Question details
Question on Notice
With reference to the work of the Government to protect Alpine Ash forests from ecological collapse through aerial seeding of burnt forests, and noting similar threats posed by climate-driven bushfires and dieback to the Snow Gum forests of North Eastern Victoria:
(1) What is the latest data the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action has regarding the health of Snow Gum forests and woodlands in Gippsland and North Eastern Victoria.
(2) Does the Government have any plans to investigate reports of localised ecological collapse of these Snow Gum populations.
(3) Is the Government funding, or intending on funding:
(a) an analysis of snow gum woodlands across the landscape to determine their condition and to prioritise actions and areas to protect, such as fire refugia;
(b) a fire response procedure that aims to negate or minimize the impact of bushfire on snow gum woodlands (noting that Alpine Peatlands Fire Mitigation Planning may act as a helpful case study);
(c) specific emerging options for treating beetle-induced dieback, recovery options in areas already affected by dieback and prevention in areas less affected by dieback.The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA) is working with researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) to support increased understanding of Snow Gum communities in southeastern Australia, including in Victoria. DEECA accesses data from these programs to inform management and mitigations for Snow Gum.
DEECA is working with researchers at ANU to support increased understanding of Montane forest landscapes and Snow Gum communities in southeastern Australia, including communities in Victoria. Additionally. Parks Victoria is currently investigating options for remote sensing of dieback, including Snow Gum communities, at broad geographical scale. This enables rapid detection of dieback and adjustment of management actions accordingly. Parks Victoria also regularly liaises with the research community studying and monitoring this phenomenon and supports research initiatives wherever possible and appropriate.
DEECA provides in-kind contributions and funding for research led by ANU to assess Snow Gum dieback, condition, and determine dieback mitigations. An additional ongoing aim of the ANU research is to assess the spatial extent of dieback and Snow Gum condition in Victoria. Parks Victoria is seeking to collaborate with a research organisation to deliver an analysis of Snow Gum refugia (fire and temperature) as well as mapping of discrete patches of long-unburnt Snow Gum woodlands.
DEECA has funded the University of Melbourne to assess the impacts of fire on eucalypt forests, including Snow Gum communities, through the Integrated Forest Ecosystem Research Program. Data from this program is used by DEECA to inform forest management, and mitigations for Snow Gum.
DEECA takes specific actions to protect Snow Gums from fire, including rapid suppression using aerial and ground resources, and DEECA’s rappel firefighters responding to bushfires in the remote, mountainous and inaccessible terrain in the Alpine National Park deploying out of helicopters to reach even the most highly inaccessible areas. DEECA also has regional bushfire management strategies in place which identify areas of fire sensitive vegetation communities including Snow Gum communities which guide management actions and mitigations, such as the exclusion of direct ignition or mechanical disturbance during fuel management operations or suppression where possible. The regional bushfire management strategies include the recommendations of the Alpine Peatlands Fire Mitigation Planning in relevant alpine landscapes.
Effective, active forest management, including collecting and storing seeds to support recovery from fire, is also an important measure to ensure the recovery and persistence of fire-sensitive ecosystems and vegetation. The Future Forests Program of 2024-25 and 2025-26 has allocated $52.341 million to help support initiatives, which include but are not limited to:
- maintaining seed collection and storage capabilities and assets
- targeted on-ground biodiversity action to support healthy forests
- Biodiversity and Threatened Species Survey Program
- fire ecology and forest modelling.
Current funding for seed collection to build a seed bank includes development of a seed collection strategy to guide priority species for collection, as well as considering the capability required for seed management and resowing in preparedness for recovery such as the infrastructure, skills and knowledge, guidance, systems, and data. This funding is focused on building seed storage and capability for the recovery of fire, or other disturbance, affected species and vegetation communities. Resowing recovery programs are planned and implemented after natural disturbances.
Parks Victoria regularly liaises with the research community studying dieback caused by the longicorn beetle and supports research initiatives wherever possible. Recovery and prevention options are also under investigation. Recently announced federal funding will support the study of genotypic differences amongst populations and subspecies in dieback resistance, and water and temperature stress tolerance.
Steve Dimopoulos MP
Member for Oakleigh
Minister for Environment
