Project

Protecting our faunal emblems

The  Yarra Ranges have some of the last remaining habitat for Victoria’s faunal emlblems – the Helmeted Honeyeater and Leadbeater’s Possum.

Living in the Ranges is a lifestyle choice for many; however landholders are also playing a critical role in saving animals from extinction. As part of Trust for Nature’s 2019 Spring into Nature program, locals had the chance to visit two properties in the area which had conservation covenants placed on title 12 months prior.

The properties showcase what can be achieved when land is given the chance to regenerate. Previously grazed areas now have rich understorey with many native orchids.

Residents Gaye Gadsden and David Carr put a convenant on two-thirds of their property in 2018. Gaye said, “I really love wildlife and we’ve just got tens of thousands of creatures that we share this property with and I don’t want to see their home compromised. We’re only caretakers here for at best a couple of decades and beyond that I want to make sure all of those other creatures that we share this place with, home remains.”

We have protected a number of properties that provide habitat for Victoria’s faunal emblems. We worked with landholders further east in the Cardinia Shire Council between Western Port and the Yarra Ranges whose properties provide critical habitat for Helmeted Honeyeaters and Leadbeater’s Possum. This work was supported by the Victorian Government.

Regenerate Understorey

All wildlife appreciate mid and understorey plants to live in.
  • If you already have shrubs, grasses and herbs, removing grazing stock might be enough to encourage regeneration.
  • Fence temporary exclusion plots to give new plants a chance to establish if rabbits, wallabies and other grazing animals are in high numbers.
  • If you need to manually revegetate, enquire at your local nursery or Landcare group for tubestock or seeds for indigenous species.