Project Summary

Several native flora species in forests and coastal ecosystems of East Gippsland have been impacted by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/2020. Some of these species have been identified as high priorities for urgent management intervention. This project aims to survey some of the highly impacted native flora species in East Gippsland to identify post-fire survival. The species that will be surveyed and managed through this project include Banksia croajingolensis (Gippsland Banksia), Callistemon forresterae (Forrester’s Bottlebrush), Callistemon kenmorrisonii (Betka Bottlebrush), Correa lawrenceana var. genoensis (Genoa River Correa), Grevillea celata (Colquhon Grevillia), Nematolepis frondosa (Leafy Nematolepis), and Brunoniella pumilio (Dwarf Brunoniella). There is an urgent need to carry out post-fire surveys for these plant species as it is currently unknown which of these species have survived the 2019-2020 bushfires. Those species that are identified through our survey efforts as having survived the bushfires will be mapped, and where possible (and approved by DELWP), ex-situ propagation and seed germination will be carried out by a local plant nursery. This project will hold a propagation workshop and a field day to educate community members about these threatened native plant species. We also plan to create refugia garden/s for these species where volunteers will continue to care for and learn about them. Project outcomes include understanding the current status of high-priority flora species in East Gippsland and protecting existing species in the future through propagation and seed storage. This project will collaborate with DEWLP, RBGV, local Landcare groups and community members.

VLG Land and Environment Outcomes There are several priority species of threatened flora in the forests and coastal ecosystems in East Gippsland following the 2019-2020 bushfires, which require urgent management intervention to support their recovery. This project builds on existing planning and recovery work and partners with other organizations such as DELWP, RBGV and other experts in the field to assess the survival of 7 of these priority species. Our surveys and field assessments will complement the work currently underway by involving landholders and preparing a refugia garden as the next step of this project. VLG Community Engagement and Capacity Building This project will receive support from DELWP and RBGV to carry out preliminary flora surveys. The RBGV is working on genetic diversity assessments for several local flora species of East Gippsland so this project will support these works. Far East Victoria Landcare (FEVL) will also partner with a local plant nursery to carry out propagation and will engage community members by holding a propagation workshop, which will be open to the public. A field day will also be organised for local community members to attend and learn more about these priority species. VLG Demonstrated need and community benefit. This project builds on the aims of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 to conserve Victoria’s threatened flora species. Additionally, it will meet the proposed activities laid out in Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management framework to determine the conservation significance of species based on survey findings. This project will provide the community an opportunity to gain an understanding of the survival and vulnerability of threatened species in their local ecosystem and to gain a better understanding of the impacts of fire on the local landscape. This project will also provide the groundwork for developing a community-supported plant refugium for threatened native flora in the future. The community will benefit from having a local plant refuge as well as having a better understanding of local native species and landscape-wide bushfire effects. East Gippsland Regional Catchment Strategy EC1 Maintenance and targeted improvement of the condition, security, diversity and integrity of natural ecosystems and the status of threatened species and communities EC1.1 manage priority threatened species and communities that require direct intervention to support their recovery EC1.2 Implement direct interventions where needed, as guided by recovery plans and action statements EC1.3 improve integration of threatened species and community recovery activities with other land management programs VLG Technical feasibility of project In the first stage of this project, preliminary surveys will be carried out in Spring of 2021. A local contractor who is knowledgeable about these species of significance will undertake the initial surveys and assessment work. After it is known which plant species have survived in the survey sites, plant materials will be collected for propagation through partnership with DELWP and will be shared with the RBGV for genetic analysis and to be added to their living collections. Propagation of plants will be carried out in collaboration with Snowy River Riparian Nursery, and a public propagation workshop will be held for community members to learn how to identify these species and how these species have been impacted by recent fires. In the event of public gatherings being restricted due to COVID-19, the propagation workshop will be held through live-stream, recorded, and shared online. An information sheet will also be made in collaboration with Snowy River Riparian Nursery and will be sent to all workshop participants. For the next stage of this project, we plan to prepare a garden site at (for example) the Snowy Growers Community Garden, where propagated plants will eventually be planted and protected by community garden volunteers. VLG Group capacity and technical feasibility We will consult with species experts at the Victorian Conservation Seedbank, the RBGV and Snowy River Riparian Nursery for guidance in propagation, seed collection and refuge garden works. We will gain support and advice from DELWP and also collaborate with DELWP for collecting plant materials. The proposed Community Refugia Garden/s will provide community support to plan for a garden refugium for surviving plant species that have been successfully propagated through this project.

This project is supported by the East Gippsland Catchment Authority through funding from the Connect Well Program and the Victorian Department of Health.