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Explore how living landscapes act as preventive systems for a resilient future, where ecology and design merge into one living framework. Visit to understand this evolving approach by LASD Studio and discover nature as infrastructure: https://tinyurl.com/27ab288b
The "Environmental landscape" is know to build, plan, and manage landscape that consider the ecology of a site and procedures garden that benefits. Both people are the rest of the ecosystem. Landscaping and the environment are combined in landscape design planning to provide holistic answyto complex issues.
An unprecedented unsanctioned mashup featuring @kaliuchis and Richard TT Forman. Watercolor illustration riff for the sake of landscape ecology education. ps: Forman is working on new "Towns" landscape Ecology book. pss: I have no illustrations in it. Excited nonetheless. #richardttforman #landscapeecology #figures #diagrams #2014 #tbt (at Harvard Forest)
Wildfire Ecology parti diagram developed at @harvard.forest for public education campaign. #disturbance #landscapeecology #wildfire #diagram (at Harvard Forest)
Landscape assessment and management plan
Yarra Bend Park, Kew, Victoria.
November, 2015
Patrick McCoy (583641)
Department of Bioscience, University of Melbourne
BOTA30004 Final Exam
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Parks Victoria has commissioned The University of Melbourne to prepare a vegetation management plant for Yarra Bend Park, Kew, Victoria.
Yarra Bend Park is both a highly valued recreational reserve and has an important ecological role in preserving remnant Victorian vegetation. Visitors to the park have highlighted areas of poor condition that require sufficient management actions to restore it to some semblance of its original condition.
This management plan outlines key strategies and actions required to restore and preserve the environment in Yarra Bend Park, specifically the Wurundjeri spur and Dight falls area.
1.1 Site Description
Yarra Bend Park is a 260 hectare park located 5km North East of Melbourne CBD in the suburb of Kew. In Yarra Bend Park, the Yarra River flows along the boundary between the Eastern Gippsland Plain and Western Basalt Plain bioregions. It is one of Melbourne’s largest inner-city reserves that still contains sections of intact riparian vegetation that has avoided clearing due to the steep riverbanks from which it resides.
Due to the Park’s positon along the watercourse, rich alluvial soils have promoted a diverse array of indigenous vegetation that spans 10 EVCs. Vegetation types vary immensely due to proximity with the Yarra and the position on the undulating hills and river escarpments.
Sections of remnant vegetation are under threat by disturbance due to over-utilisation, evasion by weeds and pollution. One such area is located on the south west side of the park where Dight falls and the Wurundjeri spur area have significant environmental value, but have recently been brought to attention due to a decline in vegetation quality. This management plan aims at improving the condition of vegetation in this area, enclosed by the Yarra River and Yarra Boulevard (figure 1).
2.0 CURRENT VEGETATION ASSESSMENT
In a recent survey (November, 2015), a total of 56 species were recorded within the restoration area (appendix 1.). Of these 54 species, 29 are indigenous to Yarra Bend Park and 4 were found to be Victorian native species but not site-indigenous. 20 weed or exotic species were recorded and found to be widespread throughout the site. Four vegetation types were classified including floodplain riparian woodland, plains grassy woodland, box – ironbark forest and riverine woodland.
2.1 Vegetation Classification and Condition
Floodplain riparian woodland: These alluvial plains are dominated by Eucalyptus camaldulensis which forms an open canopy and upper stratum. Residing below is a vegetation layer composed of small trees and large shrubs. Acacia dealbata is the most common small tree within this range and shrubs such as the Hymenanthera dentate and Acacia verticillata establish a moderately dense mid-stratum. Non-woody vegetation such as grasses and brushes aren’t a dominant feature on the ground layer, however there is a thick cover of woody debris.
Condition: Fair. Contains mostly intact stands of remnant vegetation including A. verticillata and E. camaldulensis. Weeds don’t threaten the persistence of indigenous species; however, enrichment is required to maintain and improve vegetation diversity. Species such as Callistemon sieberi and native grasses require rehabilitation.
Plains grassy woodland: This vegetation is dominated by a thick ground cover of perennial grass species, many of which are weeds but also including native species such as Themedra triandra, Danthonia spp. and Microlena stipoides. There is an emergent but thin distribution of trees such as E. camaldulensis and Eucalyptus mellidora and a very low density of short trees and shrubs including Acacia mearnsii, Acacia melanoxylon, Allocasuarina verticillata, Acacia pyncantha and Indigofera australis that occupy the lower to mid stratum. The south east patch of vegetation has a dense coverage of herbaceous weeds including Tradescantia albiflora and Hedera helix.
