Project Description
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 of NSW. The rainforest was reduced (within decades) to less than 1% of its former area – leaving less than 80 small, isolated remnants.
Since the 1930s many practitioners were involved in both planting and regeneration along with the many hundreds of landholders who also undertake work on their own properties.
The approaches of planting and regeneration feature in the work of Big Scrub Landcare, whose contractors and members have worked to regenerate 44 remnants and plant out 600 ha of new rainforest.
BSL 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.
This presentation was delivered at the AABR AGM of 19/2/22