Natural and Cultural Resources in the Belgrave Area - Case Study Example

Name Tutor Task Date Research into Natural and cultural resources THE REPORT IN POINT FORM Introduction This first part of the report of the research into cultural and natural resources covers in point form many aspects of Belgrave study area near the Puffing Billy Railway Line. These are the same things that are discussed in detail in the second part of the report. It is therefore expected that they will form the basis for detailed discussions on the various aspects present at Belgrave study area. Flora Types of vegetation Origin and history of vegetation Uses of the vegetation Conservation of vegetation Vegetation fires Fauna Types of animals Origin and history of animals Significance of animals to the site Animal conservation Threats to conservation of animals Weed Management Types of weeds present Methods of weed control Challenges in weed control Reasons for weed control Pest Animals Species of pest animals Pest animal control measures History of pest animals Challenges in animal pest control Water Quality Degree of water quality Sources of water pollutants Water quality control measures Problems of water quality control Soils, Drainage and Erosion Types of soils Degree of soil erosion Drainage enhancement measures Control of soil erosion Site History Year of establishment Reasons for establishment Changes over time Cultural features Cultural features present Origin and history of cultural features Uses of cultural features Plans for cultural feature preservation The role of the friends of/land care group Land care groups present Types of activities carried out Past roles of the land care group Present and future roles Problems encountered Role of agencies (e. g Park Victoria and Melbourne Water) Past roles Present and future roles Challenges in those roles Stakeholder views Views on progress of site Views on future plans Views on site management Prospects for Community Participation in Management Reasons for community participation in management Steps towards community involvement in management Levels of future community participation Creek Access Creeks present Points of accessing creek Any other relevant material Location of site Recommendations on site development THE REPORT IN A DETAILED FORMAT Introduction This first part of the report of the research into cultural and natural resources covers in point form many aspects of Belgrave study area near the Puffing Billy Railway Line. These are the same things that are discussed in detail in the second part of the report. It is therefore expected that they will form the basis for detailed discussions on the various aspects present at Belgrave study area. Flora Types of vegetation Vegetation that can be found in the Puffing Billy railway area includes white manna gums, Eucalyptus regnans, and Messmate stringy bark, mountain grey gum. The Messmate ‘damp forest’ is the most dominant. Ferns, black woods and conifers also exist. Vegetation in Sherbrook forest is categorized as sclerophyll forest. The most common tree species here is the ‘mountain ash’ otherwise known as Eucalyptus Regnans. Others include the ferns, Acasias, Olearias, Sassafras, Pomaderris, Coprosma, Pimelia, Hedycarya, ground ferns and creepers. Dandenong Ranges National Park has about 400 native species of plants in about six main communities of vegetation; (Gray & Murphy 2002). The most common plant on the park is the Mountain Ash tree which occurs in plenty. It also has fern gullies that have significant vegetation cover. A part from this it has cool temperate rain forest, sclerophyll woodland, Messmate forest, box stringy bark forest, and riparian forest. Very important plants are found in the park like the summer spider orchid and slender Tree fern. At certain times of the year orchids flourish and can be seen through out Sherbrook forest; (Gray & Murphy 2002). Origin and history of vegetation Puffing Billy railway line’s overgrown house gardens contribute to a big chunk of the vegetation. Trees like conifers, black woods and ferns were originally found in these gardens. Many weeds as well result from the neglect of these gardens. All the plants found in Dandenong Ranges National Park remained behind form a long process of recession of the original vegetation caused by the expansion of residential areas in Melbourne; (Bishop 2000). Uses of the vegetation Originally some of the plants were used by aboriginal people in their traditional life as fire wood, medicine and for shelter. Today they serve as tourist attraction objects and for biodiversity conservation. The trees also serve as a habitat for many animals. Conservation of vegetation