2019-12-10 P&E Agenda - Item 6 - Attachment 1 - NBRF Annual Report 2018-19

Academic research report to further the sustainability of local and nationwide Pandanus populations. Enquiries are
being made with USC regarding academic support and oversight for the project.


Restoration from Green Waste

Country Noosa and Council have developed a research project on how green waste collected by Council might be
mulched and composted and spread on poor agricultural land to improve productivity and avoid erosion.

The resulting sequestered carbon together with reduced land fill methane and land fill could then be used to pay
for the costs.

There are many difficult issues to be researched. In the first place, the community needs to be engaged and
motivated to only put real green waste in their green bins.

The soil chemistry needs studying on how to get the best effect.

The quantification of soil carbon sequestration is in its infancy.

The logistics of the approach need quantifying.

Although there are tough issues, the potential benefit is great. Country Noosa will be looking for grant help from
NBRF and other grant schemes and submissions have been started.


Coastal Care & Bush Care

There are many vibrant coast and bush care groups operating throughout the Shire. They have individual
management plans and co-ordination through Council and some community groups such as Noosa Landcare.
It is suggested that we hold a “get together” of representatives from these groups and discuss whether some
overall agreed initiatives might help achieve planned results. Hopefully, this would suggest some “big ideas” for
the benefit of all.

Discussions are being held.


Koala Integration - Bring Back the Koala Symposium

As part of the “Big ideas” initiative and inspired by other Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation projects that have
led to new and innovative practices and partnerships, the Bring Back the Koala Symposium is designed to bring
together the key players in koala research and conservation planning in the Noosa and adjoining regions.

Recognizing that the challenge facing the wild koala population is complex, and that there are many different
groups working on various aspects of understanding and addressing these, the NBRF is hosting a one-day Koala
action oriented workshop to seek key stakeholder input that aims to identify existing and needed on-ground koala
conservation, care and research efforts on behalf of the koala population in the Noosa biosphere.

The output of the Symposium will be a prospectus, to be taken to market by the Noosa Biosphere Reserve
Foundation with its DGR status, seeking substantial funds for critical on-ground koala conservation and
management actions that invests in potential gaps, while seeking to avoid duplication of effort from the excellent
initiatives already being implemented and supported by these key stakeholder organisations.

This collaborative effort will hopefully provide the framework to allow our local wild koala population to recover
and thrive thus providing substantial and sustainable economic and social value to the community and preserving
a vital part of our environmental assets.

Further information can been found on our website: www.noosabiosphere.org.au/portfolio/bring-back-the-koala/
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