Bushcare volunteers from Noosa Bush Beach & Creek Care received a Queensland Government Community Sustainability Action 3 year grant – Protecting Queensland’s Threatened Species. The grant finishes this month. NICA is the auspicing partner.
The grant was to “Strengthen Existing and Establish Additional Populations of Endangered Eucalyptus conglomerata”.
Swamp Stringybark is Queensland’s most endangered eucalyptus. We had discovered its plight incidentally as we were researching species to plant on the ecotone (line between tree line and the wet areas) of a wetland we are rehabilitating.
We began this project with ‘wide eyed and bushy tailed’ optimism, knowing it would challenge us, as a species doesn’t become endangered if its prospering. “Connie” as we call it, only grows in a narrow range between Beerwah and Kin Kin with specific soil conditions. We have been challenged. After plenty of initial research, each volunteer had a small handful of gumnuts to propagate, trialling various soil mixtures and water types. The miniscule seeds propagated easily and it was all smiles…. but … attrition between cotyledon and the first juvenile leaves was really high and then randomly, the seedlings inexplicably turned up their toes. Finding suitable new sites has also been a challenge. When a NPWS controlled burn became a wildfire, the largest stand of wild trees which were flowering and setting seed for the first time in 4 years, were burnt to a crisp. There will be no seeds to collect from these trees for years.
We have persisted and now have 120 + in the ground. Some of these brave youngsters have stood in water since the ‘big rain events’.
Jill Campbell – Noosa Bush Beach and Creek Care Co-Ordinator