NEWS: It’s bloom time for rare Mallee plants in Victoria

Research by the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) has shown the Mallee woodlands in North-west Victoria are blooming due to a combination of good rainfall and 20 years of pest control work.

ARI Principal Scientist (Flora Ecology) David Cheal said: “The study of native cypress-pine and casuarina woodlands from the Millewa in the far north-west to Wyperfeld near Rainbow and Hopetoun identified 22 species of plant listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee (FFG) Act as well as two species not formally recorded in Victoria before.”

“Years of Parks Victoria work managing grazing animals means the good seasons have had a significant impact on a lot of Mallee plant species and some of those benefits will be long term,” Dr Cheal said.

“Thanks to that work, we have collected the first ever Victorian specimens of the Desert New Holland Daisy (Vittadinia eremaea), also collected by local botanist Ian Sluiter and a small annual grass (Spike Grass) and these are now in the National Herbarium of Victoria.”

“Some of the other threatened plants identified that haven’t been seen for years included Desert Lantern (Abutilon otocarpum), Sandhill Spurge (Phyllanthus lacunellus), Bush Hibiscus (Radyera farragei) and Spear-fruit Copperburr (Sclerolaena patenticuspis). Some of these plants have returned in large numbers and we are seeing perennial shrubs growing where we previously had annual grasses or bare ground.”

Source. 

OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE: Public consultation opens for next phase of Caring for our Country

Public consultation has opened for the next phase of Caring for our Country.

Consultation will run until 15 August and will include stakeholder forums and meetings and the release of discussion papers through a dedicated online forum.

The consultation will focus on specific areas of program implementation that are still to be developed.

A discussion paper was recently released on ‘Protecting and conserving nationally significant species, ecosystems and biodiversity in the next phase of Caring for our Country.’

For information and to contribute visit www.caringforourcountryreview.com.au. 

OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE: National weed management strategies released – comments invited

Draft Strategic Plans have been prepared for three of the 12 recently declared additional Weeds of National Significance (WoNS).

Draft plans and further information regarding contributing are available for:

• Bellyache Bush
• Gamba Grass
• Water Hyacinth

Comments close 16 July 2012.

OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE: draft conservation advice for the Lowland Grassy Woodland and Derived Grassland of the South East Corner Bioregion open for public consultation

The Federal environment department is assessing the Lowland Grassy Woodland and Derived Grassland of the South East Corner Bioregion for potential listing as a threatened ecological community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The draft conservation advice (including listing advice) is currently open for public consultation and can be downloaded from the department’s website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/lowland-grassy-woodland.html

Comments close on Friday 17th August 2012.

OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE: Discussion paper on managing native grasslands as part of the review of the Native Vegetation Regulation, NSW

A discussion paper on managing native grasslands been released as part of public consultation for the review of the Native Vegetation Regulation.

This is the final consultation document for this stage of the review.

Regional information sessions are currently happening across NSW.

Submissions to the review are due by midnight 24 August 2012.

All consultation documents released for review are available from the Office of Environment and Heritage website at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/vegetation/consultreview.htm

NEW RESOURCE: Noxious weeds briefing paper

The Noxious Weeds Briefing Paper by Daniel Montoya provides an overview of noxious weeds in New South Wales and includes discussion of weed classifications; their impacts; NSW legislation and legislative reforms; and policy and administrative frameworks and their relationship to the Australian Weed Strategy and biosecurity.

EVENT: What the Australian Community thinks about Climate Change, Seminar by Professor Tim Flannery, 26 July, Sydney, NSW

After 16 months as chief Climate Change Commissioner Tim Flannery made 16 visits to regional Australia to engage with the community about climate change. What he learned was unexpected, and very different from what you read in the media.

Further details for this free seminar can be found here.

EVENT: Seminar: Landscape soils, compost & mulches – problems, solutions, new standards & specifications, 1st August 2012, Sydney NSW

Hosted by the Horticultural Media association of NSW, this seminar will provide a briefing on plans by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects to improve the specifications for soil supplies and on how the new Australian Standard (AS4454) for composts, soil conditioners and mulches has resulted in significant changes that will impact on the entire landscape supply change.

EVENT: Seminar: Why Aren't we Talking about Soil?, Thursday 27 July 2012, Sydney NSW

While climate change, ocean acidification and biodiversity loss dominate news headlines, why does the topic of soil security, the maintenance or improvement of the world's soil resource, rarely rate a mention?

A forum of University of Sydney academics working in agricultural research, along with international experts in soil science and security, discuss their latest research findings along with real world implications.

More information on this free seminar available here.

EVENT: National Landcare Conference, Sydney 3-5 September 2012

Early bird conference registrations are now open for the National Landcare Conference to be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre from 3 - 5 September 2012.

This year’s conference will take place in Landcare Week and will be an exciting opportunity to bring together people that are interested in creating sustainable landscapes for the 21st century.

EVENT: Bushcare's Major Day Out, September 9th 2012

On Sunday September 9th in Landcare Week, at over 100 city and country locations across Australia, everyone is invited to gather and do their bit for our remaining bushland.

Bushcare’s Major Day Out is a day specifically designed to give of us the opportunity to find out what is being done and what can be done in our own neighbourhood. It’s a fun day where anyone, young and old can work alongside and learn from experts and experienced volunteers. There are a range of activities depending on the location; walks, planting, weed removal, photography workshops as well as native plant identification and well celebrated morning teas.

Councils, Landcare, Bushcare groups and others are invited to post the details of their event on the website. Please send your details (location, organiser, time, details etc) to: info (at) bushcaresmajordayout (dot) org.

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