Olivia+B.+Natalie+Rose+Kate

== =The State of Our Backyard!!! = = By Rose, Nat, Olivia and Kate =

Q1/2. media type="custom" key="10338014" width="480" height="480" Annotation: I am very proud about the work I have put into the Google Map. I have used it once before but I found this time a bit tricker because we were using it for a totally different reason. I had to learn how to do different things on the program that I probably wouldn’t have used before. One thing I would like to improve for next time is the key- I couldn’t find out how to make a proper one and so it makes the map look a bit messy and not a professional which I am very disappointed about since there was so much work put into the map and a small thing like that can trigger criticism. Q3. Helmeted Honeyeater:

There are only 19 pairs of Helmeted Honeyeaters that exist in the wild. The Helmeted Honeyeaters live in the remaining patches of Eucalyptus Swampland found along creeks in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve near Woori Yallock and in nearby Bunyip State Park east of Gembrook. Clearing and draining of the Helmeted Honeyeaters preferred habitat and being forced from its territory by other birds such as the Bell Minor is impacting on the Honeyeaters declining numbers. 

The Powerful Owl: There are approximately 20 pairs of Powerful Owls left in the wild.These wonderful Owls require a large home range to live. The causes of the declining numbers are: increasing human population, pressures of urban development, Clearing of land and bushfires. The Powerful Owl is found as far as Rockhampton and Mackay in QLD and as far south and west as Victoria/South Australia border. 

The Leadbeater’s Possum: These cute little Leadbeater Possums are one of the most endangered species in Victoria and also happens to be Victoria’s state animal emblem. These Leadbeater Possums only live in central highland forests, Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve and alpine areas between Lake Mountain and Mt. Baw Baw.Prior to the Black Saturday bushfires, there were 2,000 to 2,500 Leadbeater Possums in existance in Victoria (deemed low numbers). Following the tragic black Saturday bushfires, approximately 40% to 50% prime habitat was lost, approximately 1,000 Leadbeater Possum were left alive, and decreasing every day. Logging and bushfire prevention methods like fuel breaks and fuel reduction is impacting on the Leadbeater Possums decreasing numbers.





<span style="color: #35c1ed; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 200%;">Q4. **<span style="color: #ed8207; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 180%;">The bush fires and the vulnerability ** <span style="color: #ff2100; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">The bush fires in Victoria were at a very vulnerable time, when dealing with major droughts and many years of accumulated undergrowth. On the day of black Saturday the temperature for many days had been very high about 40-45 degrees everything had dried out due to the decade long drought. The condition on the day had also severe winds, which changed direction several times allowing the fires to spread faster and over a wide area out of control. Although the conditions of the day was a contributing factor there were other causes too. Old power lines had not been checked up on, they had collapsed and started fires, along with arsonists and lightning. Others suspect tool sparks and cigarette butts.

<span style="color: #ed8207; display: block; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 180%; text-align: left;">**Bush Land Recovery** <span style="color: #ff2100; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">The Bush fire land today has bounced back to life. The undergrowth is now lush with ferns and the native wattles whose seeds were under the ground and needed the scorching temperatures of a bush fire have sprouted open. Some trees have perished forever while others trunks and branches have sprouted in abundance. The scars of the bushfires are still clearly visible on their limbs. In some areas there were many endangered species affected. The efforts of royal botanical gardens botanists are collecting samples and are nurturing them ready for replanting back out into the bush. In some areas fallen vegetation is being cleared whilst in others it is providing new homes for native animals. A whole new bush cycle has begun.

<span style="color: #9049da; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 200%;">Q5. <span style="color: #2ac3ef; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;"> The volunteers and organizations helping the animals and plants that are endangered and threatened, after the black Saturday fires, have made a colossal difference. Zoo’s Victoria, and Department of Sustainability and Environment, or DSE for short, have stood out for the amount of support they gave. DSE is focusing on the Bandicoots and Leadbeater’s possums, for a lot of other Australian native animals have adapted to the regular bush fires, and some animals depend on fire’s to maintain their health. SDE has set up a national recovery program to help restore the Lead beater’s population. Before the 2009 bush fires there was approximately 2000 to 2600 of these possums, but based on the loss of up to half of their prime habitat, there's most likely less than 1,000 remaining.With DSE’s help, they are now found only in the Central Highlands forests, Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve and alpine areas between Lake Mountain and Mt Baw Baw. However, SDE is reviving the Leadbeater possum’s population, and is continuing to do so, to help Victorias faunal emblem. <span style="color: #2ac3ef; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">DSE has also contributed a lot of work to help the Bandicoot’s. In Tynong, a town just west of Bunyip, they have selected a chunk of a farm, to preserve for the Bandicoot’s. Bandicoot’s use to be a common animal found in Tynong, but have slowly disappear and are not living there any more. The locals were very supportive, and volunteered to assist alongside SDE to bring back the Bandicoot’s. In a short time after they made the reserve, a footprint was found on one of the tests they had set up. Now that reserve is home to many Bandicoot’s.