Conservation of vegetation in the Daandedong park has been excellently done. However challenges like animal pests, weds, and land use practices threaten the well being of the park’s flora. Threatened species are protected in parks in Victoria with Daandenong being one of them. A total of 31 endangered plant species can be found collectively in these parks. Vegetation fires Occasional fire especially in the dry season plays an important role in the growth of trees in the forest. Although it might destroy some species of animals and plants completely, many plants need fire for them to continue from one generation to another. Fauna Types of animals Lyrebirds are the most common in Sherbrook forest. Reclusive platypus are found in waters below the bridge and upstream as well. others include fishes, crays, yabbies, toruts, redfins, black fish, eels, and many other invertebrates found in the water. The superb Lyrebird is the most dominant in Sherbrook Forest area. Other birds include crimson rosella, kookaburra, king parrots, rain bow lorikeets and eastern rosellas. Animals observed include wombat, echidna, possum, wallaby, water rat, yellow bellied glider, greater glider, ring tail possum, sugar glider, brown antechinus among others. The most dominant fauna species in Dandenong Ranges National Park is the Lyrebird; (Bishop 2000). The park has about 9 species of amphibians, 21 reptiles, 30 indigenous mammals and 130 indigenous species of birds. Indigenous bird species that can be observed in the park include Laughing Kookaburras, Pied Currawongs, Yellow faced honey eaters, sulphur crested Cockatoos, Crimson Rosellas, and the Eastern Yellow Robins. Other species like Tree Goannas are also present in the park. Scarred eucalyptus trees in the park indicate that that Yellow bellied Gliders exist and they feed at night. Tiny feather tail gliders live in hollows found on trees; (Anthen 2008) Origin and history of animals Some of the animals in the forest, national park and railway area were introduced there such as the peral horses, peral cats and dogs. Some are native to the place. Significance of animals to the site The animals are part of the natural ecosystem and they serve ecological purposes. They are tourist attractions thus lifting the economy of Victoria. Animal conservation: The Parks are very important places for the conservation of indigenous species of animals. About 948 species of animals can be found within the park and the other parks surrounding it. Some of the threats to conservation of animals include land use practices that were carried out in the past and even those of the present times. Other threats are weeds, pest animals among other things. Parks in general protect about 89% of endangered species in Victoria. Weed Management Types of weeds present Weeds existent along Puffing Billy Railway Line include English Ivy, Tradescantia, Arum lily, Indian straw berry, banana passion fruit, Himalayan honetsuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, Blackberry, Dombeya, ranunculuc, Plectrunthus, Hypericum, Desert ash, English ash, Privet, Cestrum, Bamboo, Buddlea, Lilly-pilly spp, Cherry Laurel, Portugal Laurel, Tree tobacco, Pittosporum, Holly and Sycamore maple. There are many weed species in the Sherbrooke Forest area such as; Sycamore maple, angled onion, cestrum, cape ivy, English ivy, Holly, Japanese Honeysuckle, Asparagus fern, banana passion fruit, sweet pittosporum, Hybrid pittosporum, Ink weed, Cherry Laurel, Portugal Laurel, Tree tobacco, Wanderring jew, and Black berry. There are several others that are less common but nedd to be controlled all the same; (Anthen 2008). Over 1000 species of weeds not native to Dandenong Ranges National park and adjacent parks have been documented. The weed species vary in their impacts, distribution and extend. Weeds present in the park include Black Berry and Orange Hawkweed. They result from adjacent or previous land utilization practices. Garden escapes are known to promote the growth of weeds. Methods of weed control: The park is included in a broader program of weed treatment and control conducted by Park Victoria each year. Park Victoria has plans to destroy new weed species before they establish themselves, to curb the growth of weed that ate a threat to natural values and to work with nearby land mangers to eradicate weeds near the boundary of the park. Because the weed problem is not localized to the parks alone Park Victoria works with friends groups, catchments management authorities, volunteer groups and landholders in the struggle against weeds. Standardized weed monitoring in the park has been started by park Victoria in order to assess the success of control