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The Barmah/Millewah Forest
- Nature of the Forest
- 66, 000 hectares of floodplain,
covering regions of Echuca,
Tocumwal and Deniliquin, of the
Murray Darling Basin, in Australia is
covered by the expanse of the
Barmah and Millewah forest; the
river red gum ecosystem is the
largest in the world and the area of
the space it takes is the largest in
Australia. Recurring spring floods
give aid into keeping the red gums
healthy and prospering.
- The River Red Gum
Forest is located
north-east of Echuca, and
is technically an icon of
the Murray-Darling Basin.
It falls under the state of
Victoria.
- The ecosystem is home to many endangered native vegetation
and fauna. It also serves well for the native fish habitat, and is
relatively known to be a breeding area for waterbirds.
- According to The Conservation, approximately 20 000
years ago marked a geological event which hoisted a
region of land, thus blocking the waterways of the
Murray. The water flooded, creating a lake; the river
passed around the landform. This flooding causes
the wetlands to remain as they are to this day. The
narrow channel here is thereby known as the Barmah
Choke.
- The River Red Gum
Forest is located
north-east of Echuca, and
is technically an icon of
the Murray-Darling Basin.
It falls under the state of
Victoria.
- 66, 000 hectares of floodplain,
covering regions of Echuca,
Tocumwal and Deniliquin, of the
Murray Darling Basin, in Australia is
covered by the expanse of the
Barmah and Millewah forest; the
river red gum ecosystem is the
largest in the world and the area of
the space it takes is the largest in
Australia. Recurring spring floods
give aid into keeping the red gums
healthy and prospering.
- Australia is known for many natural wonders: Uluru, Kakadu and the
Blue Mountains are among the few well-known landmarks- but what
about the off-the-grid wonders, such as the Barmah-Millewah Forest?
- Fauna
- Among the Red Gums are various birds, all of
which migrate to these wetlands from
temperate/warmer climates. These birds include
the ibis, egrets, cormorants and spoonbills.
- The Superb Parrot
and the Freckled
Duck are among the
number of species
which use the
Barmah-Millewah
Forest as a reliable
habitat for breeding.
- The Superb Parrot
and the Freckled
Duck are among the
number of species
which use the
Barmah-Millewah
Forest as a reliable
habitat for breeding.
- An analogy
between birds and
the other very
proficient type of
animal occur here,
and that is fish. In
this icon, the iconic
Murray cod is found
around the
vicinities, as well
as a number of
different fish, such
as crayfish. To be
precise, three
species of crayfish
thrive in different
habitats-yabbies
find their life flowing
in the lakes,
swamp yabbies in
the SWAMPY
floodplains and the
Murray crayfish in
the rivers.
- Among the Red Gums are various birds, all of
which migrate to these wetlands from
temperate/warmer climates. These birds include
the ibis, egrets, cormorants and spoonbills.
- The wide range of
habitats across the
forest, including
swamps, lakes and
grasslands, mean
that a variety of
animals and
vegetation can
survive in this
ecosystem. This
variety includes 273
native fauna and
553 native flora
species.
- Flora
- The forest is known for its Red Gums which
are situated on the actual floodplains.
- The other species of plant thriving on the lands
above the water include the black box trees.
- Callitris pines are scattered along the
sand plains of the forest.
- The forest is known for its Red Gums which
are situated on the actual floodplains.
- Threats
- Natural
- As in almost all of
Australia's wonders,
there are many threats to
this ecosystem. The
invasion of weeds and
assorted, exotic animals
are growing larger and
larger every year. Wild
horses and carp are
becoming a nuisance,
with the latter common in
almost all waterways in
the Murray-Darling
Basin. Turtles, which are
apparently culturally
significant to the local
Aborigines, also fall prey
to foxes.
- The ever-lasting
droughts occurring in
almost all of the
Murray-Darling Basin
have affected the
Barmah-Millewah
significantly: the
grasslands and Red
Gums require
regular/frequent floods,
respectively, to
prosper, let alone the
multiple birds which can
breed only under
conditions of flood.
- The Red Gums and
grassfields are growing
out of their normal
habitat, threatening the
whole environment of
the forest.
- The Red Gums and
grassfields are growing
out of their normal
habitat, threatening the
whole environment of
the forest.
- As in almost all of
Australia's wonders,
there are many threats to
this ecosystem. The
invasion of weeds and
assorted, exotic animals
are growing larger and
larger every year. Wild
horses and carp are
becoming a nuisance,
with the latter common in
almost all waterways in
the Murray-Darling
Basin. Turtles, which are
apparently culturally
significant to the local
Aborigines, also fall prey
to foxes.
- Man-Made
- For 40 000 years, the Barmah-Millewah had
remained unperturbed, but as European settlement
began to expand, many exotic animals were
introduced, such as the wild horse. Before the
Europeans' interference, fish were at their normal
and highest breeding rate-now, the number is only
10% of the original. Carp is also an introduced
species, threatening to take over the fish kingdom of
the Barmah-Millewah.
- For 40 000 years, the Barmah-Millewah had
remained unperturbed, but as European settlement
began to expand, many exotic animals were
introduced, such as the wild horse. Before the
Europeans' interference, fish were at their normal
and highest breeding rate-now, the number is only
10% of the original. Carp is also an introduced
species, threatening to take over the fish kingdom of
the Barmah-Millewah.
- Natural
- Solutions to the Issues
- Environmental water
has also been used to
prolong natural floods,
as they are
fundamental to
breeding of many native
animals, especially
birds.
- One of the projects trying to restore the forest's water includes a proposal for
giving hundreds of gigalitres of water to the expanse of forest. This would be
to produce flood-like conditions needed for many animals to thrive.
- One of the projects trying to restore the forest's water includes a proposal for
giving hundreds of gigalitres of water to the expanse of forest. This would be
to produce flood-like conditions needed for many animals to thrive.
- Humans are trying to revert the forest to its original
conditions by employing engineers to fit in a system of
water regulators, such as canals. These were to be
used to prevent further wastage of water.
- Environmental water
has also been used to
prolong natural floods,
as they are
fundamental to
breeding of many native
animals, especially
birds.
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