Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

A downbeat note for FOBIF’s walkers along Wewak track yesterday was the sight of yet more evidence of timber theft along this track.

Wewak Track, July 16: FOBIF has regularly reported destruction of this kind along the track.

Wewak track seems to be a favourite spot for timber thieves, and their efforts are threatening to strip this picturesque track of its better trees. Parks Victoria seems to be powerless to stop the destruction. Thieves operate comfortably, sure in the belief that the last person they can expect to see in this bush is a ranger: readers of this site will be familiar with our observations on the under resourcing of our parks.

We’ve been assured by Parks in the past that the problem is being tackled at the distribution end. The method doesn’t seem to be working: and of course things are not helped by the explosion in the cost of home heating….

The state government is running a consultation on its ‘Review of the kangaroo harvesting plan.’ You can participate by going here.

The plan, and the program it describes, is justified by the following:

‘Areas with large kangaroo populations can experience issues such as:

• traffic accidents
• damage to pasture, crops, gardens and fences caused by kangaroos
• negative impact on vulnerable native vegetation or areas undergoing revegetation due to kangaroo grazing
• competition for grazing with livestock on farming properties
• kangaroos becoming aggressive towards people, usually when individual animals have regular contact with humans (e.g. become used to being fed by humans).’

According to the consultation documents, aerial surveys show between 2 million and three million kangaroos in the state.

These aerial surveys don’t include numbers for heavily forested areas, for obvious reasons. The numbers, density and abundance [of Eastern Greys] are significantly higher in the Central Region [of which we’re a part] than in other regions.

As witness recent correspondence in our local press, kangaroo shooting is controversial. A very quick look at the dot points above will reveal that a large part of the kangaroo problem relates to human behaviour: traffic accidents could be reduced if people drove more slowly; the practice of feeding kangaroos in the wild is silly, and should be massively discouraged; competition with livestock could be reduced if water points were less available to kangaroos; and better planning of urban expansion would reduce the impact on kangaroo habitat.

In the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens reserve: a clear appreciation of the facts about kangaroo populations is fundamental to any decision about management.

All of the above would require serious adjustments in our culture. And, as we know, our culture is not great at making adjustments to accommodate nature. The very idea of reducing speed limits, for example, sends Vicroads into nervous fits.

But there remains the third dot point: the effect of high kangaroo numbers on other animals.

What is the effect of kangaroo population density on grasslands, and therefore on the other creatures that live in them? Research in the ACT in 2014 argued that ‘There was a strong negative relationship between kangaroo density and grass structure after controlling for tree canopy cover… Changes in grazing intensity (i.e. grass structure) significantly affected reptile abundance, reptile species richness, reptile species diversity, and the occurrence of several ground-dwelling reptiles.’

The 2016 state government discussion paper Protecting Victoria’s Environment—Biodiversity 2036 provocatively claimed that ‘High numbers of kangaroos can exert high grazing pressure on native plants and wildflowers, a bit like rabbits, and can destroy habitat that ground-dwelling native animals may need to survive.’ It also pointed out that kangaroos had increased in numbers owing to ‘the increase in reliable water supplies (e.g. stock watering) and pasture for grazing’. That is, that human activity has altered the environment with the effect of making it capable of carrying larger numbers of kangaroos than would naturally occur. These larger numbers are not confined to agricultural areas, but spread to bushland where their grazing does significant damage to understorey, with consequent effects on biodiversity.

Changes to our culture, or intervention to control numbers—or both? Both present challenges.

For culling, the two obvious problems are rogue shooters, and cruelty.

Though cautiously endorsing kangaroo culling in some instances, the RSPCA has pointed out very serious failings in the current system, and has urged ‘that any measures taken to reduce kangaroo populations should first be proven to be necessary (through a proper consideration of the reasons for control). They must be conducted humanely and be under the direct supervision of the appropriate government authorities (as part of an approved kangaroo management program). Effective monitoring and auditing of such programs is vital to ensure that these conditions are met.’

