Views of ImLal South biorich plantation site, 2 years & 6 months after planting (April 2013)
ImLal Sth growing well after two years since first planted. Cassinia and wattles in foreground; eucalypts to the rear.
ImLal biorich demonstration project takes shape near Lal Lal Falls, in central Victoria, Australia
[Below] 4.5ha south site; [Top] 5ha north site above dam.
Over 60 people from as far apart as north-east Victoria and the Otways came to Lal Lal for a field day during World Environment Week in June 2011 to see and learn about a new type of revegetation that integrates conservation and production. A freshly erected display board highlighted the principle behind the design of the ‘biorich’ plantation: “Planting for people and the planet.”
The demonstration plantation is within the Imerys Mineral kaolin mining site buffer zone at Lal Lal. “It aims to demonstrate the importance and potential of combining biodiversity with farm forestry on a large enough scale to really make a difference,” says Phil Kinghorn, President of Ballarat Region Treegrowers, which is the lead organisation for the project.
A wide range of partners are involved including Australian Forest Growers (AFG), the Commonwealth Government’s Caring for Our Country program, Ballarat University, Imerys Minerals, Central Highlands Water, Corangamite CMA, Koala Connect and Moorabool Shire Council.
Half of the proposed 10 hectare site was planted to the south of the dam (pictured right) in October 2010 by local landowners, Landcare and AFG members with over 40 species (over 3,000 plants) plus 10 clumps of forestry species including blue gum (both Sydney and globulus), red gum, spotted gum and blackwood.
The other half of the site to the north of the dam and a band of remnant swamp gum woodland (pictured top) was planted on Sunday 25 September 2011 with 42 species and over 4,000 plants. When combined, the two wildlife-friendly biorich plantations and the remnant woodland between them will create a large continuous 15ha habitat refuge, as well as having the potential to provide renewable resources and future income from the timber trees.
The partners in the project consider that this addresses all three sustainability issues – social and economic as well as environmental.
Site owner Imerys Minerals Ltd is a worldwide kaolin clay mining company. Imerys Australia’s General Manager Colin Bullen sees the biorich concept as having "exciting potential" in the reclamation of Imerys’s mining sites globally (refer to his Field Day presentation). Imerys is negotiating the granting of a perpetual lease over the biorich site to Ballarat University to ensure its long term future and to enable the site’s use for research and education.
The demonstration plantation is within the Imerys Mineral kaolin mining site buffer zone at Lal Lal. “It aims to demonstrate the importance and potential of combining biodiversity with farm forestry on a large enough scale to really make a difference,” says Phil Kinghorn, President of Ballarat Region Treegrowers, which is the lead organisation for the project.
A wide range of partners are involved including Australian Forest Growers (AFG), the Commonwealth Government’s Caring for Our Country program, Ballarat University, Imerys Minerals, Central Highlands Water, Corangamite CMA, Koala Connect and Moorabool Shire Council.
Half of the proposed 10 hectare site was planted to the south of the dam (pictured right) in October 2010 by local landowners, Landcare and AFG members with over 40 species (over 3,000 plants) plus 10 clumps of forestry species including blue gum (both Sydney and globulus), red gum, spotted gum and blackwood.
The other half of the site to the north of the dam and a band of remnant swamp gum woodland (pictured top) was planted on Sunday 25 September 2011 with 42 species and over 4,000 plants. When combined, the two wildlife-friendly biorich plantations and the remnant woodland between them will create a large continuous 15ha habitat refuge, as well as having the potential to provide renewable resources and future income from the timber trees.
The partners in the project consider that this addresses all three sustainability issues – social and economic as well as environmental.
Site owner Imerys Minerals Ltd is a worldwide kaolin clay mining company. Imerys Australia’s General Manager Colin Bullen sees the biorich concept as having "exciting potential" in the reclamation of Imerys’s mining sites globally (refer to his Field Day presentation). Imerys is negotiating the granting of a perpetual lease over the biorich site to Ballarat University to ensure its long term future and to enable the site’s use for research and education.
Planting of the second and third stage of the demonstration project completed
Fifteen people from Ballarat Region Treegrowers, landcare groups, Imerys Minerals and Ballarat University took part in planting out 5ha with over 3,000 indigenous shrubs, trees and grasses in the buffer zone for Imerys’s kaolin mine at Lal Lal.
The planting of the second stage of the 10ha ImLal Biorich project took place in September, 2011.
Almost 800 forestry trees were planted along access tracks including a stand of Californian redwoods, which in 20 years or so will provide a grand entrance to the project’s north site.
In October 2012, gaps in ImLal Nth were replanted with over 2,000 trees and shrubs plus 1,200 grasses.
The planting of the second stage of the 10ha ImLal Biorich project took place in September, 2011.
Almost 800 forestry trees were planted along access tracks including a stand of Californian redwoods, which in 20 years or so will provide a grand entrance to the project’s north site.
