We're aiming to be in this for the long haul: looking out for our birds of prey, burrowing crayfish and — increasingly — other threatened and potentially threatened species. It takes time to detect a sustained population decline. We want to be sure that conservation efforts are working, and often to check for the impacts of some new potential threats. As these efforts and threats change, it's a good idea to continue monitoring long term, to check how the population is responding.
Can you help NatureTrackers to continue?
The fund-raising priority is to secure the program as long-term sustainable, ultimately costing little to coordinate as we apply the same tools each year for outreach, education, monitoring, data analyses and public reporting on any changes. Some of these tools are now well established, and even automated, but others are still being completed. Funding needs include:
EQUIPMENT
- More high-quality acoustic recorders are needed, to cover Tasmania for the new CallTrackers project – monitoring for bats, bitterns and ultimately many more of our elusive-but-noisy species.
OUTREACH & EDUCATION
...to foster interest and understanding to protect Tasmania's species, through science, art & more — and to attract more survey participants. The more data collected each year, the more sensitive the survey — meaning that population changes for more species can be detected more swiftly.
- Upgrade and maintain the school-curriculum-aligned education resources, and the Expedition Class website that hosts them
- Transport experts to share their knowledge in less well-surveyed areas, to inspire potential NatureTrackers and help them get started
- Create & maintain fun stuff to engage & prepare everyone — videos, quizzes, flyers & more
COORDINATION
The aim is to automate most coordination tasks, and share the remaining effort with interested individuals and organisations across Tasmania. However at the moment, the work needed to coordinate NatureTrackers is still quite demanding, and mostly run by two volunteers. Salary funds would ensure that the monitoring won't fall over when those particular people aren't available.
- Human time, to make it all happen!
Your participation in the annual monitoring projects is the greatest way to make a difference. But if you're able to assist in other ways as well - donations can help secure NatureTrackers for the future.
The Bookend Trust is a not-for-profit, financially housed within the Pennicott Foundation which is an endorsed Deductible Gift Recipient. Donations over $2 are tax-deductible in Australia. Donors will automatically receive a standard receipt after donating, and a tax-deductible receipt within a month.