Condition: Poor. The least intact vegetation community where extensive degradation has occurred. Significant weed cover (70% total area) occurs in large, dense patches preventing recruitment of indigenous species. In some areas, herbaceous weeds dominate the lower stratum in large patches, outcompeting and degrading native shrubs such as A. paradoxa and I. australis.
Box Ironbark forest: The vegetation structure is heterogeneous and varies between closed A. pycnantha scrub and open box-ironbark forest. The density of shrubs tends to decrease towards the south east of the site where larger trees such as Eucalyptus leucoxylon, Eucalyptus microcarpa and Eucalyptus tricarpa start to dominate. In most areas, A. pycnantha forms a dense understorey. Towards the south east, Clematis microphylla becomes a dominant feature and grows in dense bundles on trees. Small shrubs are dispersed throughout this vegetation including Einadia trigonos, Goodenia ovata and Bursaria spinosa, but occupy little ground cover.
Condition: Fair. High quality stands of E. leucoxylon, E. tricarpa and A. pycnantha persist, however species diversity is low. Large clearings are present with thick grass and weed cover that requires removal. Enrichment is necessary for existing and absent species from this community due to lack of vegetation composition.
Riverine woodland: A very diverse and dense vegetation community that’s developed as a result of past rehabilitation efforts. A continuous woodland canopy occupies the upper stratum, consisting of a variety of Eucalyptus and Acacia species. E. meliodora, E. leucoxylon, A. mearnsii, A. pycnantha and A. implexa are dominant in the 4 to 12 metre stratum and a floristically rich understorey resides below. Rarer species such as Indigofera australis and Allocasuarina verticillata are abundant here, indicating the quality of the environment. The ground layer has a healthy array of perennial grasses including Danthonia spp and Themeda triandra, but common weeds are widespread throughout the community. This vegetation type is used as a model for restoration of other sites as it is indicative of its original condition.
Condition: Good. Riverine woodland is the most intact vegetation community which contains several high quality stands of indigenous flora. Rare species such as A. retinodes, A. melanoxylon, A. paradoxa and Allocasuarina verticillata are localised here, as are many species of Eucalyptus. Weed evasion is currently a minor issue but does require attention as it threatens one of the area’s best examples of remnant vegetation.
3.0 VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
3.1 Management objectives
Plains grassy woodland is the most degraded sub-community within Yarra Bend Park and as it occupies a significant area of the site, it should be high priority for restoration. Preservation of remnant floodplain riparian woodland, box - ironbark forest and riverine woodland is of equal importance to the area and must be subjected to extensive conservation programs including weed control and indigenous species enrichment. The objectives of this management plan are to:
Reduce weed cover and stimulate germination of any soil-stored indigenous seed.
Ensure the persistence of site-indigenous species.
Facilitate the enrichment of rare or threatened species.
Promote the regeneration of native grasses to replace weed species as ground cover.
Restore vegetation within plains grassy woodland to an approximation of its original condition.
3.2 Management actions
Reduce weed cover and stimulate germination of any soil-stored indigenous seed
The continual expansion of weeds in Yarra Bend Park threatens the persistence of all species and their removal is a priority management objective. Removal may facilitate the natural regeneration of vegetation by stimulating germination and providing room for the manual planting of indigenous seed.
Prescribed burning is a commonly utilised tool for managing weeds and stimulating germination. It provides the potential for natural regeneration from the seed bank which has remained dormant in the soil (Penman et al, 2008), including species that may have gone extinct in the area. A prescribed burn must be performed by a trained professional and appropriate preparations must be undertaken before its initiation. Herbicides can be used in conjunction to prescribed burning to remove weeds from areas with sporadic growth.
The post-fire growth of vegetation must be intensively managed to facilitate seedling establishment and to control the outburst of weeds. This includes hand weeding with the help from friends groups, protecting recruited species by fencing and sign-posting and the continual monitoring of vegetation to assess which species require enrichment.
Priority areas for fire management are plains grassy woodland, box ironbark forest and riverine woodland, which contain a significant cover of weeds. However, due to the high quality stands of vegetation in the riverine woodland vegetation community, high precision fire induction tools such as flame-throwers and torches should be used to avoid damage to native flora.
Management actions:
1. Prepare for a prescribed burn by applying herbicide to appropriate areas such dense grass patches and by removing woody debris to control intensity of fire.
2. Apply an ecological burn to areas infested with shrubby and herbaceous weeds, using precise fire induction techniques for areas next to high quality stands of native vegetation.
