The Northern Plains CMN
The Northern Plains Conservation Management Network (NPCMN) was established in 2005 with the aim to bring together all those involved with and interested in the management and conservation of grasslands and grassy woodlands in the north central area.
The target area for the NPCMN encompasses the Patho Plains (Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill, Echuca and Gunbower) and the Avoca Plains (Quambatook, Bael Bael and Mystic Park). These boundaries are flexible and can be adjusted to include additional areas if required.
The NPCMN has evolved into a forum where land managers (public and private), researchers (eg. PhD students), local government (including Shire of Campaspe, Shire of Loddon, Shire of Gannawarra), and Natural Resource Management (NRM) agencies (including Department of Sustainability & Environment, Department of Primary Industries, Parks Victoria, Trust for Nature, North Central Catchment Management Authority) come together to discuss biodiversity topics and share stories about the management of these depleted ecosystems. Guest speakers often feature at quarterly meetings and a newsletter – Plains Talk – is also circulated quarterly.
Broad aims of the CMN
- Coordinate and prioritise resourcing for the management of important patches of remnant vegetation for biodiversity conservation in severely depleted Grassy ecosystems
- Focus attention and hence funding and works on the importance of remnant vegetation, and especially the most significant remnants, for biodiversity conservation
- Seek broad community involvement and support
- With biodiversity conservation as an aim, improve communication between, and the knowledge base of local land managers
- Identify new sites to add to network and enhance their management for biodiversity conservation
The Northern Plains CMN area
