The Conservation Area has allowed healthy new stands of Narrow-leaved Red Gum trees to grow in the Open Eucalypt Woodlands.
This species of tree is Listed as E2 which means its distribution is restricted to a range over less than 100 km. They are Endangered and at serious risk in the short term (one or two decades.) Because they are branch droppers nesting hollows appear at an earlier stage.
Image of a massive burl on an ancient narrow-leaved Red Gum (Euc. seeana) in the wildlife refuge. Australian eucalypts have a genetic predisposition to “burling”. Usually initiated when a tree is under stress from fungal attack, insects (mainly termites) or fire. One of the largest burls was found in Tamworth in 1984 and stood 6ft 4in tall. Narrow-leaved Red Gum can grow to 40 metres with smooth bark, usually white to grey and shedding in large plates. Distributed from Taree to Caloundra they are utilized as Koala food and listed as an endangered species, being close to extinction in it’s southern boundary.
From Booklist
Photographer Blackwell draws on his experience as head of creative development at Getty Images to inspire an international troupe of stellar nature photographers to portray with exquisite artistry trees and forests. The (more…)
A mighty old growth Forest Red Gum which lives in the riparian zone on Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge. The 1 hectare area immediately surrounding this tree is being allowed to naturally regenerate by using the fast growing Blady grass (Imperata cylindrica var. major) as a plant nursery. Blady grass provides winter protection from frosts for the young Red gums, Red Ash and wattle species -by using the native seed bank, site specific species have appeared. Coupled with management control for weed infestation this will provide a higher quality regeneration over time. The Blady grass will naturally thin out due to increased shading leaving an measurably increased amount of soil biota for the young trees.
Scarce Jackwood dressed with Rock Felt Fern on The Island at Sportsman Creek. A medium sized hardwood of the rainforests of New South Wales and Queensland. Growing to over 40ft. “Also known as Brown Beech. It is a splendid, generally useful timber and one of the brush trees that should be reafforested”.
Reference; Baker. R.T. The Hardwoods of Australia and Their Economics. 1919.