Welcome to the first edition of Nature Matters for 2025. We are excited to share our latest updates and achievements with you.

As you will read in this issue, we had a busy end to the year, with surveys and monitoring occurring across the reserves. We have started 2025 with a bang, marked by the premiere of the impactful Kids on Country documentary. We are thrilled to announce that this stunning film has been acquired by NITV!

A key component of our conservation work is managing threatening processes. While people often consider the threats of invasive species, when we are working to restore the balance of an ecosystem, we are sometimes managing the threats of overabundant native species.

This is the case at Watchalunga Nature Reserve, located in South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, where managing Phragmites australis (Common Reed) is an important aspect of our conservation management plan.

Nature Foundation was recently awarded a grant by Wettenhall Environmental Trust for a project to be carried out at Witchelina Nature Reserve investigating heatwave refugia for native birds.

Many bird species suffer tremendously during mega-heatwaves in the arid zone. Such heatwaves are predicted to become much more severe in future, increasing in intensity and frequency due to climate change. During such events, birds will aim to find somewhere to shelter with shade and preferably water.

The 2025 Nature Foundation research grants round is now open and applications are sought from early career nature scientists for the Mike Bull Award.

This award supports the emerging career of a nature scientist. Applications are encouraged from across Australia (or more broadly) where the recipient’s research focus benefits nature science in Australia. Only Australian research institutions are eligible as hosting organisations.

Our 2025 research grants round has recently opened, and we invite applications from students undertaking research in the environmental and nature science fields.

Applications close Sunday 6 April 2025, and successful recipients will be advised by June 2025.