Snow gums are the iconic vegetation species of the Australian High country.

They are beautiful, vital for biodiversity and tourism, help hold snow pack which is released into river catchments, and hold deep cultural value for many people.

However, we are now seeing the beginning of ecosystem collapse across these forests – drought, dieback and successive fires have altered the structure, composition, and condition of snow gum woodlands dramatically.

During August 2026, and culminating with events across the last weekend of August (29 & 30), Friends of the Earth is inviting resort and mountain loving communities to join us for a couple of hours of citizen science to better understand the health of local snow gum forests.

This can happen anywhere that snow gums grow naturally. This will involve walking (or possible skiing or snow shoeing) through an area of forest and recording the health of individual trees.

These surveys are now starting across the Alps. From the Mornington Peninsula and Baw Baw Plateau to Mt Feathertop, Thredbo and on to the Brindabella Range in the ACT, we now have 19 surveys locked in. Hopefully there will be more than 25 by the time all details are confirmed.

Continue reading “From Baw Baw to The Brindabellas: snow gum surveys get underway.” →