Australian_Geographic_-_October_2015_

28 Australian Geographic

T

HERE WAS a time when a vast

eucalypt wilderness, forming the

backbone of a complex ecosys-

tem, stretched across great swathes of

south-eastern Australia, from southern

Queensland through New South Wales

to western Victoria. Since the first

European settlers arrived, 95 per cent of

this unique habitat – grassy woodlands

of yellow box, white box and/or Blakely’s

red gum – has been lost through

grazing and clear-felling for pasture.

It once covered at least 80,000sq.km,

but only about 4000sq.km remain, just

1 per cent of which is of high quality.

About 75km south of Canberra, Bush

A revegetation project involving hundreds of volunteers is helping to

bring back one of Australia’s most endangered grassland ecosystems.

Sprouting success

Heritage Australia’s Scottsdale Reserve

is the site of a huge effort to reclaim this

habitat and rescue the endangered

species it supports. One-quarter of this

1328ha reserve, which was once cleared

for pasture, has become overrun with

weeds such as African lovegrass. The

aim is to restore it to its former glory,

where yellow box once towered over

tussock grasses, such as kangaroo and

snow grass, and other patchy vegetation,

including peas, daisies and lilies.

In the scattered areas where it

remains, this woodland type is crucial

habitat for 400 native plants and many

native animals, including the endangered

At risk. Rare gum

woodland habitat

protects the criti-

cally endangered

plains-wanderer.

Scottsdale

Reserve

SYDNEY

NEW SOUTH WALES

CONSERVATION

Support network. Yellow box

trees are keystones in a habitat

that provides refuge for many

endangered species.

LEFT:JULIAN ROBINSON / FLICKR /

Pedionomus torquatus

; TOP: MATTHEW FRAWLEY / FLICKR /

Eucalyptus melliodora