The Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF) is working to protect Glossy Black-Cockatoo habitat in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve (the Noosa Shire).
We share the Noosa community’s deep concerns regarding plans for a development in Sunrise Beach which would destroy a known significant Glossy Black-Cockatoo (GBC) feeding site. While the Foundation has no legal jurisdiction over any development or government matter, we stand with the community.
We have called for the Uniting Church, Blue Care and Lendlease to be leaders in sustainable development and revise the current development plan to retain further critical wildlife corridors and habitat trees which, along with the adjacent watering hole, currently sustains the Noosa GBC population in this area. We have requested they create signage and pathways to remaining GBC habitat sites to ensure residents can retain a connection to this threatened species and foster a sense of stewardship to ensure the Glossy Black-Cockatoo’s future survival.
We have consulted with key individuals and experts to understand the broader issues and threats to the GBC and will continue to engage proactively with all parties to find a positive solution.
In support of our Glossies, we dedicated our first annual fundraising Gala to help raise public awareness of the plight of the GBC and galvanise support for protecting the future of the GBC in the Noosa Biosphere. We invited Glossy Bob and Spencer to present at the Gala as special guests to provide an educational session on GBC behaviour. We self-funded the event and additional monies raised of $6,000 through raffle prizes generously donated by local businesses was as promised donated to a GBC conservation project.
To select the recipient of fundraised monies from the Gala, we held a forum to bring all stakeholders and experts together to determine the priority actions needed to protect the future of all GBC populations in Noosa. The forum identified a lack of real data and knowledge of GBC nesting sites as a key issue and therefore further research was determined as needed to better understand critical habitat locations. We since partnered with local conservation group, Bushland Conversation Group to undertake a bioacoustics monitoring research project and the monies fundraised from the Glossy Gala have co-funded this project along with generous input from the project lead organisation.
The NBRF is working on solutions to protect all Glossy Black-Cockatoo populations right across the Noosa Shire. Data and science will inform the decisions and policies that will ultimately determine the future of our Glossies and this is where we are working to make a difference.
We are also developing a GBC Resilience Action Plan with stakeholders to inform future management plans and habitat conservation and have created a campaign page on our website to accept donations to go towards furthering the GBC conservation effort.
As a non-profit charity organisation that works to support activities that align with the global UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme objectives, the NBRF’s role is to facilitate and develop science-based solutions that test innovative approaches to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
We can achieve more for our biosphere community and its living species when we work together. If you have questions about how we can work together to achieve a common goal, please get in touch with us.
You can contact us by emailing secretariat@noosabiosphere.org.au or phone 5474 0932, and read more about what we do.
