After black summer devastation, Wangarabell Valley landowners fighting to save plant native only to Genoa River region inspire adoption of new bushfire recovery grants led by Landcare of $ 50,000.

With funding from Landcare last year, Cann Valley Landcare Group / Far East Gippsland Landcare Network has planned major restoration work after the fire that broke out in January 2020. Among the enormous loss of flora and fauna, the Genoa Correa river, which was brought back from the brink in 2012, had been wiped out – except for one last batch of plants.

“Of course there may have been others, but last year we only know of a small batch which luckily could be a source of cuttings, propagation and replanting,” explained Virginia Fitzclarence of Cann Valley Landcare. “There was significant regeneration in 2012 with spread along riverbanks and riparian areas, but the fire burned everything down. Our hope was therefore to regenerate the Genoa Correa river and other local species with native plant restoration experts to propagate 300 correas and 700 other local species such as callistemon, kanuka and gray box.

Virginia explained that the regeneration of the Correa has turned out to be more complex and will take longer than expected. “There is no evidence of regeneration of the Correa by natural means, but our supporters have taken 300 cuttings from the Genoa Correa river from local sources from the original batch of plants that were planted to regenerate the area there. a few years. This first batch of cuttings was not a great success due to the unexpected heat, but we will have 150 plants ready to plant in the spring of 2021. “

In parallel with the regeneration of the plant, the group completed more than 5 kilometers of fences protecting the concession area, the riparian strip and the national forest, while more than 50 bird nesting boxes were built and installed to house animals in danger, especially the turquoise parrot and the mighty owl.

With applications now open for the Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants, offering up to $ 50,000 for Black Summer habitat restoration work, Virginia is encouraging other environmental organizations to apply. “It was a huge undertaking and, as non-governmental organizations, we were able to achieve a lot of management results on the ground with this funding. Eighteen months after the fires, there is still a lot to do here at the scene of the blaze, so Landcare funds can go a long way towards preserving our unique species and biodiversity. “

Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants program funding is now available with up to $ 50,000 in grants available to groups and organizations in areas including East Gippsland affected by Black Summer bushfires, as well as $ 300,000 for partnership projects.

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