The Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mick Gentleman has announced that 7,000 Blakely’s Red Gum seedlings are being planted across the ACT to improve endangered Box-Gum woodland habitat and better understand how native species adapt to climate change.
Mr Gentleman said the plantings trial seeds were collected from Blakely’s Red Gums in NSW, Queensland and Victoria to see if they are less susceptible to the stresses the local populations face in the ACT, including ‘dieback’, a condition which can deteriorate the health of Box-Gums in the ACT.
“Our region is home to a fantastic array of established Box-Gum environments and Blakely’s Red Gums are a key component of woodlands that are spread throughout the ACT,” Mr Gentleman said.
“Box-Gum woodlands provide important habitat for many of the ACT’s native wildlife including the critically endangered superb parrot and vulnerable little eagles.”
He said the trials were a collaborative effort between the ACT Government and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), with early project planning and seed collection done in partnership with Greening Australia.
“Up to 3,500 seedlings are being planted in Kowen Forest, 1,500 on rural land at Tidbinbilla Station, a further 1,500 at CSIRO’s Ginninderra Station and an additional 850 will be planted in the Naas Valley on rural land,” he said.
“The trials will provide valuable information on how Red Gums from different locations grow into mature trees under a changing climate.”
Mr Gentleman said the trials will also explore hollow formations which, he said, were future homes for native animals and ideal for breeding and nesting.
