The past 12 months have seen a considerable change to how we manage our seven nature reserves that comprise a growing diversity of ecosystems across the landscape and are home to many threatened species needing our help. We are excited to share our new management approach and introduce those involved officially.
A key area identified as part of our recent Refocusing Conservation review was the management of our nature reserves. Five of our nature reserves have always been managed by staff, with the two larger and more remote reserves—Witchelina and Hiltaba—managed by a rotation of volunteers.
Above: Hiltaba Homestead
While the Rotational Managers have contributed significantly to conservation and nature-based tourism efforts on our reserves, the Board determined that a consistent approach to reserve management across all reserves was required to ensure the implementation of integrated management, monitoring and reporting frameworks appropriate for the organisation to continue to grow its biodiversity impact across South Australia and beyond. In addition to this the overarching objective, experienced and qualified conservation land management professionals at Witchelina and Hiltaba will provide the on-ground structure and support for volunteer engagement, the implementation of appropriate Work Health and Safety Management Systems and other critically related policies and procedures for all team members.
During this period, we collaborated with the rotational management team, hosting several discussions to work through the new approach and transition phase. With their immense experience and commitment to Nature Foundation's values and mission, this group were also the first invited to join our new Volunteer program.
As a result, we now have permanent on-site Conservation Land Managers appointed to manage Witchelina and Hiltaba. This offers a consistent approach to reserve management, with all reserves now managed by staff.
The Conservation Land Managers will be supported by volunteers to deliver the organisation's management plans, conservation and nature-based tourism activities. A system has been established to ensure suitable combinations of staff and volunteers are rostered in advance to provide appropriate support for reserve work programs. The system will enhance personnel presence on the nature reserves and align volunteer skills and interests to scheduled work activities.
Introducing our new Conservation Land Managers
Our Conservation Land Management team is comprised of husband and wife Shane and Samantha Doudle, based at Hiltaba Nature Reserve, and Sam Hughes at Witchelina Nature Reserve.
As Senior Conservation Land Manager, Samantha Doudle oversees management and operations across Hiltaba and Witchelina Nature Reserves. With a Bachelor of Applied Science (Natural Resources) with Honours (Plants), she combines considerable knowledge with practical experience acquired through PIRSA, SARDI and Indigenous Desert Alliance roles. Samantha uses good science to inform practical and effective conservation land management.
Outside of work, Samantha enjoys camping and exploring, learning about history, and spending time with her family.
Shane Doudle makes up the other half of the team who live on and manage Hiltaba Nature Reserve. He has many practical skills and hands-on experience from across our vast country, including Boiler Maker, Environment & Rehabilitation Technician and Indigenous Ranger Coordinator. Shane enjoys living and working in the Gawler Ranges, and in addition to camping, exploring, history and family, he also enjoys constructing "things".
Sam Hughes is a Kamilaroi Man from New South Wales. He has travelled, lived and worked across remote regions of Australia in various capacities, from young tour guide to qualified Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Technician to Indigenous Ranger Coordinator. The broad range of skills and experience Sam has gained over the years makes him ideally suited to Conservation Land Manager on our 4,210km2 Witchelina Nature Reserve.
Sam enjoys being out bush and has extensive experience travelling through Australia’s remote deserts.
Sam has been at Witchelina since July, and Samantha and Shane have been at Hiltaba since September. During this time, they have:
- Commenced developing a coordinated management plan between Conservation Land Managers, the Science and Knowledge team, and the Volunteer Visitor and Engagement team, managing work programs, monitoring budget expenditure, and coordinating volunteer involvement for key activities across all nature reserves in 2024.
- Completed a review of all reserve-based data collection and mapping capacity and implemented software to allow Conservation Land Managers to record real-time data whenever they are working on the reserve. This information will be developed into an adaptive management system that can monitor the impact of work programs, complete project reporting, and underpin program assurance and improvement processes.
- Undertaken weed surveys and audits of existing weed databases at Witchelina and Hiltaba. Several new incursion sites were added, and the Conservation Land Managers are currently developing a control program based on distribution and potential for weed spray.
Volunteer program and support
Our new Volunteer program (based on the national standards for the engagement and management of volunteers provided by Volunteering Australia) will provide appropriate support across all nature reserves and the office as required, matching skills and interests with opportunities to expand impact and ensure suitable engagement.
The volunteer program offers four areas of volunteering involvement that are connected to our strategic plan and help us achieve our goals:
- Conservation volunteers
- Tourism volunteers
- Infrastructure volunteers, and
- Project volunteers
Tourism Volunteers will be the initial point of contact on nature reserves for tourists, hosting and supporting tourists and potential philanthropists during their stay. Conservation Land Managers will also be on-site to assist as required.
Maintaining reserve infrastructure is a significant undertaking, and establishing Infrastructure Volunteers will increase the Foundation's capacity to complete this vital work across all reserves. The Infrastructure Volunteer roles align with the reserve maintenance requirements. Additionally, Infrastructure Volunteers will participate in annual infrastructure planning meetings to identify future infrastructure restoration priorities.
The new Nature Foundation volunteer model was developed to build upon the contribution of the former Rotational Manager model and office-based volunteers to expand volunteer impact and better align that impact to Nature Foundation's strategic priorities. As the Nature Foundation volunteer program grows, associated goodwill will inevitably flow from an expanded and engaged volunteer network. We have had a relatively small group of dedicated volunteers and will be actively seeking for this to grow and provide support across all seven nature reserves.
This is a tremendously positive step in the evolution of the organisation that will ensure the ongoing conservation impact and tourism engagement at Witchelina and Hiltaba. We thank everyone who has supported Nature Foundation in any way, as it has all contributed to this secure and exciting place we are in
Learn more about our Nature Reserves.
Meet the team.
Learn about and register your interest as a volunteer.
Photo above: Nature Foundation volunteers at a fencing working bee at Watchalunga Nature Reserve, October 2023.