Introduction
The Kimberley community is highly engaged in biodiversity conservation and have provided an unprecedented response to the threat of cane toads. This has included more than 1 million volunteer hours from 5,000 volunteers to dispose of more than 500,000 adult cane toads and countless juveniles, over the last five years in the Northern Territory.
The Cane Toad and Environmental forum, held 19th-21st March 2010 in Kununurra, was a sequel to the Cane Toad Forum held in March 2005, organised by Kimberley Specialists in Research. It was after this original forum and learning about the impacts of cane toads on the biodiversity of Northern Australia, the community decided to form Kimberley Toad Busters. Five years on isolated cane toads have begun to arrive in Kununurra, the most eastern township of the Kimberley, since late January 2010. Now was the time for scientists, government and community to come together to discuss latest research and management actions for cane toads in Northern Australia.
The community decided to include a holistic assessment of the threats to biodiversity in the Kimberley, and in addition to cane toads include speakers on fire, indigenous culture and community empowerment. Over 60 different speakers were approached across Australia, an overwhelmingly positive response was received. Many speakers, if they were not able to attend directly, provided video presentations or poster/display material.
Caring for the Kimberley Environmental Forum
Forum
The forum consisted of 51 different speakers providing presentations on following seven major themes: Biodiversity Impact of Cane Toads; Cane Toad Control; Cane Toad Funding & Research; Community Cane Toad Information and Control; Empowering Community; Fire Management and Biodiversity Impact; and Indigenous Culture. Abstracts for each presentation are available in the forum handbook. Conference papers are currently being prepared by presenters for publication as grey literature.
More than 400 people attended the forum over the three days, including school children, teachers, government representatives from a range of departments, tourism operator and local business, general public, politicians, radio, television and print media and invited guests and speakers. Additional displays were provided at the forum venue by Kimberley Toad Busters, Kimberley Wildlife Rescue and Department of Conservation and Environment.
Overwhelmingly the greatest aspect of the forum was the opportunity for community, government and scientists to interact and communicate. With such unprecedented community involvement in an environmental issue there is excellent scope for scientists to collect a large amount of data in relatively short periods of time to inform understanding of cane toad movement and impacts, this resource has yet to be utilised. The immediate key outcomes of this improved communication are:
1. Impact of control on cane toad movement
Mapping of the cane toad front line by Kimberley Toad Busters has begun to show clear differences in the rate of movement in areas where the community has been active. Ben Phillips (Australian Wildlife Conservancy) is completing analysis of cane toad control effort and rate of movement of the cane toad front line. Kimberley Toad Busters will provide data and assist in interpretation, unfortunately data exists in a huge variety of forms and requires consolidation and summary before use by Ben. Steps involved to enable Kimberley Toad Busters full contribution (now and for future
2. Impact of Lungworm parasite
Much interest has been registered by scientists in the presentation and latest results delivered by Jordy Groffen, a KTB sponsored research student. These results indicate the lungworm parasite has caught the main colonising front, however is yet to catch the toads travelling ahead of the main colonising front, the ‘explorer toads.’ Ben Phillips (Australian Wildlife Conservancy) has expressed interest in working with Jordy in analysis of impact of Lungworm and Community Control in the cane toad front line.
3. Dead animal observations
Kimberley Toad Busters has an extensive record of dead animals observed when conducting toadbusts over the last 5 years. Sean Doody (Monash University) will provide methodology for the community to record dead animals in the Kimberley and analyse results from the past 5 years.
4. Community wildlife survey: Icon Species
New simplified methodology developed for community biodiversity monitoring program focusing on ICON species that are expected to suffer significant population declines with the arrival of cane toads. This data will provide scientists with probability of detection, proportion of sites occupied by ICON species and changes in populations overtime. Kimberley Toad Busters is able to incorporate this survey program as part of the already successful ‘What’s in Your Backyard?’ community survey project and community education program. ICON species include Monitors, Northern Quoll, Rainbow Bee Eaters, Frilled-Neck Lizards and Northern Blue-tongue Lizard.
5. Euthanasia methods for cane toads
After 76 years of occupation there is still no method, supported by Government, that can be used by community groups for euthanasia of large numbers of cane toads, methods suitable for euthanasia of cane toad adults, metamorphs and tadpoles are required. Mike Tyler (University of Adelaide) and Geoff Dandie (ANZCAART) have guidance and alternative euthanasia techniques.
6. Cane Toad Threat Abatement Plan
A number of researchers and community members disagreed with the conclusions and recommendations of the recently released Cane Toad Threat Abatement Plan, presented at the Forum by Tony Peacock. These will be addressed through submissions to the Australian Government as part as the public consultation process.
Please see Attachment 1: Caring for the Kimberley Environmental Forum Handbook.
Competitions
To celebrate the biodiversity of the Kimberley and raise awareness of threats two competitions were run in conjunction with the Forum.
1) Kimberley Toad Busters ‘What’s in Your Backyard?’ Wildlife Photographic competition.
The standard of entries was brilliant, and created a striking display on one wall of forum venue. With over 140 entries the competition was an excellent reminder of why so many scientists, government representatives and community members had gathered to learn and discuss impacts of cane toads and fire on Kimberley wildlife.
2) Environmental Threats to the Kimberley - Visual Art Competition hosted by Lovell Gallery.
Over 40 original paintings were entered in the visual art completion. The exhibition was held in the room adjacent to the forum, a huge success and enjoyed by everyone.
Two school competitions were also organised, Pecha Kucha and Static Display, however insufficient time at the start of the school term prevented any entries.
Empowering Community Day: Sunday 21st March 2010
Sunday 21st of March was organised as a Family Day. This included wildlife displays, reptile handling and childrens activities. Assistance in organisation for this day and activities was provided by Kimberley Wildlife Rescue.
Acknowledgements
The Forum was extremely well supported by the Kununurra community, from the standard of meals, service and accommodation for Forum speakers to the level of attendance and participation in discussions.
