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October 26, 2007
Alcoa and WA Museum win for creative conservation
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A partnership between the Western Australian Museum and Alcoa of Australia to conserve the State’s frog populations has been recognised at a natural level as a best practice example of business engagement with the arts.
Alcoa Frog Watch won the Bytecraft Entertainment Commitment Award at the 2007 National Australian Business Arts Foundation Awards in Sydney last night, with WA Museum Chief Executive Officer Dr Dawn Casey and Alcoa Foundation Manager Libby Archell proudly accepting the award.
Alcoa Frog Watch is a highly successful 12-year partnership between Alcoa and the WA Museum, focuses on critical frog research and community outreach.
The innovative partnership was formed in 1995 to investigate the chytrid fungus threat to local native frogs.
Research then extended into the Kimberley region where WA Museum scientists have so far discovered four new species of frogs.
Dr Casey said the Museum and Alcoa had formed a sustainable long-term partnership through Alcoa Frog Watch.
“Alcoa’s funding now supports vital research into the decline of native frog populations in Western Australia’s Kimberley region as well as a popular community education program,” she said.
Alcoa of Australia managing director Wayne Osborn explained Alcoa’s goal to help build stronger communities through its cultural partnership portfolio, ‘Arts for Everyone’, encourages the community to engage in diverse, creative and innovative pursuits.
“Alcoa Frog Watch not only meets a distinct environmental need, but has acted on that need by creating a large conservation project that enables creative community engagement with the natural environment,” he said.
The program offers opportunities for local communities around Alcoa sites to take part in workshops on how to build frog friendly gardens, and participate in night walks to identify local frogs by their calls.
Dr Casey advised that the program has been so well received that the Museum and Alcoa have had to hold more workshops, lectures and walks to meet demand.
Background on Alcoa Frog Watch
Alcoa’s partnership with the WA museum was formed in 1995 and intends to develop informative programs to build sustainable awareness and appreciation of the state’s natural environment and cultural heritage. Alcoa Frog Watch links scientific research, education, conservation, community and industry by supporting critical scientific research to report on the health of native frog populations in Western Australia’s Kimberly region.
Community outreach activities include an Alcoa Frog Watch website, a CD of southwest frog calls for monitoring purposes, live specimen displays at the Museum’s Discovery Centre, public talks and educational resources and materials.
For more information visit www.museum.wa.gov.au/frogwatch
Media contact: Libby Archell on 0404 800 174
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