Bellarine Landcare Group Inc.
A0052798K
ABN 11 345 426 211
PO Box 431
Drysdale VIC 3222
Some Notes on Remnant Vegetation
2010-The International Year of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is defined as the variety of all life forms – the different plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems of which they form a part. Remnant vegetation
conserves a gene pool for all the plants and animals that live within the remnant patch. Biodiversity
conservation of certain suites of species is therefore dependent on the conservation of particular
remnant patches.
Many people on the Bellarine Peninsula are passionately committed to conserving the little remaining
bush and undertaking significant on-ground works as a means of returning degraded plant communities
to healthy communities of indigenous plants. The work involves fencing, weed control, pest animal
control and extensive planting of local native seedlings on private and public land and growing the
local species in its own nursery. Landholders have fenced creeks and established plantations working to
a "plan" to establish interconnecting corridors. Many thousands of volunteer hours have been and
continue to be put in working on public land in areas such as The Bellarine Rail Trail, Edwards Point,
Point Richards, Ocean Grove Reserve and foreshore reserves.
Consequently the Bellarine Landcare Group (BLG) wishes to reiterate its disgust at the damage done to
the trees in the remnant roadside vegetation on Princes Street, near Swan Bay Road, Drysdale. The
damage done is irreparable and BLG requires the strongest possible action to be taken against the
perpetrators. Given the signage, that is a conservation area, the action cannot be put down to ignorance.
If negotiations with VEMCO occur the BLG would wish to be involved and would also welcome the
Geelong Environment Council at the table. BLG believes that must be in keeping with the level of
destruction and the willful nature of what has happened.
Bellarine Landcare Group notes the fine imposed on the Colac Shire last year.
The Bush Broker program, a market based off-set scheme, set up to preserve native vegetation. Under
this program the market values remnant vegetation at between $50k and $250K per hectare. Based on
this and assuming the road side area is 2 Ha the value of the destruction could be put at maybe $300K.
It should be noted that even single trees in a paddock (without remnant vegetation around them) are
valued at $1000 each in the Bush Broker program. This would value the damage done at $140,000.
These figures do not represent an ambit claim because they could be said to be market values.
Bellarine Landcare wishes to explain why remnant vegetation is so important and has such a high
dollar value.
What is remnant vegetation?
Remnant vegetation or bushland is defined as patches of native trees, shrubs and grasses in a state that
could compare with their condition pre white settlement. Remnant vegetation can be any shape or size
and occurs on both private and public land.
In a healthy piece of remnant vegetation the natural tree cover remains and trees have a healthy foliage
cover, and there is a wide range of under storey plants. Regeneration of trees and other plants occurs
and there are there are old trees with hollows. There are fallen logs and timber.
The Princess Street roadside qualified in all respects.
106736351
Why conserve remnant vegetation?
Remnant native vegetation has a number of direct and indirect benefits. In line with ‘triple-bottom-line’
reporting, these benefits can be classed as environmental, social and economic.
Remnant vegetation on the Bellarine Peninsula is minimal due to clearing, dieback, overgrazing, weed
infestation and urbanization.
The small remnants of native vegetation that remain are very valuable ecologically as they are places
where our native flora and fauna can survive. They also complement some of the small areas of bush
that is protected through parks and reserves.
Native vegetation plots enhance property values and provide social benefits such as tourism, education
and recreation thus supporting our mental and physical health. They provide shelter for stock and
crops, and provide for natural pest control. They have the potential to act as carbon sinks that absorb
green house gas emissions and are a potential marketing opportunity for carbon and biodiversity
offsets. Importantly they contribute to the sense of place and cultural identity for all Australians.
The Understory
The under storey, the value of which is often underestimated refers to the native shrubs, grasses and
ground–cover plants and fungi living beneath the trees. It is in many ways the most important part of
the bush. Of all the plant species in a ‘good’ patch of remnant vegetation, the majority will be under the
trees. These shrubs, grasses and herbs, vines and mosses, climbers and ground covers and fungi are
vital to the health of that bushland.
Many native animals rely on the under storey for food and shelter; remnant vegetation may provide key
resources, such as food and shelter for native plants and animals. For example, remnants provide
shelter such as hollows in trees for possums or birds, and logs, branches and leaf litter on the ground
for reptiles and frogs. Without the under storey, the balance of nature has gone, and the benefits that
remnant vegetation provides is greatly diminished.
Threats to remnant vegetation
Human activities impact on and threaten the health and extent of remnant vegetation. The main threats
include:
• Loss and modification due to clearing for development and agriculture.
• Timber harvesting
• Bushfires and prescribed burning
• Pollution e.g. rubbish dumping
• Exotic plant and animal species
• Firewood collection
Principles of a Remnant Vegetation Management Strategy:





The retention of remnant vegetation in as large sized areas as possible.
Connecting existing areas of remnant vegetation.
The protection and enhancement of habitat corridors and links with other remnant vegetation.
The minimisation of any reduction in size of remnants and other actions that may erode their
values, i.e., clearing, construction of roads, trails and power lines, through them, excessive
burning, rubbish dumping, grazing, off-road vehicle activities.
The need to retain wetlands and in-stream vegetation and protective buffers to sustain water
quality.
106736351



The retention, where possible and practical of natural vegetation in close proximity to urban
communities to maximise the opportunity for interaction by the community with the natural
environment.
Establishment of an active management regime to ensure that natural processes are not hindered
and non-natural processes are minimised.
Careful planning and management of control burns will minimise the risk of fire and provide
the circumstances for the regeneration of some plant species. (This is an area of bush
management that is evolving and expertise needs to be sort to plan the appropriate regime for
each area of remnant vegetation.)
106736351