The Redgum Grassy Woodlands and Seasonal Herbaceous Wetlands are special parts of Gippsland’s landscape, stretching from the Latrobe Valley to Bairnsdale. Both are Critically Endangered and need help to survive.
East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) with partners Greening Australia, Trust for Nature and Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) are working on a four-year project to protect and restore these unique environments.
This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
On ground work is being carried out by Traditional Owners and environmental specialists, with strong input from local groups and agencies including landholders building on their years of restoration work and investment.
The Moormurng and Bengworden Reserves, the key focus areas of the project, are home to some of the largest remaining patches of these ecosystems. There are currently 15 sites, where conservation works are being undertaken.
“This project is about giving threatened ecosystems a better chance to survive and thrive. We’re working to improve their health, connect habitats, and protect important areas for the future,” Bec Hemming, chief executive officer of EGCMA, said.
“This includes mapping where these communities are, checking their condition, and restoring sites that need help by planting seeds and seedlings of important species. We’ll also tackle threats including weeds and fencing off critical areas.”
Greening Australia has sown native species directly in a targeted area of over 30 hectares at Bengworden including Gippsland Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis subsp. Mediana). These seeds were given a good head start following the decent spring rainfall the region has received. In other areas, grassland seed mix was sown to restore important ground and shrub layer species that were noticeably absent.
“At the end of the project, we’ll have a big picture plan to guide future work,” Ms Hemming said.
