This event is part of
The East Gippsland Rainforest Conservation Management Network and the Colquhoun North Arm Landcare Group are inviting the community to a tree planting and rainforest learning experience to celebrate National Tree Day in Lakes Entrance.
Date: Sunday 2 August
Time: 10am onwards
Where: Carpark at the end of Jetty Road in Kalimna (off Princes Hwy)
Bring: gardening gloves, water bottle, sturdy shoes and inspect repellent
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