Wildnet Update

By Ingrid Marker, Cassowary Keystone Conservation / Guardians of the Wet Tropics
18 October 2023

Hiya friends and supporters,

I am writing with a quick update on Wildnet.

On Monday 16^th October I was contacted by the acting Senior Wildlife Ranger- Far Northern Division of Department of Environment and Science (DES). As the Wildnet team had been in contact with them asking to forward my many years of cassowary sightings to be uploaded into system. I asked if the Wildnet system had been upgraded and the issues ironed out and they could not answer me.

I have given approval for DES to share my data to the Wildnet team and they offered to cc me into all my back log of records.

This would be amazing for my research and understanding of cassowaries. I can look back over the years to track trends, predictions and outcomes and dates that one’s memory can be mistaken. I lost all my original 24 years of research data in cyclone Yasi, so since that date have been trusting it to DES.

I will go into Wildnet in a month to see if they have fixed the other obstacle that failed end users (conservations) that is, to see if the data is open and transparent for conservation groups and other contributors. Only if we and Developers are aware of threatened and endangered fauna or flora existing on a patch can we hope to protect or nurture the species. To stop developments, place conservation covenants on private land, and continue our citizen science programs before species slid into extinction unknown.

Fingers crossed this is a step in the right direction.

Guardians of the Wet Tropics will continue to keep them on track to deliver on their promised upgrade.

Direct your concerns to: WildNet WildNet@des.qld.gov.au

Find out more about Wildnet database:https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/species-information/wildnet

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters of Australia. I pay my respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present and future, aspiring to learn from their traditional knowledge to help nature thrive and understand our place in it.