Rainforest fights back
By John Allen
AT one time, much of Seal Rocks was littoral rainforest, and although many decades of human habitation and visitation have reduced this coverage substantially, recent years have seen a major effort to protect what remains, and to regenerate and restore areas degraded by clearing, dumping, illegal camping and weed infestation. Fortunately, many of the incredibly diverse species that inhabit the rainforest are extremely resilient, and given a bit of help when being overrun by invasive species, they soon start to reclaim the territory that is rightfully theirs.
Evidence of this was amply demonstrated on Friday 26th March, when Great Lakes Council, NPWS, and the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators (AABR), jointly hosted a highly successful Field Day event at Seal Rocks.
Guided by professional regenerator Scott Meier, whose company Bushland & Rainforest Restoration & Consulting (BARRC) is the current contractor, around 35 people were led on a thoroughly informative walking tour of a number of different sites in the rainforest where restoration work is at various stages of progress. Most of these sites are out of the normal public gaze and recent major weed reduction has revealed some rare specimens. Scott identified many of the species encountered on the walk and clearly explained the regeneration methods he uses at Seal Rocks. He said bitou and lantana were less difficult to control than some of the invasive vines and that asparagus fern is increasingly a major threat.
Scott’s excellent commentary was well supported by Isabelle Strachan (GLC) and Rachel Kempers (NPWS), who were able to fill in the past history of the various sites and the previous regen programs undertaken at Seal Rocks. They also talked about the growth in available funding in recent years, without which none of the extensive present work would be possible.
Appropriately, the tour finished near the old quarry site on the Headland, the spot where so much work was done by volunteers a number of years back. The re-growth of rainforest species there is amazing, a remarkable success, and a model for what is bound to be achieved over time in the areas of current focus.
Congratulations to all involved for what was surely the best organized and most enjoyable Field Day yet held in Seal Rocks.