measures. It also has research trial underway aimed at improving the on the efforts being made to control weeds. The Friends of Sherbrook a volunteer group uses manual weeding to control weeds. Layering plants are placed on plat forms, hung on trees or carried out of the forest. Small patches of weeds are sprayed by the group’s members. Contractors are hired Melbourne water and Park Victoria to work on big areas covered by Wandering Trad, Ivy and Black Berry. Trees like sweet pittosporum, sycamore maple, Holly, ivy, cestrum are drilled and herbicides filled in their trunks. Challenges in weed control The greatest challenge is to remove the weeds and not to damage the delicate forest plants. Weeds also pose a threat because they can injure the ones removing them. If not removed and destroyed they can also grow again. Reasons for weed control: Weeds today stand as a very big threat natural conservation of plants and animals in this park. Loss in biodiversity has its causes in weeds as the second after land clearing. Weeds fight with indigenous vegetation for survival and can destroy and replace it. This can also result in the displacement or death of animals depending on that vegetation. Weeds suffocate the other forest plants and trees thus killing them. They are therefore removed to ensure proper growth of the required plants; (Anthen 2008). Pest Animals Species of pest animals Species of pest animals in Sherbrooke Forest are foxes, house mouses, rabbits, dogs, rats and sulphur crested cockatoos. In Dandenong Ranges National Park, a wide range of animal species that can be classified as pests exist in the park such as feral dogs, feral cats, foxes and goats. They comprise of birds, invertebrates and mammals. Such include accidental introductions and others like the red fox, feral horses and rabbits. Pest animals are dangerous since they cause the extinction of other endangered animals. Rabbits feral goats and feral pigs cause growth of weeds, prevent regeneration of vegetation and damage the soil causing soil erosion. Feral dogs, feral cats and foxes have endangered small mammals like potoroos, bandicoots and many birds that nest on the ground; (Anthen 2008). Pest animal control measures Before 1996, the population of animals in the forest especially the lyrebirds had gone down due to predation by dogs, foxes and cats. The animal control local law was enacted after the Shire of Sherbrook being approached. The law expects people to restrain animals for the protection of farm animals and indigenous wildlife. Parks Victoria has a program of curbing stray animals. The Sherbrook lyrebirds group is responsible for monitoring the progress of the Lyrebirds; (Bishop 2000). Parks Victoria manages the control of pest animals in all of Victoria’s parks including Daandenong Ranges National Park. Its goals are to carry out the eradication of pest animals in cooperation with land managers around the park. The most notorious pest animals on its priority every year are the foxes and rabbits. Parks Victoria’s standardized monitoring targets animal pests and it assesses the progress of control measures and programs. It has also started an adaptive management of foxes to experiment on the suitability of strategies initiated for the control of foxes. History of pest animals: Pest animals such as foxes, feral dogs, and feral cats were introduced into the Victorian ecosystem by people in the 1800s. Many of them are therefore found within the park and adjacent areas. Their spread is alarming since they have adapted to the environment over the years and now threaten the indigenous species. Challenges in animal pest control Water Quality Degree of water pollution if any The water bodies within the park include streams, creeks and rivers and other wetlands. The quality of water in the past was good but with time pollution is setting in. However the waters of the park are fairly of good quality since conservation measures are being done. In 2004 for example only 21% of or rivers were in very poor or poor states. The railway line area has a number of streams around it whose pollution levels are not high. Form observation the water is clear; (Anthen 2008). Sources of water pollutants Pollution in the Railway area comes from agricultural lands and gardens through which the creek flows but its effects are minimal since animals can be found in the water. Degradation of the quality of water is known to result from diversion and regulation of water, destruction of stream side vegetation through grazing and other activities, movement of salts, soil and nutrients into the water and invasion from pest plants; (Gray & Murphy 2002). Water quality control measures Parks