Kosciuszko2Coast: Lauren Van Dyke
Partnerships
K2C Partnership Facilitator
As the Kosciuszko2Coast (K2C) partnership project Facilitator I have been rewarded with working with an exceptional team of 10 natural resource management partners. My role challenges me to match what K2C partners offer with busy landholders across the 1,200 km² K2C region.
All K2C partners are highly experienced in managing or extending the diverse landscape types found in the K2C region, from the alpine Kosciuszko Mountain Range to the Coastal Wetlands. Sandwiched between these iconic locations are the precious areas of Box-Gum Woodland, Snow Gum Woodland and Natural Temperate Grassland which carry the highest priority for the K2C partnership project, as they are at the greatest risk of further decline. These woodlands and grasslands are nestled in valley floors and along slopes, and are generally managed by individual private landholders.
The aim of the K2C project is to develop a relationship with landholders and offer to support them by matching them up with partner groups offering on-ground incentives to identify, restore and extend woodlands, grasslands, wetlands and riparian areas. All partners recognise that landholders are the key to the K2C project's success, and are pivotal if we are going to stop decline in species in this region. Not only that, partners get a chance to see what each other are doing, which provides opportunities to work in collaboration.
My past studies and employment have been a perfect precursor to my K2C project Facilitator position.
After completing my degree majoring in politics and natural resource management I stationed myself for 6 years in a very active parliamentary office held by Senator Bob Brown. There I experienced first hand the complex relationship between our actions and the resulting effects on our environment. I learned we all create an impact, with some more unaware than others that a detriment is occurring. What is great to recognise is that sometimes that impact is positive.
It is the positive outcomes that human beings can have on our surrounding environment that is extremely encouraging. I see the K2C project as exactly that.
I see the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative as a guiding light for the big picture outcomes we wish to see.
I believe that the Great Eastern Ranges overarching approach to conservation based on empowering existing land management partnerships and helping to develop new natural partnerships is critical. With a support system in place around hotspots such as those in the K2C area we are seeing people on the ground (landholders) taking on a greater commitment to land conservation and habitat restoration. K2C and the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative engender a confidence to keep up work to provide that positive impact.
Contact Details
- phone: 02 6454 4388
- email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