3. Manage the post-fire recruitment of vegetation by controlling weeds and facilitating seedling succession.
4. Protect and signpost burnt areas to avoid damage.
Ensure the persistence of site-indigenous species
Indigenous species to Yarra Bend Park are a priority for conservation and enrichment. These species, listed in table 1, are fundamental in maintaining the quality of remnant vegetation.
Populations of indigenous plants must be protected from physical damage caused by park recreation and vandalism. This can be achieved by fencing off vulnerable patches such as those in rehabilitation or of high ecological significance to the area.
Weeds in close proximity that may cause degradation to native species must be targeted for removal.
A priority area for protection is the riverine woodland community, which contains a vast diversity of indigenous flora that has developed from previous rehabilitation efforts. A large number of Acacia species are still juvenile and require protection. All rare species listed in table 2 require conservation precedence to ensure their persistence.
Management actions:
5. Protect existing plants from physical damage by fencing off highly valued communities.
6. Maintain control of weeds that threaten valuable communities.
Facilitate the enrichment of rare and threatened species.
Rare and threatened species listed in table 2 are priorities for conservation to ensure they remain part of the biodiversity of Yarra Bend Park. Currently, 12 species are classified as rare and are usually present in highly localised patches.
By assisting regeneration of these species by manually planting seeds or facilitating their natural regeneration by reducing surrounding weed cover, this site could become an important reserve for indigenous species that have slowly disappeared from the park.
Frequent management is necessary to ensure their successful reintegration within the environment. This includes protection from weeds and general monitoring.
Management actions:
7. Enrichment of rare and threatened species by:
a. Planting seed in protected, regeneration areas.
b. Reduce surrounding weed cover to allow for natural regeneration.
8. Facilitate the regeneration of these species through protection and monitoring.
Promote the regeneration of native grasses to replace weed species as ground cover.
Upon removal of weeds, native grasses can be restored to the environment as ground cover. This not only protects otherwise exposed soils from erosion, but also prohibits the recolonization of weeds. Grasses such as T. triandra, Danthonia spp., M. stipoides and others could be reintroduced to regenerating areas.
Management actions:
9. Enhance native grass lawns by planting indigenous species in regenerating environments.
Restore vegetation within the plains grassy woodland community to an approximation of its natural condition
Due to dense weed cover, plains grassy woodland is a highly degraded vegetation community and is in need of extensive restoration. Tradescantia albiflora, Hedera helix and many grassy weeds dominate the community and must be reduced to promote the re-growth of native flora.
Large, woody weeds and exotic species such as Prunus cerasifera, Schinus molle, Salix babylonic and Quercus robur have a relatively minor coverage and are not a priority for removal. However, their spread must be controlled to avoid further damage to native populations.
To return this vegetation community to a semblance of its original, healthy condition, management efforts must aim to restore the vegetation composition and structure to that found in the riverine woodland community. Although this vegetation class requires substantial maintenance including weed control, prior rehabilitation efforts have successfully restored many indigenous species to the area resulting in high quality stands of native flora.
A combination of previously stated management actions are required to achieve this.
Management actions:
10. Apply an ecological burn to plains grassy woodland community to reduce weed cover and stimulate seedling germination.
11. Facilitate the post-fire recruitment of native species and maintain control of weeds.
12. Regenerate site-indigenous species by planting seeds.
13. Protect recovering vegetation using fences and signposts.
References
Penman, T. D., Binns, D. L. Allen, R. M., Shiels, R. J. & Plummer, S. H. (2008b). Germination
responses of a dry sclerophyll forest soil stored seed bank to fire related cues.
Cunninghamia, 10(4), pp. 547-555
This is the trinity of landscape ecology. Considerations of extent/range/scale, determination of landscape patterns, and the role of humans as an agent of landscape change. While the first two are passive focuses for landscape ecology study, the role of humanity is equated to indicate our active role in reversing our previous detrimental actions to the environment. #landscapeecology #landscape #ecology #enrm230 #upou (at Sablayan Occidental Mindoro)
Humans create and affect landscape patterns. Landscape ecology also focuses on the role of humans as an agent, and a dominant one at that, of landscape change. Thus, landscape ecology does not only look at natural, but at semi-natural and built-in landscapes as well. #landscapeecology #landscape #ecology #enrm230 #upou (at Global City, Fort Bonifacio)
Broad what? Landscape ecology focuses on large geographic areas, thus the term broad extents. This is because we humans see the world through a coarse lens. We see the actions we take on the environment as far as the eyes can see. Landscape ecology however, studies areas on a relevant scale, be it a few square meters of grassland or hundreds of hectares of wildlife habitat. Learn more about landscape ecology by following @landscapeecologynow. #landscapeecology #landscape #ecology #enrm230 #upou (at Jovellar, Albay)
