
Gerard Proust
I have read millions of words, forgotten thousands of thoughts, been to dozens of conferences, shared visions on many volunteer committees and helped many groups. I have tried to provide quality, best practice ecological restoration services to a range of land managers to assist in restoring degraded environments and managing existing land issues. My evolving philosophy is based on caring for the earth; growing self, food and community; sharing knowledge & passions, being attuned to the needs of family & friends & the forests.
The works with communities here & overseas, land managers and volunteers have provided opportunities for me & others to learn more about the environment whilst enabling assistance in managing the land in a more sustainable way. Dealing with different sectors of the community is an enriching and important part of the process to achieving a greater awareness of environmental issues and finding solutions - together. The work aim is towards returning a balance to ecological systems that have been overwhelmed and impacted upon by human developments. I aim to create work programs that reflects these values and most importantly, an environment that will continue to sustain us all.
Gerard Proust has been working & teaching in land restoration and bushregeneration industry through the Illawarra since 1988. Prior to finding this worthy passion I worked with glass to aid people to see their version of reality. I started along my untrodden path of land stewardship after asking myselfthe question ‘What is that tree?’ [It is still one of my changing favourites (Doryphora sassafras)]. After years of study and working in a great range of natural landscapes I am just on the cusp of understanding some aspects of this land.
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• Bush Regeneration Supervisor Certificate
• Diploma CLM
• Member of Australian Association of Bush Regenerators [AABR]
• Member of Ecological Society of Australia [ESA]
• Member of Society of Ecological Restoration {SERA}
• Malaysia Nature Society (MNS)
• TAFE teacher in CLM
• Delivery of workshops, lectures i.e Alfred Wallace Conference Kuching, SERA Conference, Darwin], as well as field-days/educator with various local Aboriginal mobs.....
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On ground works specialize in bush regeneration works and employs professional bush regenerators with many skills and years of experience.
• Expertise in working on very sensitive sites with TEC’s EEC’s, threatened species and/or highly invasive keystone weed species.
• Developed integrated weed management strategies for a range of sites with a range of vegetative communities.
• Worked, taught, delivered training, written management plans and implemented works from Borneo to Uluru to Picton to Minnamurra to Jervis Bay to Bega and beyond.
• core business is working on very sensitive sites with Endangered Ecological Communities [EECs], threatened species and/or highly invasive weed species.
• written management plans, monitored works & collected required data (Avenza Mapping, plots, GPS etc.) and written final reports over many years for a variety of government departments.
• worked on >1,000 different work sites in 5 different countries, 13 LGA’s, in 10 Botanical Divisions.
• controlled > 600 weed species in a myriad of locations from the desert, islands and mountains to tropical rainforest, cool temperate rainforest and coastal ecosystems.
• extensive botanical knowledge with a large range of native and exotic species readily identifiable from small seedling to mature stage.
• worked on many remote projects. Undertaken many difficult and remote areas projects (canoeing, camping and/or staying out for several weeks) for different government agencies (i.e. National Parks [State & Federal], Department of Lands (Local Land Services) and Sydney Water. At Uluru we stayed on the local community land and worked in many sensitive areas around the park.
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NPWS
• local councils
• LLS
• DPI
• Sydney Water
• Lake Authority
• Private properties.
These have been written from 1994 to the present day. Some of the plans I have covered:
• Lake Yarrunga [ Shoalhaven & Kangaroo River arms],
• Illawarra Escarpment, Primbee Wetlands,
• Tom Thumb Lagoon Mangrove Transplanting program,
• Bass Point Reserve,
• Wodi Wodi Property Foxground,
• Puckeys Estate,
• Gerroa Old Waste Depot Site.
• 7 Mile Beach crown lands & NP
• Currajong Village,
• MacQuarie Pass NP,
• Budderoo NP flora survey & mapping,
• Swan Lake Foreshore Plan,’
• Cecil Hosking NR,
• Gooseberry Island NR,
• The Illawarra Escarpment Park [sections of; ie: Mt Nebo, Mt Keira Ring Track...],
• Robertson NR,
• Holiday Haven Caravan Parks
• Yatte Yattah NR Regeneration Plan
• Wardens Head Lantana control Plan
• Cullendulla NR Regeneration Plan
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Areas/Training/Positions/Workshops/Conference presentations from 1995 – 2023 delivering Bush Regeneration, Conservation Land Management [CLM], Ecological restoration principles, sustainable food production systems, plant ID, basic bush regeneration principles.
• Yallah Tafe
• Bega Tafe
• Moruya Tafe
• Padstow Tafe
• Moss Vale Tafe
• Uladulla Tafe
• Malaysia Nature Society [MNS]
• Sarawak National Parks Service
• Alfred Wallace Conference [100th anniversary of his passing] 2013
• Warrigal Employment LALC
• Jerrinja LALC
• Gundungurra LALC
• Fire & restoration conferences
• SERA conference Darwin 2021
Senior Team
Member
With over 10 years experience with PLS and many more years prior in the horticultural industry Jason has brought a wealth of experience and a keen eye to many PLS projects.
“I’m a keen gardener in my free time and I also love to travel to different countries and learn about their cultures, food and environments,
Conservation and Land Management (Natural area restoration and management) CERT III
Horticulture CERT III
Agriculture CERT III
Chainsaw operations
Chemical users License
First AID Certificate
Subscriptions - AABR ( Australian association of bush regenerators)
Jason Stone
Mariano
Senior Team Member
Conservation and Land Management (Natural area restoration and management) CERT IV
Chainsaw “Cross cut” & “Fell small trees”
Chemical users License
Started Bush Regen 2008-2011 @ Regen Australia 9 known then as Gecko Regen
2011-2015 operated private business BRC Far sth coast NSW whilst also working part time PBS.
2015-2019 back to Regen Australia whilst continuing BRC
2019-21 Bushnuts/BRC
21-24 BRC solely
2024 March PLS.
Life long surfer travelling world/Australia chasing waves. Martial arts from 2000 acting taking on an instructor role from 2005. First came to the South coast in 1990, It felt like home from that first trip.
Nat Esposito
Team Member
Born on the South-coast and residing in Wollongong Robert has always had a keen interest in the natural environment. With joining the PLS team in 2021 has applied and learned much about preserving our natural habitats.
Chemical users License
BSc (Biology) 2017 University of Wollongong