Biodiversity Matters is an Arid Lands Environment Centre initiative to increase community participation in land management and biodiversity conservation activities.
Biodiversity Matters has engaged private landholders, indigenous land managers, pastoralists, park rangers and scientists to identify conservation priorities and land management needs in Central Australia.
ALEC has worked with the Northern Territory Department of Land Resource Management (DLRM) - Flora and Fauna Division, NT Parks and Wildlife Commission (PWC), Land for Wildlife Alice Springs (LFW), Centralian Land Management Association (CLMA), Alice Springs Desert Park (ASDP), Alice Springs Field Naturalists Club (ASFNC), Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), Olive Pink Botanical Gardens (OPBG), Alice Springs Landcare and other partners to develop field trips, workshops and on-ground conservation activities.
The Biodiversity Matters program has included informational sessions and hands-on field trips, where participants learn about local biodiversity issues and participate in conservation activities including flora and fauna research, weed removal, fencing and other activities as needed.
Buffel Busting was a big focus in 2017 with a Buffel Busters informational tour earlier in the year, and work at Simpsons Gap to protect significant tress on the White Gums walk against the fire hazard caused by buffel grass.
Due to funding constraints Biodiversity Matters has not organised any volunteer activities in 2018,
ALEC is working with partners to develop activities on an as-needs basis and these opportunities are promoted via the Biodiversity Matters Facebook page and email list.
Register your interest in receiving email notifications of upcoming Biodiversity Matters activities by emailing [email protected]