Upper Snowy Landcare Network (USLN) and Snowy Hydro (SH) have joined forces to initiate two novel conservation projects in the Snowy Monaro region.
Jannaya Ashelford, Senior Environmental Advisor from Snowy Hydro states, “We are delighted that our grant funds can assist in these two projects described below. They are unique in the fact they are both using the latest technology in conservation. We look forward to the results”.
Project Understorey has funded the Wagtail Natives Nursery, Berridale, to grow 900 local but less common native plants (mainly mid- and ground-storey species) to be planted into advanced USLN tree/shrub plots scattered across the dieback-affected areas on the Monaro.
The idea is to increase biodiversity based on the site’s original Plant Community Type (PCT). Using pre-clearing information, the NSW government has mapped and defined all plant community types (vegetation communities) across NSW. This means we know what plant assemblages are relevant to a location including a full species list.
Above: Project Understorey planting at Gegedzerick TSR
USLN project manager Lauren Van Dyke reports, “Our Snowy Monaro region contains 112 of these PCTs and they can all be found by downloading the TREES NEAR ME app on your phone. It is a fabulous easy way to find out what plant species or broader vegetation community occurs right under your feet – even if it is not currently intact”.
Hollow Homes is the second project using a state-of-the-art wood/tree boring technology called ‘Hollow Hog’ to create hollows for birds and small arboreal species. The boring device has received national attention as it creates hollows inside a living tree suited to specific species – fast-tracking a 100-year process being the time needed to form a hollow naturally.
Above: Surveying the site for suitable trees to form hollows in
Lauren Van Dyke, USLN Project Manager, states “we are excited to announce more than 30 of these hollows have been installed at the Gegedzerick Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR) as a trial to attract two threatened birds – the Gang Gang and Brown Treecreeper. We have our cameras out and look forward to updating the results on which birds take up residence and sharing the news with the community and conservation groups in the region”.
Above: A completed hollow
Above: A rosella inspects a newly formed hollow
Hollow Homes video can be watched here: https://fb.watch/xOtaMbOJzD
Keep an eye on our instagram page for visual updates on species taking up residence in the hollows. https://www.instagram.com/upper.snowy.landcare.network
