Nature Conservation Society of South Australia website

Spokesperson

Annie Bond / Tim Milne

Conservation Ecologist

Contact Details

260 Franklin Street Adelaide 5000

Phone: (08) 7127 4630

Fax: (08) 8231 9773

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

Key role of Member Group:

The Nature Conservation Society of South Australia (NCSSA) is a voluntary body, celebrating over forty years of devoting its energies to ensuring the survival of South Australia's biodiversity.  The Society's primary objective is to foster the conservation of the State's wildlife and natural habitats through scientific research, advocacy and on-ground work.

Key Achievements and Activities for 2008/09:

• We are continuing to make a significant contribution to biodiversity conservation in this state by means of our advocacy, collaborative biodiversity research and practical actions to protect biodiversity.
• Key advocacy topics include:
• o Protection of native vegetation and natural habitats from inappropriate development, including mining (Arkaroola, Olympic Dam), drainage (West Avenue wetlands), recreational use (Victoria Park redevelopment, National Parks Trails Plans and DEH Visitor Policy).
• o Ensuring that fire management policy takes sufficient account of biodiversity values.
• o Ensuring policy and planning documents maximise opportunities for biodiversity conservation (eg Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2020, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act review, Natural Resource Management Plans, Plan for Greater Adelaide).
• We provide a major educational contribution to the community, including:
• o Delivering workshops to the public and community groups on various flora and fauna topics, and the Bushland Condition Monitoring methodology.
• o Running topical and interesting general meetings
• o Providing the "Walks with Nature" program in our State's National Parks.
• We have succeeded in securing funding and winning competitive grants to support NCSSA's core areas of research, education and on-ground work, including:
• o Over 3500 hours of volunteer recovery and habitat restoration work with the Threatened Plant Action Group for 60 threatened plant species and six threatened ecological communities.
• o Supporting over 30 volunteers to help conduct biological survey of the Tothill Ranges, where over 75 different vertebrate species and 180 different plant species were confirmed.
• o Continuing to monitor Mount Lofty Ranges woodland birds at over 160 sites in conjunction with the University of Queensland.
• o Building understanding of management of threatened grassy ecosystems by monitoring vegetation change in Mokota Conservation Park
• o Funding field research for three student projects through our NCSSA Conservation Biology Grant.

Identify three Key Environmental Issues impacting on South Australia:

• 1. The loss of remnant native vegetation and habitats throughout South Australia.
• 2. The decline of native fauna species and the rise in introduced species within South Australia.
• 3. A lack of public understanding about the importance of protecting the environment for the future, particularly in the context of climate change.