Caring for our Country Regional Investment: Restoration of Sub-Alpine Sphagnum Peat Bogs
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Photo: D Whitfield
Sub-alpine Sphagnum bogs are found on the higher altitudes of the Australian Alps and Tasmania. They form a highly specialised habitat that makes up only a small fraction of the landscape of south-eastern Australia. The mountains of the ACT’s Namadgi National Park support areas of Sphagnum bog, that until recently have been in pristine condition and amongst the finest examples of this community type in the Australian Alps. The significance of Sphagnum bogs was further recognised, when, in January 2009 the ‘Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens’ were declared a nationally threatened ecological community.
In January 2003 lightning strikes from an electrical storm ignited fires that burnt 164,914 hectares of land, affecting 70% of the ACT. Almost all Sphagnum bogs in the ACT were affected by the wildfire. An assessment of selected significant bogs found that between 55-100% of their surfaces had been burnt. The ACT Parks and Conservation Service then commenced a restoration program in targeted bogs.
This project aims to:
- continue to rehabilitate selected sub-alpine peatland bog ecosystems that were damaged by the 2003 fires.
- protect and improve the biodiversity and ecological function of these significant sub-alpine ecological communities that contributes to high water yield and excellent water quality in the upper Cotter catchment.
- minimise the threat of feral animals, especially pigs and weed impacts by proactively monitoring for and protecting against these threats.
The project will continue to monitor and review appropriate methods for Sphagnum peat bog restoration, applying best practice restoration methods and maintaining existing restoration and monitoring works.
Specific activities to be undertaken in 2011-12 include:
- continued restoration work at key sub-alpine peat bogs over a total area of 35 hectares; and
- trial of a recently developed feral pig control product known as a Hog Hopper. This product if effective will the setting of feeding stations in remote areas and control of feral pigs around these significant bog systems, where current control techniques have limited impact.The Hog Hopper will be trialled in two to three selected Sphagnum bog systems.
The rehabilitation will be achieved by maintaining the current restoration work that has occurred in earlier phases of the project. Where needed additional restoration work will be conducted.
Photo: D Whitfield
Restoration work includes:
- installation of small dams (weirs) to slow the water flow through streams to prevent incision and allow lateral flow of water into damaged sections of the bog.
- installation of shade cloth over targeted areas to allow for the recovery of sphagnum and shrubs.
- transplanting of sphagnum and other plants into areas that were not showing signs of recovery
- continuing the photo monitoring program, to record the recovery of the bog systems over time.
