"Weeds can protect habitat"

A comment this morning by Restoration Ecologist (my description, I hope that's right @jon_sullivan ) and iNaturalist curator Jon Sullivan included the words "Weeds can protect habitat".

Our own experience so heartily endorsed this that, rather than clutter up an Observation of an interesting fungus, we made our own response to Jon's comment here:

https://inaturalist.nz/journal/jennyjack/18004-weeds-can-protect-habitat

Just yesterday a man in search of easy access to privacy in the bush crossed the weed-pile barrier to Gahnia Grove and stumbled down the previously-inaccessible bank of the Arena into the vulnerable newly-exposed canopy margin where native seedlings are beginning to develop.

How will we keep Gahnia Grove safe? Like many other local reserves of ecological value, it is adjacent a busy road with frequent foot traffic into the Clearings, and a popular area for exercising large and bouncy dogs who need more space, adventure and socialization than small grass and playground reserves can provide.

Our present ad hoc plan is to make, as quickly as possible, a narrow low-impact path through the least-vulnerable part of the site, outlined by home-made mainly-pictorial signage, mainly small and at ground level, indicating the value of various seedlings and other features of public interest. Ideally, such signage would include the history and progress of restoration and avenues for participation in either ecological restoration or amenity planting maintenance in local Reserves.

Posted on July 31, 2018 11:57 PM by kaipatiki_naturewatch