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Topic Your role
Question What is your main interest and expertise within grassland ecosystems?
Expert Fiona Smith
Fiona Smith is an environmental planner in the Environment and Heritage Division of Parks Victoria. Fiona is currently working on planning for the establishment of the Western Grassland Reserves, a new grassland park which will connect the You Yangs area to the Werribee River across the Volcanic Plains west of Melbourne.
My main interest is threatened species within the grasslands. Fauna species such as the Striped Legless Lizard, Golden Sun Moth and Eastern Barred Bandicoot and flora species such as the Sunshine Diuris orchid and Spiny Rice-flower are all critically endangered species protected by Commonwealth and State legislation. These species have Recovery Teams (which are groups of experts) established to assist with their conservation and recovery, and often involve breeding or propagating animals or plants, releasing them into protected areas then monitoring the sites to see how they are going....
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