Wimmera Biodiversity Seminar 2018 - Your Utopia is....

The 21st annual Wimmera Biodiversity Seminar will be held in Nhill on Thursday, 6th September at the Nhill Memorial Community Centre during the day. The evening session, including dinner, will be held at the Little Desert Nature Lodge.

This year's theme poses a question for us all - what is your Utopia , when it comes to biodiversity? We live in a country that has been dramatically altered by European settlement over the last 230 years. The Wimmera is not as it was before settlers came to the region and changed it forever when they brought European farming practices.

In recent years, however, we have seen a marked change in the community attitude to the environment. Appreciation for the role that biodiversity plays in maintaining our environment has been recognised. Indeed, one of the first great environmental battles occurred in this region, culminating in the establishment of the Little Desert National Park in 1968. Libby Robin, who wrote the book, 'Defending the Little Desert' is a key note speaker this year.

Other speakers and activities include:

Peter Monkhorst – Arthur Rylah Institute

Ben Holmes – Rewilding Australia

Victorian Environmental Fishing Map

Liz Reid, Vertebrate Palaeontologist

Craig Whiteford – Zoos Victoria

Tour to Kiata Flora and Fauna Reserve

Karen Dancers and speaker

We also want you to tell us what your idea of Utopia is – so come prepared for another amazing Wimmera Biodiversity Seminar