Victoria works in cooperation with Catchment Management Authorities to take care of land close to rivers and water bodies. They have laid down programs and strategies that are aimed at conserving alpine bogs, salt marshes, flood plain billabongs, hypersaline lakes and mangroves. Friends of the Trestle bridge work hard to control pollution in the creek and water channel; (Gray & Murphy 2002). Problems of water quality control Because pollution is caused by gardens and agricultural activities up stream, it is a challenge to convince people to stop or move from there. Soils, Drainage and Erosion Types of soils The soils present in the area are the podosols, tenosols, kurosols, sodosols, vertosols, chromosols, calcarosols, grey dermosols brown kandosols and red ferrosol; (Anthen 2008). Degree of soil erosion Because of the presence of vegetation, soil erosion has not taken place to serious levels safe for the zones where agriculture is being practiced. Drainage enhancement measures Drainage is being done through conservation of the existing vegetation which increases the rate of water infiltration into the soil. Control of soil erosion In the agricultural areas in the surrounding, soil erosion is controlled by use of gabions and terraces; (Bishop 2000). Site History Year of establishment In the Puffing Billy Railway Line the Bunurong and Woewurrong aboriginal tribes were the original owners of the place where the railway line was built. Due to demand for timber in Melbourne forest vegetation on the ranges was cleared. There was the establishment of farming and the building of roads and railways started. In 1900 there was opened the ‘Puffing Billy’ narrow gauge line. It extended from Fern tree Gully all the way to Gembrook. Sherbrooke Forest area from the mid 1800s up to around 1930 was logged. Gazetting of the forest as a park was done in 1958; (Gray & Murphy 2002). In 1958 it was combined with Ferntree Gully and Doongala reserve to form the bigger Dandenong Ranges National Park. In 1987 Ferntree Gully National Park, Shernbrook forest and Doongalla reserve came together to form Daandenong Ranges National Park. Tourists started visiting the area as early as 1870. Ferntree Gully became a park in 1882 for the first time followed by other areas. The current national park was made in 1987. it coves about 3215 hectares, (Pollock 1988). Reasons for establishment The park is important for the protection of flora and fauna. Among the most common is the Lyrebird and the eucalyptus forests. Sherbrook forest is home to thousands of plant and animal species. The whole of Belgrave area is a tourist as a well as a conservation centre. The Puffing Billy Railway line was established for purposes of transport but also serves to attract and entertain tourists; (Gray & Murphy 2002). Changes over time As from 1997 the Mount Evelyn Forest and Olinda State Forest were made part of Daandenong Ranges National Park. Cultural features Cultural features present Some of the heritage of the Dandenongs is depicted in paintings by famous artists such as Sir Arthur Streeton. Reproductions of their works can be found on signs in the park and around the Ranges; (Pollock 1988). Origin and history of cultural features Most of the cultural features found within cultural sites were created by the indigenous aboriginal people. They have since remained from their traditional life and are on display today. Uses of cultural features Cultural features serve as tourist attraction objects. Some are used for studies by historians who want to know about the history of the area. Plans for cultural feature preservation The role of the friends of/land care group Land care groups present There are a number of volunteer groups concerned with conservation of the Belgrave area. These groups are the Friends of Sherbrook forest and the Friends of the Trestle Bridge; (Anthen 2008). Types of activities carried out They are concerned with weeding to get rid of weeds and the control of animal pests. They remove weeds manually, spraying and carrying them away. Past roles of the land care group Their major role in the past and at the time of formation was to conserve the natural ecosystem of the place. They have don e this with a lot of zeal and they still continue; (Gray & Murphy 2002). Present and future roles Their past and present roles are identical. They still remove weeds, control pests animals, pollution of water and the surrounding areas; (Pollock 1988). Problems encountered The rate of growth of weeds and spread of pest animals is overwhelming. They need more labor and resources to carry out their job seriously. Role of agencies (e. g Park Victoria and Melbourne Water) Past roles The original