In October 2012, gaps in ImLal Nth were replanted with over 2,000 trees and shrubs plus 1,200 grasses.
Design and planting of ImLal biorich site
Stephen Murphy (on right) with Imerys Environment Manager Brad Haywood.
The biorich site puts into practice the revegetation design principles outlined in the well-received, AFG published book, Recreating the Country.
Author and ecologist Stephen Murphy designed the planting of the site in concert with advice on forestry species from Ballarat Region Treegrowers, the local AFG branch. The design’s most unusual features are the large range of plant families incorporated and that all plant layers are present from grasses to shrubs, understorey and canopy trees – see his report on the Site design page and his Field Day presentation.
“A biorich plantation mimics the natural forest once found at a place, while adding productive elements such as commercial forestry species, as in this case,” explains Phil Kinghorn.
Overseas in places like Sri Lanka, restoring degraded landscapes by mimicking the natural forest that was once present, then adding productive crops, such as tea or coffee, comes under the heading of analogue forestry. Analogue forestry differs from agroforestry in that the former starts from the premise of optimising biodiversity, then adding locally appropriate productive elements. Ballarat Region Treegrowers has applied and been accepted as the first Australian organisation to become a member of the International Analog Forestry Network, whose head office is in Costa Rica.
“We regard biorich plantations as a subset of analogue forestry, with the potential for adaptation across a wide range of farm forestry situations,” says Phil Kinghorn.
Author and ecologist Stephen Murphy designed the planting of the site in concert with advice on forestry species from Ballarat Region Treegrowers, the local AFG branch. The design’s most unusual features are the large range of plant families incorporated and that all plant layers are present from grasses to shrubs, understorey and canopy trees – see his report on the Site design page and his Field Day presentation.
“A biorich plantation mimics the natural forest once found at a place, while adding productive elements such as commercial forestry species, as in this case,” explains Phil Kinghorn.
Overseas in places like Sri Lanka, restoring degraded landscapes by mimicking the natural forest that was once present, then adding productive crops, such as tea or coffee, comes under the heading of analogue forestry. Analogue forestry differs from agroforestry in that the former starts from the premise of optimising biodiversity, then adding locally appropriate productive elements. Ballarat Region Treegrowers has applied and been accepted as the first Australian organisation to become a member of the International Analog Forestry Network, whose head office is in Costa Rica.
“We regard biorich plantations as a subset of analogue forestry, with the potential for adaptation across a wide range of farm forestry situations,” says Phil Kinghorn.
Bird surveys and monitoring
Tanya Loos (left) with BRT bird surveyors on a typically grey and windy morning.
Naturalist and BirdLife Australia Vice-President (Ballarat) Tanya Loos is leading regular bird surveys on the biorich site. She points out that the range of bird species that come to use the site will act as an environmental indicator of its success in bringing back native wildlife – see her report on the Bird surveys page and paper on the Field Day page.
Plot monitoring of plant growth and mortality is being undertaken by Ballarat University. Seven months on, graduate student Tim Simpson was able to report that the south site has had a 95 per cent strike rate. Ballarat University senior lecturer Singarayer Florentine, an expert in reforestation, told those attending the field day that there is increasing evidence that the greater the plant diversity, the greater the resilience and long term success for environmental and forestry plantings – see his report on the Plot monitoring page and paper on the Field Day page .
Local water authority, Central Highlands Water has provided funding towards the revegetation because it is interested in the site's impact on water quality. Natural resources manager Sonia Mahony spoke at the Field Day about how native vegetation filters and improves the quality of water. Central Highlands Water is increasingly planting native vegetation on streamsides and around its reservoirs. The water authority is sponsoring tubestock indigenous planting of the north site.
Plot monitoring of plant growth and mortality is being undertaken by Ballarat University. Seven months on, graduate student Tim Simpson was able to report that the south site has had a 95 per cent strike rate. Ballarat University senior lecturer Singarayer Florentine, an expert in reforestation, told those attending the field day that there is increasing evidence that the greater the plant diversity, the greater the resilience and long term success for environmental and forestry plantings – see his report on the Plot monitoring page and paper on the Field Day page .
Local water authority, Central Highlands Water has provided funding towards the revegetation because it is interested in the site's impact on water quality. Natural resources manager Sonia Mahony spoke at the Field Day about how native vegetation filters and improves the quality of water. Central Highlands Water is increasingly planting native vegetation on streamsides and around its reservoirs. The water authority is sponsoring tubestock indigenous planting of the north site.
For further information
Filmmaker Steve Oakes and producer Ian Penna.
A documentary on the project by filmmaker Steve Oakes can be seen on YouTube under the title of Recreating the Country at this web link - click here
The AFG-published book Recreating the Country by Stephen Murphy can be purchased online – click here
To contact Ballarat Region Treegrowers about the biorich plantations concept – click here
The AFG-published book Recreating the Country by Stephen Murphy can be purchased online – click here
To contact Ballarat Region Treegrowers about the biorich plantations concept – click here
