2009/2010
Sub-project A: A highlight in this quarter was our presentation in the DFES/ DSE seminar series entitled ‘Are there public benefits in changing soil health?’ This attracted an audience of 50 to 60 and generated considerable communication with a range of stakeholders particularly within DSE and DPI. The presentation included a progression of ideas on the public benefits of soil management, and these are currently being incorporated into a new concept paper due for release to DSE stakeholders in about November (ahead of a March 2010 milestone below). In addition, this sub-project has fostered a new development, involving an evaluation by a DSE Graduate Placement (Stephanie Spry) of how soils fit in asset-based frameworks like the Investment Framework for Environmental Resources (INFFER).
Sub-project B: Considerable progress was made on sub-project B in the July-Sept quarter including the establishment of five field sites. These were selected after visits to a large list of potential sites, and met a range of strict criteria including: a biodiversity planting of age at least eight years, and a range of common woody species in good health. Permissions to access these sites have been obtained from landholders, preliminary sampling has been initiated, and intensive sampling will progress in the coming weeks.
2008/2009
Coordination and Presentation of Soil Public Benefits Workshop
This one-day workshop was based on a concept paper collaboratively written by DFES, DPI and DSE staff. The workshop was attended by 20 policy makers and scientists from a range of agencies (DSE, DPI, Universities, VCMC, Landcare), and involved presentations by the paper authors and facilitated group discussions. Key outcomes were agreement on definition of soil system components, on the mechanisms that deliver public benefits from soil management, and on knowledge requirements for progressing soil public benefit concepts.
Publications/ Additional funding/ Research sites for assessing links between restoration activities and soil/ plant processes
We have submitted four manuscripts, outputs of sub-project A, to high-impact journals (all still in review). In addition, sub-project A activities were augmented by a University of Melbourne Early Career Researcher Grant awarded to Sabine Kasel ($40,000 in 2009). This funding allowed the establishment of new research sites in central Victoria, which will complement an experimental restoration site established with Kilter Pty Ltd on the Lower Murray (sampled in July 08 and May 09).
Establishment of a Masters level subject on Forest Landscape Restoration
Stephen Livesley, Lauren Bennett and Sabine Kasel are co-ordinating a Masters level subject on ‘Forest Landscape Restoration’ as part of the ‘Masters of Forest and Ecosystem Science’ at the University of Melbourne. In its first year running the subject attracted 16 students. This subject covers principles and practices of forest restoration from site to landscape scales. Its focus is ecological aspects of forest landscape restoration, although consideration is also given to socio-economic factors that influence restoration programs. The subject includes a 3-day field trip demonstrating innovative solutions to forest restoration problems across north-east and north-central Victoria. (Link to subject details) |
Seedlings ready for planting at the Delatite for rehabilitation of former pine plantation |
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Project outputs for the year 2009/2010 are shown below. Total outputs for the project can be found here.
Publications
- Bennett LT, Kasel S, Tibbits J (2009) Woodland trees modulate soil resources and conserve fungal diversity in fragmented landscapes. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 41, 2162–2169(Impact Factor 2008, 2.926)
- Posch S, Bennett LT (2009) Photosynthesis, photochemistry and antioxidative defence in response to two drought severities and with re-watering in Allocasuarina luehmannii. Plant Biology 11 supplement 1, 83-93 (Impact Factor 2008, 1.944).
- Volkova L, Tausz M, Bennett LT, Dreyer E (2009) Interactive effects of high irradiance and moderate heat on photosynthesis, pigments, and tocopherol in the tree-fern Dicksonia antarctica. Functional Plant Biology, in press (Impact Factor 2008, 2.248).
Meetings
Sub-project A
- Meeting 1 (Wed 12 Aug at DSE Nicholson St), project update, Cate Turner & Dugal Wallace (DSE), Lauren Bennett & Sabine Kasel (DFES)
- Meeting 2 (Wed 12 Aug at DSE Nicholson St), soils and INFFER project definition, Adam Hood & Stephanie Spry (DSE), Lauren Bennett (DFES)
- Meeting 3 (Wed 2 Sept, phone hook-up), soils and INFFER project development, Stephanie Spry (DSE), Anna Roberts (DPI), Geoff Park (NCCMA), Lauren Bennett (DFES)
- Meeting 4 (Wed 9 Sept, University Parkville), soil public health paper development, Pauline Mele (DPI), Lauren Bennett (DFES)
Participation at DSE NR Division, Soil Policy Forum (Thu 9 Jul at VECCI Albert St): Sabine Kasel (DFES)
Sub-project B
- Field Meetings (Thu, Fri 10-11 Sep): Sabine Kasel, Sonu Singh & Gregor Sanders (DFES), Stephanie Spry (DSE), various landholders
- Field Meeting (Tue 22 Sep): Sonu Singh & Gregor Sanders (DFES), various landholders
Seminars/Workshops/Conference presentations
- Bennett LT (seminar) Are there public benefits in changing soil health?. DFES/ DSE Seminar series, VECCI, Albert St, East Melbourne, 28 July 2009.
- Kasel S, Meers TL (oral presentation) Seed traits predict rehabilitation needs of former pine plantations across south-eastern Australia. SERI 2009 World Conference on Ecological Restoration, Perth, Western Australia, 23-27 August 2009.
- Baral H, Kasel S, Keenan R, Fox J, Stork N (poster) Mapping and Valuation of Ecosystem Services for Forest Restoration Planning and Assessment: Lessons from the Lower Glenelg Basin, Victoria, Australia. SERI 2009 World Conference on Ecological Restoration, Perth, Western Australia, 23-27 August 2009.
- Bennett LT, Kasel S, Weston M (poster) Embedding research plots in agricultural landscape restoration. SERI 2009 World Conference on Ecological Restoration, Perth, Western Australia, 23-27 August 2009.
- Baral H, Kasel S, Keenan RJ, Fox J, Stork N (oral presentation) GIS-based classification, mapping and valuation of ecosystem services in production landscapes: A case study of the Green Triangle region of south-eastern Australia. IFA 2009, Forestry: A climate of change, Caloundra, Qld., 6-10 September 2009.
Teaching
- Lauren Bennett, Sabine Kasel: Master of Forest and Ecosystem Science subject ‘Forest Landscape Restoration’ (co-ordination and teaching of 2-week block course involving 24 hrs lectures and 36 hrs practical work; 24 students)
- Sabine Kasel: Master of Forest and Ecosystem Science subject ‘Silviculture and Forest Dynamics’ (1.5 hrs lectures; 9 students)
- Sabine Kasel: Third year Natural Resource Management subject ‘Revegetation and Landscape Restoration’ (teaching of second semester course involving 12 hrs lectures and 9 hrs practical work; 28 students)
- Sabine Kasel: Supervision of third year student industry project ‘Revegetation and Land Management Plan for Remnant Grey-Box Woodland, Devenish, Victoria’
Total project outputs |
