Friends of Trigg Bushland Inc. Tuart Project – preliminary report September 2009

1. Friends of Trigg Bushland Inc. Tuart Project – preliminary report September 2009

2. Trigg Bushland is comprised of three main areas, bisected by major roads, with very different soil and vegetation in each area.

3. The ‘Tuart Atlas’ recognised very few trees in Trigg Bushland – but we knew this was not correct.

4. There were huge, stately tuart trees….

5. …as well as many-trunked tuarts – almost mallees….

6. …and there many, many dead trees, usually fire damaged…

7. But to our surprise, there were hundreds of young tuart seedlings and juveniles !

8. Our tuart project Signboard in Trigg Bushland Website Tuart mapping

9. Signboard in Trigg Bushland

10. Website …find us at www.triggbushland.org.au

11. Tuart mapping 9 people at various times, surveying in pairs All amateurs Have received some assistance from secondary school students – particularly Hale School Duke of Edinburgh programme participants Used own equipment

12. GPS Digital camera Map Data collection sheet

13. Walk through the bush at 10 metre intervals, with GPS and camera…

14. Photos of tuarts are converted to GPS waypoints through the use of special software…

15. Details of each tree are taken by hand…

16. The waypoints are combined with the manual details into a database.

17. Some basic training is given to distinguish the eucalypt species…

18. Progress to February 2009

19. What have we learned? Surprising number of tuarts Surprising number of young trees Generally healthy condition of tuarts Most damage appears fire related ‘Middle aged and older’ tuarts missing – there are few large and old trees, and few trees ‘middle aged’ trees staged to take their place

20. All tuarts in Duart Arnott – shownin green –1099

21. Mature & Regrowth tuarts in Duart Arnott – shown ingreen – 647

22. Plus juvenile tuarts in Duart Arnott – shown inblue– 304

23. Plus seedling tuarts in Duart Arnott – shown in red –128

24. Tuarts in Duart Arnott by metre of height Most of the tuarts in this part of Trigg Bushland are very small – under 3 metres. There are very few large tuarts.

25. Tuarts in Duart Arnott by metre of height It is likely that the majority of tuarts in Duart Arnott have grown since the last major fire.

26. Tuarts in Duart Arnott by metre of height If another major fire were to occur, it is likely that only a few large, old tuarts would survive.

27. Tuarts in Duart Arnott by metre of height Reducing the frequency of fire is critical to maintaining a viable tuart population, as tuarts do not have a persistent seedbank in the soil.

28. How have our recommendations on management strategy changed? No need to plant trees – Trigg Bushland can regenerate by itself in most areas at present Protection of existing population – juvenile trees as well as mature trees - is first priority Fire control probably most important threat to address Secondary threats may be fungal (Phytophthera, Armillaria)

29. Issues coming out of discussions with DEC and THRG/Centre for Excellence for Forest Health: Completion of survey and analysis of data is required to draw final conclusions Fire history mapping Fire plan and liaison with CoS / FESA / local residents Seed collection and secure storage Inoculation of remaining mature trees to promote their seed-bearing life while next generation becomes fire-hardy

30. Come join us!