Tag: conservation

A Significant Step Forward for Lake Connewarre and the Barwon River Estuary

On By Dr. Zahidah Zeytoun MillieLeave a comment
Sketching with watercolours from my kayak beneath the mangrove canopy

Mangroves from the Water (MFTW) welcomes the announcement of expanded Ramsar protection for internationally significant wetlands, including the Lake Connewarre Complex.

This is encouraging news for the future of these interconnected wetland ecosystems and marks another positive development for a site where MFTW has advocated for conservation. Our first such campaign was at Khor Al Beidah in Umm Al Quwain, UAE, where we have advocated for the protection of its remarkable mangrove ecosystem.

Since 2019, I have been advocating for the mangroves of Lake Connewarre and its connected Barwon River Estuary through my art, environmental activities and MFTW group art exhibitions. This advocacy was also documented in my PhD research.

Earlier this year, MFTW prepared a photographic proposal, incorporating feedback from the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA), Parks Victoria and community representatives. I subsequently met with Federal MP Libby Coker and Victorian MP Alison Marchant to advocate for the protection of Lake Connewarre and the connected Barwon River Estuary, with particular attention to its mangroves.

While the announcement recognises the importance of wetlands, saltmarsh, seagrass and migratory shorebirds, mangroves have not been specifically mentioned. Mangrove habitats are part of wetland ecosystems and play an integral role in the ecological connections across the estuary. They deserve explicit recognition in long-term conservation and management.

MFTW welcomes this important progress and looks forward to clarification of how the expanded Ramsar protection will safeguard the mangroves and the wider Barwon River Estuary.

We also recognise that this achievement reflects years of dedication and advocacy by local communities, environmental groups, agency partners and MPs. We extend our congratulations and sincere thanks to everyone involved in bringing this important protection forward.

Protecting our wetlands means recognising their ecological connections, including the mangroves.

Read more:

Geelong Times – Vital Bellarine bird habitats secure approval for Ramsar listing

Australian Government – Joint media release: Ramsar wetland expansion boost for vulnerable shorebirds

Dr. Zahidah Zeytoun Millie

All images and articles on this blog are © Zahidah Zelda Zeytoun Millie except where otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Invitation to Experience ‘Mangroves from the Water’ Exhibition

On By Stephanie NevilleLeave a comment

 Invitation to Experience ‘Mangroves from the Water’ Exhibition

Discover the hidden beauty of mangroves through a 360-degree immersive film experience and art installations, part of Zahidah Zeytoun Millie’s PhD research submission. This project delves into the intersection of artistic practice and environmental advocacy.

The first part of the exhibition will be held daily at the Project Space Gallery, Deakin Waterfront Campus, from 11th to 20th September, with viewing hours from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Please refer to the poster for additional details.

The second part of the exhibition features an immersive film experience, which will be screened at the Nyaal Precinct, Waurn Ponds Deakin campus, on 19th and 20th September, with sessions from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Mangroves from the Water film was made possible with the kind support of Aubrey Comben (camera operator, editor), sound artist Hamish Dobie, and Deakin University.

To view this solo multimedia art exhibition, please visit my website: www.zahidahart.com.

Dr. Zahidah Zeytoun Millie

Mangroves from the Water Founder & Curator

Presenting at the Australian Mangroves and Saltmarshes Conference

On By Stephanie NevilleLeave a comment

Mangroves from the Water (MFTW) is the title for my presentation at the Australasian Mangroves and Saltmarshes (AMSN) Conference held at the University of Adeliade, 14 to 17 November 2023. My PhD study research at Deakin University is of the same title, Mangroves from the Water.

The 16 November presentation was successful as it was the sole speech explaining a different set of knowledge about the mangroves; from an artivist who situates philosophical and artistic embodied knowledge with the mangroves. I was able to bridge art and science in this conference. Being the sole artist in this conference encourages me to stress the importance of having more artists, writers, musicians and activists (artivists) to be involved in the annual AMSN conferences.

zahidah-zeytoun-millie-amsnconfrence_presenationDownload

Finally, I thank all the artists and communities in the Geelong region and in the United Arab Emirates for supporting MFTW. 

Faithfully,

Zahidah

MFTW to present at The Annual Australasian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network Conference

On By Stephanie NevilleLeave a comment

Mangroves from the Water (MFTW) to present

at the upcoming mangroves conference in Adelaide

We are happy to announce the art and mangroves campaign Mangroves from the Water (MFTW) is going to present at the upcoming conference in Adelaide: The Annual Australasian Mangrove and Saltmarsh Network Conference – Living Coasts, 14 to 17 November 2023.

The founder of MFTW and a PhD candidate at Deakin University, Zahidah Zeytoun Millie, is going to present at this important conference in Adelaide. We note that the AMSN conference occurs just before the Climate Summit in Dubai (Cop28), 30 November to 12 December.

