Nature Foundation, formerly The National Parks Foundation and Nature Foundation SA Inc. (NFSA), is the largest non-government nature conservation organisation based in South Australia. It was founded in October 1981, and is supported by the Government of South Australia as well as the Australian Government. The organisation owns and manages several nature reserves, with the largest being Witchelina and Hiltaba, which are converted stations.
The Nature Foundation was founded as The National Parks Foundation [1] on 14 October 1981 by a group comprising Warren Bonython AO , Barbara Hardy AO , Mark Bonnin AO and David Cleland. [2] [3] [4] It grew and extended its functions, becoming Nature Foundation about 10 years later. [1] It was formerly known as Nature Foundation SA Inc. [5] (also referred to as NFSA [2] ).
It was formerly headquartered in Hindmarsh. [2]
By the time of its 30th anniversary in 2011, it had helped to enable the acquisition of over 25 properties covering over 7,000 km2 (2,700 sq mi) for conservation purposes, and provided grants to more than 300 university researchers. Around this time, it created the "Water for Nature" which involved the purchase of water along the River Murray in order to use it in conserving small, private wetland areas along the river. [2]
In 2011 and 2012 the foundation held two fund-raising bush walks. In 2012, there was a choice of three walks: easy (3 km (1.9 mi)), intermediate (6 km (3.7 mi) and hard (12 km (7.5 mi), all along part of the Heysen Trail. It was anticipated that around A$30,000 would be raised by around 500 participants. [6]
Nature Foundation is the largest non-government conservation organisation based in South Australia, and undertakes programs in conserving land, wetland and species. [1] Its stated mission is "engaging people, resources and good science to conserve the precious habitat of South Australia". [7]
Its Bush Bank SA enabled the foundation to purchase and rejuvenate properties which it has then sold to new owners who are obliged to maintain them under conservation status. [2]
Its work includes managing nature reserves; [8] undertaking a wide-ranging science strategy, including arranging funding for ecological research; [9] conservation programs, such as Water for Nature and the Bushbank Revolving Fund; [10] the Kids on Country program; [11] and various other initiatives. It is a member of Friends of Parks South Australia. [12]
It also delivers the Revitalising Private Conservation in South Australia program, which coordinates and delivers funding for conservation programs by the Government of South Australia. [13] In August 2021, the Marshall government announced $1 million in grant funding for native vegetation conservation projects under this grant program, to be delivered by Nature Foundation in partnership with Conservation SA, Livestock SA, Nature Conservation Society of South Australia and Trees for Life. [14]
Nature Foundation is a limited company under the Corporations Act 2001 , managed by an unpaid Board of Directors. [15] It is governed by a board of conservationists, scientists, business and professional people, and is managed by a small team based in Prospect, a suburb north of Adelaide, along with rotational managers at its nature reserves. It also relies on support by members, donors and volunteers who work at fund-raising, office administration and working bees. [1]
In addition, there are a number of committees, and rotational managers who spend time managing the various properties. [16]
Before 2011 [2] as of 2015, Bob Lott was president of the foundation. [17]
As of 2022 [update] , the CEO is Hugo Hopton, [14] [18] while Jan Ferguson OAM is chair of the board. [15] There are three patrons: founder Barbara Hardy, entrepreneur Dick Smith, and geophysicist Reg Nelson. [19]
Apart from government grants, the foundation receives donations from local philanthropists and a portion of the "significant environmental benefits" payments which mining companies have to pay in South Australia, and undertakes fund-raising drives. [2]
As of 2022 [update] Nature Foundation's nature reserves comprise nearly 40 per cent of all private protected areas in South Australia, and 6 per cent nationally. It implements various conservation projects that bring biodiversity benefits to these areas. It owns and manages eight nature reserves: [8]
Watchalunga was established in March 2015, and comprises around 20 per cent of the swamplands on the Finniss River, near Finniss. The wetland provides habitat for the Mount Lofty Ranges Southern Emu-wren, an endangered species, and the southern bell frog, which is a threatened species. Nature Foundation works in collaboration with the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority,the Goolwa to Wellington local action planning group, and Conservation SA in managing the land and undertaking research at Watchlunga. [17]
The "Kids on Country" program, for Aboriginal adolescents, is aimed at improving well-being, teaching life skills, building self-confidence, strengthening cultural identity and connection to country, and inspiring an interest in conservation and land management in this group, thus improving school retention rate. Programs are tailored to the secondary school curriculum, and include a high degree of STEM-related topics. [11] [20]
The program, which is run in collaboration with Aboriginal community leaders, secondary schools, and industry partners [21] comprises: [11]
Camps are run at both Hiltaba and Witchelina. In the third camp of the programme at Hiltaba in 2018, 16 students aged from 12 to 14 years old from Ceduna spent a week on the property, where they helped to improve the property as a nature reserve, while at the same time learning about Aboriginal peoples' unique connection to country, along with STEM learning. The aim was to help the children to connect the Aboriginal, palaeontological, and geological stories of the area. The students helped to prepare bush tucker such as kangaroo tail and wombat meat, and to clean the rock holes. [22] Another camp was held at Hiltaba in 2019. [21]
Protected areas of South Australia consists of protected areas located within South Australia and its immediate onshore waters and which are managed by South Australian Government agencies. As of March 2018, South Australia contains 359 separate protected areas declared under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, the Crown Land Management Act 2009 and the Wilderness Protection Act 1992 which have a total land area of 211,387.48 km2 (81,617.16 sq mi) or 21.5% of the state's area.
