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What is a grassland? Grasslands are natural ecological communities dominated by grasses and with less than 10% natural tree or shrub cover. They contain many grass species and an even greater diversity of other herbs. Grasslands are among the most species rich plant communities in Australia. Native grasslands are disappearing! When Captain Cook landed, a carpet of native grasses and colourful flowering herbs covered much of south-eastern Australia. Temperate native grasslands extended from south-eastern Queensland, through eastern New South Wales, Victoria, and into South Australia and Tasmania. Grassy ecosystems, including native grasslands and grassy woodlands, were the dominant vegetation communities of the sub-humid zone, between the high rainfall coastal strip and the arid inland. Since European settlement most of the area of native grassland has been removed or modified by agriculture and other development. Grasslands were very attractive for agriculture are now considered one of the most depleted Australian ecosystems. Many of their component plant and animal species have become extinct and many more are now rare or threatened with extinction. Where did they go? The arrival of Europeans heralded major change for our grassland communities. The introduction of sheep and cattle increased the grazing pressure and disturbed the ecology of grasslands. Later the introduction of fertilisers and exotic pasture plants, introduced to "improve" the pastures, further changed the growing conditions and competitive relationships between plants. In some areas grasslands were removed by the plough to make way for crops. With the advent of towns, cities and transport links, grasslands became a dwindling resource, particularly in urban areas. Not much is left! After 200 years of European settlement, the vast majority of lowland grasslands in south-eastern Australia has been lost, either by complete removal or severe modification. Only a very small percentage of the original area remains in a largely undisturbed condition; its vegetation structure and species composition being more or less intact. Much of what remains is found in small isolated patches, fragmented and vulnerable to invasion by exotic weeds, accidental disturbance and unsympathetic land management. Grasslands are found along railway line, in travelling stock reserves and in 'back paddocks' - they have survived mostly by neglect. If this had happened to our tropical rainforests or the Great Barrier Reef, there would be a public outcry. But there has been no outcry over the loss of native grasslands. By the 1980s the native grasslands of south-eastern Australia had been developed almost out of existence. What you can do? At last the importance of grasslands is being recognised. Conservation groups and both federal and state governments are now aware of the plight of native grasslands. Legislation is being enacted to encourage protection of remnants and funding is being made available for ecosystem recovery. However the involvement of the community will be critical to contribute to education, conservation and restoration projects and to maintain pressure on local, state and federal governments. With your help we can turn things around. |