Title: Councils unite to protect grassy woodlands from weeds
[Shepparton News 29 Dec 2010, p. 4 by Chloe Warburton] -- Roadside areas in parts of north-east and northern Victoria are receiving special attention as part of a major conservation project in the region. Seven local councils are undertaking targeted weed control along roadside areas as part of a $3 million Australian Government Caring for Our Country project, which aims to protect threatened grassy woodlands, one of Australia’s most poorly conserved working with catchment management authorities to coordinate Chilean needle grass and blackberry control along key roadside areas. More than 144 ha have been treated so far.
North East Catchment Management Authority threatened grassy woodlands project officer Mary Munro said roadside areas were home to some of the most important threatened grassy woodlands remnant sites in the region. "Threatened grassy ecosystems. These include white box, yellow box, Blakelys red gum woodland, weeping myall and buloke woodlands. Once widespread throughout eastern and south-eastern Australia, fewerthan five percent of these woodlands remain in good condition.
Greater Shepparton City Council, Benalla Rural City Council, Wodonga City Council, Indigo Shire Council, Rural City of Wangaratta, Towong Shire Council and Murrindindi Shire Council are woodlands are of national significance," Ms Munro said. "They provide much of the seed used to revegetate farmland and other modified areas, protect stock, crops and pasture from heat, cold and wind and provide high intensity, short duration grazing opportunities. "They are also essential for the survival of rare and threatened species such as the superb parrot, regent honeyeater, the swift parrot and squirrel gliders." The Threatened Grassy Woodlands project is funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative and supported by the north east, Goulburn Broken and Murray catchment management authorities, the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment and Primary Industries, the Australian National University, Trust for Nature and the Nature Conservation Trust.
Article: WeedsNews1490 (permalink) Categories: :WeedsNews:roadside weeds, :WeedsNews:councils Date: 29 December 2010; 10:21:56 AM AEDT