Australian National Botanic Gardens Canberra

‘Biodiversity in your Backyard or Farm’ lunchtime talk

Australian National Botanic Gardens , Wednesday 27 th June

‘Biodiversity in your Backyard or Farm’ lunchtime talk with Don Bell, Ngunawal elder, Geoff Robertson, Executive Member, Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra; and Owen Whitaker, Director, NaturalCapital Pty Ltd. Don will speak about the earth and how it produces everything we need. Geoff will speak about how to create or restore biodiversity on your land. Don will speak about relating more deeply with the land and its plants and animals. Owen will speak about using native plants and ecosystems support people to adapt to the challenges of a change in our climate, economy and social attitudes. Group of up to 85. Gold coin donation for Scottsdale Bush Heritage property, north of Bredbo. Venue: Lecture Theatre.

The speakers

Don Bell is a Ngunawal Elder who grew up on Hollywood Mission on the outskirts of Yass. He has been actively involved in improving conditions for the local Aboriginal community, and in preserving the Ngunawal language. Over the last 10 years, Don and Ruth, who also comes from the Yass area, have taken part in a number of land care projects around Canberra.

Geoff Robertson is an economic and social scientist, who has worked both in Australia and abroad, an enthusiastic amateur ecologist (familiar with the flora and fauna in the region) and an active advocate for the environment, particularly through Friends of Grasslands and the Conservation Council of the South East Region and the ACT.

Owen Whitaker is a farmer raised in the Gundaroo area, who has set up an agribusiness, NaturalCapital, to advise on farm management. He has helped a number of people to improve their farms by revegetating key paddocks, in this way bringing back biodiversity. Owen considers that using native plants and ecosystems will help people to adapt to the challenges of a change in our climate, economy and social attitudes.