Ecologists Dr John Hunter, Dr Debbie Bower and Dr Manu Saunders is launching an exciting new project on Saturday – Dynamic Lagoons.

Come and join them for an interactive discussion on the fundamental importance of upland wetlands.

After a light dinner, John will lead a walk along the lagoon and talk about the characteristic vegetation of upland wetlands. Along the way, Deb and Manu will be spotlighting for nocturnal creatures.

The launch will be held at the Racecourse Lagoon, Uralla this Saturday, 22 February and starts at 5.30pm.

Please wear suitable shoes and remember to bring a chair and torch.

The Dynamic Lagoons project is surveying and monitoring the ecological function of threatened Upland Wetlands on the Northern Tablelands to build knowledge of the many benefits these unique wetlands provide.

A key part of the project is establishing an evidence-based public engagement and education program to raise awareness of the importance of wet-dry phenologies in Upland Wetlands and the critical threats and impacts that affect wetland ecological function. Social threats to the upland lagoons derive from a misunderstanding of their water regime and function.

Our program is educating the community about the ephemerality of these systems and how unique they are to our region. Ecologically, wetlands are affected by agricultural activities, including clearing, cropping, lunette damage, draining and damming because they change water regimes which affect ecosystem function. Land uses including grazing, trampling and nutrient addition by domestic stock, and fertiliser/pesticide contamination from agricultural activities cause further disturbances.

Our project will determine the most effective methods for restoration of these sites by experimentally trialling different treatments and monitoring the response of water quality, vegetation and fauna.

For future updates visit their website at: https://dynamiclagoons.une.edu.au/#!/