MFTW are proudly the pioneers in the UAE for mangroves and saltmarsh preservation. We are very excited to present and talk about our over a decade experience and knowledge in in the field in the UAE and Victoria, Australia, and meet scientists and like-minded artists and activists in the field.

For more details on the AMSN Conference, open this link: AMSN living Coasts.

For more details about the upcoming climate summit in Dubai, open this link:

Conference in Dubai 2023 about climate change (COP 28).

Announcement: Mangrove Art Exhibition

On By Stephanie NevilleLeave a comment

Mangroves Art.  

It has taken over two centuries for non-Indigenous people to truly recognise the value of mangroves. Similarly, the aesthetic allure of mangrove forests and the appreciation of mangrove-inspired art have evolved only gradually.

Since the launch of Mangroves from the Water (MFTW) in 2013, the initiative has endeavoured to spotlight the beauty and ecological importance of mangroves through multidisciplinary art exhibitions. These exhibitions not only showcase the diverse artistry inspired by mangroves but also aim to foster global awareness and protection of these vital ecosystems. MFTW promotes art that emerges from deep ecological intimacy, encouraging artists to engage directly with mangroves—often by kayaking through them—thereby nurturing a profound and reflective connection with this unique environment.

Over the years, Mangroves from the Water (MFTW) has inspired many artists to explore the mangroves through kayaking, fostering engagement, raising awareness, and stimulating art creation from these immersive experiences. In a recent radio interview in February, artist Jacqui Dreessens  shared that MFTW had introduced her to the mangroves, a previously unknown area of Geelong (The Sustainable Hour, 2023).

Now, is the time for art collectors to contribute to building a nascent mangroves art market in southern Victoria, which I believe will raise awareness of mangroves among a Victorian audience. In principle when we love a tree, nostalgic memories arise, often compelling us to collect art that represents this connection.

We are pleased to announce that gallery director Karen Spreadborough has embraced the idea of hosting and curating an exhibition focused on mangroves and wetlands at her spacious gallery, The Hive, aptly located near the Barwon River mangroves. The exhibition, Flow – Stories from the Wetlands, is featuring works from 25 artists, is currently open at The Hive Ocean Grove Gallery and will run until June 30, 2024.

For information on the Flow- Stories from the Wetlands exhibition and the Hive gallery please visit these two websites:

The Hive Collective (collectivethehive.com)

https://thehiveoceangrove.com.au/

Interview with Jacqui Dreessens: Sustainable Hour, no. 447, Investigating the reality through journalism, arts and artificial intelligence, 94.7 the Pulse, February 2023.

Zahidah Zeytoun Millie

www.mangrovesfromthewater.com

Announcement: Winning Short Film at RAK Fine Arts Festival 2023

On By Stephanie NevilleLeave a comment

Winning Short Film Announcement, 8 February 2023

Congratulations to the team behind the short film ‘The Girl who Fell in Love with the Mangroves’ for winning the first prize in the RAK Fine Arts Festival 2023.  This film was part of the Mangroves from the Water 2021 exhibition in Geelong, Australia.  We hope the prize will encourage film producers to create more inspiring films for the mangroves.

We’d like to congratulate the writer and film director Pauline Dupin, and also Rakhi Sawalani who acted the main character ‘the Girl’. 

Rakhi Sawalani and Pauline Dupin

We also acknowledge Geraldine Chansard, the film executive and the creator of Woman from the Mangroves, the sculpture featured in the film.

Geraldine Chansard and Pauline Dupin
Geraldine Chansard and Pauline Dupin

On this occasion we’d also like to thank the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and the Chairman Dr Abd Aziz Al Musallam for their continuous support to the mangroves and our art campaign, Mangroves from the Water (MFTW).  We thank the Institute for publishing extra issues of a special edition of Marawed magazine that focuses on the mangroves as part of Emirati Heritage.

To follow up the news about the winning film, please open these links:

https://mangrove-girl.webador.fr/about

https://www.instagram.com/mangrove.girl/

Zahidah Zeytoun Millie

MFTW Founder and Curator

www.zahidahart.com

www.mangrovesfromthewater.com

Announcement! : Two workshops by one of MFTW’s artists, Jacqui Dreessens.

On By Stephanie Neville1 Comment

Announcement for two workshops by one of MFTW’s inspiring artists, Jacqui Dreessens.

Kayak, Mangroves, Poetry

Do you like kayaking? Ever written poetry? Have you ever seen the mangrove forest on Wadawurrung Country between Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove? Come and witness first hand this incredible ecosystem that clears the water and puts oxygen in the air for all of us Beings to breathe. So hardy and yet so fragile. A different World awaits from the Water.

This is Part A of an exciting afternoon/evening: 4pm-6pm. Where the River meets the Sea – Kayak, Mangroves, Poetry

To find out more please open the link

Full Moon Dance

Park B – is a dance making workshop under the Full Moon: 7-10pm – Where the Moonahs meet the Mangroves.

https://www.trybooking.com/CFMZV