GONDWANA LINK:
prospects for visitor based conservation in a
National Landscape
Keith Bradby
[email protected]
Tasmanian
Midlandscapes
Many large landscape connectivity programs are
now underway nationally
`international biodiversity hotspots' – ‘where
exceptional concentrations of endemic species are
undergoing exceptional loss of habitat’
Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities
Norman Myers, Russell A. Mittermeier, Cristina G. Mittermeier, Gustavo A. B. da Fonseca & Jennifer Kent
NATURE |VOL 403 | 24 FEBRUARY 2000
Much plant species richness in the south western
Australia hotspot is in the Gondwana Link area
From: Hopper, S. & Gioia, P. (2004). The Southwest Australian Floristic Region: Evolution and Conservation of a Global Hotspot of
Biodiversity. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 35 pp623-650.
Much biological
richness sits
outside National
Parks
Derived from: Hopper, S. & Gioia, P. (2004).
The Southwest Australian Floristic Region:
Evolution and Conservation of a Global
Hotspot of Biodiversity. Annual Review of
Ecology and Systematics 35 pp623-650.
‘Reconnected country, from the wet
forests of the far south west to the
woodland and mallee bordering the
Nullarbor, in which ecosystem function
and biodiversity are restored and
maintained’
Overall approach:
•
Building momentum, resources and
support through tangible achievement
•
Co-operation - given that no one
organisation can do this
•
Minimal structure
•
All steps taken being useful in themselves
•
A conservation change process, not a plan
•
Social justice not an optional extra
THRESHOLD ENVIRONMENTAL
Nowanup
Foundation
Built through visitors who contribute
Change you can see from space
Photo: Jiri Lochman
Critical bushland areas protected
Photo: David Freudenberger
Large areas under restoration
Solid research and development
The Great Western Woodlands
Photographer - B
International visitors
attracted by and
contributing to the
work
Corporate involvement bringing visitors by the busload
Strong and ongoing local engagement
Beyond scenery and beyond local


Door opening to the ‘narrative of the country’
A cohesive journey across the one place, through
different stories within a larger story





context and purpose at a scale the ‘global visitor’ can appreciate
High quality ecological and social insights, delivered
together
The raw facts told with dignity and graciousness
Authenticity - Those telling the story are part of the
story (as are those feeding the masses)
Sense of purpose – people are not here as visitors but
as participants
Lakes Cave – an important visitor facility and
environmental area in decline
Lakes Cave – being rescued by
Augusta-Margaret River Tourist
Association
Weed Invasion in Porongurups National Park
Being tackled by the locals in a
multi million dollar , cross
tenure program running over
many years
Locals who also fund raised
and purchased important
adjoining bushland, which they
manage
And who are
And who are also working to re-connect key National Parks
Further east, tourist road development has spread dieback through the
Stirling Ranges National Park, and is set to do the same in the Fitzgerald
National Park. These so-called developments cost more than a few
decades of park management funds would, cause immense
environmental damage, and widen the rift between the tourist sector and
the ecological experts who can enrich the visitor experience with
knowledge of the areas.
Our Common Future?
 We
both need to ‘iconise’ the areas we work in
 We are creating significant points of interest and
engagement in the accessible landscape

highly useful in drawing visitor pressure away from those areas least
able to handle it?
 We
are increasing the ‘informed’ national and
international profile
 We also need to develop effective collaborative
approaches across large regions
Photo: Craig Keesing