Category Archives: Rainforest

Rotary Park regeneration project, Lismore NSW

Posted on 26 October 2012 | Comments Off

Tein McDonald

Key words: Dry rainforest, regeneration, Anredera cordifolia, long term project, flying-foxes.

Rainforest regeneration works at the 11.5 ha dry rainforest remnant, Rotary Park, Lismore, commenced in in June 1985 under the leadership of Keith King, the then Parks and Gardens Supervisor for Lismore City Council, and inspired by the success of John Stockard at Wingham Brush.

The site, surrounded by residential areas and bordered by a main road, was considered (prior to treatment) so degraded by weed vines that many considered it beyond redemption. The canopy was infested with vines including Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia), Asparagus africanus and A. plumosus and Morning glory (Ipomoea spp.) (Fig 1).  Within the forest, the ground was blanketed by Tradescantia (Tradescantia fluminensis) and Madiera Vine tuberlings, with Large- and Small-leaved Privet (Ligustrum spp.) dispersed throughout more degraded areas and edges and gaps often dominated by Lantana (Lantana camara).

Works and results. The project initially trialed minimal disturbance techniques promoted by the bush regeneration movement in Sydney but soon found that higher levels of disturbance were needed to trigger regeneration and render the tuberlings of Madeira Vine and other weed susceptible to herbicide spray.  Adapting the Wingham Method to local conditions, Keith King and the regeneration team led by Rosemary Joseph radically transformed the rainforest into a relatively healthy dry rainforest patch over a period of 10-15 years, although primary work in some parts of the site is still not completed.

Lessons learned.  Prior to primary work being completed, populations of  Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) and Black Flying-fox (P.  alecto) have established roosts in the forest.  This added significantly to the work load as it increased the density and number of weed species, with new species including by Flying-foxes including Giant Devil’s Fig (Solanum chrysotrichum) and tropical fruits such as Guava (Psidium guajava).  When the trees were stripped of foliage by the flying-foxes, the trees were then used as roots by White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca). This contributed additional ammonia which resulted in deteriorated working conditions for regenerators.  While the project remains on a maintenance budget, current budgets have been insufficient to complete the primary work on other parts of the site.

Acknowledgements. The site is managed by Lismore City Council who have funded the project since its inception.

Contact: Rosemary Joseph  c/o Lismore City Council Martin.Soutar@lismore.nsw.gov.au

Canopy Gap at Rotary Park dry rainforest, Lismore in 1987 (prior to restoration works). (Photo Rosemary Joseph)

Same canopy gap at Rotary Park dry rainforest, Lismore in 1988 (1 year after primary clearing). (Photo Rosemary Joseph)

Same  canopy gap at Rotary Park dry rainforest, Lismore in 2006. (Photo Rosemary Joseph)

Comments Off

Posted in Bush regeneration, Fauna & habitat, New South Wales, Rainforest, Weed issues & solutions

More than a decade of bush regeneration at the Wootha Nature Refuge

Posted on 19 June 2012 | Comments Off

Key words: Rainforest restoration, assisted regeneration, Nature Refuge, bush regeneration industry funding models

Spencer Shaw

Rainforest restoration work has been carried out at Wootha Nature Refuge since the property was purchased by its current landholder in the early 2000s.

The property, located on the Blackall Range in the Sunshine Coast region of south east Queensland,  contains a mix of pasture on the higher gently sloping ground and remnant rainforest community (Regional Ecosystem 12.8.3) on the escarpment below the range. When works started on this site the rainforest was highly fragmented, with Lantana (Lantana camara) dominating the gullies and patches of Broad-leaved Privet (Ligustrum lucidum) dominating the areas between the rainforest patches. 

Figure 1. Landscape context, Wootha NR is on the southern slopes of the Blackall Range. Greater than 90% of the plateau vegetation has been cleared.

The landholder has undertaken substantial restoration works, complementing his formal protection of the remnant and restoration areas under in-perpetuity agreements with both Local and State Governments (through a Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) and Nature Refuge (NR)).

Works undertaken. Works have been undertaken by Brush Turkey Enterprises since 2002 on a monthly to fortnightly basis for the whole of the last decade. 

The initial control works consisted of the poisoning Broad-leaved Privet in-situ for a 500m strip along the western boundary. The technique employed for control of the Broad-leaved Privet early in the project was “frill & paint” (i.e. stem injection). This was undertaken with a small axe cutting 100mm wide cuts into the bark and allowing 100mm spacing, covering two full circumferences of each tree trunk. Herbicide was applied via a squirt bottle of 1:1 glyphosate 360 and water. Our contemporary control technique is a modification of this technique using small arbor chainsaws. 

Figure 2. Lantana camara control in gullies 2005.

Subsequent contract Bush Regeneration works have been relatively low key over the last 10 years, with as little as eight Bush Regenerator days per year – and have focused on the control of Lantana in the gullies to control exotic vegetation and facilitate rainforest pioneer recruitment.  Lantana control has been undertaken using the “track and overspray” technique. Tracks are cut with both brushcutters or fern hooks and glyphosate 360 herbicide is applied by backpack sprayers at a 1:100 dilution with water. Lantana works are preferably undertaken in winter months, due to access difficulties.

