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Select a country, a year, or both from the menu below to view other progress reports.
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Australia
- 2001
Conservation Effort Bridges Industry, Community, Government
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Alcoa's Anglesea Power Station in Victoria, Australia, sits on the southeastern corner of a 7,200 hectare (17,300 acre) mining lease, much of which is Crown land that is owned by the Victorian State Government. The power station and mine occupy only 9% of the land, and most of the remaining site is listed on the National Estate Register. The site's heathlands, woodlands, and paperbark swamps are havens for birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and more than a quarter of Victoria's plant species, including over 80 different orchids.
A coalition of industry, community, and government stakeholders worked for more than five years to develop a long-term plan to protect the non-industrial portion of the site. Because of their efforts, the site is now being managed as if it were a state park, enabled by a unique partnership agreement between Alcoa and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (Parks Victoria). Funding for the program, which includes a full-time Parks Victoria ranger, is split between Parks Victoria and Alcoa.
The Anglesea Heath Management Plan was developed by representatives from the local Surf Coast Shire, Parks Victoria, the Anglesea and Aireys Inlet Society for the Protection of Flora and Fauna (ANGAIR Inc.), the Geelong Environment Council, the School of Biology and Chemical Sciences at Deakin University, and Alcoa.
"This project, although it has taken many years of dedicated commitment to reach the implementation stage, has proved that government, industry, and community partnerships are achievable and certainly worthwhile," said Margaret MacDonald, vice president of ANGAIR and the organization's representative on the Anglesea Heath consultative committee. "The value of this particular partnership cannot be over-emphasized."
She adds, "I am quietly optimistic that the management plan should see the conservation of the natural heritage values of the heath. However, there is a great deal of community education needed to be carried out, with values of many users of the heath needing to be challenged and modified. These users include riders of four-wheel-drive vehicles, trail bikes and horses as well as walkers and contract workers, many of whom go off the established tracks. This destroys vegetation and spreads the cinnamon fungus."
Editor's note: Cinnamon fungus phytopthera cinnamomi is a microscopic fungus introduced to Australia from Southeast Asia. It is transported through soil by water and causes a serious plant disease, which destroys many of Australia's native plants.
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Rebirth of an Orchid
An industry, government, and community partnership works to ensure the long-term survival of the fragile Melblom's Spider-orchid in Victoria, Australia.
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