BCG project - Frogs on Farms
What is the 'Frogs on Farms' project?
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| This map shows the sites of the wildlife ponds in the Wimmera and Mallee. Click on the map to enlarge. |
This two-year project aims to determine the best approach to conserve frog populations in the Wimmera and Mallee once the channel system is de-commissioned and develop strategies for maintaining biodiversity values on farms that are efficient in terms of farming resources, cost and water usage.
How will it be done?
The project will test an innovative approach to maintaining frog populations in the Wimmera and Mallee farming landscape. It will determine the use of wildlife ponds by frogs, their ability to disperse from existing water sources into wildlife ponds and the potential to re-establish frogs in areas in their former range.
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| Completed pond near Culgoa |
Why do it?
A high level of interest in conserving biodiversity on farms has led us to develop a project that will provide further knowledge and support individuals on farm and local communities to actively participate in establishing, monitoring and learning from wildlife water ponds.
Given the last decade of below average rainfalls and the devastating drought of 2006, providing communities with a water conservation and biodiversity conservation project that can practically be implemented at the local level, will result in a more enjoyable environment in which to live – and give people something positive.
Click here to read about the social, economic and environmental benefits of the project.
How will the results be communicated?
The following activities will be undertaken by BCG to ensure effective communication to the industry and community:
- Public seminars and talks to local communities, schools and interest groups such as Landcare and natural history groups,
- Half-day Frogs of Farms Sticky Beak mornings proudly supported by Australia Post and Landcare Australia. The mornings will cover the installation, cost and management of a wildlife pond.
- Step by step farmers' guide to installing a wildlife pond including the cost of materials and inputs, construction, maintenance and management. A revised edition will also feature frog species that will use the wildlife ponds.
- An article in a regional coloured new research and innovation manual – distributed to 2,500 farm businesses.
- Dedicated project webpage with ‘virtual pond’ page showing the progress of a wildlife pond from start to finish.
- Rural media targeted to promote project awareness, results and field days.
- Papers and posters presented at scientific conferences.
- Fauna monitoring night - limited numbers, bi-monthly during spring and summer.
Knowledge and results will be shared with scientists (through partnership with Ballarat University and publications in scientific journals), with organisations whose charter it is to implement regional catchment strategies for natural resource management (CMAs), with water authorities whose charter is to supply and manage an effective and efficient water delivery system, and with landholders and local communities who can implement change on ground.
See and hear frogs in a wildlife pond at Manangatang!
For more information
For more information, please contact:
Jonathan Starks
Project Officer
Ph. 0428 922 787
Proudly supported by:
In partnership with:
