Great Eastern Ranges Initiative

Understanding a bold new conservation project starts with a visit to an innovative interactive exhibition visiting the Fitzroy Falls Visitors Centre from 20 Sept 2010 to 28 October 2010.

The exhibition brings to life the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, one of Australia's largest scale conservation projects.

The Initiative aims to create a conservation corridor from the Victorian Alps up to far north Queensland along the mountains and slopes on the eastern seaboard of Australia.

The exhibition incorporates a video featuring renowned naturalist-and former Burke's Backyard and ABC radio presenter-John Dengate, "walking" visitors through the great eastern ranges via a projection onto a 3D model on a viewing table.  Dengate reveals how the Initiative works and why it's so important to the future of Australia's native flora and fauna.

A panelled display explains the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative and includes the beautiful winning photographs from a recent national photographic competition run by Australian Traveller magazine.  As visitors view these photographs of the people and places that make the great eastern ranges unique, they can also listen to the photographers explain how and why they chose their image, and what it means to them.

According to Robert Dunn, Manager of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, the interactive exhibition will open visitors eyes to the enormous challenges facing the environment and the large-scale response needed to help turn things around.

"The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative is all about the changing face of conservation.  It's about working with private landholders, thinking big and bringing communities together to understand that to make a difference we need to act locally and understand how our efforts fit into the bigger picture.

"We also hope this exhibition will help people understand why we need to treasure the ranges.  They're home to more than two thirds of Australia's endangered and vulnerable native species and they are the catchments that provide water to over 90% of the population of eastern Australia," says Pulsford.

Keith Williams from the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre says the exhibition is perfect for school groups or members of the public who want to learn more about the great eastern ranges, their unique beauty and this exciting new conservation Initiative.

For more information about the exhibition call: Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre ph: 02 48877 270

For information about the local Southern Highlands Partnership of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative contact Regional Facilitator Tim Beshara ph: 02 9560 9144 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ]

To learn more about the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative go to www.greateasternranges.org.au