Helping to Build Biodiversity on the Fleurieu Peninsula...
Australia is losing its plant and animal species at an alarming rate. The causes of this catastrophic loss of biodiversity are many and varied, but so are the ways we can tackle the problem.
Rather than start our own environmental charity, we decided to partner with an independent organisation that was solely focused on protecting and restoring our natural environment and its diversity. Greening Australia has god an impressive record and is the natural partner for us. Our aim is to provide funding to Greening Australia so that they can respond with action in the area with the greatest need. To make real changes, we committed to provide 25 cents from every bottle sold - the largest per bottle donation in the Australian wine industry.
Greening Australia identified the site of an old whaling station on the southern tip of South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, the closest land-fall from Kangaroo Island which sits 18 kilometers off the coast. Since the whaling station closed in 1852 it was used as a grazing and farming property and cleared of its native plant and animal species. It has increased conservation value and it located near the Talisker and Deep Creek Conservation Parks and the Heysen Trail traverses the site.
In the last ten years, more than 50,000 trees have been planted on the 82 hectares of the site, with a diverse range of native plants that have been cultivated from seeds collected in the local region.
The Glossy Black Project
Aside from revegetating the site, this conservation work has added the goal of providing habitat to Australia's most endangered cockatoo.
The Glossy Black (Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus) is currently listed as 'endangered' with only around 300 birds surviving. The birds were previously found across the Fleurieu Peninsula, but through habitat destruction have retreated to Kangaroo Island. Its primary food source are the seed pods of the Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) and these have been on eo fhte more widely planted trest at Fisheries Beach. In time, the birds will be hopefully reintroduced to the mainland and have a suitable habitat to thrive.
At three of our vineyards, we have removed non-native trees and replanted with native species to encourage a network or conservation corridors that can be used by native animals. We have some exciting opportunities that we are working on with Greening Australia, and will keep our winery club members aware of.
