Ep 6: Taking to the sky with conservation drone technology

Only one quarter of known Australian threatened species are protected in conservation reserves. Some threatened species are confined to small areas in cities, on farms and along roadsides. Engaging the broader community in conservation efforts is essential to their survival. In this episode we speak to 3 people who are beating the drum for threatened species and bringing the public along for the ride.

Jodi Rowley really loves frogs. Working for the Australian Museum and the University of NSW she is the lead scientist behind the Frog ID APP. Australia has over 240 species of frog which are found nowhere else in the world, some species are flourishing but four have already become extinct. The FrogID APP is a national citizen science project, helping scientists learn more about what is happening to Australia’s frogs. People are recording frog calls on their smartphone in their backyards, schools and farms. Download it and you can't help but start noticing frogs all around.

www.frogid.net.au

Matt Blomfield of Gather By provides an opportunity for Growers and farmers to diversify into the honey business without having to know anything about bees. Gather by looks for farmers with 5ha to grow Australian native Leptospermum plants plus bee- fodder plants, for the purpose of generating chemical free, raw bioactive, Manuka- type honeys for local and export markets, while prioritising bee and ecosystem health. Gather By advises the farmers on what to grow and how and then brings along the bees and collects the honey.

www.gatherby.org/growers

Darren Grover is the Head of Healthy Land and Seascapes Leading the Species, Oceans, Science and Impact teams at WWF-Australia. He has been working hard to improve the conservation status of species like the black-flanked rock-wallaby and Carnaby’s black cockatoo in southwest Australia, the Bilby and Gouldian Finch in the Kimberley, southern right whales in the Great Australian Bight, and marine turtles on the Great Barrier Reef. His biggest challenge is inspiring other to care as much about wildlife. His greatest joy is all the volunteers who make a difference.

www.wwf.org.au/what-we-do