A PHOTOGRAPHY competition is calling on residents to submit their best shots of the local Box-Gum woodland in a bid to preserve the endangered habitat.
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Tamworth Regional Landcare Association (TRLA) has launched its first photography competition that aims to raise awareness of the significance of the native Box-Gum woodlands, as well as the flora and fauna that exists within it.
Local Landcare co-ordinator Penne Fraser encouraged locals to get behind the competition to learn more about the unique habitat.
“We hope that by holding this competition, people will take some time out to explore our natural environment,” she said.
“To gain a new perspective, to capture and share the beauty of our the woodlands.”
Several photographers converged on Moore Creek Caves Reserve last Saturday to access the local Box-Gum habitat on the hunt for the perfect picture.
Box-Gum woodland once covered roughly a third of eastern Australia, from central Queensland all the way down to Victoria, but data suggests less than five per cent remains.
It provides habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna such as Koala, Squirrel Glider, Barking Owl, Superb and Swift Parrots and the Regent Honeyeater.
Box-Gum Woodland is an open grassy woodland characterised by the presence or prior occurrence of White Box, Yellow Box or Blakely's Red Gum.
It has a ground layer of native tussock grasses and herbs, and a sparse, scattered shrub layer.
The photography competition forms part of a six-year project to improve the endangered habitat, with a focus on education, preservation and rehabilitation.
The competition is open to all across five categories, including people (in Box-Gum woodland), flora and fauna, botanical (found in Moore Creek Cave Reserve), creative and landscape.
Finalists will be shortlisted for exhibition in 2017, with the winner pocketing $1000, thanks to the Office of Environment and Heritage.
The competition is open until January 31.
For more information about the competition, visit www.trla.org.au/boxgumphotocomp.