LOVING THE BUSH

The “Australian Bush”, in all of its forms, is a wondrous thing. A hundred years ago there was plenty of it left. Even fifty years ago. Now it is only a shadow of its former self. I refer here to the bushland in the higher rainfall areas of Australia.

“The Bush” in our so-called “deserts” (these really are some of the last wilderness areas still intact.) The natural vegetation in the settled high rainfall areas has been mostly cleared for agriculture and urban living. What remains is protected in national and conservation parks and private ownership; also State Forest Areas, but you have to be optimistic to call them ‘protected’. Like the Amazon Rainforest it is being gradually logged (old growth forests), when there is absolutely no requirement for this. There is more than enough timber for building and wood chips in plantation forests. But that is another story. A shameful one at that.

I am referring here to the remnants of bushland conserved in the higher rainfall areas of Australia.  It would be nice to think that the bushland is remaining in its pristine state, but unfortunately that is not the case.  The biggest threat, apart from fire, is introduced feral plants such as blackberry, lantana, olive, South African boneseed etc. etc. The government doesn’t allocate enough funds for staff and volunteer to adequately get rid of these pests. Even if they are eliminated it is an ongoing war to make sure they stay eliminated. More on that shortly.

The other ongoing threat are feral animals such as deer, rabbits, pigs and goats. In many areas Western Grey kangaroos have bred up to abnormal numbers and are becoming a threat to bushland. Certain things make this difficult to carry out. A lot of the general public think of ‘deer’ in the ‘Bambi’ context. They have no idea, or are uncaring, about the damage they are increasingly doing. The effective elimination of rabbits relies on the various viruses (Calicivirus) continually being up-graded to guarantee the necessary control needed. For proper bio-diversity to apply, all of these problems need to be rigidly controlled.

We are gradually losing this vital war, evidenced by the on-going loss of species. Not all are as glamorous as the Swift Parrot (gone in another 10 years unless old-growth logging is stopped in their breeding and feeding areas.)

Back to physically ‘loving your bush’. Getting rid of feral plants in the bush is a very difficult operation. In the Mt. Lofty Ranges, the main threats are South African boneseed, olives, briar, African daisy, and various grasses. The boneseed can be pulled by hand, if small enough. If larger, it must be cut off, with the ‘cut’ then poisoned. Not ideal, but there is no other effective way. With this species, more than most, it is ongoing every year, but if you keep at it, it becomes increasingly more manageable.

It is very true that regenerating the original native grasses is not as hard as you might think. Such as the various Kangaroo, Wallaby and Speargrass species. Once they are established they will, in most cases, aggressively take back their territories from the invaders. It is a very satisfying experience to see this happening.

The other weapon in the arsenal is “whip-stick burning”, something Aboriginal people have successfully carried out over many thousands of years. Many of the uniformed bush-fire hierachy are not too comfortable with this concept, but some authorities are seeing the light. That and ‘cold burns’ are very effective in preserving our natural vegetation.

If remnant vegetation on farms and other private property are fenced off, they can be planted up with the original endemic vegetation – including understory and ground cover. These can then then provide valuable ‘islands’ and sometimes corridors. (See a previous column called ‘BOTANICAL ARTERIES’). I haven’t given up on it. A simple way that with limited funding Local Government and individuals can start revegetating new roadsides, particularly throughout the mid-north of South Australia.

This could kickstart a number of small business’, such as Native Nurseries. So far, it’s too hard.

A parting thought – we are the only species that “shits in its own nest!”