Boondall Wetlands Tour – Ramsar Convention Site

in conjunction with Soroptimist International South Queensland region.

Focus:

Environment – B) Support sustainable development that includes improve protection of ecosystems.

Reporting Date:

31 December 2007

Overview:

1. What we did: SI Brisbane City has organised several informative sessions on our local environment over the years. This year we assisted the Region of South Queensland with the sponsored Walk for Peace in the Boondall Wetlands on 12th October 2007.
2. Why we did it: Environmental matters are of great concern to our Club. SI also has several Where We Stand Position Statements that encourage Clubs to become more involved in the protection of our eco-systems. The statement on Oceans, Seas and Coastal Areas is particularly relevant in regard to this project as marine environments form an integrated whole that is an essential component of the global life support system and sustainable development. For the protection of the total marine environment, SI members are encouraged to urge governments to ratify and implement all relevant existing international and regional treaties, conventions and protocols that protect the high seas, exclusive economic zones, coastal areas and small islands. The Boondall Wetlands, are part of the Ramsar Convention Wetlands sites which are proclaimed under the Ramsar Wader Convention to be a major area of world importance to water birds. Most of the northern part of Moreton Bay is covered in the Ramsar site. Water birds, particularly waders, migrate to Australia from the northern hemisphere every summer (ours) so they can escape from their winters. Here they feed on the abundant food, and therefore when they return to their homes, for the northern summers, they have enough energy for the hard task of raising their offspring. Consequently, any move that may affect Moreton Bay affects the Ramsar site. This was a great way to raise money for our International Project by having a sponsored walk as well as raising the profile of SI within the local community.
3. How we did it: In conjunction with the Brisbane City Council’s, Boondall Environmental Centre, two guides accompanied 14 SI members from Clubs in the Region on an interpretive tour of the Wetlands. Our Club Member Jan Veacock, an Environmental Education Teacher, avid bird watcher, historian and genealogist shared her extensive wealth of knowledge on the importance of International Conventions like Ramsar in protecting local environments. After the walk the Club provided morning tea and presented gifts to the two volunteer guides.
4. Results and recommendations: The Boondall Wetlands are an example of what people power can do over the prevailing local council on sustainable development issues and protecting the environment. When it was decided that the area would be opened for sub-division, there was a public outcry with the result that hectares of the wetlands were bought by the Brisbane City Council for the enjoyment of the people of the area. Regeneration of local bush, eradication of weeds and pests, and replanting of areas has resulted in the wetlands becoming an important area not only for waterbirds and waders, but for reptiles, amphibians, smaller mammals and bush birds. The Wetlands are an important education resource for Brisbane and surrounding areas as the Nudgee Beach Environmental Education Centre is located on one side of the area and uses the waterways and walkways in its educational programs. Guiding and Scouting Associations use the area at Brownsea Water Activities Centre (waterways of the wetlands) in its canoeing courses. We were fortunate to have two excellent guides to show us through the wetlands, who were helped by our Club Member Jan Veacock who has an extensive knowledge of the area and it’s importance internationally to the life of many migratory birds. Jan has an environmental education background, particularly in bird watching and relished the opportunity to "get back into it!" by sharing many interesting stories on the local indigenous history and early colonisation of the area by local settlers. The Club took a video and several photos during the walk. This will be edited and made available to other Clubs on request. We would encourage SI Clubs to contact their local councils and volunteer organisations that are working on eco-system protection projects and undertake a similar activity as this. The added bonus of incorporating this activity as a sponsored walk raised $500 for Project SIerra and increased the level of our local SI members awareness of the importance of reviewing the successful implementation of International Conventions like Ramsar. Letters of congratulations and a certificate will be sent to the Brisbane City Council and the Management and Staff at the Boondall Wetlands.