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In southeast Queensland, the metropolis of Greater Brisbane unfolds between forested mountains and the mangrove-fringed shores of Moreton Bay.
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As farms and industries, roads and suburbs spread out from the first European settlements on the Brisbane River, some areas of bush remained in their natural state - reminders of the mosaic of landscapes that have supported Australia's earliest inhabitants for millennia.
Some of these forests, parks, reserves and wetlands located in a patchy swathe of green about 15 kilometres north of the Brisbane CBD, now form the basis of the Mountains To Mangroves Corridor.
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This bushland corridor links us to our cultural heritage and connects us to our wild neighbours. The green spaces offer us refreshing venues for walks and picnics, bicycle rides, bird-watching and frog-spotting while reminding us that over time, people have camped and hunted here, grown bananas, cured hams, carved violins, shopped, studied and travelled by foot, horseback, tram, car and gas-powered bus.
As we protect and extend communities of native plants along the Corridor, populations of native birds, mammals, frogs, reptiles, fish and millions of species of tiny, fascinating invertebrates can move about to feed, breed and grow.
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The Mountains To Mangroves Corridor is a sustaining heritage and a living gift to protect and celebrate.
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| A brief history |  |
The idea of the Mountains to Mangroves Corridor began with a group of local residents looking at ways to protect the Raven Street Bushland Reserve, located halfway between the mountains and the mangroves, from becoming an isolated forest remnant. They quickly realised much of the reserve's value lay in its connections with other historical sites and bushland areas, especially the core wildlife habitats of the d'Aguilar Range (bordering Brisbane Forest Park) and Moreton Bay (bordering Boondall Wetlands). Linked together, they could form - a wildlife corridor.
As manager of the Raven Street Reserve's Downfall Creek Bushland Centre, Peter Armstrong became a driving force in expanding the corridor idea. In early 1995 a Mountains to Mangroves Committee was formed comprising representatives of government, educational and community groups along the corridor. The Committee identified a thirty-two kilometre section of urban bushland links and began developing strategies to raise the profile of this threatened corridor.
The Foundation Mountains to Mangroves groups include:
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 | Boondall Wetlands Management Committee. | |
Brisbane City Council | |
Brisbane Forest Park | |
Brisbane Frog Society (Chermside Branch) | |
Bunyaville Environmental Education Centre | |
Downfall Creek Bushland Centre | |
Koobara ATSI Family Resource Centre | |
Neighbours of Huxtable Park Association | |
Nudgee Beach Environmental Education Centre | |
Pine Rivers Shire Council | |
Wildlife Preservation Society of QLD - North West Brisbane Branch |
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| The role of the arts | |
Since 1998 the arts have played a significant role in broadening the understanding of and participation in the Mountains to Mangroves corridor. Artists and environmentalists have forged a close alliance in their quest for an ecologically sustainable future.
Artists have brought a creative vision to the corridor and have succeeded in bringing fresh perspectives to the project. As a result the corridor has embraced its social and cultural history alongside its environmental values.
Key arts partnerships have been forged with the Queensland Biennial Festival of Music and the Qld Artworkers Alliance allowing for the development of ambitious projects. These have involved large numbers of community members in high quality and challenging music, performing and visual arts projects.
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Writers, musicians, composers, web designers, visual artists, dancers and performing artists have become involved in exploring the layers of meaning present within the corridor.
Among the many environment and arts projects which are part of the ongoing life of the corridor, the biennial Mountains to Mangroves Festival is an opportunity to celebrate on a large scale the successes and hard work of the preceding two years, and the resourceful and creative community of the region.
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| Strategic plan | |
The Mountains to Mangroves Corridor Strategic Plan was prepared by Mary Maher and Associates.
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| What you can do | |
The M2M committee is looking for local people to help achieve its vision to grow a sustainable wildlife corridor for the community of north Brisbane. Please contact us if you would like to be a:
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| FRIEND - be kept informed of corridor activities and find out what you can do at home. | |
VOLUNTEER - contribute your time and skills to help implement corridor projects. | |
ADVOCATE - actively promote corridor values in your business or community. | |
PARTNER - contribute resources or provide networks to support corridor initiatives. |
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| Role of the Arts | |
Performance projects associated with the Mountains to Mangroves corridor have been undertaken in local schools and through the Corridor's Environmental Education Centres. Bunyaville EEC, Nudgee Beach EEC and Downfall Creek Bushland Centre have each produced or been instrumental in initiating projects.
Bunyaville EEC and Downfall Creek BushlandCentre have produced a number of interactive performance and puppetry based projects over a number of years. These have mostly targetted younger school audiences. Nudgee Beach EEC has hosted performances by Kite Theatre Education Queensland, and have engaged artists to offer activity based workshops to school groups.
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| Artists in Schools | |
Securing a sustainable future for our environment is an ongoing and long term process. The Mountains to Mangroves project acknowledges the importance of engaging young people in this process and has undertaken a large number of residencies in local schools, primary and secondary since 1995.
These have attempted to mix creative process with core information to engage schools in research and interpretative activities.
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The projects have ranged from collecting scientific information and assisting in the design of a prototype web site; developing a series of performances based on a broad ecological theme (Craigslea Artist in Residence project); detailed observation of local bird and insect life to produce an installation representing the diversity of fauna along the corridor (Special Places); participation in the creation of new music works inspired by the birdcalls and the history of the corridor; participating in the exploration of the significance of their local creek in partnership with visual artists and environmentalists; hands on environment activities introducing young people to the concept of custodianship (Adopt A Creek).
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