Friends of the Earth has been focusing on threats to the higher elevation forests of north east Victoria for the last three years. With the welcome announcement that native forest logging will end in the east of the state on January 1, 2024, our focus will now be largely on ensuring all ecosystems in the region are protected from the impacts of climate change.
In the case of snow gum woodlands, this means gaining a better understanding of the state of these systems, and how they are being impacted by more frequent fire and dieback caused by the Longicorn beetle. As part of this process FoE has been leading a series of guided walks and citizen science fieldtrips to a range of areas in the Victorian high country.
The next trip will be in early March 2024, to see the recovering snow gum woodlands on the north western edge of the Bogong High Plains. These forests have been negatively impacted by repeat wildfires, leading to widespread distribution of ‘ghost forests’: areas of burnt and dead woodlands with dense thick and highly flammable regrowth, and localised ecological collapse.
This trip will feature car camping, based at Pretty Valley on the Bogong High Plains (accessible by 2WD dirt road from Falls Creek). The saturday is a big day of walking (roughly 7 hours round trip) to visit Mt Fainter and the ghost forests from Pretty Valley. You will need a good level of fitness to do this walk.
We will also offer an easier walk (almost 4 hours, but at a more leisurely pace) to visit snow gum forests in the Tawonga huts area. Walking for both trips are on defined paths, over undulating terrain.
Dates: March 8, 9, and 10.
The trip will require a 3 day weekend:
- Drive up on Friday
- Walk to the Fainters on Saturday
- Head home on Sunday
You will need to bring all your camping gear and food.
If you rsvp for this free event, we will send full details in early 2024.
Mountain Journal 
November 29, 2023 at 9:09 am
Sounds like a good trip, Cam. Hope to make it. How can we RSVP?
Gus Goswell | Story Impact Lead
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HI GUS – the rsvp link is here > https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/ghost_forest_walk