Endangered Ecological Community Restoration at East Ballina Headlands
WetlandCare Australia and Ballina Coastcare have joined forces to restore over 30 hectares of endangered swamp oak, littoral rainforest, coastal cypress, coastal saltmarsh and swamp sclerophyl forest in the East Ballina area (northern NSW). These vegetation communities have become highly fragmented over the years, and those that remain are threatened by numerous invasive weed species, the most serious of which is the WoNS (Weeds of National Significance) listed ground asparagus, Asparagus aethiopicus. Ground asparagus was introduced here from South Africa and has since beome a highly invasive understorey species. Failing to control this weed will eventually result in the complete loss of the endangered ecological vegetation communities in which it is growing, as it forms thick, dense mats on the forest floor and natural forest successionary processes are inhibited through the suppression of the soil seed bank. With no juvenile trees and shrubs being able to germinate, the end result would eventually be a ground asparagus monoculture and the loss of the native forest and consequently all the fauna that depend on it for habitat.
Ground asparagus has formed thick dense mats of vegetation in the understorey of this endangered swamp oak forest, which is preventing natural regeneration of juvenile trees.
As well as ground asparagus, other invasive weeds such as lantana and morning glory are being targeted. Morning glory is an invasive vine which, left unchecked, completely smothers adult trees and deprives them of light, leading to their eventual death.
The five key areas we are working on are:
- East Ballina Crown Land Reserve
- Shaws Bay Escaprpment
- Allowah Reserve
- Black Head
- Flat Rock
This is a six year project, funded by the NSW Environmental Trust, and is scheduled for completion in 2018.
For more information about this project please contact Laura White on 02 6681 6169 or email laurawhite@wetlandcare.com.au
