Elsie Lange
Macedon Ranges council have committed to learning more about snow gums to protect the vulnerable species from the impacts of climate change – and they want your help.
Snow gums, or eucalyptus pauciflora, are spread across the region, with their beautiful, twisting trunks, and mayor Jennifer Anderson said council would collaborate with experts and landholders to keep them safe.
“Council is working with ecologists, Landcare Groups and the Arthur Rylah Institute to record and monitor the health of Snow Gum populations across the shire and potential local climate change impacts,” Cr Anderson said.
“Snow Gums have excellent readily identifiable features, which mean they are a great plant species for citizen science, where the public is actively involved in the research activity.
“Council is inviting landholders across the shire to be part of a community project to help us understand and monitor the local ecology of an iconic Eucalyptus species and the local impacts of climate change, while building community awareness and knowledge,” she said.
Populations of snow gum are dotted across the peaks and plains of the Montane and Plains grassy woodlands, and council and community partners hope to use a citizen science approach to monitor snow gum populations on private land.
Areas they inhabit include Mount Macedon, in the Cobaw Biolink, across the Riddells Creek, Ashbourne and Baynton-Sidonia areas.
Printable brochures are available on the council snow gum monitoring webpage with tips on how to identify the trees and share your records.
Records must be received by April 17, 2022
Details: www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Biodiversity
