On Saturday Feb 22nd, an enthusiastic crowd gathered for a fascinating presentation by Karl Just and Dylan Osler, two of Victoria’s most highly regarded botanists and ecologists.
The pair shared their findings from a comprehensive rainforest assessment of the Turtons Creek area, conducted across over 1,000 acres of protected forest, including three Trust for Nature properties and the Turtons Creek Scenic Reserve.
Covering 12 kilometres of rainforest gullies, the survey recorded rainforest extent and condition, threatened species, and other significant ecological aspects. Their findings confirmed the area’s national significance, with over 400 Slender Tree-ferns discovered confirming this area as Australia's stronghold for the critically endangered Slender tree-fern.
Ecologist Karl Just said:
"This is the largest population of the Slender tree-fern, Cyathea cunninghamii ever documented in Australia, where previously the largest population documented was 200 adult plants within the Tarra-Bulga National Park to the east. This area in Turtons creek is of national significance."
Another exciting discovery was the endangered Netted brake fern, found in the Strzelecki Ranges for only the second time, the first was back in 1975 and the endangered Brown’s mitre-moss was a new recorded for the Strzelecki ranges.
The event attracted 80 attendees, including neighbours, representatives of community groups, with councillors Mayor John Schelling and Deputy Mayor Sarah Gilligan among the group. The presentation sparked some great discussions with many people expressing concern about HVP forestry operations and the impacts to our threatened species and rainforest communities.
The survey was made possible through funding from the Wettenhall Environment Trust and the Friends of Turtons Creek, with support from the Tarwin River Forest, Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group, and Gippsland Forest Guardians.
The collaborative effort highlighted the dedication of local conservationists working to protect vital rainforest habitats for endangered species such as the Slender Tree-fern Gang-gang Cockatoos, Pilotbirds, Blue-winged Parrots, and the Strzelecki Burrowing and South Gippsland Spiny Crayfish.
Watch Karl's presentation