• Conservation
• Native Forest Reserves
• Biodiversity Corridors

Conservation

Biodiversity Corridors

ForestrySA is implementing biodiversity corridor programs across its land in the South-East and Mount Lofty Ranges to link areas of isolated native forest with strips of revegetation.  Planning and planting of seven corridors on ForestrySA land is well underway and another twelve will be established over the next twenty five years.  ForestrySA is also investigating other corridor opportunities in partnership with agencies such as Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) and the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH), as well as supporting the development of corridors on private land adjacent to its native forest reserves.

ForestrySA is part of the Lower South-East Biodiversity Corridors Project which is funded by the South East Natural Resources Management Board (SENRMB) as a priority project identified in the South East Natural Resources Management Plan

What are biodiversity corridors?

Biodiversity corridors are areas of vegetation that allow animals to travel from one patch of native forest to another.  A corridor provides shelter, food and protection from predators by imitating the structure and diversity of native vegetation.  Birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and insects that would otherwise be isolated in one native forest patch, can utilise corridors to move between patches with relative ease and safety.

Why do we need corridors?

Our landscape was once covered by a mosaic of different vegetation types such as swamps, grasslands, forests and heath. This mosaic supported many species of animal that moved, mated and dispersed throughout their territories and beyond.

Disturbance such as clearing has left only isolated fragments of vegetation.  Species unable to move across this changed landscape are vulnerable to local extinction.  Local incidents of fire or disease can devastate populations existing in tiny native fragments, with species unable to recolonise the area as they once had.  Corridors can help species to repopulate an area following local disturbances, assisting the long-term survival of the species.

How do we create a corridor?

Ideally, areas of vegetation are retained between larger blocks of native forest to allow for animal movement.  On a farm property, this could be along a creek line or boundary fence.  Around 40m is a reasonable guide for corridor width, however wider corridors are more likely to be utilised by shyer species.

Direct seeding can be used to quickly establish large areas of vegetation.  Using local species of plants will ensure the seeding is successful in your local conditions, and will also help provide the food and other resources that wildlife need.  Hand planting trees allows you to space them as they would be in native forest, so that trees grow quickly without competing against each other.