‘Effective monitoring and auditing’ seems like a good policy at all levels of this debate. The key is in the word ‘effective.’

It’s significant that the reporting of the ACT research project on the Conversation website brought some objections criticising the validity of the research procedures, and therein lies another challenge: getting wide community consensus on what the facts are, based on the best science.

Interestingly, the 2016 Biodiversity paper also referred to increased human population as a problem for the environment, but did not pursue the theme…another contentious question on which considered, clear reflection and maybe some ‘auditing and monitoring’ might be revealing.

But one thing at a time. The consultation is open till July 11. Have a go.

Nearly 4,000 cars take the Midland Highway through Campbells Creek every day. It’s a fair bet few of the drivers notice the row of trees along the east side of the highway opposite Moscript street. Well, it’s not a good idea for drivers to be gazing anywhere except at the road, of course. But if you happen to be in that area, pause and take a look: you’ll see a row of possibly the biggest Silver Banksias in the district.

Main Road/Midland Highway, Campbells Creek: that row of trees you may not have noticed is a sign of something pretty significant…

Planted by Friends of Campbells Creek over 20 years ago, some of them have reached an impressive size…and they’ve been flowering for weeks now. You can’t appreciate that part unless you actually stop and have a good look.

…especially if you get up close and have a good look.

It’s worth it: and it’s a small sign of a process of healing the damage done to the region when this species was practically eradicated here over a century ago. Banksias used to be widespread in this region. Seeing healthy specimens along Campbells and Forest creeks is a hopeful sign of better times to come?

The Department of Environment’s latest Draft Fuel Management Program is out for consultation. An interactive map, which you can access here. shows the location of planned burns. Click on a location and you’ll see where and when management burns are planned. You’ll have to concentrate, because unfortunately important tracks are not easily found on the map.

We urge you to check the map, find proposed burns near you, and put in a considered point of view to Loddonmallee.plannedburning@delwp.vic.gov.au.

Large Leaf Bush-pea (Pultenaea daphnoides): this is the largest of our local bush-peas, and is rare in our region. One of its strongholds is near the Sugarbag extension track, bang in the middle of a planned burn area. Will fire officers take this into account?

Major planned burns in this region include those around the Maldon Railway, Wewak Track, Dingo Park Road, Railway dam, Irishtown Track and Sugarbag Extension track. There is a proposed burn along Bells Lane track in the Muckleford forest, overlapping with the fuel break along this track.

A burn is also planned along Salt Water Track, in an area covered by walk 13 in FOBIF’s guide 20 Bushwalks in the Mount Alexander region. We suggest readers go out and have a look at this very beautiful patch of bush: those who do will be able to do a ‘before and after’ comparison when the exercise is finished.

This program is an extension of the Joint Fuel Management plan 2022-5. Some additions have been added to that plan. You can find a detailed rationale for the program in its informative 50 page document Loddon Mallee Bushfire Management Strategy 2020  Unlike many such documents, this one is informative and worth a look.

As our readers will know, the question of management burning is fraught. FOBIF will be making a detailed submission, and as in the past, we’ll be emphasising that the Department should stick to its own rules: be informed by its past monitoring; avoid excess track gouging; avoid bringing down valuable habitat trees; pay attention to sensitive areas in and near the fire zone…Attention to detail is the challenge, and any amount of strategic thinking won’t make up for lack of it…

A smallish group tackled FOBIF’s June walk yesterday, on a circuitous route around The Monk, taking in many of the more notable mining sites of the area. The weather was fine and cool with extensive patches of sunshine: perfect for walking. The bush is looking pretty healthy with rampant regrowth of Golden Wattle, among other species. It will be spectacular in the season–and Golden Wattles are already starting to flower.

In the Eureka Mine zone: one day this could be world heritage!

The route chosen crossed the Eureka Mine site, but ventured into some obscure but fascinating corners: in fact, it could be argued that the interest of the mining history of this region is in its abandonment, the fact that much of what remains is not signposted, and has to be found by adventurous explorers, not tourists with a map.

