By RUTH TREMONT
But have you ever stopped to wonder what the biodiversity might be like in the native ground layer of grasses that occurs under and between the eucalypts?
Well, there are often up to 200 different species of grassy (grasses, sedges, rushes, lilies) and non-grassy (forbs such as daisies, legumes, buttercups, etc) plants in the ground layer. What’s more the grassy layer of a woodland contains huge numbers of a great variety of animals – from microscopic invertebrates to insects, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals.
Some scientists claim that a healthy native grassy area can be just as rich and interesting as a rainforest! The difference is that the “action” is on a smaller scale.
Many of our native grasslands were destroyed by the actions of cloven-hoofed animals and the attempts by people to introduce grasses that could cope with the pressures of these sorts of animals.
While many pastoral areas are now dedicated to producing the meat and fibre products that modern society demands we now recognise the importance of native grassy areas for ecological balance and the health of production systems.
However, we now realise that many of our grassy communities and plants they contain link our modern times with prehistoric life and are an important part of our natural heritage. Grassy places were also vital to Aboriginal custodianship and survival and are significant in understanding Australia’s cultural heritage.
In addition, our grassy places are an important resource in landscaping and restoration projects, for horticulture and as a resource for contributing to the biodiversity and drought-proofing necessary for sustainable grazing systems.
Citizens Wildlife Corridors Armidale Inc (CWC) is a voluntary, not-for-profit, charitable organisation that helps landholders identify and manage areas of native grassy woodlands and wildlife corridors, as well as care for the wildlife on their land.
CWC helps people restore, conserve or recreate and link areas of wildlife habitat across the New England region and has been doing so for the last twenty years.
CWC has recently published a booklet on vegetation management for threatened woodland birds. The booklet can be viewed online at http://sunne.com.au/flipbook/CWC20%Book/index.html. CWC can also help with ideas, technical backup, species identification, and access to funding, for you, your land and birdlife. Membership is open to all and includes two newsletters per year. CWC can be contacting by emailing office@cwc-armidale.org.au, or phoning 02 8004 8402.
