Diario del proyecto QCC - Forest Watch

Hello Everyone.

Hope you are doing well and continuing to get involved in citizen science where you can. I just wanted to update you on a few things in relation to Forest Watch.

Before I do that I just want to direct you to a survey that is aimed ant getting feedback from people who participate and organise citizen science. The purpose of this survey is to better understand ongoing issues with inadequate representation of species in data records, varying approaches, and significant citizen science contributions made to QLD's knowledge of flora and fauna. Organised by one of QCC's member groups GECKO.

Take 3 minutes now to complete a survey and share widely.

1. Survey for Citizen Science Participants: https://forms.gle/es9aAcxdPKt2q2acA
2. Survey for Organisations: https://forms.gle/TASedyq3bvUbuqyf8

The surveys close at midnight, Feb 29. Sorry about the very short time frame, hopefully some of you can find 3 minutes today to fill this out.

In relation to Forest Watch and bioblitz events. We are continuing to push for the expansion of protected areas and just launched a new campaign. https://protectqueensland.org.au/. We are happy to say that in the South East Qld planning area, native forest logging will end in the next couple of months. However, will will need to continue to push for these state forests to be transferred to protected areas and to end native forest logging throughout the rest of Qld.

For bioblitz events, this year QCC will not be taking the lead on organising any at this stage, but keen to work with other groups and volunteers who might be keen to run them. With an election year and a new campaign we will be organising activities that reach a broader audience and further increase pressure on decision makers. Watch this space for ways to get involved this year.

Thanks,
Hayley

Join us in St Mary State Forest for our next Bioblitz!
https://www.queenslandconservation.org.au/bioblitz_st_mary

We would like you to join us at our next Forest Watch bioblitz in St Mary State Forest on Kabi Kabi / Gubbi Gubbi Country. Can you join us for a plant, animal and fungi survey to connect to the forest and highlight why it needs protecting?

We are going slightly further away from SEQ for this one, we are teaming up with Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council (WBBEC) to survey St Mary State Forest. This 17,000 ha native forest is situated in the Fraser Coast region south-west of Maryborough and lies within the Eastern Hardwoods forestry region.

I know it is a little further away then previous Bioblitz events, but I wanted to let you know in case you can make it.

When: Sunday October 22nd, 8:30am

Where: St Mary State Forest, Meeting in Memorial Park in the centre of Tiaro.

RSVP Here - https://www.queenslandconservation.org.au/bioblitz_st_mary

Native state forests in South East Qld are still really important, although logging is due to end at the end of 2024 there is no guarantee all the native state forests will be transferred to protected areas, meanwhile some areas are still being heavily logged.

We desperately need more people getting active for these state forests and one way to do that is more BioBlitz events but unfortunately as one person there is only so many I can organise. As someone who has already attended at least one of our bioblitz events would you be interested in organising a bioblitz or joining a group to work together? They can be of any scale, even just 5 people heading out in to a state forest is a big help. I can still help you out and provide all the recourses you need including a bioblitz organising guide. Let me know if you are interested and want to have a chat.

One of these state forests that still needs attention is Deongwar State Forest. 4700 hectares of native forest in Deongwar State Forest should be transferred to protected areas. This area includes endangered ecosystems, and habitat for Long-nosed Potoroo, Brush-tailed Rock-Wallaby, Koala, Powerful Owl and Greater Glider.

A little bit more info about the St Mary State Forest

St Mary State Forest lies within the Eastern Hardwoods forestry region. Despite an historic commitment to end logging under the South East Queensland Forest Agreement in 1999, there is no guarantee from the Palaszczuk Government that this will occur. In 2019 logging plans were extended from the planned 2024 end date to 2026, with no guarantee the forests will be protected and logging will end after 2026.

Very little is known about many forests of the Eastern Hardwoods region, with no threatened species records in more than 40 of the state forests. Your help documenting will make a real contribution to conservation efforts.

