The Heirisson Prong Project, a cooperative conservation project in Western Australia giving threatened mammals a foothold on the Australian mainland, has been recognized by the nation's highest environmental honor. The prestigious 2001 Banksia Gold Award was awarded to the Useless Loop community and their Earthwatch Institute-supported project for extraordinary conservation efforts on Heirisson Prong.
The Banksia Environmental Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to sustainable development, presented the award at a ceremony at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra, on June 2. About Useless Loop, they said, "This tiny, but incredibly active, environmental community stunned the judges with their commitment, passion and success."
The pioneering project was initiated in 1989 by Useless Loop, a local salt-mining community, in partnership with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and mining company Shark Bay Salt Joint Venture. Earthwatch Institute joined as a partner in 1995, sending volunteers to Heirisson Prong to assist as participants on Kangaroo Comeback, Bettongs and Bandicoots, and Marsupial Rescue.
Half the world's mammal extinctions in recent times have occurred in Australia, victims of exotic predators, introduced competitors like rabbits, and habitat loss. The Heirisson Prong Project has made an outstanding contribution to the conservation of Australia's threatened fauna by establishing a predator-free reserve on this Shark Bay peninsula, site of Earthwatch's Marsupial Rescue project. Three species of threatened mammal have been reintroduced on Heirisson Prong: burrowing bettongs in 1992, western barred bandicoots in 1995, and greater stick-nest rats or wopilkara in 1999.
"The reserve was to be managed by, and for, local people, and at the same time, offered a unique opportunity for research into the decline of Australia's threatened fauna," said Jacqui Richards, CSIRO scientist and co-leader of Marsupial Rescue.
This unique and highly successful project has provided novel techniques for the reintroduction of threatened mammals, and has added to knowledge of the ecology of these little-known mammals. It has also provided a tool for education of school and university students and the general public and provided a model for similar reintroduction projects throughout Australia.
Earthwatch volunteers on Marsupial Rescue have been instrumental in the quarterly monitoring of the mammal populations on Heirisson Prong, control of introduced predators, and day-to-day management of the reserve since 1995. Their involvement in the project has been a vital component, assisting CSIRO scientists to gather ecological data that will improve the management of threatened mammals, both at Heirisson Prong and future reintroduction sites.
"There are a number of tasks that are time-consuming that simply could not have been achieved in the time available without the assistance of Earthwatch volunteers," said Richards. "Volunteer involvement allows us to refresh our enthusiasm for the work, and reminds us where the project fits into conservation on an international scale."
The Banksia Gold Award to the Heirisson Prong Project should provide an additional boost of enthusiasm to this project. "Useless Loop community members have been walking on clouds since the award," said Richards. Future plans involve giving the community even more responsibilities in the management and maintenance of the conservation site, but there will be continued need for the inspired participation of Earthwatch volunteers..
For information on volunteering on Marsupial Rescue, click here.
Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization which supports scientific field research worldwide by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. The Institute's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.