Results. Regeneration in the areas previously dominated by Broad-leaved Privet was rapid.  Many species recruited to re-establish a diverse native edge to the rainforest remnant areas; including rare species such as the Threadybark Myrtle (Gossia inophloia).

Approximately 2 ha of Lantana in the gullies have been replaced by naturally regenerating vegetation including species such as as Bleeding Heart (Homalanthus nutans), Black Wattle (Acacia melanoxylon) and Giant Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide excelsa).

Figure 3. Dendrocnide excelsa recruitment. Also shows Basalt scree slopes which dominate this part of the escarpment.

Lessons learned. Until the early 2000s all funding for ecological restoration works in South-east Queensland were linked to ‘trees planted’, and only allowed for revegetation projects. The novel approach taken by the funding program that the works were initially supported by was to require recipients to quantify ‘trees established’ rather than ‘trees planted’ and it also considered eligible, projects that used natural regeneration as a revegetation method.  As such, the Wootha project was the first in our area to employ bush regenerators to facilitate natural regeneration of native ecosystems.

We consider this project to be a good example of what can happen if there is consistency of follow up undertaken (even if limited) over a long time period.  Too often projects undertake the ‘primary’ clearing of a site but undertake little or no ‘secondary’ or follow-up work.  Although relatively minor annual works take place on this site, the ongoing nature of the funding for this project and hands on involvement by the landholder provides for the steady and incremental restoration of the rainforest. This is achieving actual and long-term success.

Acknowledgements. Funding for our works came initially through the SE QLD Rainforest Recovery Project and later through the VCA with Sunshine Coast Regional Council. The project would not have occurred or succeeded without the landholder’s dedication to both rainforest conservation and the bush regeneration industry in SE Queensland.

Contact: Spencer Shaw, Brush Turkey Enterprises (Natural Area Management), P.O. Box 326, Maleny, QLD Australia 4552; Tel: +61 7 5494 3642 or Mob: 0428 130 769; Email: spencer.shaw@brushturkey.com.au; Web: www.brushturkey.com.au

Comments Off

Posted in Bush regeneration, Queensland, Rainforest, Techniques & methodology, Weed issues & solutions

Rainforest restoration on private land – Wompoo Gorge, Huonbrook, NSW

Posted on 28 May 2012 | Comments Off

 Key words: Rainforest restoration, assisted natural regeneration, Lantana control, threatened species conservation

Maree Thompson

Wompoo Gorge is a private property located at Huonbrook in the Byron Shire hinterland, north coast NSW. The property provides a link between Nightcap and Goonengerry National Parks with Coopers Creek running along the eastern boundary. Originally covered by lowland subtropical rainforest with a stand of eucalypt forest extending down from the 100m high escarpment, half of the site was cleared early last century and partially converted to pasture and banana plantations. At the commencement of the project, the area contained various stages of rainforest regeneration and dense infestations of Lantana (Lantana camara). Twenty-seven threatened species (10 threatened flora species and 17 vulnerable animal species) have been recorded at Wompoo Gorge. The site has exceptional restoration potential and overall conservation significance.

Lantana infestation before works

An ongoing ecological restoration project is being implemented at the property, based on the recommendations of the Wompoo Gorge (South) Restoration Action Plan. In the three years to date, dense areas of Lantana in the area originally cleared have been controlled by mechanical means. A 4-wheel drive tractor was used to drive over and flatten Lantana over 2ha, returning a few weeks later to slash the Lantana. This method (first developed by Ralph Woodford at Rocky Creek Dam) resulted in the death of the majortiy of Lantana treated. Care was taken to aviod any existing regrowth of rainforest species near edges and regrowth patches.

Bush regeneration works have now been extended over an additional 14ha. A range of weed control techniques (including overspray and use of a splatter gun) have been used in the denser areas of Lantana not accessable by tractor. Hand weeding with brush hooks and loppers and cut/scrape and paint of Lantana is being undertaken in the more lightly invested native vegetation. Fruits from native plants on site have been collected and spread through out regeneration areas, adding to seed in the soil bank and that which is naturally distributed.

Tractor clearing of Lantana

A monitoring program was established on site prior to the commencement of works. This included eight monitoring transects. Structural and floristic information was collated and photos taken prior to the commencement of works and then at the end of the first year. Data were entered into MERV (Monitoring and Evalution of the Restoration of Vegetation) database and used to produce reports.

