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The JARR project is located in South-eastern Victoria, near Yarram.

Landscape-scale change for the Jack and Albert Rivers' catchment area came from an idea raised by the Yarram Yarram Landcare Network (YYLN) with the Norman Wettenhall Foundation (NWF) in 2006.  Our catchment was of particular significance as it ran down to and had direct impact on certain parts of the RAMSAR protected Nooramunga and Corner Inlets. Seagrass health was of major concern at that point in time as were the unique wetlands, which saw thousands of migratory birds visiting on an annual basis.

Before long a grant was given by the NWF to assist in paying someone to develop a project.

The Jack and Albert Rivers' Restoration (JARR) project was born.

The original Project partnership committee consisted of representatives of the following groups, each committing to projects within the JARR Project area:

YYLN; Madalya (no longer active), Albert River, Binginwarri and Wonyip Landcare Groups; West Gipplsand Catchment Management Authority; Waterwatch and Greening Australia.

By 2010 the first major breakthrough was made with the production of a Biodiversity Blueprint , which provides a map of the JARR area showing:

• the total area being considered;
• what has happened in the catchment with regard to environmental improvement;
• where our most important remaining areas of native vegetation are located;
• a visual description of where Landholders wanted their onground works placed into the future; and
• the starting point for building a blueprint for future landscape level change in the catchment.

By 2012 we had our second major breakthrough - a Communities for Nature Grant of $600,000 to:

• protect and/or enhance and/or connect over 80ha of remnant vegetation on private property in the JARR area;

• suppress approximately 400ha of Blackberry in the JARR area;
• provide support to the JARR Project Committee and engage at least two new partners in the JARR project;
• engage approximately 40 landholders to undertake on-ground works in the JARR area, including the establishment of Landholder Management Agreements with each landholder;
• engage and/or educate approximately 100 landholders in the JARR Project including identifying and mapping landholder priority projects from the Jack River area on the JARR Biodiversity Blueprint; and
• deliver eight educational field days/workshops throughout the JARR area and project promotion through the YYLN Newsletter and website.

At the launching of this website in September 2014 we find ourselves:

• beginning year three of our four year Communities for Nature commitments;
• having attracted a total of $1.9m of funding for the many projects undertaken between February 2008 and February 2014;
• having expanded our JARR partnership committee to include: Coastcare; Yarram Urban Landcare Group; Hedley Range Services; Wellington Shire Council; and Yarram Secondary College.

Total investment from the Norman Wettenhall Foundation into the JARR project for capacity, community education and research has been $130,000. Without their continued support the project would have never achieved anywhere near the outcomes that it has.

JARR Partners

Albert River Landcare
Binginwarri Landcare
Wonyip Landcare
Yarram Urban Landcare
Yarram Secondary College
Waterwatch
Trust for Nature
Greening Australia