Location: Wombat State Forest, just over an hour west of Melbourne.
Client: DEECA
Major storms in June and October 2021 resulted in large gaps in the tree canopy in Wombat State Forest that will not regrow for many years. More than 80,000 hectares of forest was disturbed, as well as large areas of roadside vegetation.
ERA was engaged by DEECA to determine the habitat value of areas within Wombat State Forest, and to identify any areas of significant environmental value. We used survey techniques including spotlighting and call-play-back, raptor nest camera surveys, camera trapping for phascogales and terrestrial species, frog surveys, bat surveys, reptile surveys and aquatic surveys. Target species included Greater Glider (habitat trees), Powerful Owl (breeding trees), Brown Toadlet and Mountain Skink. We also undertook habitat mapping for frog and reptile species.
ERA was also asked to identify suitable habitat for artificial hollows for species such as Brush-tailed Phascogale, Greater Glider, owl species and the Red-browed Treecreeper. Please see here for details on our artificial hollow installation program at Wombat State Forest.
