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New colonies of endangered Filmy Maidenhair fern found at Sunny Creek by Gippsland Water found

Gippsland Water's Environment team discovered two new colonies of endangered Filmy Maidenhair fern at Sunny Creek Conservation Reserve, Trafalgar. Acting managing director Simon Aquilina highlighted the success of conservation efforts.

By news@gippsland - 4th April 2024 - Back to News

Gippsland Water has discovered two new colonies of the critically endangered Filmy Maidenhair fern at Sunny Creek Conservation Reserve in Trafalgar. The new colonies were located during a recent site visit by the organisation's Environment team. Acting managing director Simon Aquilina said the ferns were one of several endangered species Gippsland Water actively manages and protects.

New findings of the Filmy Maidenhair fern will be added to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas, enhancing conservation planning for the species

Filmy Maidenhair conservation

Mr Aquilina said, "We'd previously recorded two small Filmy Maidenhair colonies at the site, each measuring no more than two metres squared. These new colonies are even smaller than that but are still incredibly exciting. It's proof that our conservation efforts, like the management of weeds, pests, and other potential threats are working and the ferns are thriving."

While critically endangered in Victoria, the Filmy Maidenhair fern is commonly found in warmer parts of Australia as well as New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Southern China and Fiji. It prefers wet rock faces and riverbanks near waterfalls where humidity is higher and natural protection from the sun and other threats, like bushfires, is provided. The fern has green tufted fronds that can grow up to 25 cm long and a creeping root system that spreads out across the rock faces it calls home.

Environmental conservation efforts

Mr Aquilina said the health of flora, fauna and natural resources, including water, are interdependent. "It's important we protect the environment to make sure it's here for future generations. Our teams actively monitor the health of the environment at all the sites we manage and actively work to protect and enhance biodiversity. Some of the other vulnerable species we protect include the Pookila, Metallic Sun Orchid, and Wellington Mint-bush."

To assist with further conservation planning for the species, the new records of Filmy Maidenhair will be recorded in the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas, Victoria's authoritative database of native and introduced plant and animal observations. To find out more about Gippsland Water's role in managing biodiversity visit Gippsland Water's Biodiversity Management website.

Pictures from Gippsland Water website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com