Manly Locals Help Save Bandicoots

Earthwatch Institute is organising volunteers to help protect Manly’s native bandicoots from attack by predators and save them from extinction.

Our Manly has interviewed local volunteer Louise Watson about her experience participating in this vital effort at preservation. Louise exemplifies the spirit of conservation needed to protect local flora and fauna.

Earthwatch was founded in 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts. A need to invent a new funding model for scientific research became apparent, as dwindling government funding was combined with an increased urgency in the need for scientific information and action.

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Our Manly: Are you long time activists/conservationists or was participating in Earthwatch Institutes Bandicoot project your first foray into a local environmental issue?

Louise Watson: My husband Mal and I have been involved in Bush Regeneration for at least 15 years. We are the type of people who enjoy the natural world, and the location of our home at Forestville exemplifies this. We bought a bush block in 1968,opposite the bushland of the Davidson State Recreation Area (as it was then).

We have both loved the local wildlife that visits, as do our neighbours. In fact it is a topic of conversation. My family were early members of the National Parks Association and attended many camps and meetings. Our family of two sons spent many nights under canvas as this was the way we enjoyed our holidays. We travelled mainly to National Parks including Wilpena Pound and up to Arkaroola, and of course Sawpit Creek in the Snowy Mountains.
 
We have been involved on the South Coast in a conservation group trying to prevent over development of the pristine area. We have prepared submissions to the council and attended meetings. We are not really activists as such, but conservationists. We have our own worm farms, compost tumblers, and believe in returning as much as possible back to the soil. We have water tanks and solar panels too, all designed to reduce our footprint on this earth. We are both members of the Australian Plant Society, and I won the 1st year Encouragement award from the Society.

Our Manly: Did you learn something new about your local environment? Or more about the people who care for it?

Louise Watson: The session was very informative about the Bandicoot population at North Head. We learnt about their habitat and their habits, and what are the most important threats to their survival.

As we didn't actually process any film from the previous week showing bandicoots we relied on the information supplied by the knowledgeable people who conduct the research.
The people conducting the session were friendly and encouraging. They helped us with our learning experience, although I am sure they could complete the tasks much faster without our intervention. It was a good team event.

The active part of the day was rewarding and as the site is quite large, requires walking over a fairly large area. Of course a lot will depend on the fitness of the participants and how many there are.

I notice that the infra red cameras are used in rural areas, and it might be useful to encourage those who need to use a camera to come along to the day, they would participate in a program that pointed out the importance of conservation of our wildlife as well as take away valuable knowledge and experience on use of one of their tools.

Our Manly: How did you hear about Earthwatch's Bandicoots on the Brink project?

Louise Watson: I won the experience through the National Parks as a lucky door prize. I don't know whether others who also won took up the challenge and completed the experience.

Could this experience also be included in the Duke of Edinburgh Award? Young people who are participating in the Award are usually keen to extend their knowledge and quite good with equipment. They would definitely be faster at completing the field work and viewing previous footage.

Our Manly: Thanks Louise for your dedication and participation in Earthwatch Institute's Bandicoots on the Brink conservation project. The Northern Beaches salute your enthusiasm and commitment to local ecology.