Catchment Corner
Box Gum Grassy Woodlands were once widespread along the western slopes and tablelands of the Great Dividing Range. Today less than four per cent of this ecological community remains.
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This endangered ecological community is closely associated with fertile clay loam soils of moderate depth on flat to undulating terrain. Within the Watershed Landcare region they occur mainly in areas with a 550 mm to 800 mm annual rainfall and an elevation below about 700 m above sea level.
Box Gum Grassy Woodlands are dominated by the eucalypts White Box, Yellow Box and/or Blakely's Red Gum and are characterised by their understory; a sparse shrub layer and a diverse mix of native grasses and herbs.
Trees provide many valuable ecosystem services to productive systems, such as improved soil structure and fertility, shade and shelter for livestock and reduced soil moisture loss.
They also serve as wildlife corridors, providing stepping stones for animals between foraging and nesting sites and water sources.
This will become increasingly important as the habitat ranges of our native fauna shift as the climate continues to change.
Watershed Landcare have incentive funding available for landholders to conduct on-ground works to increase the extent or quality of Box Gum Grassy Woodland on the land they manage.
As part of the Patches and Paths project, $7000 in funding is available each year until 2022. Project funding can be utilised to contribute to materials and/or labour. Eligible activities include:
- fencing around mature, isolated paddock trees and remnant native vegetation clusters
- fencing to enable changed grazing management intended to allow natural regeneration of woodland vegetation species
- in-fill planting, especially to increase diversity of understory species
- revegetation activities to improve landscape connectivity
- any other activities that protect or enhance White Box, Yellow Box, Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Box Woodland and Derived Grassland, especially novel and innovative approaches
Applications for staged projects will be supported. For example you can apply for a three year project to conduct fencing in year one, site preparation in year two and in-fill planting in year three.
Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Patches and Paths project are now open to landholders in the Watershed Landcare region. More information about the project is available on our website: http://watershedlandcare.com.au/projects/patches-paths/.
Not sure if you have White Box, Yellow Box and/or Blakely's Red Gum on your place? Give us a call, Watershed Landcare's resident botanist is happy to help.
If you don't have Box Gum Grassy Woodland tree species on your place but there are remnants on the roadside corridor or a neighbouring property you may still be eligible to conduct revegetation activities to improve landscape connectivity.
If you would like to discuss your individual situation or project idea contact our coordinator, Agness Knapik: info@wateshedlandcare.com.au or 0435 055 493.
Watershed Landcare
On the Steps in Canberra
Last Tuesday a group of concerned citizens from Bathurst, Orange and Mudgee travelled by bus to Canberra to join the On the Steps protest in front of Parliament House.
The group consisted of retirees concerned about the future of their children and grandchildren and a farmer who was worried about the water being sucked from the land to enable the Cadia Mine to operate.
We also had a retired Commissioner of Police and a uni. Student. A cross section of people of all ages with one common purpose, which was to force this government to take climate action now!
The rally was addressed by a number of inspiring speakers, including Bob Brown, tireless fighter for the environment, who urged us to carry on with all our might to stop the destruction of our beautiful country.
To stop Adani by all means.If we see a coal train, stand in front of it. If we see someone with a chainsaw heading into the Tarkine Forest, stand in front of them. We must be brave and engage in peaceful protest to save what we have left.
Adam Bandt, the new leader of the Greens, gave an impassioned speech, saying that this Sumner's fires occurred when the Earth's temperature has risen one degree, and if nothing is done, we are on track to reach three or four degrees warming.
He said what most know "It is an emergency. We must act now."
John Hewson, ex Liberal Party leader gave a fantastic oration, calling for bipartisan action on climate change.
The culmination of the day was an encirclement of Parliament House,led by Extinction Rebellion's Red Rebels.
There were thousands of protesters clad in red, yellow and orange (the colours if fire) in a huge circle around the building, calling on our elected representatives for Climate Action Now.
I really hope that some of the people in that place looked out of their windows and saw, through the smoke from the fires burning in the ACT, the many, many people who were prepared to travel from all over Australia to give up their time to demand that this government take action.
Most agree that we are experiencing unprecedented weather conditions which are causing devastation.
They will get worse unless their cause is acknowledged and addressed. Australia and the world are demanding climate action now.
- Kate Allen