Hiltaba Nature Reserve, a 780km2 Private Protected Area of high conservation value adjacent to the Gawler Ranges National Park on the Eyre Peninsula was officially launched on Friday May 3 2013.
Officiating the launch were NFSA Patron Dr Barbara Hardy AO and NFSA President Bob Lott. Trevor Naismith (Regional Manager SA Arid Lands) also spoke to those attending about the collaboration between state government and Nature Foundation working in partnership to manage protected areas.
In conjunction with the launch the inaugural Hiltaba Grand Working Bee took place between the 3rd-5th May with willing workers helping with both conservation and maintenance projects as well as having opportunities to tour the property. NFSA applauds our wonderful volunteers for their ongoing support the Foundation.
Hiltaba was purchased in April 2012 by Nature Foundation SA with the assistance of the Australian Government through Caring for our Country and the South Australian Government to conserve important native habitat, plants and animals - creating an 'environmental legacy' for future generations.
Hiltaba is a biodiversity 'hot spot' at an ecosystem crossroads with a rare collection of flora and fauna from three converging ecosystems—the rocky Gawler Ranges, arid country to the north and mallee to the south. Hiltaba provides protection for 9 native plants and animals of national conservation significance, 40 of state conservation significance in addition to 7 plant species that only occur in the Gawler Ranges.
Have a look at Nature Foundation SA Facebook posts on May 8 and 9 for photos showing not just the launch but the spectacular country at Hiltaba. Go to www.facebook.com/#!/NFSAI or click on the Facebook icon at the top right of the YouTube Nature Foundation SA Channel homepage.
