Margo Sietmsa
Despite the best of intentions, there has been a delay in appointing the new AG. This was in the main due to uncertainty over changes to responsibilities of different indigenous groups. However this morning i received news that the new AG has been appointed and that I am re-appointed convenor.
In the interim, the retiring Advisory Group members have continued participating in forums and otherwise acting to bring issues to the attention of PV, and informing the public of the work being done by PV.One such forum was a recent workshop on bush camping (at which Stan also represented FOGGs). Another activity I undertook in was in April. It was an outcome of the visit in November of the Wilson’s Prom AG to us. I went down to the Prom to look at the research being done by a volunteer group on fire, both planned and unplanned. The leader (Mary Ellis) is a member of their advisory group, and of the Friends’ group, but it is an independent group. Mary, who is a trained botanist, set the project up with a Canadian exchange ranger. I had gone hoping that we could do something similar here. It was a fascinating day, but the scheme is far too ambitious I think for us to duplicate. It involves very detailed recording of the plants in several measured plots shortly before a planned burn, then return visits over several years. Each plot is 10 m square, with four 1 m square quadrats within it. Every single plant within the 1m square quadrat is identified and listed, while within the larger plot a slightly less detailed record of the vegetation is kept. They work in teams of four, with the expertise spread around so people learn their plants.They are involved in a similar exercise in the areas burnt in a wildfire. One interesting one is where they are comparing burnt areas that had salt water dumped on them with areas where fresh water was used. It was a fascinating day out with them, and before it I had a couple of days to reacquaint myself with that lovely part of Victoria.
PS Mary had sent me a report of their Advisory Group visit, which I overlooked for the last newsletter. So here it is, a little late but never mind. And I will put some of the images from November and from my April visit on the FOGG website.
Wilsons Promontory Advisory Group’s visit to the Grampians.
Members of the Wilsons Promontory Advisory Group visited the Grampians National Park in November to see at first hand how the recovery from the devastating fire of 2006 was being managed and to meet the only other national park advisory group in Victoria.
The fire had a huge impact and is still obviously affecting everyone. I found the book, Beyond the Smoke, a wonderful compilation of photos and stories. Recovery after fire of both people and the natural values is very important and a book like this can have a greater educational value because of the emotional impact.
There were other items on our agenda: to stay in the new Youth Hostel and visit the new information centre, both potential new infrastructure developments for Wilsons Prom. We came away from both with lots of ideas.
Our guided tour of the Grampians showed us the differences and similarities of management issues in these national parks: the Prom is smaller in area, surrounded by water, and has one entrance; the Grampians has more than fifty and a very long boundary with adjacent farmland. The parks have very diverse ecosystems requiring appropriate management directions. Fire is both a threat and a useful management tool in these parks.