RESTORING OUR LANDSCAPE A BASIC REVEGETATION GUIDE FOR FIRE-AFFECTED AREAS OF TASMANIA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONTENTS This booklet was originally produced by the DISCLAIMER INTRODUCTION 02 Upper Goulburn Landcare Network. It was kindly The information contained in this guide is provided FIRE AFFECTED AREAS 03 given to the Tasman Landcare Group to adapt with good intent and may be of assistance to you, but neither the author nor the Upper Goulburn Landcare to benefit fire affected areas of Tasmania. Network or the Tasman Landcare Group guarantee the TO PLANT OR NOT TO PLANT 04 This booklet has been funded under the publication is without flaw or is wholly suitable for your WHY PLANT? 06 Australian Government’s Caring for our Country particular purpose, and therefore do not accept any (CFOC) Program, with assistance from Landcare liability for loss or damage that may arise as a result of WHERE TO PLANT 08 you or any other person applying or making use of this Tasmania and NRM South. information. WHEN TO PLANT 09 Thanks to Chris Cobern, Landcare Coordinator © Tasman Landcare Group HOW TO PLANT 10 Upper Goulburn Landcare Network and the WHAT TO PLANT 12 Upper Goulburn Landcare Network for allowing the usage of the booklet and to Oliver Strutt PLANT SELECTION LIST 14 (Understorey Network), Margie Jenkin (Landcare SELECTING YOUR PLANTS 20 Tasmania) and NRM South for their valuable advice and assistance. INFORMATION 25 Compilation and coordination of original content: David Wakefield. Alterations for Tasmanian version: Jennifer Milne, Tasman Landcare Group. Cover photographs: Jennifer Milne, Tasman Landcare Group. WE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR VALUED PROJECT PARTNERS 01 INTRODUCTION FIRE AFFECTED AREAS BICHENO The January 2013 fires left PURPOSE many landowners in need of The purpose of this booklet is to provide landholders with practical advice and information and advice on guidelines to allow them to make informed SWANSEA how best to revegetate their decisions on species selection and how, GREAT when and where to plant, and even whether OYSTER BAY fire-ravaged properties. Freycinet to plant at all, on fire-affected land. National While there are revegetation guides There were numerous fires across the state of Tasmania on January Park already published, they are detailed and The booklet aims to encourage, where 4th 2013, below are the approximate locations of the three main comprehensive, do not deal with post-fire appropriate, the planting, retention and areas where private land was affected. The information in this booklet recovery and are not specific to the fire protection of local indigenous species. has been kept general to the whole of Tasmania so it can be utilised affected areas of Tasmania. in other areas affected by fire. SCOPE After the February 2009 Victorian Kilmore The guide is primarily directed at landholders East and Murrindindi fires, fire-recovery in fire-affected rural areas of Tasman, coordinators with the Upper Goulburn Sorell, Glamorgan Spring Bay and Central OUSE Landcare Network (UGLN) felt there was a Highlands Municipalities. It is not intended TRIABUNNA need for a simple, concise, free reference for garden or home landscaping design. HAMILTON guide that landowners could readily turn to Maria Island when planning revegetation on their property. It is a basic guide only, and designed to National This guide was designed to fill that need. complement more detailed publications. Park Landholders wanting more information BRIGHTON The Tasman Landcare Group has recognised are referred to References on page 25. BRIDGEWATER RICHMOND the same need for those affected by the NEW NORFOLK SORELL 2013 fires and have adjusted the guide to be THE ROLES OF LANDCARE AND NRM suitable for use in Tasmania. Landcare, Natural Resource Management DUNALLEY (NRM) and other ‘care’ groups, have had, Hobart and will continue to have, an important RICHMOND MURDUNNA part in the restoration of our landscape. Revegetation can be a daunting task for KINGSTON individuals working alone. By working together as a group on both private and public land, community Tasman members can achieve a great deal and National Park foster a sense of community. STORM BAY Those involved in Landcare and NRM have been working since the fires with volunteers on projects involving fencing, erosion control, DOVER ADVENTURE BAY weed eradication, installing nest boxes and planting. BRUNY ISLAND 02 03 TO PLANT OR NOT TO PLANT DID YOU KNOW... After the 2009 Victorian fires, After the fires, the instinctive WHAT TO LOOK FOR IDENTIFY AND PROTECT Rangers at Kinglake National reaction of many people to Native plants have a range of survival Now is a good time to try and identify the Park reported finding plants techniques in response to fire: various native plants you have - there not recorded for 30 years, and the blackened wasteland that may even be rare or threatened species even