<span style="color: #2ac3ef; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">Zoo’s Victoria consists of three different zoos and sanctuaries, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Melbourne Zoo. Zoo’s Victoria is focusing on the Helmeted Honeyeater. With this bird already facing problems, the devastation of the bush fires has only made the situation worse. This bird was fighting for territory against introduced birds such as the Bell Minor or 'Bellbird’. There was only 19 breading pairs of the Helmeted Honeyeater existing outside captivity, dependant on the remaining patches of Eucalyptus Swampland found along creeks in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve near Woori Yallock, and in nearby Bunyip State Park east of Gembrook.

<span style="color: #17d3a3; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;"> Zoo’s Australia has made their mission very clear. This project aims to increase the number of Helmeted Honeyeaters living in the wild at Bunyip State Park and Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve.They are using two methods that are working successfully. One of them is Nest supplementation. The wild Helmeted Honeyeater breeding is intensively monitored so that wild nests can be supplemented with eggs or nestlings from captivity. The other method isRelease of captive-bred immature birds. When the birds are still young they release them into the wild in the time of breading season. This program will continue for another two years to maintain their population in the long term. <span style="color: #ff8100; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">Zoo's Victoria has made this is a video to a clearly explain their project to help the Helmeted Honeyeaters: media type="youtube" key="Z5ORxA72iZk" height="345" width="560" <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 18pt;">Q6. <span style="color: #7a12ca; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 14pt;">If the Lorax came here and saw the tragic state of all species due to all of the bushfires he would suggest many ways to increase the number of wild life. Such as, reduce development so we don’t wipe out our entire native animals habitat and increase pollution. Another way is to use less energy to reduce climate change. Climate change is the one thing that mainly causes animals and plants to decrease in numbers. We could also not litter because it can be very harmful for all of the local and animals in the area because they could get stuck in it or even mistake it for food. There is also poaching. The main reasons for poaching are for money and medicine. I think that we should make a law saying that you can only poach if you have legal statement saying so and not just for money. If the Lorax came and said what is happening to our wildlife I would listen would you?

<span style="color: #20b189; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 200%;">**Q7.** <span style="color: #dd1d1d; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 190%;">**Do some plant species benefit from a bush fire?** <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">A bush fire is always devastating, although the ecosystem actually depends on it to maintain healthy and reproduce. Fire is part of the natural world, just like rain, sun and floods. Australia has many different climates, from tropical or arid; to temperate or alpine, that's what makes Australia so unique and excusive. To match these amazing characteristics, Australia also has a range of plants fit to suit. Such plants like Eucalyptus trees, which have adapted to the bush fires.

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">The Eucalyptus trees need fire and smoke to release their seeds. There are plenty other plants like the Eucalypts tree, such as the Native Wintercress, snow speedwell and Banksia. The Banksia seed is a perfect example of a process of a seed opening. As the fire sweeps through the area, the heat from the fire makes the seedpods open. The seeds fall out, ready to germinate in the ash. Even if the fire kills the plant that the seeds come from, the seeds will open ensuring a new generation of that plant.

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 150%;">In conclusion, the facts suggest a bush fire is natural and important to sustain a healthy ecosystem. However we shouldn't make the mistake to think every bush fire is a good thing. Bibliography //Preliminary Report: Impact of the 2009 Victorian bushfires on nature and wildlife// March 19 2009, The Wilderness Society, accessed 26 August 2011, <__ http://www.wilderness.org.au/regions/victoria/preliminary-report-2009-vic-bushfires __>.

// It’s hard to keep a good plant down – Shiny Nem bounces back after fire // 08/06/2011, State Government Victoria, accessed 28 August 2011, < __ http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/about-dse/media-releases/its-hard-to-keep-a-good-plant-down-shiny-nem-bounces-back-after-fire __ >.

