Friends of Parks - website

Spokesperson:

David Mitchell, President

Contact Details:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Key role of Member Group:

Friends of Parks Inc is the independent umbrella body established to protect and represent the interests of the large number of individual Friends of Parks groups and other volunteer groups working to help protect this State's natural and cultural heritage. Most member groups work on individual Reserves or a group of Reserves protected under the National Parks & Wildlife Act or on the cultural heritage at a particular site. A smaller number work on Council and privately owned land.

Key Achievements and Activities for 2008/09:

• Successfully writing letters to, and attending meetings with, politicians to advocate for no reduction in on-ground staff in the Protected Area Reserve System as part of the budget cuts.
• Successfully advocating with the Department of Environment and Heritage for an increase in the Volunteer Support Ranger positions to other Regions in the State.
• Attending and supporting the CCSA Policy formation sessions and conferences.
• 'Auspicing' our member groups in their applications for Grants for on-ground work and equipment.
• Representing member groups on Departmental and other Volunteer committees and writing submissions on strategies and policies.
• Liaising with and being briefed by Senior Departmental managers on the directions and priorities of the Department for the next few years.
• Providing an informative website, a Friends of Parks recruitment brochure, and a regular E- newsletter to keep member groups up to date with Board initiatives and to provide an opportunity for member groups to network and exchange information and ideas.
• Working with our member groups to hold an annual Friends of Parks Forum (rotated around the regional areas of SA), to promote and celebrate community volunteering in protecting and maintaining our State's environmental and heritage assets.

Identify three key environmental issues impacting on South Australia:

• 1. More government funding needed for on-ground conservation works in the Protected Area Reserve System including access to NRM funding.
• 2. Climate Change and associated issues, such as water scarcity.
• 3. The potential impacts from likely increased mining and recreational activities in the Protected Area Reserve System