Gang-gang cockatoos, shingleback lizards, bush stone-curlews, and golden sun moths – all quintessential Canberran fauna found in our woodlands that are in danger of disappearing.   

Today on World Wildlife Day, 3 March 2022, the Molonglo Conservation Group (MCG) are kicking off their ‘Wondrous Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands’ colouring competition to spread conservation awareness for local ecosystems.

Just five per cent of woodlands are left in the Canberra region due to land clearing, cropping, and development.

Project coordinator at MCG, Jed Pearson, is on a mission to protect the Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands, which he says are “pretty amazing”.

He says we can turn the devastating statistics around if we utilise the next few years of good rainfall and improve our ecological communities.

“I just love the Australian bush and the landscape. I’m proud to be in a job where I can make a bit of difference,” Mr Pearson says.

“It’s got a uniqueness to the rest of the world – it’s one of a kind and found nowhere else on Earth, so we need to protect it.”

Mr Pearson is an expert in conservation and land management and says one of the most important things Canberrans can be doing to help the local woodlands is joining Landcare to help plant plants.

“We need to plant plants, not just trees, like all sorts of shrubs and flowering plants. We also need to protect the old growth eucalyptus trees,” says Mr Pearson.

“Another thing Canberrans can do is stop taking fallen logs for firewood. They’re really important for biodiversity, so buying wood elsewhere is a really good step.”

Mr Pearson is passionate about defending the woodland birds, most of which in the ACT are threatened or endangered.

“There are 20 species of woodland birds found in the Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands, and over half are threatened or endangered. But I’m not just worried about them, I’m worried about all of them,” he says.

“My personal favourite is the gang-gang cockatoo… I think they’re just beautiful.”

MCG president, Karen Williams, says Canberrans are really lucky to have some of the remnant habitat of these unique species on our doorstep.

“When people connect with a place, understand how amazing the place they live really is and the precious species they live alongside, it really makes all the difference,” says Ms Williams.

“We are hoping this competition will help us find and nurture the conservationists of the future and make people aware of the special things that live right here.”

Working with local landholders and Landcare groups to regenerate remaining pockets of remnant vegetation, the MCG are focused on four particular woodland bird species – the Scarlet and Flame Robins, the Speckled Warbler, and the Dusky Woodswallow.

Artist and ecologist Paula Peeters created a Wondrous Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands artwork in collaboration with the MCG.

Peeters’ artwork features all four bird species, along with the secretive pink-tailed worm lizard that calls our region home.

From today, download the colouring book from the MCG website, and send your entry to 12 River Street, Oaks Estate ACT 2620 for your chance to win a hand-printed T-shirt featuring a local bird species.

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