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River gums' last stand

17 June 2009

Giant eucalyptus camaldulensis or river red gums.

Changes to river flows and relentless dry conditions have taken their toll on Australia's iconic river red gums, but a new monitoring program will help guide the return of precious water to where it is needed most.

The largest river red gum forests in the world line the banks of the Murray and Darling Rivers. Floodplains such as Barmah Forest provide habitat for a diverse range of species, yet up to 75 per cent of these important forests are stressed, dead or dying.

River red gum forests often occur on land that is frequently flooded. Increasing extraction of water from the Murray River for irrigation in the last half a century and the current dry conditions are stretching the time between floods and impacting upon the trees' ability to survive.

Dr Shaun Cunningham from the Australian Centre for Biodiversity is leading a satellite mapping project in a bid to save these iconic forests.

"If we can identify those regions most at risk, environmental flows can be restored to target those areas," Dr Cunningham said.

Dr Cunningham's team will use an extensive ground survey, remote sensing and advanced modelling methods to build a tool that predicts the condition of forests across the floodplain.

He is optimistic that with the ongoing information provided by the tool, large areas of river red gum forest can be saved with targeted flooding.

"We're contributing to science that goes beyond academia, providing accurate information to the authorities that will ultimately determine the fate of these forests," Dr Cunningham said.

"Perhaps the outcomes of this project will lay the foundations to ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of these magnificent forests."

The project is funded by the Murray Darling Basin Authority and has the cooperation of government agencies across three states.