// Bushfire Recovery on private land documentary series // 11/12/2010, PPWCMA, accessed 28 August 2011, < __ http://www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au/our-community/bushfire-resources/bushfire-recovery-on-private-land-documentary-series.aspx __ >.

// Black Saturday Bushfires // 23 August 2011 At 19:52., Wikipedia, accessed 28 August 2011, < __ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday_bushfires __ >.

// Natural recovery following 2009 bushfires // 14/06/2011, Department of Sustainability and Environment, accessed 28 August 2011, <h __ ttp://www.dse.vic.gov.au/fire-and-other-emergencies/bushfire-recovery/current-recovery-program/natural-values#Natural __ >.
 * // Leadbeaters // N.d, accessed 01 September 2011, <http://www.australian-information-stories.com/leadbeaters-possum.html>.


 * // Brush-tailed Phascogale // N.d,, accessed 01 September 2011, <http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fobr/Phascogale_fact_sheet.pdf>.


 * // The Leaderbeater Possum // N.d,, accessed 01 September 2011, <http://leadbeaters.org.au/>.


 * // The Ground Parrot // N.d,, accessed 01 September 2011, <http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10608>.
 * // Yarra Ranges National Park // N.d,, accessed 25 August 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarra_Ranges_National_Park>.


 * // Wilsons Promontory National Park // N.d,, accessed 31 August 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilsons_Promontory_National_Park31.8.11>.


 * * // The Wildness Society // N.d,, accessed 30 August 2011, <http://www.wilderness.org.au/files/preliminary-report-impact-2009-vic-bushfires-on-nature-and-wildlife.pdf/view?searchterm=%20preliminary%20report>.


 * // Bushfires in Victoria // N.d,, accessed 29 August 2011, <http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-57_u-479_t-1306_c-5027/bushfires-and-bushfires-in-australia/qld/bushfires-and-bushfires-in-australia/disasters/natural-hazards>. || * // Bushfires // N.d, , accessed 30 August 2011, <http://www.eurocopter.com/w1/jrotor/82/pageLibre000100bb.html>. ||

// The Wildness Society // N.d,, accessed 30 August 2011, <http://www.wilderness.org.au/files/preliminary-report-impact-2009 vic bushfires-on-nature-and-wildlife.pdf/view?searchterm=%20preliminary%20report>.

// Bushfires in Victoria // N.d,, accessed 29 August 2011, <http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-57_u-479_t-1306_c-5027/bushfires-and-bushfires-in-australia/qld/bushfires-and-bushfires-in-australia/disasters/natural-hazards.

// Leadbeaters // N.d, accessed 01 September 2011, <http://www.australian-information-stories.com/leadbeaters-possum.html

// Brush-tailed Phascogale // N.d,, accessed 01 September 2011, <http://home.vicnet.net.au/~fobr/Phascogale_fact_sheet.pdf>

// The Leaderbeater Possum // N.d,, accessed 01 September 2011, <http://leadbeaters.org.au/>

// The Ground Parrot // N.d,, accessed 01 September 2011, <http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10608>

// Yarra Ranges National Park // N.d,, accessed 25 August 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarra_Ranges_National_Park>.

// Wilsons Promontory National Park // N.d,, accessed 31 August 2011, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilsons_Promontory_National_Park31.8.11>.

// Preliminary Report: Impact of the 2009 Victorian bushfires on nature and wildlife // March 19 2009, The Wilderness Society, accessed 26 August 2011, < __ http://www.wilderness.org.au/regions/victoria/preliminary-report-2009-vic-bushfires __ >.

// It’s hard to keep a good plant down – Shiny Nem bounces back after fire // 08/06/2011, State Government Victoria, accessed 28 August 2011, < __ http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/about-dse/media-releases/its-hard-to-keep-a-good-plant-down-shiny-nem-bounces-back-after-fire __ >.

// Bushfire Recovery on private land documentary series // 11/12/2010, PPWCMA, accessed 28 August 2011, < __ http://www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au/our-community/bushfire-resources/bushfire-recovery-on-private-land-documentary-series.aspx __ >.

// Black Saturday Bushfires // 23 August 2011 At 19:52., Wikipedia, accessed 28 August 2011, < __ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday_bushfires __ >.

// Natural recovery following 2009 bushfires // 14/06/2011, Department of Sustainability and Environment, accessed 28 August 2011, <h __ ttp://www.dse.vic.gov.au/fire-and-other-emergencies/bushfire-recovery/current-recovery-program/natural-values#Natural __ >.