FoGL’s concern that introduced browsers, namely Hog Deer, have a negative impact on biodiversity in the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park has led to an annual monitoring project to record species and recruitment, survivability and growth rates of native plant species on Boole Poole.
Assistance has been provided by Bruce Macpherson, Conservation and Land Management, Forestec who has created the methodology and James Turner, renowned local botanist and FoGL member who has identified the species existing in the survey areas.
Go »here to read their reports for which FoGL are very grateful.
Thanks also to Parks Victoria for their assistance.
What is significant is the degree to which browsing has inhibited growth of seedlings and what species are missing entirely which normally would be expected to exist in the survey areas.