ARDC runs programs and forms partnerships that ensure Australian researchers are internationally competitive through having access to high-quality data assets, platforms, infrastructure, policies, people and training to transform our lives. The ARDC is enabled by the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

And now they are partnering with us to support our community tree planting projects. Last year, we planted 218 trees in the Daintree Rainforest, QLD on their behalf, and another 45 trees at Axe Creek, VIC. This year we planted 30 trees in the Mallee District, VIC.

2024

Digital Research Skills Summit (Melbourne) | 30 trees

Our annual Digital Research Skills Summit for 2024 has presented us with another opportunity to ‘grow together’, as we helped plant 30 native trees in the Mallee District of Western Victoria.

The ARDC is honoured to support Fifteen Trees in our aligned pursuit to create an aspirational legacy, benefiting many for generations to come.

Adeline Wong | Skills Development Lead | ARDC

The 2024 ARDC Digital Research Skills Summit brought together communities of researchers, users, and trainers of digital infrastructure to collaborate and share their experiences.

As the research landscape undergoes rapid digital transformation, upskilling researchers for digital research becomes an imperative for achieving cutting-edge discoveries. The Summit enabled digital research communities to explore challenges and successes in the digital research infrastructure workforce, and to develop pathways to address skills gaps to enable effective research.

The trees were planted in the Mallee district of northwest Victoria at Raakajlim, A Mallee Conservation Sanctuary (490 ha) adjoining Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. The property is under management of Fiona and Phil Murdoch. This couple are preserving an important ecological area for numerous desert mammals, reptiles, birds and insects such as the Arid Bronze Azure butterfly. They are also designing and building water points and soaks as drought refuges for wildlife.

Short video from the planting site.

The Slender Cypress Pine is a key food plant for the Pink Cockatoo. This beautiful bird was listed as endangered under the federal EPBC Act in March 2023. The decline of Pink Cockatoos is closely linked to the decline of native Pine in Victoria. As well as being a food plant, Cockatoos nest in hollows of Pine trees that are at least 100 years old. This revegetation project is investing in the future for this bird.

We are passionate about the environment and our vision is to restore a functioning, semi-arid landscape. A diverse habitat and sanctuary for threatened plants and animals. Thank you everyone for your support. We are so very grateful.

Fiona Murdoch | Manager | Raakajlim

2023

Member Subscribers | 158 trees

To encourage members to update their preferences for the ARDC’s monthly e-news, the organisation offered the planting of 1 tree for every 10 subscribers that updated their preferences. The initiative not only got over 1,500 subscribers to update their preferences, but it also supported our tree planting projects in the Daintree Rainforest, QLD with another 158 trees.

Sydney Conferences  | 60 trees

Earlier this year in Sydney, ARDC ran 2 conferences; a Computational Summer School and a Digital Research Skills Summit. To thank their speakers and presenters, ARDC had 60 native trees planted in the Daintree Rainforest, QLD. In lieu of presenting their speakers and workshop instructors with the traditional bottle of wine or scarf, ARDC have chosen to mark the occasions by planting trees on their behalf. These gifts of trees serve as a sign of their commitment to supporting environmental and climate science.

The idea actually came from Linux Conference Australia, and I thought this was genius. Solving a logistical problem (speaker gifts) by contributing to a solution for our climate crisis.

Liz Stokes| Senior Data Specialist | ARDC.

The Summer School was a friendly introduction to key features and tools of the HASS Research Data Commons and Indigenous Research Capability projects, while the Skills Summit brought the Australian trainer community together to address the scale, impact and sustainability of research workforce development. By welcoming newcomers in the data and software skills space and helping the community of trainers grow, these exchanges of skills among learning communities support future generations of Australian researchers.

Two hundred and eighteen trees (218)  were planted by Daintree Life,  a small conservation group situated up in the Daintree Forest of far north Queensland. This organisation have been planting trees in the Daintree since 2018. They firmly believe in restoring and expanding natural habitat for wildlife. Founders, Connie and Mike Pinson, work closely with Queensland Parks and Wildlife, removing noxious grasses and weeds in the National Park to restore food resources and ecological function. Funding from ARDC has enabled them to continue with their revegetation work.

Another 45 trees were planted at Axe Creek on Dja Dja Wurrung land, known as djandak. The site has a Trust for Nature covenant on it to preserve it in perpetuity. The Campaspe River runs through the site.

A sunny spring morning. Perfect for tree planting.

Due to long-term grazing, the understory had been destroyed with very little native grass, native shrubs or flowers remaining. The beautiful big old eucalypts were intact though. Close to the river they are the iconic River Red Gums and higher up away from the river it is mainly Grey Box, many of which are large and very old with numerous hollows. Three of these trees are registered scar trees.

The project, in simple terms, has been to remove the sheep, progressively eradicate the weeds and introduced grasses and plant indigenous grasses, shrubs and trees in their place. Kangaroo grass, wallaby grass, wattle varieties, Austral indigo, various native daisies, hop bush, hakea and weeping she-oaks are some of the species that have been planted at this site.

A variety of plant species is vital to a healthy ecosystem.

The property is blessed with a wide range of wildlife, such as;  kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas, platypus, possums, a wonderful array of birds and reptiles. Some of the more interesting examples are the Tawney Frogmouth, Powerful owl, Azure Kingfisher, Spotted Pardalote, Tree Creeper and Robin Redbreast.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful assistance we have received. It is gratefully accepted.

Bill & Jo Morrissey | Members | Axe Creek Landcare

Thank you to the team at ARDC for enabling the planting of these 60 native trees in Central Victoria, the home of the River Red Gums and the iconic Tawny Frogmouth.

If you would like to know more about sponsoring community tree planting projects and how we can assist you in running a sustainable conference, please contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer: Colleen Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start the company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.