NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS)

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) recently paid tribute to members of four volunteering groups who lend valuable support in the Highlands area.

NPWS South Coast Regional Manager Diane Garrood says members of the Bungonia Recreation Activities Group, the Robertson Environment Protection Society, the Bundanoon Volunteers and the Friends of the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby have assisted the NPWS over many years.

"NPWS volunteers help in many ways, and in the Highlands area this includes providing management advice and helping with important conservation projects by either rolling up their sleeves to help with works or by raising funds to allow the work to occur," Ms Garrood said.

"To recognise their efforts, volunteers enjoyed morning tea with NPWS staff at the Fitzroy Falls café last month.

"The community and NPWS are well aware of what volunteers can achieve and on the 2011 International Day of the Volunteer, we wanted to formally acknowledge their contributions.

"Some examples of the work local volunteers have achieved include walking track maintenance in the Bundanoon area of Morton National Park, tree planting in Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve and bush regeneration in the Robertson Nature Reserve.

"Volunteers provide technical advice and on-ground assistance in the karst area in Bungonia National Park, and funded a pest management field day in Kangaroo Valley.

"These are only a few examples of the work NPWS volunteers do, and it is great to work together to achieve more than we could on our own.

"The efforts of the NPWS volunteers are appreciated and they are making a real difference," Ms Garrood said.