ot etSoe Rvgtto Guide South West Slopes Revegetation ot etSoe Rvgtto Guide South West Slopes Revegetation from little things big things grow... SouthSouth WestWest SlopesSlopes RevegetationRevegetation GuideGuide (south of the Murrumbidgee River) 1998 from little things big things grow... South West Slopes Revegetation Guide (SOUTH OF THE MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER) Edited by Fleur Stelling Murray Catchment Management Committee & Department of Land & Water Conservation Albury, NSW March 1998. With a major contribution by Karen Walker Greening Australia, Wagga Wagga, NSW. foreword John Landy he South West Slopes region of New South introduced species of plants and animals and grazing T Wales runs from the Riverina plains to the have all played a part in the decline in biodiversity of mountains in the east, with an elevation of up to native vegetation. This book provides useful material 600 metres. It is one of the most extensively altered for those seeking to control weeds, attract wildlife to landscapes in this country. The most radical the farm dam, or reintroduce native grasses and modification has been on the lower slopes and plains, pasture. The practical information sheets will also be where the establishment of pastures and crops was valuable in many aspects of land management. most easily achieved. Clearing of the catchments in the rising country, mainly during the last century — has Many farmers in the South West Slopes region (and resulted in eroded streams and silt deposition, the latter elsewhere in the country) have struggled under encouraged by the widespread growing of willows. increasingly adverse conditions. My family has a property in the south-east, near Tooma, and we have Preserving the remaining areas of bushland that have had to step up our fight against weeds (notably the so far escaped a significant decline in biodiversity is blackberry), which infests pasture and modified clearly a priority, and several chapters in this Guide bushland alike. We have seen the loss of Red Gums to offer advice on conserving and protecting these leaf-eating lerps, and the death of many Stringybarks, remnants. Much of the region has been so extensively ring-barked by cattle in late winter, as they seek cleared that new plantings are required. The practical roughage to supplement short, succulent improved suggestions for revegetation planning, re-establishing pastures. The economic benefits of revegetation, the native vegetation, creek restoration and erosion control production of specialty timbers and native seeds, will be useful to landholders. Together with the agroforestry, and developing tourism opportunities are vegetation profiles and plant descriptions, the chapters discussed in the Guide, and will give landholders food on seed collection and propagation provide a sound for thought as prices continue to rise and farm incomes basis on which to undertake a revegetation project. continue to drop. While the region’s remnant vegetation is increasingly This book contributes significantly to overcoming one threatened, it is encouraging to see concern in the of our most pressing problems — the decline in native wider community. The Landcare movement in vegetation, and the corresponding lessening of particular has created great interest in revegetation and biodiversity. It is also immensely practical, and will retention of remnant vegetation. This, coupled with the enable landholders to make use of the information on heightened environmental awareness of us all, has conserving and extending remnant vegetation. contributed to a determination to do something — an objective that this Guide can help to achieve. Biodiversity is a term often used these days, although its meaning may not always be understood. The resilience of bushland, and indeed some of the production systems we have replaced it with, is dependent on its complexity. Indiscriminate burning, acknowledgements any people have assisted in producing this good humour. I am grateful to Faith Deanes who spent guide. I am particularly indebted to Karen many hours scanning illustrations and typing in M Walker for her diligent efforts compiling the vegetation profiles. Murrumbidgee vegetation profiles, providing constructive comments, information and enthusiasm, I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Gwen and assisting in many other ways. Harden, Ken Hill and Leonie Stanberg of the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, in identifying flora and I would like to thank all the authors who contributed responding to various vegetation queries over the life chapters and other material, in addition to constructive of this project, and to staff at the Australian National comments on drafts: Sue Brunskill; Louise Bull; Geoff Botanic Gardens including Anthony Whalen, for