Hourly, scientists and environmentalists are barking urgent alarm bells. The availability of eucalypt seeds — essential for Victoria’s reforestation program in the alps and mountain ash forests — is in catastrophic shortage. Owen Bassett, a long-time advocate for post-fire recovery, warns that 17 tonnes of seed is essential to adequately re-seed areas devastated by recent bushfires. Yet, he laments, the current supply of eucalypt seeds is “woefully low.” This sets a very dangerous precedent for the future of these important ecosystems.
In just two decades, bushfires have scorched almost all of Victoria’s cool temperate rainforest. Replanting has become extremely urgent as climate change worsens the threats of fire. Bassett has dedicated the past three decades to making sense of the art and science of forest recovery. He points out that one of the tallest eucalypts, alpine ash trees, require over 20 years to produce seeds. Therefore, without urgent action, the region is in danger of losing an iconic forest type.
The State of Eucalypt Seed Supplies
The current eucalypt seed supplies are at crisis level, far below what’s occurred in recent years. Creating a new alarm Historically, at least three times the amount of seed now collected was harvested. The contracts in place currently only allow for the collection of one to two tonnes of alpine and mountain ash seeds in the next two years. This figure is well short of the 17 tonnes Bassett argues are actually needed.
Brendon Clark, who used to work as a seed harvester, is pictured here climbing one of Victoria’s tallest trees in pursuit of seeds. He chose not to bid on the new USGA seed collection contract. This decision further illuminates the deepening unease among the harvesting community about how sustainably we’re managing our greatest natural resource—and more importantly, where it’s all headed.
“It isn’t that the alarm bells are about to ring. They already have and if these last two fires are not enough to scare the pants off you, I don’t know what is.” – Brendon Clark
The sudden closure of Vic Forests in 2023, which was responsible for collecting and preserving vital eucalypt seed for forest regeneration, has further complicated recovery efforts. As seen by recently spotted Dangerous Bassett, experts such as Bassett are getting angry. They think the Victorian government is doing too little.
Impact of Recent Bushfires
Tom Fairman, a scientist from the University of Melbourne, has calculated that about half of Victoria’s alpine ash range has been burnt in just 20 years. This especially alarming statistic recently raised the urgent call for reforestation. Fairman adds that roughly 80,000 hectares are still blanketed in young forest. Pretty much every acre of this forest will remain young for at least the next ten years.
“There’s probably about 80,000 hectares which is young forest currently and will be young forest for the next decade or so.” – Tom Fairman
The actual and anticipated loss of these forests puts many species at risk of extinction. It threatens local ecosystems and communities, which depend on these forests for vital resources and ecological services.
Call to Action
Professor Owen Bassett, and other independent scientists have long warned about the precarious state of Victoria’s mountain forests. They have called on the federal government to take greater action to curb these dangerous practices.
“The health of our forest is in deep crisis,” Bassett continued, underscoring the urgent need for a regimented, united response.
“This forest type is iconic, really worthy of protecting and saving, so we want to do everything we can to help the government do that,” – Owen Bassett
Our findings underscore the need for urgent government intervention to ensure sufficient eucalypt seed stocks and in diverse genotypes and adopt systematic reforestation plans that work. Victoria’s alpine and mountain ash forests are on the brink. We have to move fast and bold to prevent any more irreversible ecological harm.
