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Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team (BEST)

BEST volunteers with a Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard
BEST volunteers with a Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard

The Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team (BEST) is a Friends of Parks Inc community group. The BEST was established to protect and conserve the local threatened flora and fauna of the Northern and Yorke Region of South Australia. The group was launched in July 2005 and is proudly supported by the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board, The Commonwealth Natural Heritage Trust and the Department for Environment and Heritage.

Members of BEST are passionate, enthusiastic, talented, diverse, friendly and dedicated volunteers who give their time to assist with on-ground works associated with threatened species management. Over the past 12 months, BEST members have contributed to biodiversity projects including: population monitoring of the endangered Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard, (200Kb PDF) surveys for woodland birds (200Kb PDF), searches for new populations of threatened birds and plants, spotlight surveys of Common Brushtail Possums (200Kb PDF), the translocation of the endangered Spiny Daisy, and threat abatement activities such as environmental weed control.

Members have also been involved in raising community awareness of threatened species issues, through participation in local information days and regional field days. Members of BEST receive quarterly newsletters.

During 2008, volunteers have the opportunity to assist with a diverse range of on-ground works that contribute to threatened species management in the Northern and Yorke region. Volunteers receive training, the opportunity to attend the Friends Forum at Wilpena and can nominate for the BEST steering committee (AGM in September).

BEST volunteers are invited to attend information sessions with speakers covering a variety of biodiversity topics, as well as workshops covering skills such as bird identification and environmental weed control techniques; most of these sessions and workshops are free of charge to members.

The Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team welcomes new members! Joining BEST for August 2008 to August 2009 costs only $5 p.a. for an individual or family membership.

Contact - more information is available from the Volunteer Support Ranger.

Summer 2008 Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team (BEST) Newsletter (360Kb PDF)

Spring 2008 Biodiversity and Endangered Species Team (BEST) Newsletter (900Kb PDF)