role of Park Victoria was conservation of the parks and its flora and fauna including their habitats. Present and future roles It enhances both cultural and natural values. It also serves its customers and avails information to them. It is involved in the management of parks through innovation and excellence. It also contributes to the wellbeing of the people of Victoria in environmental, social and economic aspects. Melbourne water manages rivers and creeks, drainage system of the region like rain water channels, gutters, drains, and the flood plains. Flood plains are the areas close to rivers and creeks that bear the floods. Their goal is to popularize rivers creeks and wetlands to visitors, preserve the health of creeks and rivers with their flora and fauna, give protection from floods to people and ensures the urban expansion does not impact on creeks and rivers; (Gray & Murphy 2002). Challenges in those roles Stakeholder views Views on current progress Stake holders like the government, surrounding communities, Park Victoria and Melbourne water think that so far, the conservation of Daandedong National Park, Sherbrook Forest and the surrounding Belgrave environment has been conserved well. The forest and natural ecosystem modify the microclimate of Victoria making the place one of the best in the country, (Pollock 1988). Views on site management The management of the site needs to put more effort in the conservation of the park, forest and the other parts especially in the area of the control of weds and pest animals. Views on future plans It would be better and more beneficial to work towards the expansion of the existing conservation area to include other adjacent natural ecosystems. Agricultural activities in the surrounding areas will be halted to avoid more pollution in the creeks and rivers; (Anthen 2008) Prospects for Community Participation in Management Reasons for community participation in management Community involvement in the management of the site should be enhanced in order to foster sense of responsibility and ownership of the park and the nearby areas. This will help in the conservation activities since more people will become involved. Steps towards community involvement in management More groups and members of these volunteer groups are coming up to help in the management of the affairs of the site. Sherbrook forest and Daandenong National Park together with Puffing Billy Railway have groups that help in weed control and animal pest control, (Pollock 1988), Levels of future community participation More groups will be registered in the future to further the course of management of this huge natural resource base. Creek Access Creeks present There are a number of creeks such as Sherbrook creek, clematis creek, Hardy creek, Monbulk creek, which pour their water into streams and eventually into the ocean. They pass through the park, forest and also cross the Puffing Billy railway line. Points of accessing the creek Monbulk creek can be accessed through Trestle bridge, while Sherbrook creek can be seen at Long Bridge. Clematis creek can be accessed at Pufffing Billy Railway station or from Monbulk or Sherbrook road. Hardy creek passes at Grant’s picnic ground. Any other relevant material Location of site Sherbrook forest is found at an altitude of 300m in the Daandenong Ranges close to Belgrave suburb. It is found in Victoria, 40 km east of Melbourne. Daanendong Ranges National Park occurs in Victoria, about 38 kilometers from form Melbourne towards the East; (Gray & Murphy 2002). Recommendations on site development Development of the site should focus on the conservation of the indigenous endangered species of plants and animals as well as biodiversity. These are the thing that will foster further development through the increase of visitors in the region. In the destruction of weeds and pest animals Parks Victoria should also consider the conservation and the value of bio diversity, (Pollock 1988). References Anchen Nick; The Dandenongs; Sierra Publishing, 2008. Bishop Anthony, Bishop Tony; Field Guide to the Orchids of New South Wales and Victoria; 2000. Dandenong Ranges National Park Management plan; Victoria,National Parks and Public Land Division; Victoria, Department of conservation and environment; Dandenong region, 1991. Gray, J.M. & Murphy, B.W. (2002), Predicting Soil Distribution, Joint Dept. of Land & Water Conservation (DLWC) & Aust. Society for Soil Science Technical Poster, DLWC, Sydney. Inc Icon Group International; Weeds: Webster’s Quotations, Facts and Phrases, 2008; Agriculture Canada. Pollock Celia, Sue Dovan, Fran Church, Explore Australia; The complete Touring Companion; 1988. Read More