greeningaustralia.org.au Island Ark

Ecological and Cultural Restoration in the Tasmanian Midlands

Sebastian Burgess Greening Australia

greeningaustralia.org.au Tasmania Island Ark

Greening Australia’s Vison is for healthy and productive landscapes where people and nature thrive

greeningaustralia.org.au Tasmania Island Ark Midlands national biodiversity hotspot – ‘The duck’

Greening Australia sites

greeningaustralia.org.au Tasmanian Midlands: one of Australia’s 15 National Biodiversity Hotspots

32 Nationally listed threatened species and more than 180 State listed threatened species

greeningaustralia.org.au More than half of Tasmania’s land area is protected in National Parks & the World Heritage Area, however the biodiversity hotspot is predominantly private land, with less than 2% formally protected

O Midlands biodiversity hotspot ‘Duck’ ● Reserved forest/ woodland ● Unreserved forest/ woodland ● Cleared/ urban/ agricultural land

greeningaustralia.org.au The northern midlands horst and graben flat bottom valley system

W E Central Plateau Eastern Tiers

greeningaustralia.org.au Tasmanian Midlands 200 years of European farming following more than 40,000 years of sustainable management by Aboriginal people

greeningaustralia.org.au 200 years of farming and forestry have cleared much of the land, resulting in severe habitat fragmentation, leaving scattered native vegetation remnants

Less than 10% of native forest and less than 3% lowland native grassland remains

greeningaustralia.org.au Ecological system in decline Biodiversity hotspot Tree decline and lack of eucalypt coincides with areas of regeneration severe tree decline

Loss of: Keystone species, structural complexity, biodiversity, ecosystem health

Risks to ecosystems: • Dry woodlands and lowland grasslands • Rivers, waterways and waterbodies • Critical weight range marsupials, carnivores and woodlands birds

greeningaustralia.org.au The midlands is experiencing poor natural plant recruitment & declining species diversity, even in protected private reserves We need to intervene to turn around the decline Doing nothing is not an option

greeningaustralia.org.au Tasmania Island Ark Project Recognition of need for both environmental and cultural restoration 7 components: •Ecological restoration: on-ground work •Embedded science: botany, zoology, spatial, social •Engagement of Aboriginal people and traditional land management practices •Education: K-Y12, vocational, tertiary, higher research, community •Art in the landscape: ‘Species Hotels’ •Economics of ecological restoration at landscape scales •Community engagement

greeningaustralia.org.au Conservation Action Plan Reconnect & buffer native vegetation and river systems

Main CAP partners: Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Bush Heritage Australia, DPIPWE, Greening Australia

greeningaustralia.org.au Focal landscapes Model identifies polygons of high Focal landscapes natural value on private land

Spatial modeling to identify optimal pathways to create buffers around and between areas of high natural value

Cluster of 6 of Tasmania’s 14 focal landscapes is in the northern midlands

Need to ‘connect the dots’ between protected areas on private land and foothills to safeguard the jewels in the crown

greeningaustralia.org.au GIS spatial analysis

Patch-linkage model to determine optimal pathways for habitat corridors X

X Epping linkages

Y Ross linkages Y

greeningaustralia.org.au Connectivity for marsupials ‘Gap Closer’ modelling by Alec Lechner Spotted Tailed Quoll Large Carnivore - Group Name Spotted-tail Quoll Hab. over 1 Yes m Hab. Under No 1m Min Patch 150 size (ha)

Interpatch distance (m) 10,000

Struct. over 1 Yes m Struct. Under No 1 m Resistance Gap crossing 750 Resistance No resistance (m) (Poor cover & barriers to movement) (Good cover & few barriers)

greeningaustralia.org.au Connectivity for Spotted Tailed Quolls

Epping corridor Large Carnivore - Group Name Spotted-tail Quoll Hab. over 1 Yes m Hab. Under No 1m Min Patch 150 size (ha)

Interpatch distance (m) 10,000

Struct. over 1 Yes m Ross corridor Struct. Under No 1 m Resistance Gap crossing 750 (m) No resistance

greeningaustralia.org.au greeningaustralia.org.au The Scale of the task

To effectively restore ecological function in the Tasmanian midlands we need to:

