Bush Regeneration

91 Bush Regeneration

Both locally and internationally, ecological restoration is referred to as the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.

It involves various activities described as revegetation, rehabilitation, bush regeneration or native vegetation restoration. The SEQ Regional Plan 2009 – 2031 is the most relevant document that provides policy, code, legislative framework and best practice principles for our area to guide restoration activities. It incorporates measurable targets aligned with desired regional outcomes for specific types of habitat such as beaches, remnant and woody vegetation, vegetation fragmentation and connectivity, and waterway restoration. It also provides guidance specifically for a Koala Plan.

Maintaining maximum biodiversity and ecological functioning, while reducing or eliminating threats to these natural processes are the overarching goals of bush regeneration.

Activities that help to achieve these goals include control of environmental weeds, the re-establishment of wildlife corridors, and streambank stabilisation. Choosing the appropriate approach relies heavily on an understanding of the type and extent of damage to the original ecosystem. Sometimes a combination of approaches is needed. Both revegetation and assisted regeneration techniques were employed along Toc Toc Trail.

In bush regeneration, a “reference ecosystem” is selected to help develop restoration objectives. The Land For Wildlife property assessment conducted for the Ecovillage in 2015 identifies the village reference ecosystem around the trail area as 12.11.23/12.11.3a. A map showing the location of the Ecovillage and surrounding ecosystems was discussed during our On The Trail Bush Regen workshop presented by Dr Mark Runkovski of Natura Pacific and is provided below.

Signs of successful restoration and a healthy riparian habitat include the following:

  • healthy, native stream bank vegetation

  • overhanging vegetation

  • little or no bank erosion

  • clear water

  • the presence of birds and predatory insects like dragonflies

  • in-stream habitat such as logs and rocks

So keep your eyes peeled and see if you can find these signs of health along Toc Toc Trail!

Pre-clearing Regional Ecosystem Map

Remnant 2017 Regional Ecosystems

REFERENCE

Chenoweth EPLA and Bushland Restoration Services (2012) South East Queensland Ecological Restoration Framework: Code of Practice. Prepared on behalf of SEQ Catchments and South East Queensland Local Governments, Brisbane.