A mission to attract a threatened native butterfly back to Logan seems to be working.
Wildlife Queensland has been asking the local community to “adopt your vine and mine”, a program asking people to grow the threatened species’host vine.
The Richmond Birdwing butterfly is nearing extinction.
The council has jumped on board the program, planting vines in public bushland.
Some of the funding for the program came from a council environmental grant program, and the council’s environment chair Jon Raven said the butterfly plan was a great example of innovative thinking.
Wildlife Queensland project officer Hannah Thomas said funding was crucial to the success of their project.
“The EnviroGrants funding gave us certainty that we would be able to deliver the project successfully and secure all the necessary equipment to ensure the vines had the best chance of survival at Cornubia Forest Park,” Ms Thomas said.
“Once these vines have grown, they will provide sufficient biomass for Richmond Birdwing caterpillars to feed, grow and pupate into a butterfly, allowing natural establishment and the re-colonisation of the Richmond Birdwing butterfly.
“With continued effort to plant and maintain vines in the City of Logan, we can eventually aim to have a sustainable population of this threatened species here.”
EnviroGrants are again up for grabs, offering up to $10,000 to recipients, with a range of grants available:
• Environmental partnerships and capacity building
• On-ground ecosystem restoration
• Environmental surveys and research
• Environmental education
• Individual wildlife carer support
The 2023 round will prioritise projects that address the environmental focus areas of waterways, threatened species and education.
Schools and educators, business operators, environmental groups, youth groups, researchers, wildlife carers and local landholders are all invited to apply.
Applications close March 15.
