THE IMPORTANCE OF REGIONAL ECOSYSTEMS
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- 12h
- 3 min read
by Mark
“Ecological restoration is an activity directed by humans that attempts to reinstate attributes of ecosystems that are considered to be of value.”
South East Queensland (SEQ) Ecological Restoration Framework
The importance of classifying plants within the Regional Ecosystem is to retain the vegetation character of these specific areas. This in turn will ensure that the flora content creates a natural habitat base for our fauna to live.
Flora identified and listed in the 12 Regional Ecosystems of the Queensland data base are detailed in 6 categories:
Endangered
Critically endangered
Near threatened
Vulnerable
Of concern
No concern at present/Least concern
Regional Ecosystems are necessary to describe and define important vegetation communities within a consistent order of scientific framework.
There are 12 specific and unique areas of vegetation within the Regional Ecosystems of Queensland. Many of these include, wetlands, dunal land formations, mountain ranges, coastal regions, montane heath, subtropical rainforests, open plains and wallum areas.
In order to conserve and improve the biodiversity within our local Regional Ecosystem, it is important that the Nursery provides plants that improve the condition of our local endemic vegetation. The Coolum Community Native Nursery’s main objective is to source and collect seeds of local provenance and cuttings from within our local Regional Ecosystems. By propagating these native plants, we are improving and restoring degraded areas of vegetation in our coastal region.
Many of the seeds collected and propagated by our Nursery volunteers are from our local Regional Ecosystem. Many of the plants we grow are distinctive from other areas of Queensland as they have evolved over many thousands of years in certain locations due to soil types, climate zones and geographical regions. In many ways and due to the unique vegetation species evolved in these RE’s, so have the fauna species. Plant species will often migrate to the site via such means as the dispersal of seed and vegetative material by birds, water flows, bats, insects, wind, water and gravity. Certain animal species feed on specific vegetation types and in turn are responsible for the spread and natural propagation of plants within these RE’s. Fire and smoke can also be a factor in natural propagation.
When degraded areas are the result of vegetation clearing, past agricultural practices and environmental events, eg sugar cane farming here on the Sunshine Coast, erosion of creek banks in catchment areas, bush fires and spreading urbanisation, it is important that the rehabilitation of these areas uses plant species from our local RE’s in order to increase the native animal habitats and improve our ecosystem. By assisting the natural regeneration method and implementing best industry practices, the vegetation rehabilitation of degraded areas with plant stock will encourages the fauna to migrate back into these habitats through vegetation corridors and bushland conservation reserves thus improving the overall dynamics of the ecosystem.
The Regional Ecosystem plant species list for our coastal area provides a beneficial guideline for the Nursery to identify, collect seeds and cuttings to propagate which in turn are purchased by contractors and employees of local councils, other government organisations, utility providers, as well as volunteers, community groups and private landholders.
By referring to specific RE’s of native vegetation we achieve the following;
• Ensure long-term environmental and economic sustainability; and
• Ensure ongoing improvement and maintenance of ecosystem services.
• Conserve the natural character of our region.
Why do we undertake ecological restoration?
Ecological restoration is an activity directed by humans that attempts to reinstate attributes of ecosystems that are considered to be of value. Activities that achieve these desired attributes are likely to include the control of environmental weeds, the re-establishment of wildlife corridors and/or the stabilisation of creek banks. As society’s values change, so too will the priority placed on ecological restoration. Generally, however, the desire to maintain the integrity of our natural environment and improve the ecological function of areas previously subjected to disturbance remains constant.
To resolve the often competing objectives of preserving natural environments and development, the implementation of offsets has become an increasingly common solution. Ecological restoration can be used in the establishment of offset areas with the aim of maintaining (i.e. no net loss) or increasing (i.e.net gain) the level of biodiversity within a region.
“Ecological restoration is an activity directed by humans that attempts to reinstate attributes of ecosystems that are considered to be of value.”
The skills of all our volunteer seed collectors and propagation crews have ensured that the Coolum Community Native Nursery has become a recognised supplier of healthy local plant species.
Take a bow everyone!
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