About IFFA

IFFA believes that the conservation of plants, animals and their communities must be based on a sound knowledge of their biology, ecology, status and management requirements. To achieve this, we endorse a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together expertise from a wide range of professions.

A broad approach is necessary to maximise the ecological, social and economic benefits of natural resource management. In particular, we urge people to become involved in the important emerging disciplines of conservation and restoration biology, habitat reconstruction and revegetation. This can be done at any level: from interested amateurs to research professionals.

To encourage wide participation, IFFA researches, collects and disseminates information concerning conservation matters to relevant agencies, groups and individuals. IFFA publishes a newsletter INDIGENOTES, 4 times a year, and promotes conferences, workshops and excursions. We also participate in debate on environmental issues and in the formation of conservation policies at the local, state and national levels.

Topics of discussion at monthly meetings include preserving and managing indigenous flora and fauna, and informative field trips and working days.

The resources of IFFA are available to both the public and private sectors of the community to help establish appropriate conservation and management strategies.

Contacts

INDIGENOTES

INDIGENOTES is a 12 or 16 page newsletter published 4 times a year. It contains articles, snippets, coming events and information about other groups. Articles range from discussions of provenance for plants, book reviews, conservation of critical habitats and urban conservation to control hints for weeds or feral animals.

INDIGENOTES is supplied as part of membership, or copies can be purchased for $1.50 from the Burnley Bookshop, VCAH Burnley.

The Editor is Tony Faithfull
C/o Indigenous Flora & Fauna Association Inc.
PO Box 2327
Hawthorn 3122
Phone (03) 9386 0264 (ah)
tonydimi@bigpond.com

Click here for the September 2004 issue.

Advances in Nature Conservation

Advances in Nature Conservation is a very occasional journal which features articles on habitat restoration, the history of ecosystems, dangers facing habitat and practical and theoretical research. Two editions are currently being prepared, and we will let you know when their release is imminent (to save ourselves any continuing embarassment).

Proceedings of the grasslands conference

The Great Plains Crash

Fore more information contact Roger Jones.

Coming Events

To publicise working bees, special meetings, talks or conferences, please contact
Marcus Bechley (email). Phone (03) 9490 1434
.

Meetings

Melbourne

Mornington Peninsula

Vegetation lost at high cost!

The Victorian landscape has undergone massive changes in the past 150 years. As a consequence of environmental degredation and destruction of indigenous flora and fauna:

• over 60% of the state has been cleared, and much of what is left is seriously degraded by weed invasion;
• of the two thirds of the state which is privately owned, only 5% retains its natural cover;
• soil erosion and salination have become serious problems;
• over 35% of our wetlands have been drained;
• close to 80% of rivers and wetlands have been substantially modified;
• almost all native grasslands have been eliminated or modified;
• many other vegetation communities are almost extinct, or critically endangered;
• over 900 exotic plant species have been established in Victoria, many of which are weeds, and scores of noxious exotic animal species are now widespread;
• many native mammal species have become extinct in Victoria.

The retention and restoration of indigenous flora and fauna:

• creates a habitat for indigenous plants and animals;
• has enormous educational value;
• helps prevent weed invasions;
• helps preserve the diversity of local genetic varieties of plants and animals;
• minimizes watering and mowing costs.

What you can do!

Restore remnant vegetation so that weed invasion, rubbish dumping, neglect or careless 'tidying up' don't destroy the vegetation. Help eradicate environmental weeds those exotic or non-local native plants which can take over in natural vegetation.

Revegetate areas where there is no remnant vegetation using indigenous plants grown from locally collected seed or cuttings. These can be purchased from nurseries specializing in growing local plants, or you can grow them yourself if you stick to some basic rules. You can grow indigenous plants in your own garden, or join a ‘Friends’ group and help revegetate a local reserve.