a dedicated Nature Foundation member, Birds SA committee member, and editor of SA Ornithologist, has participated in these bird surveys over the years. Her passion for birds was sparked in the 1970s during a family holiday and led to a PhD in zoology and a career in ornithology research.

Philippa’s presentation will share the processes used for the bird surveys, including data compilation and use, the quantity and types of species identified, including a brief look at some threatened and Rare species.

Join us to gain valuable insights from Philippa about her fifteen years of bird surveys at Witchelina Nature Reserve and learn how they support conservation efforts.

Today is the UN's International Day for Biological Diversity, and this year's theme “Acting locally for global impact”, represents how major changes begin on a small, local scale 💚

A small, local change that we’re excited to share is this recent sighting of a Western Pygmy Possum (Cercartetus concinnus) on a remote camera image from Murbpook; the first known sighting of this species at this nature reserve!

FAST FACTS:

✅ While they don't have a threatened status locally, sightings have been limited, with only 5 records within a ~30km radius in the Atlas of Living Australia.
✅ Western Pygmy Possums are listed as Endangered in NSW largely due to threats like vegetation clearing, overgrazing, fire regimes, and introduced predators such as foxes and feral cats, highlighting the importance of nature reserves and conservation actions.
✅ Their body length ranges from around 5-7.7cm with an 8cm tail.
✅ Despite their diminutive size, they are one of the largest pygmy possums in the world!
✅ The species prefer areas with bottlebrushes, banksia, and grevillea, and assist in pollinating these plants.
✅ Like all pygmy possums, the Western Pygmy Possum enters mini hibernating periods called torpor. When temperatures dip below 12°C and food is scarce, they'll fall into a deep sleep for several days.

If this species has taken up residence at Murbpook Nature Reserve, it reflects the positive impact of our conservation activities, especially threat management actions to control w**ds and feral predators, supporting ongoing habitat recovery.

This observation also highlights the importance of routine monitoring, without which we likely would not have been aware of the pygmy possum's presence.

We hope to see increasing encounters of Western Pygmy Possums and other small native mammals through our ongoing monitoring program and look forward to sharing further insights from the analysis in the coming months.