GET-TOGETHER OF TASMANIAN FIELD NATURALISTS

By Lou Brooker

Every two years, members of field naturalist clubs in Tasmania are hosted by one of the clubs for a weekend get-together.

It’s a chance for the host club to showcase something special in their region, and also a chance to have social contact with other people with like interests, i.e. those who are interested in the natural environment.

In October this year it was the North East Field Naturalists turn. We hosted visitors in our homes, provided a meal on the Saturday night and organised two walks.

On the Saturday Mike Douglas led 26 visitors on a walk in the Waterhouse Conservation Area.

During the walk, topics discussed included the geological history of sand movement, dune stabilisation, land clearance and drainage of the area. There was also discussion of a disease called stem rot which is affecting the southern grass tree (Xanthorrhoea australis) and of the root rot organism known as Phytophthora. In addition, some of the 300 species of plants that go to make up the coastal heath habitat were identified.

The W.C.A. contains some of the best examples of the small amount of heathland that remains in Tasmania, so members were careful not to contaminate the area and were encouraged to clean and spray their shoes before commencing the walk.

On the Sunday, delegates were hosted by club member Scott Bell, who led a walk through his property of 240 hectares at Little Pipers River.

Scott’s property is protected by a Tasmanian Land Conservancy Covenant and includes a Free Range Enclosure, a fenced area that provides a safe place for healthy Tasmanian devils to breed with no chance of exposure to the devil facial tumour that has decimated devil populations through much of Tasmania.

The devils in the enclosure therefore constitute an ‘insurance population’, i.e. if Tasmanian devils become extinct in the wild, healthy devils from the enclosure could be used to re-establish the species in Tasmania.

We were interested to learn that an unusual species of Xanthorrhoea is present on Scott’s property. This is Xanthorrhoea bracteata (the shiny grass tree) which grows only in the North East, and is classed as Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The visitors were impressed with the north-eastern Tasmanian hospitality, and some of them stayed longer to explore other natural gems in our area.