Snow Gums are the classic alpine tree of the Australian High Country. And they're now at risk!
The species can survive fire. However, climate change driven fire seasons are leading to more frequent fire, which is causing more death of trees and changes to forest structure.
We are on the verge of losing the landscapes that we spent decades protecting.
In recent decades, climate-fuelled bushfires have devastated huge areas of the Snow Gum forests. More than 90 percent of Snow Gum habitat has been burnt at least once in the last 20 years.
Will you call on the State government take steps to protect the iconic Snow Gum forests?
SIGN OUR PETITION: Call on the State Govt to Protect our Snow Gums
Who's signing
1,000 Signatures
594 Signatures
Dear Hon Steve Dimopoulos,
Climate change is making our fire seasons longer and more intense.
I appreciate that your government has responded to this threat, with additional funding for fire fighting efforts, and a quick response to the findings of the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) investigation into the 2019/20 bushfires.
With growing threats caused by more frequent fires, it is clear that entire vegetation communities are now at risk. Your government’s program to aerial seed fire damaged Alpine Ash is helping to keep that species – and the animals that rely on it – from ecological collapse.
It now seems that Snow Gums are facing the same threats that triggered the need to intervene to protect Alpine Ash. Across the Victorian mountains we are seeing localised collapse of Snow Gum woodlands because climate driven fires are occurring too frequently.
Climate change is also turbo charging another threat to the Snow Gum: dieback caused by a native beetle is spreading throughout the Alps, causing further loss of Snow Gums.
The best option if we want to head off this collapse of the Snow Gum communities is to exclude fire as they recover. This will require:
-
A rapid ecological assessment of the threats posed by fire and dieback to Snow Gum communities.
- Ongoing funding for Forest Fire Management Victoria, including additional funding for remote area firefighting teams.
-
Continued support for air capacity to fight fires, including establishing a publicly owned air fleet, as was recommended by the Bushfire Royal Commission. This is the responsibility of the federal government.
- Creation of volunteer remote area firefighting teams who will work with FFMV firefighters on first strike response to stop small fires turning into blazes, as NSW, the ACT and Tasmania have done.
- A commitment to ensure we have sufficient fire fighting resources to protect fire sensitive communities like Alpine Ash, Snow Gums, Alpine Peatlands and Rainforest even during summers like 2019/20.
I urge you to consider these recommendations.
Showing reactions
-
Dr Ken Wilson signed 2023-04-13 22:05:45 +1000
-
Susan Campbell OAM signed 2023-04-13 22:04:07 +1000
-
Leigh Redding signed 2023-04-13 21:26:36 +1000
-
Linda McNamara signed 2023-04-13 19:50:35 +1000
-
elizabeth pilven signed 2023-04-13 18:01:52 +1000
-
Rebecca Brebner signed 2023-04-13 17:29:05 +1000
-
Lynne Cage signed 2023-04-13 17:27:26 +1000
-
Terry Mcbride signed via Felicity Crombach 2023-04-13 17:26:48 +1000
-
Colin Taylor signed 2023-04-13 17:10:12 +1000
-
Brian Wilson signed 2023-04-13 16:39:15 +1000
-
Robert Glasson signed 2023-04-13 16:27:00 +1000
-
Christina Smith signed 2023-04-13 16:20:52 +1000
-
Robert Briggs signed 2023-04-13 14:53:21 +1000
-
Martine Holberton signed 2023-04-13 14:39:19 +1000
-
Deborah Tuck signed 2023-04-13 14:17:54 +1000
-
Franklin Bruinstroop signed 2023-04-13 14:17:37 +1000
-
Sarah Brenan signed 2023-04-13 14:06:55 +1000
-
Robert Marston signed 2023-04-13 13:33:10 +1000
-
Frank Burke signed 2023-04-13 13:09:08 +1000
-
Peter Spear signed 2023-04-13 13:08:27 +1000
-
Jessica Robertson signed 2023-04-13 13:00:54 +1000
-
Susan Reardon signed 2023-04-13 12:33:23 +1000
-
Felicity Crombach signed 2023-04-13 12:18:51 +1000
-
Helen Matthews signed 2023-04-13 12:15:12 +1000
-
Ragnhild Hannah signed 2023-04-13 11:46:44 +1000
-
Susan Moore signed 2023-04-13 11:21:14 +1000
-
Sue Jackel signed 2023-04-13 11:09:28 +1000
-
Dayalan Ramasamy signed 2023-04-13 10:43:02 +1000
-
Tim Read signed 2023-04-13 10:42:31 +1000
-
Janet Street signed 2023-04-13 10:33:37 +1000