Local biodiversity public forum

With so much nature so handy across our region, it’s easy to believe that we know, use and understand it as well as we need to, so why spend a Thursday afternoon talking about it?

Because biodiversity is everyone’s business, from our backyards to our recently-recognised UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and we can never know enough about it.

So why not soak in some up-to-date perspectives and details about our local fungi, plants and animals with local experts? Discuss your own in a Q&A session to follow, and share some refreshments with interested others.

The State of Our Species Forum is on May 4 at the Arts and Ecology Centre, Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, 51 Palm Creek Road, Tanawha from 2-3.30pm. As the second part of the ‘Backyards to Biosphere’ events organised for 2023 by the Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens Inc., it will feature three presentations:

FUNGI - Wayne Boatwright, President of the Qld Mycological Society

FLORA - Spencer Shaw, Forest Heart Nursery and Brush Turkey Enterprises

FAUNA - Dr Beth Brunton, Research Fellow, UniSC

This free event is not intended as a ‘state of the environment report’ or a listing of local species; rather, it acknowledges the value of community-based interest groups as well as local expertise and research in the interest of local action.

If participants take away small ideas to apply to their backyards, as well as big ideas to apply to our Biosphere Reserve, our overall approach to biodiversity will have a clearer direction.

For more details, please contact friendsofMRBBG@gmail.com

Proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Council. The Friends thank Forest Heart Nursery, Coral Street, Maleny for Spencer’s sponsorship, and acknowledge the First Nations owners, the Gubbi Gubbi and Jinibara people.