00:00To Recovery is a citizen science program aimed at both visitors and locals to Kangaroo Island
00:08to participate in the process of monitoring the recovery of habitats and wildlife after
00:14the 2020 Black Summer bushfires.
00:17Okay, so by way of background then, Kangaroo Island was devastated by those bushfires, wasn't
00:21it?
00:22What was the level of destruction?
00:23Kangaroo Island experienced a catastrophic fire event that burnt close to half of the
00:29island, mostly the western end of the island where a lot of the native vegetation is.
00:34And it destroyed stock, infrastructure, sadly two people lost their lives and an unknown
00:40number of wildlife also.
00:43And how many citizen scientists took part in the project then and how did you encourage
00:48them to be part of it all and how did you put them to work?
00:52So the Passport to Recovery is an ongoing project that seeks to really engage people to become
00:59part of the process of monitoring the recovery as it happens.
01:03Native vegetation and habitats are remarkably resilient to bushfires.
01:07Of course, you know, this was a very catastrophic event, but it's exciting to see the recovery
01:13of the habitat and people when they visit the island get really encouraged to see the recovery.
01:19And they, through the Passport to Recovery app, which has 12 linked projects across the
01:24island.
01:25They can come on their holiday and they can pick up the projects where they like based
01:29on their interest and really be part of contributing valuable data to the science of monitoring the
01:35recovery.
01:36It's also usable by the managers of wildlife and other environmental things.
01:41And how is the recovery going?
01:43You're a koala expert in particular, I understand.
01:46What's the situation with those animals?
01:48So koalas, the koala populations are recovering on the island, they're moving back into previously
01:53burnt habitats and they're reproducing.
01:56So that's very encouraging to see.
01:58And yeah, I mean, wildlife is starting to show up in places that they just weren't after
02:04the fires.
02:05And we're also getting other information about, say, for instance, a root rot pathogen that
02:11kills off native vegetation and can be transmitted by people's shoes or in car tires.
02:17And so people are taking samples of their boots, dirty boots, submitting it to us.
02:23We do some sequencing in the lab and we can map the spread and distribution of this pathogen,
02:28which likes to sort of invade into areas that have been burnt in particular.
02:32So where does the project go from here?
02:34So the project was funded by the Commonwealth Inspiring Science program.
02:42And that funding has come to an end.
02:43But now with our wonderful partners, so particularly Sea Link travel group, as well as other project
02:50partners, we are looking for a way to just go from establishment of this project to long
02:55term maintenance, because we think it adds something of real value to the island.
03:01Tourism is a major component of the economy of Kangaroo Island.
03:04And I think that people in today's day and age are increasingly concerned and desperate
03:11about the state of nature.
03:12They want to be a part of the solution, but they don't necessarily know how to contribute.
03:16And so citizen science generally is a fantastic way to make a meaningful contribution.
03:22And even in your leisure time, you can relax and have a good time, but also do something
03:29that feels authentic and meaningful.
03:30And what does it mean for the project and for you personally to win a Eureka Prize?
03:36It's a real encouragement to us to, first of all, be in a room with people who are committed
03:45to knowledge, evidence and to the public good for helping people in the planet.
03:52And to be amongst peers like that, having recognition, it is a real encouragement because it is hard work.
03:59And also, you know, you feel sort of almost bad for people who didn't win on the night
04:07because you think, well, they're doing equally as good work and they really are.
04:11We were runners up last, well, we were finalists last year, winners this year.
04:15And so it gives a great deal of motivation to continue with the work that we're doing.
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