- Seminar to promote community understanding of the Great Western Woodlands
- Expert speakers to cover topics of environment, conservation and education
The WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder will host an informative seminar on the world’s largest remaining Mediterranean woodland situated right on Kalgoorlie’s doorstep on Sunday 25 March, 2012 at 2.30pm.
The public seminar will detail the Great Western Woodlands’ unique qualities and profile the Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy and Millennium Kids Project Explore - a citizen science initiative run by young people keen to have a say about their world and environment.
Museum Manager Zoe Scott said the seminar is about community involvement and education.
“The Great Western Woodlands are a significant and unique feature of the Goldfields landscape,” she said.
They are almost three times the size of Tasmania, and house a vast variety of flora and fauna, including nearly one quarter of Australia's Eucalypt species, most of which grow nowhere else in the world.
Ms Scott said speakers Peter Price, Ian Kealley and Catrina-Luz Aniere have a strong overview and local understanding of the Woodlands based on many years of experience in the environment and conservation field.
“Peter Price has had many years involvement in the pastoral and agricultural industry, has national and international marketing experience, and is part of a collaborative team bringing the importance of the ecological values of the Woodlands to the wider public’s attention,” Ms Scott said.
“Ian Kealley is the Department of Environment and Conservation’s (DEC) Goldfields Regional Manager and has worked in the Goldfields for 28 years with the Forests Department, CALM and DEC.
“As Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Kids Inc, Catrina-Luz Aniere has been working with young people to identify opportunities for change within their community for 20 years. She will explain how they are empowering young people to explore, identify and address environmental issues.”
The two-hour seminar will be held in the Western Mining Conference Centre Auditorium at 44 McDonald Street, Kalgoorlie commencing at 2:30pm. Entry is $5, with afternoon tea included. Bookings are essential on 9021 8533.
Fact file:
- Great Western Woodlands is the largest remaining intact temperate/Mediterranean woodland in the world
- Covers an area of 16 million hectares – similar to the size of England, or almost three times the size of Tasmania
- Contains 3000 different flowering species; one fifth of Australia’s known flora, and a quarter of the country’s Eucalypt species
- The GWW can be seen from the WA Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder headframe
- More information about Millennium Kids Project Explore is available at http://www.millenniumkids.com.au/
Niki Comparti
Media and Publicity Officer
Western Australian Museum
Telephone: 6552 7805
Email: niki.comparti@museum.wa.gov.au