St Mary State Forest hosts eucalypt forest and a variety of other vegetation along creeks, ridges and low peaks of Mount Benarige and Mount Woocoo. The forest is habitat for a variety of threatened animal species including koala, greater glider, yellow bellied glider and glossy black cockatoo.

By joining our Forest Watch Bioblitz you can help highlight why St Mary State Forest needs protecting now, before any further logging.

This is a great opportunity to connect to the forest we are trying to protect, take active steps to help protect it while also learning and having a great time.

Yours for forest protection,

Hayley Troupe

Nature Organiser

Surrounding a tiny national park there is a further 9 thousand unprotected hectares of diverse ecosystems including habitat for Koalas, Greater gliders, Yellow Bellied Gliders, rainforest and endangered vine thickets. Join us to explore Benarkin State Forest on Jinibara and Wakka Wakka Country. This is also an opportunity to meet locals and get involved in the local campaign.

June 03, 2023 at 12:00pm - 4pm

https://www.queenslandconservation.org.au/forest_watch_bioblitz_benarkin

Hi Everyone.

Thanks so much for taking part in the Peachester State Forest bioblitz on Saturday. It was really great spending time connecting to and appreciating the forest with you. I think this was the best yet, from just a quick look on iNaturalist so far we recorded 250 species! Also a big thank you to our group leaders, location scouts and locals who promoted it.

The next step is making sure all the observations are uploaded and identified on iNaturalist. I am keen to have that all ready by the end of the week so please finish uploading asap. If you recorded observations on paper or in other apps, please send me those too. For those with great ID skills please also jump on and help identify / verify those that need it. Also double check that your iNaturalist observations are showing up in the Forest Watch project, check that the locations are within the state forest, otherwise it won't show up in the project.

I will keep you updated on the numbers and species found! I have just posted some photos with a link to the 'email the premier' action on our facebook page, please share.

Could you please fill out this feedback form to help improve future bioblitz events?

Next Steps

1. As above, upload, ID and check observations.
2. Join the Forest Watch facebook group so people can share key observations in state forests, including any intel on logging. https://www.facebook.com/groups/434798641452114
3. Send me any photos of your group or the state forest you are happy for me to share + use for the project/ campaign.
4. Sign up for the grassroot planning workshop - Glasshouse Mountain National Park expansion, grassroots planning workshop. https://www.queenslandconservation.org.au/grassroots_planning_workshop
5. Let me know if you are keen to meet with your MP or take part in an MP office media action.
6. Let me know if you haven't already if you are keen to help organise the next bioblitz and/or surveys focused on tree hollows.
7. Interested in being involved in the broader statewide campaign? Join QCC's next Nature Volunteers Catch Up. https://www.queenslandconservation.org.au/nature_catch_up_april

Thanks so much,
Hayley

Hi Everyone.

Don't forget to RSVP for our next Bioblitz in Peachester State Forest on the 1st of April! A state forest 700 hectares in size with lots of different ecosystems and habitat for loads of endangered species including koalas and greater gliders! The whole state forest is scheduled for logging before the end of 2024. https://www.queenslandconservation.org.au/forest_watch_bioblitz_peachester

We will be joined by iNaturalist extraordinaire / ecology expert Greg Tasney who will share his knowledge and lead a group. So far he has recorded 79100 observations in iNaturalist! Help him reach 80000 on the 1st.

Hi Everyone.

Sorry for the silence. We have been working out next steps for the Forest Watch project.

We are going ahead with our next Bioblitz on April 1st in Peachester state forest. Join us to explore the forest and highlight why these areas are so important to protect!
https://www.queenslandconservation.org.au/forest_watch_bioblitz_peachester

Hi Everyone.

