User:Janine Echidna/sandbox

Koala Clancy Foundation:

Structure: Incorporated Association, Registered Charity Date of Incorporation: 7 July 2015 Incorporation Number: A0091278C Incorporated in the State of Victoria, Australia

Registered Charity with the Australian Charities & Not-For-Profits Commission: https://www.acnc.gov.au/RN52B75Q?ID=C673D21C-3BC3-4CAB-87C8-39B6E5AF8E55&noleft=1 Charity ABN: 70916478501

2016/17 Board: Janine Duffy, President Carole Bartholomew, Secretary Melinda King, Vice President Roger Smith, Treasurer Rebecca Fraser, Committee Member

Background:

Koalas are one of the ten species worldwide most at risk from human-induced climate change. Increased carbon dioxide in the air is changing the chemical composition of eucalyptus leaves, making it harder for koalas to find food; droughts and periods of high temperatures, which koalas are ill-equipped to cope with, are increasing in frequency and duration; bushfires, which can kill up to 90% of a koala population, are increasing in frequency and severity; habitat loss and fragmentation is causing koalas to spend more time on the ground, subjecting them to longer periods of vulnerability to dog attack and vehicle collision.

History:

In the nine years from 2007 to 2016, Koala Clancy Foundation documented a 34% decrease in koala numbers in the You Yangs, though there was no visible loss of habitat, no serious bushfires, little road- or dog-induced koala mortality and little evidence of disease in the You Yangs population. This decline is in line with 2008 predictions of climate-change induced decline: "I'm sure we'll see koalas disappearing from their current range even though we don't see any change in tree species or structure of the forests." Professor Ian Hume, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, and students from the University of Sydney

The Koala Clancy Foundation was established in 2015 to take action to slow this decline. 3 methods have been implemented: 1. improvement of existing koala habitat in the You Yangs Regional Park through removal of invasive, introduced weeds. 2. planting new habitat of koala-preferred native trees in waterways on private land adjacent to the You Yangs Regional Park. 3. education of the local community to ensure that private land is made available for tree planting, and koala protection is a high priority.

Purpose/Mission: (Simple) Inspiring travellers and local communities to create a future for wild koalas (Detailed) The purpose of the association is: Protection of koalas in the wild through enhancement and protection of their natural habitat by: a) Organising travellers and locals to maintain and improve existing Koala habitat; and b) Educating travellers and the local community about the threats to wild koalas and their environment and the means to address these; and c) Mobilising the word of mouth and social media reach of the travel community worldwide to speak out in support of wild koalas and their environment; and d) Involving travellers and the local community in citizen science research into wild koala behaviour; and e) creating partnerships with other organisations involved in koala protection, habitat creation and environment protection; and f) any other means available.

Projects: Wild Koala Day, May 3 https://koalaclancyfoundation.org.au/research/wild-koala-day A day to celebrate wild koalas and protect their habitats. Koala Clancy Foundation call all Australians to do 3Ps on May 3 to protect koalas: 1. Plant a tree - new, moisture-rich habitat will be critical as koalas are declining from climate change in their current range. 2. Protect a forest - existing koala habitat is under threat from housing, mining, forestry and roads developments. 3. Phone a politician - political action is necessary to protect koalas from development, habitat loss and to fund research.

Koala Conservation Days for Locals: https://koalaclancyfoundation.org.au/you-can-help/koala-conservation-day Koala Conservation Days for Locals run on the first and third Sunday every month for local Melbourne residents (you don't have to be an Australian citizen, just a long-term resident of Melbourne to participate.) The aim of these days is public awareness and education, koala tree planting (June to August) and large-scale weed removal. Each day participants plant around 500 trees or remove around 8,000 weeds = koala habitat for nearly 2 koalas for a whole year, in just one day!

Koala Clancy of the You Yangs - childrens book https://koalaclancyfoundation.org.au/you-can-help/koala-clancy-book 28page colour A5 soft cover book written by Koala Research Co-ordinator Melinda King with design and illustrations by Cat Gibbs. The book is published by Koala Clancy Foundation and printed on 100% recycled paper by EnviroPrint Australia. The book tells the true story of Koala Clancy, a wild koala living in the You Yangs Regional Park. The book aims to educate local children about the threats to wild koalas and habitat damage caused by Boneseed - an invasive weed. All proceeds of sales go to Koala Clancy Foundation and support koala tree planting, research and weed removal.

Wild Koala Research: https://koalaclancyfoundation.org.au/research/koala-research Since 2006 Wild Koala Research has been conducted in the You Yangs Regional Park (firstly by social enterprise tour operator Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours, who are still involved, but now has been taken over by Koala Clancy Foundation). Around 300 days per year, trained Koala Clancy Foundation citizen science researchers search an agreed area of bushland in the You Yangs Regional Park. Every koala found is located on a map, identified (if possible), GPS taken, they are photographed, the tree species & height they are sitting at and their behaviour is noted. Every wild koala encountered on these research days has their nose pattern recorded in both photographic and diagrammatic form. Each are named, and monitored for as long as they live in the research area. At the end of each year these findings are compiled, analysed and a report for the year is provided to the National Parks Service, local Field Naturalist Clubs and Koala-specialist volunteer Wildlife Carers and veterinarians to assist with understanding of Koalas in this particular wild habitat.

References: https://koalaclancyfoundation.org.au/ https://www.ecotourism.org/news/why-tourism-should-do-more-endangered-species http://www.nationalcalendar.com.au/event/wild-koala-day-5632763172487168 http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/koala-clancy-foundation-encourages-locals-to-help-fauna-by-planting-trees/news-story/cb0dc96cd05229b3ebed113ea788a26e http://charitydos.com.au/do/event/details/13656-koala-clancy-foundation-launch-party-south-melbourne https://chuffed.org/project/clancysafetynet http://www.openjaw.com/album/1535/goway-helps-koala-clancy-foundation-reach-target-to-assist-koala-population/noteworthy?/scrapbook/1535/goway-helps-koala-clancy-foundation-reach-target-to-assist-koala-population/noteworthy http://www.australian-charities.tsetso.info/organization.php?koala-clancy-foundation-inc-abn-70916478501 http://www.goodxmastrail.org/business/echidna-walkabout-nature-tours/ https://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/six-easy-ways-you-can-help-koalas-on-wild-koala-da/3013935/ https://www.walkabout.nl/nieuws-australie-koala-foundation.html http://anglisstourismtravel.com/a-fantastic-koala-conservation-day-in-the-you-yangs-regional-park/ http://www.reportageonline.com/2015/12/a-sad-tale-of-koalas-and-coal-mines/