From Lantana to bare ground in Year 1

Results. The previously dense Lantana areas have converted from weed to strongly regenerating rainforest by means of natural regeneration occurring over the 3 years since treatment. The areas first treated in Year 1, in particular the area where a tractor was used to control Lantana, have had impressive growth of native species, now up to a height of over 5 metres. Common regrowth species include White Cedar (Melia azederach), Trema (Trema tomentosa), Red Cedar (Toona ciliata), Tamarind, Sandpaper Fig (Ficus coronata), Bangalow Palm (Achontophoenix cunninghamiana), Brown Kurrajong (Commersonia bartramia), Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide excelsa), Pencil Cedar (Polyscias murrayi), Celerywood (Polyscias elegans), Blue Quandong (Elaeocarpus grandis), Black Bean (Castanospermum australe) and Sally Wattle (Acacia sp.). A strong mix of later phase rainforest species are also germinating. Groundcovers include Soft Braken Fern (Culcita dubia), Cunjevoi Lily (Alocasia brisbanensis), Juncus spp., Cyperus spp. and a range of basket grasses (including Oplismenus spp. and Ottochloa gracillima).

Regenerating natives at the end of Year 2. By the end of Year 3 it was difficult to get a view above the regenerating trees to take overview photos.

Lessons learned. As with all projects, follow-up weed control is essential to ensure that native species come to dominate the site in the long term. The project has recently gained funds to continue the works for a further 3 years. This will allow the project to to continue works into nearby areas where it is known that significant and sustainable environmental outcomes can be achieved on a cost effective basis.

Funding. The project is funding by a 3 year NSW Environmental Trust project with addtional support from the 2010 DECCW Great Eastern Ranges Initiative-Connectivity Conservation Incentives; the Northern Rivers CMA Invasive Species Weeds of National Significance program, and the EnviTE Jobs Fund and Green Jobs Corps teams. Further funding has been gained through the Raymond Borland Bequest Grants program and the Big Scrub Rainforest Landcare Group’s Caring for Our Country project.

Contact: Maree Thompson, EnviTE Inc, 56 Carrington Street (P.O.Box 1124), Lismore NSW 2480; Tel: +61 2 6621 9588, Email: mareet@envite.org.au

Comments Off

Posted in Bush regeneration, New South Wales, Rainforest, Techniques & methodology, Weed issues & solutions

Thiaki Creek: Cost-effective Rainforest Restoration for Carbon & Biodiversity

Posted on 16 September 2011 | Comments Off

Key words: landscape resilience; rainforest fragments; connectivity; endangered species

Noel Preece

A large-scale reforestation experiment has begun in the Wet Tropics to examine the best and most cost-effective ways of reforesting a long-cleared grassed landscape to rainforest. The project is on Thiaki Creek, a highland tributary of the North Johnstone River which flows onto the Great Barrier Reef of Far North Queensland. The project is based on a fully replicated experimental design of 64 plots, covering over 20 hectares.

Part of the 20 ha experimental area in which the 64 plots are laid out. Rows were sprayed to suppress the exotic pasture grasses and the planters are planting the seedlings directly into the ground with planter spades.

The local ecosystem is moist complex notophyll vine rainforest (type 7.8.4) which can be seen in the background. This is State-listed (endangered) rainforest, home to endangered Cassowaries and six species of possum, and more than a hundred species of bird including the rare Grey Goshawk.

Aims: While forestry practices using monoculture tree species are well developed, reforestation practices using mixed native species for carbon sequestration and biodiversity are relatively poorly understood. Results of mixed plantings have been variable, regularly producing less than optimal outcomes and high establishment and maintenance costs have resulted in poor returns from investment. This is due to inadequate research on optimum site preparation, species mixes, spacings and propagation to achieve more cost effective outcomes.

Results and lessons: 27,000 trees were planted in January 2011, a few days before Cyclone Yasi. Early lessons learned are that spraying pasture grasses in strips, rather than blanket spraying the whole planting area, provides protection from erosion, wind and desiccation. Planting when the ground is saturated improves survival rates. An early experimental result demonstrates that forestry planting methods using planting spades take ¼ the time and 1/6 the expense of using augers, a common practice among landholders in the region, and the responses of mixed rainforest species is very good, with less than 6% loss.

Future directions: A range of studies has commenced on the site, including studies on soil carbon and nutrients; above ground carbon; plant diversity and plant functional traits; bee, fly, ant and dung beetle diversity and function; review of restoration practices; and economics. Future studies could include vertebrate roles and responses; competitive effects of tree mixtures; relationships of spacings and species to site capture rates and natural suppression of grasses; diversity versus productivity and resilience; mycorrhiza and other soil microbiota studies; soil hydrology and micro-climatology.
Stakeholders: The project is supported by a 5-year Australian Research Council Linkage grant, with the Universities of Queensland, Adelaide, Charles Darwin, Cambridge and Lancaster and Linkage partners Stanwell Corporation, Terrain NRM Ltd, Greening Australia and Biome5 Pty Ltd.

Contacts: Dr Margie Mayfield, University of Queensland, m.mayfield@uq.edu.au; Dr Noel Preece, Biome5 Pty Ltd, noel@biome5.com.au. Outlines of the Thiaki project are shown on: www.biome5.com.au/page/thiaki.html and www.mayfieldplantecologylab.org/site/Thiaki_Project.html

Comments Off

Posted in Queensland, Rainforest