Free marine and catchment discovery series events will be livestreamed to your home this winter.
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Scientists will speak about their latest research and projects on underwater forests, the amazing shore birds that nest along our coastline and our very own unique Manning River Turtle.
These free events are designed to give an insight into the Mid Coast's unique waterways, the animals that live there and great tips on what you can do to protect this beautiful natural resource.
At 5.30pm on Tuesday, June 16, Associate Professor Adriana Vergés will speak about two NSW-based projects that combine science and community engagement to restore key seaweed and seagrass species.
"Seaweed forests and seagrass meadows are extremely productive habitats that support key ecosystem services such as fisheries, coastal protection and carbon sequestration," Adriana said.
"These coastal habitats are however threatened by multiple stressors linked to human activities. Despite their importance, seagrass meadows and seaweed forests have been historically undervalued."
Associate Professor Vergés leads a research group within the Centre for Marine Science and Innovation at UNSW Sydney. Her research focuses on the ecological impacts of climate change and the conservation of the world's algal forests and seagrass meadows, which are increasingly under threat.
The second marine discovery event takes place from 5.30pm on Tuesday, June 30, when Milly Formby from Birdlife Australia will talk about the amazing lives of our migratory shorebirds.
The Mid Coast region provides nesting habitat and summer feeding grounds for several of the world's endangered shorebirds and is increasingly important as coastal habitats decline.
These events are part of Hunter Local Land Services and MidCoast Council's Marine Discovery Program, which brings together some of the leading names in marine research and conservation to share their findings and raise awareness of our ocean environments.
A special event on Manning River Turtles will be presented by MidCoast Council, livestreamed from 5pm on Tuesday, July 14.
Andrew Steed from the Ecosystem and Threatened Species unit of the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and the Environment has led two years of surveys of Manning River Turtle populations after the species was declared endangered in 2017.
"We'll take a look at the places we surveyed, the results of the surveys, threats to the survival of the turtles and move onto the impacts from the extended drought, bushfires and floods," Andrew said.
He will reveal the most recent survey results - conducted in the bushfire-affected area north of Wingham. Andrew will also provide an update on work with the Australian Reptile Park to establish an 'insurance population' of turtles.
Representatives from the Manning River Turtle Conservation Group will also address the forum.
All events are free and will include an opportunity to ask the scientists questions. To participate, book in at midcoast.nsw.gov.au/sharethescience and have a Zoom account set up on your device. You'll be sent a link and then can join in at the allotted time for each event.
This series is presented by MidCoast Council in partnership with Hunter Local Land Service and the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and the Environment.
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