Rainforest restoration

Heroes of the Big Scrub is an inspiring story of landscape scale restoration. The video showcases the people who understood the processes of rainforest restoration ecology, and have dedicated their life's work to enabling substantial recovery of the Big Scrub against all odds. The video looks at the role of assisted natural regeneration and revegetation [...]

The following questions were posed to Dr Tony Parkes at the AABR AGM held 19/2/22. 00:25 Why don’t we value the Big scrub and when do you think it will change? 02:45 Is this work being done elsewhere in the world…The Science Saving Rainforests? 04:45 In the genome project are the species limited to those [...]

Big Scrub Landcare are now driving an innovative program to ensure that all plantings use genetically diverse planting stock to overcome potential inbreeding and build greater adaptability to climate change within the landscape. Dr Tony Parkes (AO) - retired organic chemist and merchant banker (turned rainforest restorer) - is the Founder and President of Big [...]

Dr Tein McDonald provides the background to the upcoming AABR Video on Heroes of Big Scrub Recovery and sets the scene for Tony Parkes talk on the Big Scrub Landcare's (BSL) Science Saving Rainforest project. Big Scrub was a once a 75,000 ha swathe of subtropical rainforest on the volcanic soils of the north coast [...]

Hundreds of AABR members rose to the challenge of supporting post-fire regeneration only to have their intent somewhat stifled by a pandemic. In spite of this five NSW site coordinators managed to navigate the COVID constraints and deliver on-ground outcomes. This video shares the process and the achievements from 12 months of post-fire regeneration activities [...]

Federal, State and Regional agencies along with community groups and private landholders have all been striving to address the consequences of the bushfires of 2019-20. This Zoom webinar highlighted the insights, actions and opportunities that are occurring as the ecosystems transition with various levels of support.

How can we help the bush to recover after fire? The native plants usually have the capacity to regenerate (unless the damage is particularly severe), but where weeds are involved, they probably need assistance. With the right approach, we can make a big difference. Here is an intro to post fire weed control, with [...]

Does size matter? Victoria Park Nature Reserve is a small fragment of the once mighty Big Scrub sub-tropical rainforest. Reflecting on 40 years of monitoring, Tein McDonald highlights the significant contributions to the understanding of rainforest succession that this reserve has made. Monitoring of Camphor laurel removal using species composition surveys and photopoints, clearly demonstrates [...]

Rainforest restoration pioneers, Big Scrub Landcare, are again at the forefront of restoration ecology investigating solutions to the problem of genetic inbreeding in the hundreds of thousands of Big Scrub plantings. With the long term viability of the Big Scrub and associated investment at stake, they have developed a strategy to test for genetic diversity, [...]

Jen Ford’s presentation showcases a well planned, 10 year funded, Threatened Species offset project. Detailed examples of four Species of National Environmental Significance are discussed and picture-perfect photopoints utilised to highlight the changes that have resulted from dedicated professionals undertaking assisted regeneration supported by hazard reduction burns. The project not only achieved the 2 for [...]