Friends of Grasslands
Lawson Grasslands Update
Following Defence Housing Australia’s renewed housing estate proposal at Lawson north, in late 2021 the Conservation Council, FOG and Ginninderra Catchment Group released a briefing paper and made a submission urging DHA to withdraw the proposal. Helen Oakey (Executive Director, ConCouncil) and Professor Jamie Pittock (President, FOG) were both interviewed on ABC radio to explain the ecological values of Lawson north and to question why DHA needs such a large estate when it only proposes to house 150 defence families at Lawson.
While the new proposal reduces the footprint and number of houses (from 570 to 416 dwellings), the area of natural temperate grasslands (and habitat for threatened grassland species) to go, remains unchanged. The development breaks the connectivity between the western and eastern edges of the grasslands, and creates an extensive and unacceptable border that impacts on the remainder of the grasslands (also see June 2020 proposal).
In September 2022 FoG made a submission under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
You can support the ConCouncil of the ACT's campaign to reserve Lawson grassland.
Donations
Thinking of making a tax deductible donation to Friends of Grasslands? Read why you should!
Grasslands and grassy woodlands were the most extensive vegetation community in Australia two hundred years ago. Today, some grassland communities in south-eastern Australia are more threatened than Australian rainforests. How can that be?
Friends of Grasslands ('FoG' for short) is a community group dedicated to conservation of natural temperate grassy ecosystems in south-eastern Australia. FoG advocates, educates and advises on matters to do with the conservation of grassy ecosystems, and carries out surveys and other on-ground work. FoG is based in Canberra and its members include professional scientists, landowners, land managers and interested members of the public.
Activities and Events
FoG members help to conserve grasslands through hands-on projects, working parties, a newsletter and education work. Current events are outlined in the FoG Calendar.
Join FoG, help grasslands and get to meet interesting and knowledgeable people. Membership is open to everyone with an interest in grasslands.
What is a grassland and why are grasslands important?
Friends of Grasslands attempts to persuade governments and landholders to protect and conserve grasslands.
Need to know more about grasslands? Get help on the science of grasslands, legal matters, grassland management and growing your own grassland.
Find out about FoG's legal structure, management, aims, objectives, principles and values.
Need to know more or have something to say? Here are our contact details.
Feedback on this website is most welcome: Contact Us with your comments and suggestions.
FoG is on Facebook too.
Make a tax deductible donation to support grassland. Friends of Grasslands makes small grants to researchers, educators and on ground projects, a highly effective way to support grassy ecosystems. To support this, you can make a tax-deductible donation to the Friends of Grasslands Public Fund by:
- Direct debit: BSB 633000, a/c 153493960 (Bendigo bank), please include your name and advise our treasurer: treasurer@fog.org.au.
- Cheque: payable to "Friends of Grasslands Public Fund", mail to Treasurer, Friends of Grasslands Inc., PO box 440, Jamison Centre, ACT 2614. Include your name and postal address.
A receipt for tax purposes will be sent to you. Thank you.