We protect what we love

FRIDAY . 20 . 05. 22 .

Good morning wonderful humans of For Wild Places.

We've got a long-ish newsletter for you today, so I'll keep this intro short and sweet. We cover four things in this newsletter, so you can scroll to your favourite sub-heading or read them all in order (the choice is yours). We're introducing you to the "Threatened Australians" web-based app that spotlights threatened species in your electorate; we link you with some key last minute resources for tomorrow's election day; and I recap week 1 of "30 weeks to 100 miles", and show you where you can learn more about fungi.

Happy reading folks.

THREATENED AUSTRALIANS

An interactive web-based app that spotlights threatened species in your electorate

The Threatened Australian's webpage - developed by PhD candidate Gareth Kindler, in collaboration with University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology researchers.

The Threatened Australia web-based app allows users to find threatened species in any electorate. Once a postcode is entered, users can scroll through al list of threatened species in their area. The app then presents users with a "How to Help" banner, providing a variety of tools to take action, such as contacting their Federal Member, sharing findings to social media to raise awareness or connecting with NGOs that are working to save these species.

The numbat has disappeared across much of the continent in the last two hundred years. Now over 80% of its range now occurs in the electorate of O'Connor (WA). The MP for O’Connor is Mr Rick Wilson. Credit: Patrick Webster.

This app is a great example of how everyday people can be educated on important scientific findings, and feel empowered/inspired to do something about it. It also has the potential to highlight, to those in power, the importance of conserving these species through immediate protection.

You can access Threatened Australian's via threatened.org.au. Huge kudos goes to Gareth for creating this app - we had the pleasure of meeting Gareth and his family at Pilliga Ultra. It's so awesome to see the incredible work the FWP community are doing to protect wild places in their personal and professional lives. GO GARETH!

ELECTION DAY

Linking you with some key last minute resources

Tomorrow, millions of Australian’s will be heading to the polls to have their say in who governs this country. We believe this election is a critical juncture for our country and our wild places - we must act now if we want to preserve and protect the precious and irreplaceable wild oceans, mountains, rivers and forests of Australia.

If you’re still undecided, or know someone that might be, here are a few excellent resources that encourage you to vote for our climate, environment and our future.

Bob Brown Foundation ‘Vote Environment Rally’ took place on Tuesday, with speakers from all across Australia that are fighting to protect our oceans, forests and native flora and fauna. You can watch the 50 minute session here and hear from environmental campaigners such as Bob Brown, Belinda Baggs, Jenny Weber and Terry Hughes.

If you’re voting on climate this election, here are some great resources to compare where the candidates in your electorate stand on climate policy.

Project Planet - Vote 1 Climate tool

This Vote 1 Climate online tool will allow you to compare policy for your candidates, and fill out your Lower House and Senate ballot papers in advance, so you will be ready to vote climate at the ballot box.

Vote Climate One

This Vote Climate One online tool uses a simple traffic light system to compare policies for both candidates and parties. Thier senate guides are really easy to follow, and are available for every state.

Still confused?

The Guardian Australia have a great range of resources to debunk the spin and scare campaigns, and make sure you go to the ballot box fully prepared.

Check out this Voting 101 playlist on YouTube if you, or someone in your life, needs a bit of a democracy refresher.

🌱 🌱 🌱

30 WEEKS TO 100 MILES: WEEK 1

Celebrating Mycology May in the Central Tablelands

A stunning sunrise taking place behind me. I'd just made it to the top of a long 10% incline hill in Lapstone (land of the Dharug and Gundungurra peoples), just 5 minutes into the ride. Internal dialogue: "3km down, how am I going to make 197kms more?"

Week 1 of 30 is done and dusted and, if you missed the social media stories, I visited Lithgow (Wiradjuri nation) on two wheels. Yep, my friend James and I trained it from Central to Emu Plains, cycled over the Blue Mountains (land of the Dharug peoples) to Lithgow, trained it from Lithgow to Mount Victoria (the road back was too unsafe, so cut the ride 20kms short), and cycled from Mount Victoria to Emu Plains via Hawkesbury Heights. A whooping 182kms (with 2,500m climb). James' PSA, and quote of the day: "never make friends with an ultra runner. They make you do stupid s**t" - said as we were battling headwinds and rain en route to Katoomba.

It was Mycology May in the Central Tablelands. Mycology is the study of fungi, so we celebrated everything fungi, and now we're linking you to some cool resources to learn more about these incredible organisms.

Source: Watershed Landcare.

If you're curious about the relationship between cheese and mould (and you happen to be in Orange tomorrow) then you may want to book your seat at Philip Shaw Wines to learn how fungi, mould and yeast work together to create wonderful flavours.

You can also join a free fungi survey (where you're part of a team that counts the number of fungi in a given area), taking place in a number of locations around the central tablelands. Here, you'll explore the extraordinary world of fungi, and learn more about their function in the landscape. You can check out locations and book your tickets here.

Ever wanted to know what it feels like when you eat a deadly mushroom? Well now you can. Outside Podcast has produced a fascinating story that puts the listener in a survival scenario - you decide to forage 'common meadow mushrooms' but accidentally (or foolishly didn't check) foraged amanita phalloides aka the death cap mushroom. The death cap originated in Europe and has been introduced to Australia. Whilst the fungi originally had a symbiotic relationship with the Oak Tree (and still do in Europe), they have evolved to grow with other trees around the world. The podcast dives into the impact that amatoxins (a deadly natural poison) have on the body, and will blow your mind.

Tune in to social media stories again this weekend (most likely Sunday) for week 2 of my 30 weeks to 100 miles training. I'll likely keep things more local and I'll be back to running - either a loop in Manly or Malabar Headland National Park.

🍄 🍄 🍄

That's it from us this week. Take care this weekend - we know the anxiety of the election outcome has been building, and depending on the outcome, there may be many people out there feeling frustrated, anxious and depleted. Be there for your mates, win, lose or draw, and know that we will keep fighting regardless of the outcome. Take some time to get outside, find inner peace on the trails and we'll catch you next week.

And, as always, thank you for taking the time to support wild places!

Elanor & the For Wild Places team.

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We acknowledge the the First Nations people who have been custodians of land, waters and culture for tens of thousands of years. We pay respects to First Nations Elders past, present and emerging.

This email was compiled on Gadigal lands of the Eora nation. To these people, we pay our respects.

Always was, always will be.