South Australia's Major Biodiversity Advocate!

The Nature Conservation Society of South Australia is a voluntary body with members drawn from all parts of the State and all walks of life. The Society's primary objective is to foster the conservation of the State's wildlife and natural habitats. Our activities include: 

• protecting and managing habitats, particularly native vegetation
• researching threatened species and habitats
• working to ensure adequate park dedication, management and legislation
• educating the community and all tiers of government
• co-operating with other conservation groups and land managers

The Society has taken action on many varied environmental issues since its formation in 1963. A major concern during the Society's early years was the need for South Australia to have an extensive parks system to ensure that the State's many plants and animals are conserved in their natural environment. The Society has sought the addition of new reserves and opposed the resumption of existing reserves when necessary. It has been Society policy to put its case objectively, based on the facts available.

In many cases it has been necessary to carry out field studies in the areas in question, and since 1966 in most years there has been a major biological survey carried out by members and other volunteers. The Society also seeks grant funding to contract out research related to environmental management and education. Studies done by or on behalf of the Society are published as reports and made available to the public through sale and distribution to libraries and government institutions.

Over the last decade the Society has played a strong role in the formation and development of the Native Vegetation Management Act. It is now obvious that conservation reserves alone will not ensure the survival of all of the State's plants and animals, and that as much native habitat as remains is needed to conserve the biological diversity of South Australia.

The Society is also active in public education through activities such as Sunday Walks with Nature program, general meetings and its journal Xanthopus.

An elected Committee handles the Society's affairs. However it is not necessary to be a Committee member to play an active role on behalf of the Society in pursuing particular issues or topics of research.

The Society has an office at 260 Franklin Street, Adelaide. The Society is financed by subscriptions, sales of its publications, private donations and State and Federal Government grants. This enables it to employ an Administrator and a Scientific Officer, though much of the work is voluntary. Donations are always welcome and fully tax deductible.