Thinning Field Day Monkerai April 2017

HFFN worked with the Local Land Services to run a field day on thinning regrowth Eucalypt forests. The day was well attended by an enthusiastic and friendly crowd, helped of course by some healthy and tasty catering from Anne, Judy and the LLS.

Judy’s property had been cleared and grazed until the 1970’s. Changes in property management then lead to steep rain forest gullies becoming overgrown with lantana and weeds and the drier slopes colonised by lantana and even aged regrowth of spotted gum, iron bark, grey box and grey gum .

In the last few years, large areas of lantana have been cleared and on the drier slopes, the sub dominant trees have been thinned using stem injection.

Presentations included description of local endangered flora and fauna by Bill Dowling and the implementation of the new biodiversity act by Nicki Cooper (LLS).

During a paddock walk, Annabel Kater (Australian Sustainable Timbers) explained tree physiology and Eucalypt growth habits. Thinning is being carried out to establish an uneven aged forest and to increase the biodiversity in the lower and mid storeys. Annabel explained the decision making process in choosing trees to thin and gave a demonstration of stem injection.

The afternoon session was a networking and chat walk while inspecting the rainforest tree plantings in the large rainforest gully now cleared of lantana and vines.

A great day. Thank you Judy, Anne and the LLS.