Karen Ziegler

Speaker

Friends of Bass Strait Islands, Wildcare

20 Years of Island and coastal restoration in eastern Bass Strait and the emerging threat of mirror bush

The vegetation restoration of islands and coastal areas in eastern Bass Strait by the Friends of Bass Strait, Wildcare has evolved and refined over the twenty years.

Our focus has been restoring native vegetation primarily by the removal of african boxthorn, but there is an emerging threat from a woody shrub popular in gardens for its shiny green leaves and wind and salt tolerant nature. Mirror bush, or Coprosma repen is coming to the outer islands of eastern Tasmania and rapidly becoming established. It is a native of New Zealand and in native situations occurs as a shrub or small tree as part of forest in the immediate coastal zone.

It has been recognised as being an invasive woody shrub in Tasmania. It is a declared species in South Australia and New South Wales. Tasmania needs to list this species as a declared weed and put resources in controlling it before it becomes well established.

Karen and the Friends of Bass Strait Islands (FOBSI) have spent decades tackling these far flung areas of Tasmania for the benefit of sea birds and wildlife.

They liaise with the local Parks staff, NRM North's Furneaux Facilitator and Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, and work collaboratively with members of Flinders Island Landcare. We usually fly to Flinders Island and boat to outer islands from there. The pleasure lies in spending time in good company in a gorgeous wild part of the world, contributing to the effort to keep these islands accessible to nesting birds and human visitors.