‘Now, what’s this about quartz?’ Part of the FOBIF group wondering about the gold question.

Our thanks to Lionel Jenkins and Barb Guerin, for devising a route which took in some really isolated, thought provoking sites.

Next month FOBIF is offering two walks: a long and a short! Check the program for details.

Winter’s coming, the days are shorter: maybe it’s easier to concentrate than when you’re lounging around in the sun. Here are FOBIF’s recommendations for some cold weather reading. We didn’t organise it this way, but we’re not surprised to find that the common theme in these items is: we need to know more.

A new book, Biodiversity Impacts and Lessons from 2019-2020, edited by: Libby Rumpff, Sarah Legge, Stephen van Leeuwen, Brendan Wintle, John Woinarski brings together ‘contributions from more than 200 scientists and experts. It provides the most comprehensive assessment yet of how the fires affected biodiversity and Indigenous cultural values, and how nature has recovered.’

You can find an account of the book on the Conversation website, but here’s a list of (unsurprising) conclusions:

1. Natural systems are already stressed

2. We don’t know what, or where, all species are

3. Emergency responders don’t have enough information

4. Biodiversity usually comes last

5. Conservation funding is grossly insufficient

6. First Nations knowledge has been sidelined

These conclusions have something pretty sobering in common: we don’t know enough about natural systems, and don’t make use of what knowledge we have. Should we be surprised by these conclusions? In any case, below are a couple of books that might be a start in improving our knowledge.

 Alison Pouliot’s new book, Underground lovers—encounters with fungi  has been described as ‘taking fungal storytelling to a whole new level’, and that’s pretty right: but the ‘stories’ are not just there to entertain. They are entertaining, of course, but the book is serious: a powerful argument for a better understanding of fungi and the part they play in keeping us all alive.

That last phrase may seem strange, given that humanity’s default position on fungi is as a menace to be eliminated—look at the number of products available encouraging us to wage war on them. Alison Pouliot is savage on this, as she is on the tendency of humanity to see nature as an enemy. Take this: ‘…the Queensland (poisons information) centre’s 2019 report records insecticides as causing almost three times as many calls as the insects themselves. In Victoria in 2018, there were 226 calls for suspected mushroom poisoning, fewer than those for soap, glow necklaces or nappy rash products.’

Fruiting body of Lepiota haemorrhagica amongst Breutelia moss, Welsh Village. Pouliot suggests that the lack of common names for fungi is a sign of lack of appreciation…

One approach to this book is to see it as a reflection on language. Alison asks Yorta Yorta elder Aunty Greta Morgan if there is a Yorta Yorta name for the white dyeball. ‘We don’t have a name because our ancestors were forbidden from speaking language…and passing on knowledge about land…’ Loss of words is loss of knowledge, and one of the interesting themes here is on the nature of Indigenous knowledge systems, the ways they differ from and overlap with Western science. She discusses the efforts of mycologist Peter Buchanan to collate and systematise Maori knowledge of fungi, and fill gaps left in lost traditions. ‘Language is one key to unlocking historical knowledge of fungi. Peter and his team, and Sonia and the Yorta Yorta elders, are gradually reviving it, one fungus at a time.’

Indigenous people are not alone in having to deal with language gaps, says Alison: ‘The lack of vernacular terms for fungi in the English language means these organisms lack not only our awareness but our regard.’ It’s hard to argue with this. Lack of knowledge is a major theme here, and it’s closely linked to lack of appreciation.

There’s plenty more in this book, to go on with: you’ll find a few extra reasons to be annoyed by leaf blowers, or disturbed by clearfelling of forests, or worried by those beautiful Fly Agarics, ‘the world’s most photographed fungus’. There are intriguing reflections on the importance of protection of remnant vegetation, and inspiring stories of people who are delving into the mysteries of fungi—of which there are many.

And there’s the story of the three goths in a coffin, in a hearse, drinking champagne. You’ll have to get the book to check that one out.