14.6 Revegetation success at Yellingbo.pdf

The Yellingbo Conservation Nature Reserve (YNCR) within the Yarra Valley provides habitat for thecritically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater and lowland Leadbeater’s Possum. Habitat values ofthe reserve are currently under threat from dieback of mature vegetation and a lack of naturalregeneration. Much revegetation has been done previously, and much further revegetation isplanned within the reserve and its surrounds, to improve areas of declining habitat and provide newhabitat. This report provides a brief assessment of early and recent revegetation (includingexperimental trial plantings) to inform future revegetation programs at Yellingbo. Summary of findings  Much revegetation has been done within the Yellingbo area, primarily by volunteers fromFriends of the Helmeted Honeyeater and other community groups, but also by a range ofland management agencies including Parks Victoria and Melbourne Water.  Unfortunately, few resources have been made available to monitor or assess the outcomesand trajectories of these revegetation efforts.  Early plantings (e.g. prior to the 1990s) generally lack structural complexity, and a denseshrub stratum in particular. More recently, fenced plantings of high density and appropriatespecies mixes have proved mostly successful.  Currently, unprotected plantings of eucalypts and myrtaceous shrub seedlings in clearedareas fail due to browsing (by deer and wallabies). In areas within remnant vegetation,susceptibility to browsing is dependent on plant palatability (with eucalypts particularlysusceptible) and accessibility by browsers.  Chicken wire tree guards and fenced plots (up to 40m x 20m) have been largely successful inprotecting plants from damage from browsers (much larger areas of fencing are likely to failwithout sufficient monitoring and maintenance). However, when fences are removed plantsare often subsequently damaged by browsers, i.e. browsing, trampling, and rubbing.  Preliminary evidence suggests the use of tree tubes to establish overstorey plants, i.e.eucalypts, even in areas of dense Phragmites, is likely to be successful.  There is considerable need for greater resourcing of monitoring and maintenance ofplantings/fences/etc.