•Significantly ramp up the effort •Build 6,000ha in wildlife linkages in key habitat areas • Restore 50km (1,000ha) river systems/ waterways • Create 5,000ha grassy woodland to meet native animal habitat requirements • Plant 2m tubestock trees, shrubs and understorey

greeningaustralia.org.au Adapting commercial forestry methods and tools to upscale plantings

greeningaustralia.org.au From 3 row shelterbelts to broad riparian ribbon plantings

greeningaustralia.org.au 3 year’s growth (trees and native grass) in well protected site (Connorville)

greeningaustralia.org.au Open woodland plantings: (3 years old, Connorville)

greeningaustralia.org.au Small copses: 5 trees & 5 understorey (3 years old, Connorville)

greeningaustralia.org.au Browsing management – fallow deer, wallaby, possum, livestock •13,000 x 600mm diameter x 1,200mm high weldmesh cages (1 or 2 trees) •2,000 x (2m x 2m) small copse cages 1,800mm high (for 5 trees & 5 shrubs) •17ha site with 2m high electrified fence (breached by deer at least once)

greeningaustralia.org.au Infilling degraded remnants (2 years old, Connorville)

greeningaustralia.org.au Native grass seed harvesting

greeningaustralia.org.au Native grass seeding using turf machine

greeningaustralia.org.au Science partnerships ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre and 3 ARC Linkage projects CSIRO, CRC for Polymers

greeningaustralia.org.au Eucalyptus genetics trials to test seed provenance selection in an area already experiencing climate change. 50,000 pedigree eucalypts planted

greeningaustralia.org.au Direct seeding trials (UTAS, CSIRO, CRC for Polymers, Integrated Packaging)

greeningaustralia.org.au Revegetation structural design for habitat value Remote sensing of 6 y.o. plantings with handheld Laser Scanner (Nic Camarretta, PhD candidate, UTAS, 2017)

greeningaustralia.org.au Fauna research 6 PhD candidates investigating habitat needs of native mammals (quolls, bettongs, bandicoots, Tasmanian devils, bats), woodland birds, native bees and feral cats

greeningaustralia.org.au Fauna research 150 field cameras, GPS collars, DNA analysis, bat detectors • Habitat requirements for native fauna in a recreated environment? • Maximum distances to cross open space? • Revegetation species selection and structural composition?

(Tiger snake raiding bird’s nest)

greeningaustralia.org.au GPS track of Pacha, young male spotted tailed quoll in remnant vegetation & open pasture. 5 min signals show ~ 6km/hr in open terrain, ~ 2-4km/hr travel in closed vegetation, & slower when foraging (Rowena Hamer, UTAS, 2016)

Esk

Conara Jctn.

Midlands Highway

greeningaustralia.org.au Engagement of Aboriginal people

•European farmers moved into landscape that had been actively managed for more than 40,000 years in a relatively sustainable manner •Aboriginal representation on project Advisory Council •Training in traditional land management methods •Practicing traditional land management practices, including cool burning of grassy and heathy woodlands

greeningaustralia.org.au Education •Tasmania Island Ark Bushranger Education Project •K-Y12, vocational, tertiary, higher research, community •Employ teacher who works with local midlands & urban schools •Full year program integrated into Australian Curriculum

greeningaustralia.org.au Community engagement with regular events

greeningaustralia.org.au Art in the landscape •‘Species Hotels’ designed and built by UTAS School of Architecture and Design students in collaboration with zoology PhD and local school students •‘Hearth’ by Prof. Peter Davies – a point of connection, a meeting of paths

‘Hearth’

greeningaustralia.org.au Outcomes to date

• Two broad habitat corridors under construction across the midlands valley floor • 1,300ha revegetation on 15 properties (nearly 25% of project objective) • 300,000 tubestock planted (13,000 wire cylinders & 2,000 cages) • 50,000 pedigree eucalypts in large field based genetics trials • 35km riverside revegetation on Macquarie River & tributaries • 6ha native grass direct seeded • 12 PhD candidates applying research on project sites • > 1 year’s wildlife images from 150 field cameras • Direct seeding experimental trials on 6 sites • 1,000’s of country & city school students involved • Artworks in the field and gaming apps • Fundraising campaign to raise $25m to complete project

greeningaustralia.org.au Thanks to Tasmania Island Ark project partners and supporters

•Midlands Landholders •Officeworks •Ian Potter Foundation •Australian Government Biodiversity Fund, 20 Million Trees, Inspiring Australia & Green Army programs •John Roberts Charitable Foundation •Pennicott Wilderness Journeys •Tasmanian Wilderness Experiences •Eucalypt Australia •Australian Research Council •University of Tasmania – School of Biological Sciences, College of the Arts, School of Architecture and Design, School of Geography and Spatial Sciences •CSIRO •Wood and Forest Products Australia •Tasmanian Land Conservancy •Bush Heritage Australia •Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre •Conservation Volunteers Australia & Green Army teams •Oatlands, Campbell Town & Cressy District Schools, Taroona High School, College, •Midlands Tree Committee and local community support •NRM North, NRM South •Landcare Tasmania •Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association •Forest Practices Authority •Northern Midlands Council •Department of Primary Industry, Parks Water & Environment •Sense T •CRC for Polymers •Integrated Packaging •Contractors and consultants •Individual donors and volunteers

greeningaustralia.org.au greeningaustralia.org.au