exclude from remnants where possible, What can I do to look after particularly during late spring and summer the ecological community? and use fencing to allow regenerating canopy trees to reach maturity To protect and promote the recovery of bush keep pets out of bushland, especially if it is remnants in your area you can: known to contain koalas or other threatened avoid further clearance and fragmentation of the species ecological community and surrounding native on large properties undertake projects to restore vegetation, with high-quality, relatively the ecological community, including replanting unmodified areas, wildlife refuges and areas and regeneration in areas linking with other supporting connectivity being particularly patches in the landscape and areas that will important buffer the ecological community from threats minimise unavoidable impacts from any developments or activities adjacent to the on smaller properties plant local native plants that occur in local threatened ecological ecological community that might result in further communities degradation—for example, by applying a minimum 50 m buffer zone around patches of the support efforts to conserve native vegetation ecological community and avoiding hydrological and wildlife in your area (e.g. by joining or and nutrient enrichment impacts establishing a local organisation such as a remove invasive species from your property, Landcare or catchment care group, natural history or a of group; learn about the ecological don’t or spread potential environmental ‘friends ’ community, and participate in activities such as weeds (e.g. avoid non-native grasses; check with tree planting, low impact rubbish removal and your local authority) and don’t dump garden weeding) waste into or near remnants contact your local NRM Region body for unnecessary mowing or of fallen ‘tidying’ support in bush management activities. branches and leaf litter that are essential to natural nutrient cycling The Conservation Advice gives further details of avoid fertilisers in or near bush remnants priority conservation actions for the ecological retain dead trees, logs, large branches and rocks community. This can be found on the as fauna habitat in bushland areas Department’s website: keep vehicles out of remnants and walk, ride or drive on established roads and paths, avoiding the removal or trampling of plants report illegal or damaging behaviour (e.g. unauthorised fires or dumping) (broad-leaved peppermint) Eucalyptus dives © N. Lamb, to appropriate authorities (Lower) Eucalyptus radiata (narrow-leaved peppermint) © M. Fagg
What can I do to look after the ecological community? To protect and promote the recovery of bush remnants in your area you can: avoid further clearance and fragmentation of the ecological community and surrounding native vegetation, with high-quality, relatively unmodified areas, wildlife refuges and areas supporting connectivity being particularly important minimise unavoidable impacts from any developments or activities adjacent to the ecological community that might result in further degradation—for example, by applying a minimum 50 m buffer zone around patches of the ecological community and avoiding hydrological and nutrient enrichment impacts remove invasive species from your property, don’t or spread potential environmental weeds (e.g. avoid non-native grasses; check with your local authority) and don’t dump garden waste into or near remnants unnecessary mowing or ‘tidying’ of fallen branches and leaf litter that are essential to natural nutrient cycling avoid fertilisers in or near bush remnants retain dead trees, logs, large branches and rocks as fauna habitat in bushland areas keep vehicles out of remnants and walk, ride or drive on established roads and paths, avoiding the removal or trampling of plants report illegal or damaging behaviour (e.g. unauthorised fires or dumping) to appropriate authorities exclude from remnants where possible, particularly during late spring and summer and use fencing to allow regenerating canopy trees to reach maturity keep pets out of bushland, especially if it is known to contain koalas or other threatened species on large properties undertake projects to restore the ecological community, including replanting and regeneration in areas linking with other patches in the landscape and areas that will buffer the ecological community from threats on smaller properties plant local native plants that occur in local threatened ecological communities support efforts to conserve native vegetation and wildlife in your area (e.g. by joining or establishing a local organisation such as a Landcare or catchment care group, natural history or a ‘friends of ’ group; learn about the ecological community, and participate in activities such as tree planting, low impact rubbish removal and weeding) contact your local NRM Region body for support in bush management activities. The Conservation Advice gives further details of priority conservation actions for the ecological community. This can be found on the Department’s website: Eucalyptus dives (broad-leaved peppermint) © N. Lamb, (Lower) Eucalyptus radiata (narrow-leaved peppermint) © M. Fagg
southern-highlands-shale-forest-guide.docx