The personal reflection of Professor Gene Likens captures the transformative experience of encountering Australia’s unique biota and the ecological significance of Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo Nature Reserves. It highlights the emotional impact of seeing iconic species and the absence of others due to human-driven ecosystem degradation. Professor Likens praises Adrian Manning’s book for its comprehensive portrayal of Australian biodiversity and the long-term restoration experiment underway in these reserves. The reintroduction of species such as the eastern bettong, within a predator-proof sanctuary, is celebrated as a hopeful model for reversing ecological decline. The integration of community advocacy, Indigenous knowledge, citizen science and rigorous experimental design is recognised as key to the project’s success. The reflection underscores the importance of long-term ecological studies and the value of consistent leadership and methodology in conservation. It concludes with a message of hope for biodiversity restoration and admiration for the wild.

Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary (MFWS) protects over 1,500 hectares of critically endangered Yellow-box Red-gum Grassy Woodland. Its establishment and development reflect a unique collaboration between the Canberra community, the ACT Government and the Australian National University (ANU). Strategic partnerships and government funding enabled the creation of a predator-proof sanctuary adjacent to new urban development. ACT Parks and Conservation Service eliminated invasive species (foxes, cats, rabbits and hares), allowing the reintroduction of locally extinct mammals (eastern bettongs, eastern quolls, spotted-tailed quolls and New Holland mouse) and bush stone-curlews. These reintroductions are central to the long-term Mulligans Flat - Goorooyarroo Woodland Experiment, initially funded through Australian Research Council grants. Continued support from the ACT Government, the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust, and the Odonata Foundation enabled the construction of Wildbark, a community visitor learning centre that now serves as a hub for woodland tours, research, and education.