Land- management and cities article

Here is an article which I wrote last week which is relevant to this blog.

It's a bit long, but it kind of summarises what this blog is all about.

It's a tad serious and could do with lightening up, but I just didn't find the time to rewrite it.

I will make sure my next Urban Times contribution is not so serious in its tone.

Enjoy!

http://urbantimes.co/2012/09/cities-land-management/

Dr Michael Dunlop - an interview

I am lucky to be at home, listening to a radio interview on Radio National, with Dr Michael Dunlop, Senior Researcher with Ecosystem Sciences at the CSIRO, and they are talking about how our landscapes are changing and will change - substantially in the next 20-30 years. (I am making a note of what he says, as it has cogency in relation to how our urban landscapes are also changing, and actually feeds the conversation in both 'camps'.)

He is saying, we can expect these transformations to happen over the whole of Australia - forests turning to woodlands, woodlands changing to grasslands, and this is something that we will all start to notice over the next few decades.  He even says our Australian bush will start to smell different - and we will see new species coming to dominate and others disappear.  The study uses modelling and observation as to how biodiversity is changing.

We will see more complicated weather patterns and fire patterns and river flows in Australia, and so it will be harder to interpret what is going on.  Eg in Tasmania we are seeing new native and exotic species, and not necessarily caused just by climate change.

So we need to change our conservation mindset.  It's not going to be just about maintaining the type of species that are there now, we will have to adapt, and 'help biodiversity adapt' he says.  Some species will have to move, and so it will be vital to rethink how we focus on one or another species, and instead adopt a 'landscape as a whole' approach rather than a threatened species approach.

This means our national parks and reserves are so vital.  These are designed to provide for a range of habitat so even if one species leaves, it's an invitation for others to come in.  Private land is also key in providing habitat.

He does acknowledge (despite his fairly positive tone) that we won't be 'passing on as rich a landscape to our grandchildren' but he hopes that with our guidance, we can still provide the best opportunity for many, many species to survive, including new ones.

An interesting outlook and one which no doubt will throw up a bit of controversy amongst conservationists.

Libertia peregrinans a weedy terror

Getting in to spring, at last and what a gorgeous day it was today, so am getting a bit more inspired to get going on this 'blooming' blog with more rigour.

Now I was enjoying today's  sunshine that Melburnians hanker for, after, what for us has been a real winter  (with nights where it's got down to four degrees or less... ouch - that is cold for us, and our houses weren't designed to take such low temperatures). I was out there planting a new grevillea, and I noticed how the Libertia peregrinans is simply taking over the garden (and will post a photo here shortly). It's a strappy plant found commonly in nurseries, emanating from New Zealand, that is drought tolerant, and pretty, but not being native to this country, one needs to bear in mind that these exotics have a habit of taking over! I also read that this species is under threat in New Zealand, so may be it's encoded in its genes that when it gets to a new country that it should go forth and populate. Don't ever rely on nurseries to be mindful of weedy plants unless they are certified with someone like Sustainable Gardening Australia! Weedy plants are for sale and widespread in nurseries.

So, it pays to look up the weediness habit of exotics before you plant them  (in more extreme cases they are known as invasive species), because you will end up paying with all the cutting back you will need to do, and also the constant digging up of those self-seeded stalks, as I'm finding all over the blooming garden.  

And weeds are not supportive of bio-diversity as they compete for water, soil, nutrients and light against all the good guys, which means the plants that would help sustain the wildlife may be placed in jeopardy. Indeed, I was watching the 7.30 report and the wombat is dying out in this country merely because the onion weed has spread and is outnumbering the natural grasses, so it's diet is disappearing.  A good cause to support.

Moreland bluestone lanes

Brunswick's blue stone laneways have been saved for now thanks to local campaigning, which is great news for the local groundwater and stormwater drains.

What some people may not realise is that we need to increase our absorption of rainwater rather than creating more non-permeable surfaces which concrete usually is, unless it's been manufactured in a particular way, so as to absorb water.  When water runs off hard surfaces it inevitably carries pollution which consists of organic material, hydrocarbons, nutrients and pathogens which upset the chemical balance of our rivers and creeks, and leading to our wildlife becoming sick or perishing.  The groundwater needs replenishing, too, and even if the Council wanted to replace the lane ways they can do so by replacing the blue stone with materials which contribute to stormwater filtration.  Otherwise why not just save themselves the trouble and keep the blue stones, as they are so charming and really in keeping with the local area.

So far the heritage and cultural aspects appear to have been the main factor that I can see in the debate.  (This is one of those campaigns I would like to have joined just haven't been able to make the time.)

Moreland Council have probably been concerned with the maintenance of these lanes, as time goes on.   But ultimately whatever surface is there will need to be maintained.So, we don't need to get blue over bluestone!!

We went on a community garden tour. 

Horticultural therapy ... my grevillea

Planting more grevilleas, now my clay (rock hard) bed seems to be a little broken up by the wormies, thanks to the laying over of pea straw.

I'm thrilled it's taken ages - but my Mallee Embers Grevillea has finally flowered.  Who says australian natives aren't as beautiful as exotics.

Photo taken at night. 

Pea straw is great mulch which also breaks down and nourishes the soil by bringing more worms, who nourish, and aerate soil and create drainage that so many plants need.

training wheels for trees ... sort of

An article I was reading in the Melbourne Leader (local) newspaper this week, reminded me that I had been contemplating what it would be like to to be a guide dog puppy trainer, until I remembered that I have two cockatiels, and perhaps it wouldn't work so well. Well, lo and behold, for those who are unaware, trees need training wheels too!

Those readers who live in Melbourne can look up this site, Tree Project Forest whereby people can volunteer to grow some seedlings even on their balcony or in a small garden, and then give them up at the appropriate size, so that these can be replanted in the country, and therefore will ultimately go to benefit the rural landscape.

As this blog is particularly interested in the connections we make in our city landscapes with water and rural eco systems, it seemed apt to post this on here.

To help reforest rural Victoria go to:

http://www.treeproject.asn.au/