The Macedon Ranges is an epicentre for low-lying Snow Gums in Victoria (Eucalyptus pauciflora) and they occur across several ecosystems and geology types throughout the shire.
There has been recent community concern of dieback identified in Snow Gum populations on Mount Macedon and surrounds and climate modelling indicates this vegetation type is the most vulnerable to climate change.
Mayor Cr Jennifer Anderson said the Snow Gum has been identified as a target species to monitor and Council wants to develop a better understanding of where they occur, and their population health.
“Council is working with ecologists, Landcare Groups and the Arthur Rylah Institute to record and monitor the health of Snow Gum populations across the shire and potential local climate change impacts.”
“Snow Gums have excellent readily identifiable features, which mean they are a great plant species for citizen science, where the public is actively involved in the research activity.”
“Council is inviting landholders across the shire to be part of a community project to help us understand and monitor the local ecology of an iconic Eucalyptus species and the local impacts of climate change, while building community awareness and knowledge,” she said.
In the Macedon Ranges, populations of Snow Gum, occur in Montane Grassy Woodland and Plains Grassy Woodland across the peaks and plains of the shire.
Using a citizen science approach Council and its community partners are looking to map and monitor population health on private land on Mount Macedon, in the Cobaw Biolink and across the Riddells Creek, Ashbourne and Baynton-Sidonia areas, where Snow Gums are known to occur.
Get involved by visiting Council’s Snow Gum Monitoring webpage where a printable brochure is available to explain how to identify a Snow Gum tree and how to share your records.
If you are having trouble identifying the trees or need help, one of the project team may be able to visit your property and help with identification and measurements.
