18th May 2022
Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT) hosted their inaugural Tasmanian wetland restoration workshop on Wednesday 4th May 2022, followed by a wetland restoration field day at Long Point.
'Workshop Sparks Interest in Wetland Restoration in Tasmania'
Originally posted by Nature Glenelg Trust. Author: Bec Sheldon. View the original post here
NGT hosted our inaugural Tasmanian wetland restoration workshop on Wednesday 4th May 2022, supported by NRM South, with funding provided via the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. The workshop was attended by thirty-four people, including five NGT staff, and representatives from Tasmanian NRM organisations, the Derwent Estuary Program, Derwent Catchment Group, Tasmanian Land Conservancy and supporters, the national Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, University of Tasmania, Landcare Tasmania, and Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, as well as forestry, parks, water authorities and environmental consultants.
The workshop commenced with an overview of NGT and our multi-faceted, investigative approach to landscape planning and wetland restoration, followed by case study presentations and discussion surrounding our recent work at Moulting Lagoon on the east coast of Tasmania (The Grange/Long Point and Apsley Marshes). Four breakout rooms were hosted by NGT staff and provided an opportunity for more detailed discussion in smaller groups about restoration approaches, experiences, and future opportunities.
Key themes that emerged from the in-depth discussions included:
- The importance of focussing on long-term outcomes and the short-term disturbances required to achieve them.
- The potential for wetland restoration to buffer against impacts of climate change.
- The importance of monitoring sites post-restoration works, to track vegetation recovery, trends and management needs.
- Challenges with restoration projects on private land (i.e. protection versus productivity, ongoing commitments).
- Setting appropriate restoration goals and understanding a site’s restoration potential.
- Acknowledgement of the complexity of working with competing values at some restoration sites (e.g. threatened species, heritage, etc).
Following on from this workshop, on the 31st of May the NGT in collaboration with Tasmanian Land Conservancy held a Field Day at Long Point and The Grange to discuss wetland restoration - removing old drainage infrastructure, monitoring results, allowing for sea level rise, implications for vegetation, and more.
The NGT are currently leading an independent eco-hydrological assessment at both the Apsley Marshes Ramsar site and at properties adjacent the Moulting Lagooon Ramsar site, where changes to hydrology have occurred.
Learn more about the project here.
Image: Tas Land Conservancy, Long Point workshop, May 31st