Thanks so much for taking part in our Forest Watch bioblitz events this year. Using citizen science we are connecting people to native state forests and highlighting why they should be protected!. We have crunched the numbers and over the 4 bioblitz events with a total of 100 participants we recorded 1597 observations and Forest Watch members have recorded 800 species. Further proof that these state forests are important habitats for a variety of species. You can check out this summary, and all the Forest Watch observations here. Forest Watch bioblitz events have contributed nearly a 3rd of all SEQ state forest observations!
https://docs.google.com/presentation/u/2/d/1BWBi5YBh1IuOHCSOJeL_zJcIMlrnhHxybSeqW9meYDc/edit#slide=id.g1ae81d4239c_0_27
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/qcc-forest-watch

I also have some very exciting news to update you on. Thanks to your efforts and support, Ferny Forest, the location of our first Bioblitz will not be logged. A big shout out to the Save Ferny Forest group for all their hard work. As well as this, a handful of other state forests or part of will also be protected!
https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/96800

We want to hear from you. Over the next couple of months we are doing some planning to work out what we should do next for Forest Watch. As a participant of a bioblitz event we want to hear from you about how we can make it bigger and more impactful. Can you fill out this quick survey?
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScREzHYFm5TokhP2rOLNRRbaWt02M6jKSFPKRRFcKgesy6qkA/viewform

Hope you have a great festive season and we will be in touch in the new year.

Thanks,
Hayley Troupe

Hi.

In case you haven't had a chance to check this out yourself just thought I would update you on Deongwar Bioblitz results. In total we found 170 species! You can check out all the observations here. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?lat=-27.293605803117984&lng=152.2455625568479&on=2022-11-13&place_id=any&radius=4.499813674108668&subview=map

• 12 bird species
• 1 frog (threatened Tusk Frog)
• 1 Reptile (Carpet Python)
• 47 Insect and Arachnids
• 3 Fungi
• 105 plant species.

Great work everyone! That is the end of Forest Watch BioBlitz events for the year. I would like to find out from you where we can take Forest Watch in the new year. Please keep an eye out for a survey.

Hi Everyone.

Thanks so much for taking part in the Deongwar State Forest bioblitz on Sunday. It was really great spending time connecting to and appreciating the forest with you! The next step is making sure all the observations are uploaded and identified on iNaturalist. I am keen to have that all ready by the end of the week. Can you let me know if you still have some uploading to do. For those with great ID skills please also jump on and help identify / verify those that need it. Also double check that your iNaturalist observations are showing up in the Forest Watch project, I have set it up so it is currently only picking up Sunday's observations. If you noted down observations which you were able to upload into iNaturalist eg Birds without a photo please send these to me ASAP too.

Once this is done I will pull together a bit of a report to send to the minister and share on social media. I will keep you updated on that so you can also share this. I have just posted some photos with a like to the email the premier action on our facebook page, please share.
https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandConservation/posts/pfbid02w5zuvyQLwFYomtZcAx4fovbKiHshMwcuuh9FGp9ske8ZibvfAxaCJoHwbEEPT7bEl

Could you please fill out this feedback form to help improve future bioblitz events? https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqh-jDi_BvKJnjv5m_bHhyYosElrirrbxhWNMNjqHMieQjBg/viewform

Next Steps

1. As above, upload, ID and check observations.
2. Join the Forest Watch facebook group so people can share key observations in state forests, including any intel on logging. https://www.facebook.com/groups/434798641452114
3. Send me any photos of your group or the state forest you are happy for me to share + use for the project/ campaign.

Other things you can do to support the campaign

1. Send an email to the premier and share this with others. https://www.queenslandconservation.org.au/emailthepremier_stateforests
2. Let me know if you are interested in helping to organise future BioBlitz events, managing the iNaturalist project or help with other state forest campaign tactics.
3. Download and take a look at the forest watch guide, let me know if you are planning to check out other state forests in your own time. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kHyGf3U72jMpVV8YpEyMmrXXCyqlv-bS/view

Thanks so much,
Hayley

Hi Everyone.
Thanks again for those who came along to the last Beerburrum bioblitz. 25 people, 2 hr, 120 species! You can check them all out here.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2022-10-08&place_id=any&project_id=qcc-forest-watch&subview=map

Also check out and share this little video. https://www.facebook.com/QueenslandConservation/videos/494223282629557/

Join us at the next bioblitz in Deongwar State Forest
https://www.queenslandconservation.org.au/forest_watch_bioblitz_deongwar