Download Why conserve woody debris?

mallee
catchment
Above: An area that has been cleared of important
woody debris. Photo: Mallee CMA
Left: This area of woody debris contains ideal habitat
for threatened species such as the Carpet Python.
Photo: Mallee CMA.
At a glance
Fallen timber and leaf litter provide
Bush stone-curlews usually like to nest
many threatened species such as
beside fallen logs, which can protect them
the Carpet Python, the Red-naped
against predation from foxes. Fat tailed
Snake and the Malleefowl with
Dunnarts shelter communally in nests of
leaf litter or woody debris for
shelter, feeding, breeding and nesting
grass between logs, which provides them
feeding, breeding, shelter and
opportunities.
with cover from predators.
• Threatened species rely on
nesting.
• Please do not remove fallen
Malleefowl make their nests out of dried
Logs are homes
branches, leaf litter and twigs
twigs and leaves, which rot, and provide
Scientists in Victoria are further
from the environment, as many
heat and incubation for their eggs. Carpet
investigating the link between fallen
animals depend on them for
Pythons nest in the hollows in fallen logs
timber and the abundance and distribution
survival.
(that are greater than 40cm in diameter)
of particular species. One of these
and feed in the leaf litter, and the
experiments, conducted at Gunbower
newspaper when you go
Paucident Planigale forages in leaf litter
Forest near Cohuna, has correlated
camping and use it wisely!
for food.
• Bring your own firewood and
www.malleecma.vic.gov.au
Why conserve woody debris?
the density of fallen timber with the
abundance of Brown Treecreepers (a near
threatened woodland bird).
Woody debris and leaf litter are also an
integral part of the nutrient cycle, putting
organic matter and nutrients into the
soil, which can then be utilised by algae,
moss, lichens and plants for growth and
flowering. Termites are an important part
of this nutrient cycle, helping to break
down wood, which then decomposes
and adds nutrients to the soil. Termites
themselves are an important source
of food for insectivorous animals like
echidnas.
The destruction of habitat
It is difficult to restore fallen timber once
Above: The Carpet Python relies on woody debris,
it has been removed, it can take decades
How you can help
such as fallen logs and leaf litter for shelter from
and even centuries to grow and form
You can help prevent the loss of woody
predators. Photo: Peter Robertson.
elements like hollows and logs, which
debris in a number of ways:
provide important habitat for a range of
animals.
• Please do not remove fallen branches,
leaf litter and twigs from the
In forests and woodlands, fallen timber
environment, as many animals depend
has been systematically and in many
on them for survival.
places completely stripped. Up to 85 per
• Supply your own firewood and
cent of fallen timber has been lost in River
newspaper when you go camping, and
Red Gum forests. The reduction of woody
use plantation and sustainably produced
debris in the Mallee has primarily resulted
timber instead of collecting from natural
from:
areas.
• If you are collecting firewood be mindful
• The collection of firewood for home
fires
• The use of leaf litter and wood for
that you can only collect it in legally
designated areas and you need a permit
to do so.
campfires (particularly along the Murray
River)
• Desnagging of rivers for navigation
purposes
Visit the Department of Sustainability
and Environment website
<www.dse.vic.gov.au>
for up to date information about the
types and cost of permits you can
obtain for firewood collection in the
Mallee.
Sources:
MacNally et al (2002)“Experimental Evidence for
Potential Beneficial Effects of Fallen Timber in Forests”
Ecological Applications, 12(6), 2002, pp.1588-1594
<www.dse.vic.gov.au/dse/index.htm>
<www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/
publications/tsd05bush-stone-curlew.html>
Find out more
For further information regarding the
ecological values of woody debris or to
• Frequent fires
obtain other related fact sheets contact
• Removal of woody debris when
the Mallee CMA on (03) 5051 4377 or visit
“cleaning up” paddocks or blocks for
the website
aesthetic reasons
<www.malleecma.vic.gov.au>
P.A Vesk, R MacNally (2006) “The Clock is Ticking
- Revegatation and habitat for birds and Arboreal
Mammals in Rural Landscapes of South Australia”
Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 1/2, 2006,
pp. 356-366
Project Partners
Published October 2008
This publication may be of assistance to you but the Mallee
Catchment Management Authority refers readers to our Terms
and Conditions, available from our website.
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