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Project helps save endangered coastal plant
A DVD which shows scientists, developers, conservationists and the government working together to save an endangered coastal heath plant will be launched at the University of the Sunshine Coast at 6pm on Monday 26 September.
The educational DVD, Allocasuarina emuina recovery, tells the story of Allocasuarina emuina (Mount Emu She Oak) which is an endangered wild flower found only on the Sunshine Coast.
USC’s Senior Lecturer in Plant Ecology Dr Alison Shapcott said the DVD featured featured an original music score by ARIA winning Ed Duquemin and six modules that examine various stages of the plant recovery process.
The modules include information about seed collection, translocation, ecological and genetic research, and the cooperation between developers and conservationists.
“The species is an attractive plant which plays an important role in the diversity of plants which make up the coastal heath,” Dr Shapcott said.
“The project helped fund research to find out more about the ecology of the species and its genetics, and the results of this research are shown in the DVD.”
Dr Shapcott said the DVD would be distributed to schools, community and conservation groups and public libraries. It will be sourced by conservation groups world-wide.
The launch of the DVD on Monday will coincide with the announcement of the winners of the Sunshine Coast Heathland photographic competition which has attracted more than 150 entries.
The public is welcome to attend the DVD launch at USC's Lecture Theatre 7 in Building C.
— Michelle Widdicombe