Burrows; Ian Davidson; John Delpratt; Martin Driver; advising on botanical name updates. Special thanks are Anthony Dufty; Judy Frankenberg; Dick Green; Ian also due to the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens for Lunt; Nicky Meeson; Jo Millar; Greg Moore; Digby generously providing all of the botanical illustrations. Race; Mark Sheahan; Ian Shears; Jann Williams. Thanks are due to Tony Dawson and Peter Barker for Stephen Platt from the Department of Natural generously giving their time to contribute details on Resources and Envionment is also thanked for making soils for the native vegetation profiles. available the wildlife illustrations. I am indebted to the many farmers, Landcare Special thanks are due to Jane Kaye for producing the members, Landcare Coordinators, Rural Lands maps, and to Stuart Lucas whose regional Protection Board rangers, plant nursery growers and subcatchment maps formed the basis for Jane to work others who took Karen and myself on vegetation tours from. Richard Skinner is thanked for providing the of their farms and districts, organised plant layout and landscape images for the vegetation identification field days or group catchment tours, profiles. I thank Clayton Murphy for illustrating some contributed knowledge and supported the project. of the chapters and practical information notes and Ev Without such community support and enthusiasm this Beissbarth for editing the text. Thanks are due to project would have been without foundation. Nicky Meeson for proof-reading much of the final draft. I am also grateful to all those who contributed I thank the following for their comments on drafts, for photographs for the guide. providing constructive criticism and encouragement: Louise Bull; Jann Williams; Leanne Wheaton; Mark Finally, special thanks go to Digby for his ideas, Sheahan; Annalese & Jan Willinck; Emmo Willinck; enthusiasm and encouragement, and to Annie, John, John Naimo; Noel & Kim Passalaqua; Tom Croft; Bob and Dot for their support. I'd like to make special Denis Martin; Colleen McRae; Bob Gay; Bill mention of my late Aunt — Marg Baker, who kindly Mulham; Roger Goode; Jim Webb; Nicky Meeson; provided several photographs, and shared a life-long Paul Scannell; Sue Rose; Ian Taylor; Bill Wells; John love of the local environment. Palmer; Sandy McGuire; Betty Loorham; Lyn Coulston; Sue Pugh; Marg Beirs; Richard Baker; Lyn Production of this guide was made possible by a grant & Francois Retief; Michael Bulle; Geoffrey Eastick; from the National Landcare Program (part of the Albury Field Naturalists including Anne Davies and Natural Heritage Trust) to the Murray Catchment Glenda Datson, and David Millsom. Management Committee and by financial support I would like to thank Bill Currans, coordinator of the from the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Murray Catchment Management Committee, for his Committee. Administrative support was provided by support and advice, and my colleagues at the the Department of Land and Water Conservation— Department of Land and Water Conservation, who Murray Region and Greening Australia—South West provided comments on drafts, general support and Slopes. about the contributors Sue Brunskill Martin Driver Sue’s background as a bush regenerator has seen her Martin is Regional Manager of Greening Australia, practicing and teaching Bush Regeneration at councils South West Plains at Deniliquin and partner in the and in TAFEs, coordinating Monument Hill Landcare, operation of a dryland pastoral property. His aim is for Albury and working with the Trust for Nature in North landholders to gain increasing knowledge, East Victoria. Sue’s interest lies primarily in bushland appreciation, skill and profit from the management of restoration and enhancement through raising their land’s natural resources, through information, awareness, education and ‘hands on’ practice. demonstration and incentives. Louise Bull Anthony Dufty Louise has worked in the vegetation management field Anthony is Associate Lecturer with the Environmental with Greening Australia in the Riverina and South Management Unit, Department of Geography and West Slopes. Louise is passionate about ‘growing, Environmental Science at Monash University. collecting, using, protecting, enjoying and helping Anthony has been active introducing analogue forestry others discover the wonders of indigenous vegetation’. to south eastern Australia, both on his property near Snake Valley (Victoria) and by facilitation with groups Geoff Burrows trialling the technique. Geoff is Senior Lecturer, School of Agriculture, Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga. His special Dick Green interest involves biodiversity assessment in the South Dick is Regional Manager of Greening Australia, West Slopes and assessment of the conservation value South