Celebrate
Rainforest in Kalimna on National Tree Day
On Sunday 2 August
at 10am members of the community are invited to learn about their local
rainforest in Lakes Entrance, while having the opportunity to plant a tree for
National Tree Day. There is a small pocket of highly significant rainforest in
Kalimna which contains both Warm Temperate Rainforest (endangered in
Victoria)
and Littoral Rainforest (critically endangered nationally). The East Gippsland
Rainforest Conservation Management Network are joining forces with the Colquhoun
North-Arm Landcare Group to host a family friendly event to allow the community
to learn about and celebrate this beautiful place.
On the day there
will be an opportunity to walk through the site with the respected botanist Bill
Peel, who will lead a ‘walk and talk’ tour highlighting important species of
plants and animals. For example the site is host to the rare Jointed Mistletoe
(Korthalsella rubra) which is the food source for the young
Yellow-spotted Jezabel butterfly, and who as adults feed on the nectar of
Yellowwood a local native citrus tree. The interaction between these species is
still poorly known at this site and this offers a good opportunity for local
science students to undertake research projects. In addition the Swift Parrot
and Grey-headed Flying Fox (both nationally threatened), use these rainforests
in East Gippsland, as do Powerful Owls, Sooty Owls and the White-bellied
Sea-eagle (which are all listed as vulnerable species in Victoria).
Nearly all of the
rainforest types of south eastern Australia have been depleted since European
occupation and all are threatened. Depletion has occurred often as a result of
landuse (forestry, urbanisation, agriculture, recreation etc), where the impacts
are sometimes obvious (loss of particular stands, weed invasion and disease).
Other impacts are much more subtle (edge effects, loss of genetic diversity,
fragmentation, stand isolation, landscape-scale changes, fire frequency, extent
and intensity), the full impacts of which may not be known for decades or even
centuries,” said Bill Peel, a leading rainforest botanist. “This event is one
way that local people can become involved, help to repair our damaged and
threatened rainforests and at the same time learn more about them.”
Tree planting and
some weeding will also be undertaken on the site, and there will a BBQ lunch
provided on the day. Meet from 10am onwards near the jetty carpark at the end
of Jetty Road in Kalimna on Sunday 2 August. Bring sturdy shoes, insect
repellent, drinks and gardening gloves.
Further
information about the day can be found on the website at
www.treeday.planetark.com
or by contacting Peter Murrell on mobile 0417 557 114 or email
Facilitator@egrainforest.org.au
