BUSH BushTRACKS Heritage Australia’s quarterly magazine for active conservation In fiery footsteps There are more than 6000 patches of Rainforests are a lesser-known feature “So I decided to follow it.” rainforest on Wunambal Gaambera of this landscape, famed for its rugged “After no more than a couple of country, for which fire can be both coastlines and spectacular gorges. minutes, there it was, behind a hill – protector and destroyer. But thanks to Stefania’s research, the rainforest I was after.” initiated and funded by the Wunambal The sun was low in the sky when Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation Wunambal Gaambera people call the Stefania Ondei finally decided to (WGAC), it’s now been revealed there rainforest on their country ‘wulo’. It is call it a day. An Italian PhD student are more than 6000 patches scattered home to about 25 percent of northern lured to the Kimberley by a scientific across it. Kimberley plant species, including challenge, Stefania, alongside Uunguu food and medicine plants, and They had all but given up hope of Rangers, was looking for a tiny patch threatened or endemic animals like the finding the particular patch they were of rainforest in the remote savannah Golden-backed Tree-rat and Rough- looking for, until a pigeon appeared grasslands of Wunambal Gaambera scaled Python. country, the Uunguu Indigenous nearby. “I was once told that some Protected Area, in far-north pigeon species of the northern Western Australia. Kimberley are predominantly found Continued on page 4 in rainforests,” says Stefania. Summer 2017 BushHeritage.org.au From the CEO and effective right-way fire regimen. The cover story (p.4) for this edition In this issue of Bush Tracks explores how that fire regimen is helping to protect more than 04 In fiery footsteps There are over 6000 patches 6000 patches of rainforest, or ‘wulo’, from of rainforest on Wunambal devastating late dry-season wildfires. Gaambera country, many of On the other side of the country, in which could be devastated by far north Queensland, Bush Heritage uncontrolled wildfires. In Australia, caring for country requires is contributing to the protection of 05 Coming together for having people on the ground. Aboriginal rainforest by another means – through Flashjacks Australians have been caring for this our work controlling and reducing Bush Heritage volunteers get country for tens of thousands of years, the spread of one of the world’s worst hands on in the annual survey and they have both the knowledge invasive weeds (p.8). Siam Weed has of Flashbacks, or Bridled Nailtail and the skills to manage many of the the potential to smother Australia’s Wet Wallabies, on Avocet Nature environmental challenges facing us, from Tropics World Heritage Area, home to Refuge in Queensland. wildfires, to feral animals and invasive exceptionally high levels of plant and 06 Dealing with the devil weeds. But caring for Australia’s vast animal diversity. Our long-term, creative Siam Weed has remained landscapes requires resources. and multifaceted approach to Siam Weed relatively contained in Australia, control on the adjacent Yourka Reserve but it has the potential to cause The federal government’s announcement has significantly reduced that threat. catastrophic ecological damage of $30 million in additional funding if left unchecked. for Indigenous rangers will leverage the As we look to the end of the year, we contributions that Bush Heritage already also look to the end of an era. I would 08 Letting the land breathe makes to many Indigenous ranger like to thank Louise Sylvan for her Annie and Ian Mayo have spent groups across Australia. On Wunambal service as president of Bush Heritage the last two and a half years Gaambera country, we are now seeing Australia over the past eight years, and pulling down fences across what is possible when groups such as the take this chance to welcome our new Australia as part of their mission Wunambal Gaambera Uunguu Rangers Board President, Chris Grubb. to free the land. are well-resourced. 09 Moth catchers Wishing you a safe and happy summer, Glenn Cocking and Suzi Bond The recent five-year review of the spend two nights moth catching Wunambal Gaambera Healthy Country on Scottsdale Reserve to gain Plan found that Uunguu Rangers are an insight into these important implementing a highly sophisticated Gerard O’Neill, Chief Executive pollinators and sources of food. 2 Bush Tracks | Summer 2017 Opposite: Wunambal Gaambera coast. Photo by Peter Morris. Above: Chris Grubb (left) and Paperbark Profile Forest (right). Photos by Annette Ruzicka Chris Grubb, President, Are there any particular experiences Bush Heritage Australia in nature that have had a lasting Bush Heritage Australia impact on you? acknowledges the Traditional Position commenced: August 2017 There are