Veteran (very old) trees are important components of many ecosystems and landscapes. In Part 1 we discussed their environmental values and unique characteristics, as well as their cultural values and benefits. Part 2 will focus on the survival strategies employed by these ancient flora representatives and the range of management actions that will assist their continued survival.
One evening when my boys were younger, Matthew, then ten, looked at me from across a restaurant table and said quite seriously, “Dad, how come it was more fun when you were a kid?”
Park Rangers do an amazing job in our national parks and each edition of Protected we like to recognise one and tell their story.
Articles in the February/March issue of Protected by President Graeme Bartrim and Tony Groom mention how experiencing aspects of nature can trigger an interest in conservation and may also provide real mental and physical health benefits.
When visiting forests or national parks, we often take for granted the large trees that we walk by or camp near. These big, old trees are remarkable, not only for their size, but also because they have many other important values, such as containing their own ‘ecosystem’, showing a slice of the region’s history, significance for Traditional Owners, exceptional age, rarity, important habitat or ecological associations, and having exceptional landscape values and great beauty.
Main Range, like so many Queensland national parks, is home to outstanding walks, wildlife and views. Unfortunately, but also not unlike many Queensland national parks, it is under threat from invasive species, climate change, visitor intensification and ecotourism activities.
Park Rangers do an amazing job in our national parks and each edition of Protected we like to recognise one and tell their story.
Securing our national park protected areas is half the battle. The other, more important, part is how our national parks are managed to protect their natural beauty for the future. QPWS provide some insight into their Values Based Management Framework approach.
The inside story on tracking down Australia’s most untrackable birdlife.
Magnetic Island: eight kilometres off the coast of Townsville but a million miles from care, blessed with fringing reefs, giant granite tors and boulder-strewn vistas.
