Maryanne Lewis(chaperon) [participant:Bradley Michael Lewis]
*Group name
"Tall Timbers Forestry Project"
*Country/Region
Mataranka, Northern Territory, Australia
*Type of Group
School (Mataranka Primary School)
*Number of total members of your group/project
Number of members of the project in 2006 our school enrolment is 21 students ranging in age from 4 – 13 years old. At the summit, one adult and one child, participant numbers 033 & 034 represented us.
*Number of regular participants in activities
Number of regular participants in activities includes the whole school enrolment for the past 4 years, staff, parents and carers, members of the Mataranka Community and individuals and business's from Katherine.
*Characteristic of members
Characteristics of the schools members are a genuine bonding together to enhance the school environment, and therefore enhancing the whole community environment. Our actions are compensating for others who are not so fortunate, we live in an environment that enjoys clean air, water, and is densely vegetated with plant and animal life.
*Theme(s) of your group/project
*Biodiversity, *Land and Soil, *Forests/Tree Planting, *Nature Conservation, *Water Issues, *Climate Change/Global Warming Effect
*Missions and activities of your group/project
Activities of our project has seen an unused area located within the school boundary converted in a "Tall Timbers" Forestry plot that provides an outdoor classroom for the students, shall provide an income in the future, provides an habitat corridor for wildlife, and is available for others to visit and encourages the community to embrace Landcare issues. Over 1200 tress have been planted within the plot including 15 species of which 10 are native to Northern Australia. The students have tended to the many trees since initial planning, site preparation, planting, water allocation, pruning and tree maintenance including pest control with great enthusiasm. Each student and many private sponsors have an "Adopted Tree" that is regularly monitored and data information is gathered for records including height, base circumference, and condition. The Project has also incorporated extensive tree plantings in other areas of the school including Bush Tucker Gardens, vegetable plots, animal husbandry, establishing a Forest Trail, and participation in global events such as World Environment Day, Clean up Australia Day, National Tree Day, and World Harmony Day activities.
*Characteristics of the group/project activities
Characteristics of the project include the continued enthusiasm of all involved in the project, since conception and recently the forest has celebrated its fourth birthday. The project is one that is long term and therefore shall be enjoyed by our school and community for many years.
*Most importnat way of thinking of your group/project for environment
Our project is important in that it allows our students to experience hands-on the environment that we live in and how we can make it better for the future. It has also allowed us to study different environments and appreciate ours. All in the world shares the natural environment, and we can together make it a better world.
*Major publications and articles
Keep Australia Beautiful Awards 2002/2003; Northern Territory Tidy Towns and School Awards 2002/2003,
Reflex Habitat Finalist 2003 Northern Territory Westpac Education Landcare Award 2003, and Finalist at the National Landcare Awards in Canberra 2004 representing the Northern Territory; Attendance at The 2005 Children's World Summit for the Environment in Japan in July 2005.PowerWater Environmental Excellence Awards Finalist 2005 2005 Northern Territory Westpac Education Landcare Runner Up.
The project has given the school many awards and is now recognised locally and nationally and by attending the Summit, international attention. We have received much attention in print media, radio and television.
*What kind of group/project do you want to exchange for imformation and experience with?
To date our project has been shared with other Northern Territory schools and their students and staff, the national Landcare movement, the Northern Territory Government and the Northern Territory Timber Network. Our plot is being used as an example and incentive for people who may be interested in forestry and many have visited the site. All data that has been collected is also available and includes measurements, rainfall, number of hours worked in the plot, problems experienced and the rewards of such a project. Anyone who travels along the Stuart Highway or visits the Mataranka Primary School is bale to see the signs of success with the project – the impressive heights of the many trees and the smiles on the students faces as they explore the area.
*Impression of Children's World Summit for the Environment 2005 Aichi
Impressions of the Children's World Summit for the Environment 2005 Aichi is one of extreme pride of being a part of such a well organised event, the sharing of our experiences to all who attended and the giving of information in return, the enthusiasm and friendships that took place over the period, and the knowledge that we have been recognised for all of our hard work for such a project of this size. Our community was very proud of our attendance, and is still spoken about today. As a participant, I shall never forget the Summit.
*Others
Since returning from the Summit, our school has continued to make our school environment a better place. We have planned and constructed a Green Tree Frog habitat located adjacent to the classroom, so that we may protect, observe and possibly bred this unique frog species. The Green Tree frog has been under threat from the invasive pest, the Cane Toad, an introduced species to Northern Australia. Our habitat project also includes water monitoring and understanding whole ecosystems. We have continued to work within the Forestry plot and are amazed at the rapid growth of many of the tree species including the collection and harvesting of seeds from some trees and we have planted them within our recently set up nursery. Seedlings have been planted within the school boundary and are also available to the community. An area adjacent to the forestry plot has also been developed to include an outdoor amphitheatre of grassed mounds and includes a fireplace so that visiting students may also appreciate our unique outdoor environment.
*Contact person
Maryanne & Bradley Lewis
*Contact Address
Mataranka
Northern Territory 0852
Australia
Phone (08) 89754884
Fax (08) 89754664
m.l.lewis@bigpond.com.au
