By: Michael Fox
Our Griffith Mates Bushcare Team joined us again on Saturday to continue restoration of Zone 14 in our Fox Gully Bushcare site. The Mates Team was truly multinational with participants from Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Japan, Venezuela, Mexico and Malaysia.
The team worked hard clearing invasive weeds like Singapore Daisy Sphagneticola trilobata and Guinea Grass Megathyrsus maximus var. maximus. Sometimes weeding seems frustrating but look at the trees in the background that were planted in October 2009 which have gone from bare ground to trees large enough for Koalas. The part of the Zone with the trees is relatively weed free so we need to do some infill planting to take advantage of the Mates Team’s work.
Cutting back an Indian Rubber Tree Ficus elastica to improve access. Longer term, the plan to remove the tree. Rubber Trees are not a big problem with spreading but the roots are very aggressive and steal a lot of water from local natives. While these extraordinary trees are a problem here they provide an unique community service in their natural habitat. In places like northern India and Bhutan these trees are used to create Living Bridges.
Breaking down dead Acacia branches allowed them to be added to the onsite compost pile rather than taking to the dump.
I always love working with the diverse teams of Griffith University students. Fascinating stories and full of energy.
The Team are very proud of their efforts so it is time to head for the Summit and pizza, and of course see if we can find more Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus.
By the time we reached ten Koalas had be sighed. That included two mum’s and joeys.
Mount Gravatt Environment Group 