many, but one that’s stuck Owners of the places in which Joined the Board: June 2011 with me took place on Bush Heritage’s we live, work and play. Interests: Keen birdwatcher and Naree Station Reserve, up near the naturalist Cover image: Uunguu Ranger NSW-Queensland border. I was with Jason Adams. Photo courtesy of Bush Heritage’s new President, a group of people walking through the Wunambal Gaambera Chris Grubb, has supported the the landscape, and we stopped at a Aboriginal Corporation. organisation for more than 14 years, Coolabah Tree. Gerard O’Neill, our Contributors: Bron Willis, Shannon six of those through service on the Chief Executive, said to us, “this tree is Verhagen and Amelia Caddy Board and several Board committees. probably around five or six-hundred- Design by violadesign.com.au With a background in the investment years-old”. The tree was full of swallow industry and experience as a director nests, spiders’ webs, and insects of all Bush Heritage Australia Level 1, 395 Collins Street of several other public and non-profit kinds. I remember thinking, ‘this tree organisations, Chris will guide Bush PO Box 329 Flinders Lane has seen hundreds of years of evolution Melbourne, Vic. 8009 Heritage’s growth and leadership under take place and it’s still standing here its new strategic plan. But he also has a today – still providing a home for all T: 1300 NATURE (1300 628 873) strong appreciation for the bush, and is kinds of birds and insects – and we are T: (03) 8610 9100 driven by a personal vision to see helping to protect it so it can continue F: (03) 8610 9199 the natural world protected for to do so’. E: [email protected] generations to come. W: www.bushheritage.org.au Why do you support Bush Heritage? How did you first become involved In supporting Bush Heritage, I am with Bush Heritage? doing something that I think is This publication uses 100% About 15 years ago, I was invited to absolutely vital: protecting the birds, the post-consumer waste recycled a Bush Heritage presentation. I came bees, the bush and the flowers so that fibre, made with a carbon neutral away from that presentation feeling our children and our children’s children manufacturing process, using totally inspired. It was pretty clear to have the pleasure of hearing, seeing and vegetable-based inks. me then that Bush Heritage was on smelling the same things that we have a path to making a real difference to been able to experience in our lifetimes. conservation in this country. Bush Tracks | Summer 2017 3 Continued from cover Left: Uunguu Ranger Jason Adams with Healthy Country Manager Tom Vigilante. Photo by Annette Ruzicka Right: Wulo on the Wunambal Gaambera coastline. Photo by Peter Morris Many patches of wulo are less than one fire’ to safeguard against the most “Now that the rainforests have been hectare in size. Aside from making damaging aspects of wildfire: their mapped, we can actually have their them very difficult to find, their size and their ferocity. locations in front of us on a tablet when small size means those patches are rangers are doing aerial burning in the “Our ancestors used right-way fire from exceptionally vulnerable to wildfire. helicopter,” he says. generation-to-generation”, says Neil For many millennia, ancestors of the Waina, Uunguu Head Ranger. “They “They can have the information right Wunambal Gaambera people burned passed their knowledge to us and we will at their fingertips about where they are their country in the early dry-season. pass it down to the next generation.” and how they might apply fire in that This practice reduced fuel loads and area to look after the rainforest.” Neil says his people feel good doing created fire breaks, which in turn these burns because they return the Speaking over the phone from her office reduced the number and severity of country to good health. But late dry- at the University of Tasmania, Stefania naturally lit late dry-season wildfires – season burns, or wildfires, are different. reflects on what she’s learned about the kind that can destroy a small this landscape through her research. patch of wulo. “When you see late season Ultimately, she says, its past, present Traditional fire walks largely ceased burning, the country isn’t looking and future are all inextricably tied to when Wunambal Gaambera people good. If there’s a hot fire, hardly the Wunambal Gaambera people. were moved off their land in the early anything will grow in that area... “The country takes care of them, 20th century to missions. But that’s now No hunting, no life.” and they take care of country.” changing. In 2011, Wunambal Gaambera people's native title over their country Since 2011, Uunguu Rangers with was recognised and a partnership was support from Bush Heritage have formed between Bush Heritage and more than halved the number of late the WGAC.