ELM Consulting

07/03/2019

And they reduce the impact of foxes on small native marsupials from foxes.

Of all Australia’s wildlife, one stands out as having an identity crisis: the dingo. New research has found the dingo is its own species, distinct from 'wild dogs'.

26/02/2018

More dingoes please!

New research reveals a complex food chain where dingoes can become 'guardian angels' for many of Australia's vulnerable species, especially after bushfires.

25/10/2016

17/07/2016

02/05/2016

08/04/2016

Podocarpus drouynianus; aboriginal name: Koolah (Noongar); February 2016. This is the only species of podocarp in WA; it is native to the relatively high rainfall south-western corner of Western Australia, where it is known by the name Wild Plum or Emu Plum or Emu Bush, but it is not a true plum. It grows around creeks in sandy or gravelly soil. It is usually a shrub, not often forming a single trunk, instead growing multiple branches from around the base. It is very slow-growing. The leaves are needle-like, 4-8 cm long, sharply pointed, green above and with glaucous stomatal bands beneath. The cones are berry-like, with a fleshy, edible purple aril 2-2.5 cm long and one (rarely two) apical seeds 1 cm long. Emu Plums produce the largest edible fruits in the
Southwest of Australia. The large flavourless fruit can be eaten. Photo: Cheryl Macaulay.
For more information: sercul.org.au/bushtucker/BushTuckerFactSheet_EmuPlum.pdf

17/03/2016

Summary of Green Growth Plan on the future of Cocky's as shared by Geoff Barrett of DPaW on Tuesday night.
- The 8000 or so Cocky’s around Perth have become reliant on the pines after the Banksia bush was cleared. This isn’t all bad as pines offer more nutrition than banksias – in fact nutritionally 1ha pines is equivalent to 8ha of banksia scrub !
- So the Green Growth Plan outlines that 23,000ha of pines will be removed which is 90% of the Cocky’s food in the target area. Also remove 9,700ha of Banksias heath and 4,400ha of Jarrah woodland – all Cocky food. All for development etc – you know like that beautiful Banksia Grove estate they are building at Wanneroo!!
- So as a result 55% of all the cocky food available will be destroyed that will result in a 45% drop in birds ie approx. 4,000 left which is about a 10% drop in the entire WA cocky population. Apparently this drop is ‘acceptable’.
- Cockys in general, we know, have declined, not only their numbers but their distribution (area has shrunk).
- The growth plan has mitigation measures of course, but they are flimsy. Plan says it will create 170,000ha new reserve including 116,000ha of cocky habitat, plus plant 5,000ha pines. They have earmarked some areas to make reserves and are also choosing private land as well so its managed by the landholders. Problem with state reserves, nobody is managing them !
- The bottom line is they want to remove cocky habitat first and replant later. The problem is with poor planning with planting locations and timings. If they remove vegetation they need to stagger it with the reveg to ensure the new trees/plants are old enough to provide food.

I do believe Birdlife Aus, WWF and CCWA will be making submissions to try and make changes to this plan.

17/12/2015

02/12/2015

I was just looking at some dying trees on a site near Baker's Hill in the Perth hills last week.

A study has found more than 25 per cent of trees in the Perth Hills have died after heatwaves in 2010-11.

21/11/2015