The Fleurieu Peninsula is a peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia located south of the state capital of Adelaide.
Conservation Volunteers Australia is an Australian not-for-profit conservation organisation that attracts and co-ordinates volunteers for environmental restoration projects.
Cleland National Park, formerly Cleland Conservation Park, is a protected area located in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia about 22 kilometres (14 mi) south-east of the Adelaide city centre. It conserves a significant area of natural bushland on the Adelaide Hills face, including Mount Lofty Summit and Waterfall Gully.
The District Council of Yankalilla is a local government area centred on the town of Yankalilla on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.
Finniss Conservation Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Mount Lofty Ranges about 43 kilometres south of the state capital of Adelaide and about 7 kilometres west of Ashbourne. It is located within the gazetted locality of Mount Magnificent.
The southern emu-wren is a species of bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and swamplands.
Aldinga Beach is an outer southern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It lies within the City of Onkaparinga and has the postcode 5173. At the 2016 census, Aldinga Beach had a population of 10,557. It lies about a kilometre west of the smaller suburb of Aldinga. The beach is a well-known spot for surfing, swimming, scuba diving, and snorkelling during the summer months. It overlooks an aquatic reserve which has been created to safeguard a unique reef formation.
The Murraylands is a geographical region of the Australian state of South Australia (SA); its name reflects that of the river running through it. Lying due east of South Australia's capital city, Adelaide, it extends from the eastern slopes of the Mount Lofty Ranges to the border with the state of Victoria, a distance of about 180 kilometres. The north-to-south distance is about 130 kilometres. The region's economy is centred on agriculture, and tourism, especially along its 200-kilometre (120-mile) frontage of the River Murray.
Lake Newland Conservation Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of the town of Elliston. It was proclaimed in 1991 in order to protect Lake Newland, a hypersaline lake, and an associated wetland complex. It lies in the traditional lands of the Wirangu people.
Newland Head Conservation Park is a protected area located in South Australia within the locality of Waitpinga on the southern coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula 91 km south of the centre of Adelaide, and 7 km southwest of Victor Harbor. Its name is taken from Newland Head that feature prominently at the eastern boundary of the park. The conservation park is classified as an IUCN Category III protected area.
Point Labatt is a headland located on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula in the Australian state of South Australia about 39 kilometres south by east of Streaky Bay. It is notable as one of the largest Australian mainland breeding sites for Australian sea lions. The land and the sea adjoining Point Labatt is part of three protected areas - the Point Labatt Conservation Park, the Point Labatt Aquatic Reserve and the West Coast Bays Marine Park.
Waitpinga Conservation Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located about 15 kilometres south of the town of the Yankalilla in the gazetted locality of Parawa.
Calperum Station, also known as Calperum Reserve, is a nature reserve located in the east of the Australian state of South Australia about 10 kilometres north-west of the town of Renmark and about 250 kilometres east of the state capital of Adelaide. Calperum Station consists of three separate pastoral leases - Calperum, Calperum Road and Yubalia.
Boondina Conservation Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the west of the state in the gazetted locality of Yellabinna about 38 kilometres (24 mi) north-east of the town centre in Fowlers Bay.
Pureba Conservation Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the west of the state in the gazetted locality of Pureba about 74 kilometres (46 mi) east of the town centre in Ceduna.
Bush Blitz is a species discovery program conducting scientific surveys in Australian terrestrial and marine environments to document known and new fungi, plants and animals. The program is a partnership between the Australian Government, BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities and Earthwatch Australia. Bush Blitz is managed through Parks Australia and the Australian Biological Resources Study. The program began in 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, involving specialist taxonomists, indigenous communities, rangers and landowners, teachers, students and BHP Billiton employees. Bush Blitz funds taxonomy and further research based on material collected during Bush Blitz surveys, specifically targeted to assist in the publication of new species and the resolution of problematic groups collected from surveys.
Geegeela Conservation Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the state's south-east in the gazetted locality of Bangham about 277 kilometres (172 mi) north-west of the state capital of Adelaide and about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north-west of the town centre in Frances.
Limeburners Creek National Park is a protected national park on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The 91.2 km national park is located 5 km (3.1 mi) to the north of Port Macquarie and exists across both the Kempsey Shire and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council local government areas, but is chiefly managed by National Parks and Wildlife Service. The area was originally erected as a nature reserve but this reservation was revoked when it became formally recognised as a national park in 2010 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974). Many threatened ecological habitats and species of fauna and flora are found within this park, alongside several heritage sites of cultural significance, particularly to the local Birpai and Dunghutti people upon whose land the park exists. The protected status of this national park is largely owing to the ecological and cultural value of the area, in addition to the value of the ecosystems to further scientific research.
Barbara Rosemary Hardy is an Australian environmentalist and scientist.