Protecting our Fourfoot Road woodlands

The Huon Valley Council’s Natural Resource Management (NRM) Unit will take care of and protect the forests and animals across three properties along Fourfoot Road in Geeveston under a newly approved Environmental Management Plan for the area.

The Council granted management to the NRM Unit of three Council-owned properties, which border the Kermandie River with about ten hectares of native vegetation, forming one of the largest remaining native vegetation patches in the local area.

The properties have threatened species Eucalyptus ovata forest and woodland and Eucalyptus viminalis wet forest, which dominate the area. This vegetation provides habitat and food for the critically endangered swift parrot.

E. viminalis wet forest is a rare vegetation type in the Huon Valley, with just over 100 hectares remaining across the municipal area.

“The strikingly tall white gums are a scenic backdrop to Geeveston,” Huon Valley Council Mayor Bec Enders explained. “Beyond their beauty, these gums provide important habitat for a variety of threatened species in an area that has been largely cleared since European occupation.”

Good populations of pademelon and brushtail possum live in the area, likely joined by a range of threatened fauna, including the eastern barred bandicoot, Tasmanian devil, masked owl, grey goshawk and eastern quoll.

“The Council’s NRM team will be actively conserving these woodlands and habitats from decay and development, making improvements where possible, and controlling all declared and environmentally damaging weeds,” Cr Enders said.

“The team will be exploring opportunities to use the area for environmental and cultural education activities in ways that limit disturbance to the ecosystem.

“With proper management, the woodlands will continue to buffer climate change impacts. The forest vegetation here is an important carbon sink, holding up to 2600 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents and capturing and storing about 38 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents each year.”

“The conservation efforts of the NRM team will be contributing to our Natural Resource Management Strategy and Part A of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy.”

As part of the Environmental Management Plan, the NRM Unit will be exploring opportunities to partner with local community and landcare groups to care for these important woodlands.

The Environmental Management Plan for the Fourfoot Road properties is located on the Huon Valley Council website at www.huonvalley.tas.gov.au, under Plans and Strategies.