National Tree Day is Australia’s largest tree-planting event, and Planet Ark hopes as many Aussies as possible will roll up their sleeves on Sunday, July 30, to help plant a million native trees across the country.
To that end, Mornington Peninsula Shire is inviting residents to gather at The Briars for its annual tree-planting day, which takes on a special significance this year: planting will be carried out in the new Sanctuary expansion area to prepare it for the reintroduction of locally extinct species.
“The Ark Program at The Briars aims to bring locally endangered and extinct species back to the Peninsula,” the shire said. “To return species to the site, our conservation team has overcome many challenges, including eradicating rabbits and foxes from the Sanctuary. The team is currently working with state-wide recovery groups to confirm the species that will be returned to the site.”
“The return of locally extinct and endangered species is part of a state-wide recovery effort which is aiming to increase the genetic diversity of the species in the wild, helping them survive into the future,” said Mayor Steve Holland. “It’s exciting to be able to bring back these species and encourage planting to improve tree canopy coverage in our community.”
Cr Despi O’Connor said the species the shire was aiming to bring back to The Briars were known as ‘ecosystem engineers’. “Their foraging and digging habits have been shown to improve soil health, which improves carbon sequestration, water retention, and the health of other flora, including old-growth trees,” Cr O’Connor said.
Cr Anthony Marsh said this was not the first time the shire had reintroduced a local species. “In 2020, we planted 500 Mt Martha bundies, a critically endangered eucalypt,” Cr Marsh said. “Only 400 trees were believed to still exist in Mount Martha at the time. The project, a collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens and Chisholm TAFE, saw the number of wild plants doubled – an amazing result.”
Register here for the shire’s family-friendly tree-planting day on Sunday, July 30, at 10am at The Briars, 450 Nepean Highway, Mount Martha. Wear long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, a hat, and sturdy shoes, and bring a water bottle – but please leave pets at home.
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