Volunteering increasing in forests
Everyone needs a little help from friends once in a while, and State forests are no exception.
The ‘friends’ in this case are a dedicated band of volunteers from Australia and overseas who have been helping Forests NSW to maintain and construct walking tracks and mountain bike trails, to minimise erosion and other environmental degradation.
“Conservation Volunteers Australia and Forests NSW teamed up in 2004 to involve volunteers in the implementation of on-ground conservation works in State forests across NSW,” said Forests NSW manager community programs, Sally Arundell.
“The resulting ‘Communities in Forests’ program has seen nearly 500 volunteer days contributed to date.
“Our latest efforts have been concentrated on the construction and maintenance of a multiple-use recreational trail through Tumut State Forest on the edge of the Tumut township.
“In the southern highlands, volunteers have also helped to improve recreation facilities and construct trails.”
More than two kilometres of recreational tracks have been constructed and a further seven kilmometres repaired.
The volunteer program has had a positive result for a number of other projects since its inception, including the establishment of seven frog ponds.
“Volunteers have removed rubbish, planted more than 300 trees and constructed fences,” Sally said. “One major contribution has been assisting with the assessment of possums and gliders in a harvesting research trial site in Mount Boss State Forest near Wauchope.”
You can find out more about Conservation Volunteers Australia at www.conservationvolunteers.com.au.