some never previously was once their cherished • Trunk and branch growth. Many eucalypts among them. recorded. landscape was that it would have dormant epicormic buds deep never be the same again, beneath the bark that can readily sprout For help with identification there are many and the damage would need after fire - you have no doubt noticed the native plant books available, but with new many tufts of new green foliage on burnt young growth you may need help from repairing by widespread tree trunks. Some of these will gradually government agency staff or members of your MANAGING REGROWTH planting. break off, while others will develop into a local Landcare or Field Naturalists group. Unfortunately fire can also trigger new branched canopy. Some plants, such germination of many weeds and these also As we are already seeing, this is not as tree ferns and grass trees, shoot very In the early stages of regeneration after fire, need to be identified and controlled. necessarily the case - Australian plants soon after fire from their dense fibrous new growth is fragile and susceptible to are remarkably resilient. trunks. physical damage, as is the soil and ash bed Bear in mind that regrowth of some natives created by the fire. So it is important to keep can be vigorous and appear weedy, e.g. • Basal growth. Often the above-ground part NATURAL REGENERATION stock and vehicles off burnt areas as much fireweeds/groundsels (Senecio spp.) and of a plant may not survive a fire, but new If you have areas of remnant vegetation, as possible. Kangaroo Apple, so correctly identifying growth can shoot from buds at the base especially high quality remnants, that were indigenous plants is important. burnt, even severely burnt, it is best to delay of the trunk or stem, eg most eucalypts have a woody swelling partly below ground any thoughts of planting in those areas and Regrowth can be quite thick after fire, but called a lignotuber that contains buds and wait to see what regenerates naturally. the density will gradually be reduced as food reserves. Grasses can also resprout dominant species and individual plants from basal buds. Where the fire was particularly intense, take over. this regeneration may take some years and • Suckering. Regrowth from root suckers supplementary planting may be needed can occur up to several metres from the Depending on the species present, and the to restore the original complexity of the parent plant - many wattle and pea species intention for the natural regeneration area, bushland. regenerate this way. there may be a case for some ecological thinning or pruning in the future. • Sprouting from bulbs, corms or tubers. Many lilies and orchids can regenerate this way. In fact, some orchids may only ever be seen after a major fire. • Seedlings. Fire causes many native plants to release seed and take advantage of the more open conditions and nutrient rich ash bed. The heat of fire can also trigger germination by cracking hard seeds in the leaf litter or that have been buried by ants. 04 05 WHY PLANT? DID YOU KNOW... Research shows that at Apart from remnant bushland, least 30% native vegetation EROSION which will gradually recover, cover across the landscape Some areas on your property that may be susceptible to erosion from rain and wind are there are many other areas that is required to halt the decline steep hills and gullies, and ground damaged will benefit from revegetation, in woodland bird species. or left bare during the fires by intense heat and many reasons to consider and/or heavy machinery. planting on your property. Fencing off and planting can help stabilise these areas. New plant roots bind the soil, WILDLIFE HABITAT WATERWAYS and the plant canopy provides shade and ECONOMIC BENEFITS The loss of vegetation cover due to the Fencing off streams and revegetating the some protection from wind and rain. Appropriate farm forestry plantings can have fires and subsequent clean-up operations banks (riparian zone) with indigenous commercial value as high quality saw logs, represents, at least in the short term, a vast species can have great benefits in terms of Plants also provide leaf-litter on the ground specialty timbers or firewood. reduction in habitat available for wildlife. bank stability, water quality and improved which acts as a physical protective barrier Many old trees with nesting hollows were biodiversity. over the soil and allows nutrient cycling to Other commercial opportunities that may be destroyed, and there was widespread loss begin again as the litter breaks down. considered are native plants for oil, edible of shrubs, ground cover and leaf litter Make sure that woody weeds, such as seed or cut flowers and foliage. which many animals depend on for shelter blackberry, gorse, African boxthorn, sweet SHELTER and food. briar and willows, are controlled well before Revegetation plantings can provide shade AESTHETIC VALUE starting any streamside revegetation project.