Globally, Alpine Ecosystems are in trouble. Right now our snow gums, an iconic feature of the Australian alps, are facing a mass mortality event and are at risk of ecological collapse due to dieback and the impact of repeated bush fire.  

You can help save our snow gums by planning a hike through the Australian alps this walking season.  While you are walking, record your observations of snow gum dieback and fire impact via our citizen science initiatives.

Here’s what we know so far.

Fire …

Trends indicate a serious decline in snow gum cover, driven by increasingly severe and more frequent fires, exacerbated by climate change.  Fires are shortening the slow-growing snow gums’ interval for recovery and weakening their ability to bounce back after repeated events. Snow gums can live for over 400 years and are no stranger to fire. They have evolved with thickened bark and have the ability to resprout at their base  (they have a basal lignotuber) should severe burns occur. Yet, the rise of  unprecedented megafires, experienced over recent decades, means these fragile ecosystems cannot recover fast enough to grow back between the fire events. This is altering the structure of these forests and resulting in previously forested areas becoming scrubby grassland. This indirectly impacts alpine wildlife and plants that rely on this keystone species to survive.

We need both the Victorian and New South Wales State Governments to act to protect  this unique and vulnerable ecosystem.  

Friends of the Earth is working to raise awareness about these threats and implement effective science-based action and funding for ongoing management of these forests.

… and beetles

As if fire isn't devastating enough, a warming and drying alpine climate has resulted in increased parasitism by the woodboring native longhorn beetle (Phoracantha. spp.).  This beetle is devastating three of the species of snow gums in our alpine areas (Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp. niphophilla; debeuzevillei and E. lacrimans). While these beetles are native, their breeding season is lengthening, resulting in widespread snow-gum dieback stretching from Mt. Baw Baw to Kosciusko.

Snow gums are an integral feature of alpine ecosystems, and vital for alpine ecosystem function. Snow gum forests protect up to 26% of our water source in the Murray-Darling Basin and prevent soil erosion through their deep root systems. This helps stabilise the landscape to promote snow retention, providing greater ecosystem and recreational benefits.

As a keystone species, they provide food and shelter for a diverse range of wildlife. Endangered species such as the Bogong Moth, the critically endangered Corroboree Frog and Mountain Pygmy Possum all rely on alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems for their survival.

You can read more about our rescue plan for this iconic species here.

What can I do?

Here is where you come in.

Sign our petition calling on both state governments to take action to protect these forests.

Become a citizen scientist.

Your observations matter! By planning a hike in the High Country, you can also record and map areas that you suspect to be affected by fire or woodboring beetles. Friends of the Earth will then use this data to drive state governments towards meaningful action..

How it works

Step 1: Plan your hike! This is the fun part. Plot an adventure on tracks anywhere in the high country.

Check our map of snow gum hotspots to find great snow gum areas to visit this summer. We are adding new areas all the time, so check back whenever you’re planning a trip.

ABOVE: a screen shot of the map, which can be found here.

Known locations for fire-induced loss of snow gums in Victoria – where stands of trees are being replaced by grass or shrubs (no regrowth from parent trees or seedlings) – include the Dargo High Plains, the Bogong High Plains and near Mt Tabletop (near Dinner Plain). Much of the Main Range area in the Snowy Mountains has been impacted by repeated fires and dieback.

Beetle-induced dieback has been reported extensively throughout the Alpine region. The Save Our Snowgum (SOSnowgum) has a map of known sightings to help get a sense of the scale and known areas of occurrences.

ABOVE: map taken from the report ‘Long-unburnt stands of snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieber ex Spreng) are exceedingly rare in the Victorian Alps: implications for their conservation and management.’ (check the resources section at the end for a link).

Step 2: Take LOTS of photos and videos and post them on social media. Snapshots posted about your trip, including evidence of dieback, helps to raise awareness of this  issue. We want policy makers to take notice, so be sure to include the hashtag #SaveOurSnowGums in your caption to extend the reach of your impact.

Step 3: Upload your observations. This is the most important part. If you see any evidence of snow-gum stands transitioning to grassland – due to suspected fire outbreaks, you can access our citizen science FB page and post a snapshot of your observation.  Please include  the following information….

- A photo of the site

- A simple description of where the site is (using map or GPS co-ordinates) *It is useful to record this information right after you take the photo to keep reported sightings as accurate as possible. You could name the track or include a screenshot of the pinned location on your maps app etc.  

- Give an in indication of the size of the localised loss (eg 10 metres by 50 metres)

- Any other notes you think are relevant (eg notes on recent fire history in the area)

You can also share your information by filling out one of our Snow gum citizen science - Google Forms.

Friends of the Earth will map your information and include it in our reports and submissions to encourage the state governments to implement a large scale assessment of the threats to Snow Gum communities (please help us to get this on the government’s radar by signing this letter).

You can also email the details to: [email protected]

To report suspected Longhorn Beetle occurrences go to the Save our Snow Gums website.

This is a critical moment in time.  You can help to define what fate awaits snow gum  landscapes. Be a part of the solution - help us to protect these threatened ecosystems today and plan your Hike for the High Country.

Step 4: Why not start a fundraiser and donate to FoE’s mission to protect Alpine Ecosystems?  You can create your own campaign or directly donate to support the restoration and climate resilience of native forests here.

Get out there

Here are some ideas on snow gum hotspots - these are special places where there are older snow gum forests. The map aims to give you basic details on where there are good stands of older trees. You will need to research the details of the walk but the map will show you good places that are fairly accessible to experience snow gums in all their glory.

You can also find our gallery of great old trees in the high country here.

A great starting point for finding areas of unburnt forest is this work from John Morgan, Michael Shackleton and Zac Walker at Latrobe University: ‘Long-unburnt stands of snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieber ex Spreng) are exceedingly rare in the Victorian Alps: implications for their conservation and management.’ You can find their paper here. It includes maps of the remaining areas of older snow gum forests across the Victorian high country.

For Further Information

An Icon At Risk - our report into threats to the Victorian high country.

You can read an update on recent advances in the campaign here.

Patagonia (2023): Ghost forests: Australia’s iconic snow gums are the bleaching corals of the high country. Story available here.

Snow Gum Summit 2025 Recap - a report on the first ever snow gum summit - February 2025

Remember that action is  always the antidote to despair. Here is a list of organisations working in the high country.