Friends of the Earth recently hosted the second ‘snow gum summit’. It was held in Jindabyne and around 120 people gathered to hear from experts in the fields of snow gum die back and the threats of more frequent and intense wild fire.
There was a strong First Nation presence at the forum, which is reflected in the summit statement, reprinted below.
Top scientists have issued a dire warning that the widespread death of key eucalypt species in Australian ecosystems could be imminent, due to global heating. Scientists from leading institutions gathered at the Snow Gum Summit in Jindabyne last weekend March 14-15, 2026 to discuss combating the loss of an iconic tree of the Australian Alps, the Snow Gum.
Dr Matthew Brookhouse, a leading researcher investigating snow gum die-back at ANU, said proactive investment from government and industry was needed to contend with the unprecedented territory researchers and land managers are navigating.
“This is not just about snow gums – this is about climate affected change in ecosystems. This is a real warning. Wherever you are, die-back events could be coming for you,” said Dr Brookhouse.
The Snow Gum Summit, convened by Friends of the Earth Melbourne, was the second convergence since 2025 of top academics from Australian National University, Curtin University and Latrobe University, as well as ecologists from land management organisations from the ACT, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Ngarigo Custodians and Taungurung Land & Waters Council also spoke powerfully on the rights and capacities of First Peoples to respond to ecological challenges in the Alps.
Australia’s alpine landscape is a living archive of our continent’s cultural and environmental history. These stories can be found in First Nations Cultural Heritage, glacial landscape features, fossilised fish bones, and the fascinating physiology of our endemic alpine species. In recognition of its unique social, ecological and aesthetic values, the Alps are recognised as a National Heritage Place and largely protected in National Parks.
However, these measures have been insufficient to hold back the impacts of anthropogenic climate change, including rapid ecological decline in Snow Gum Woodlands. We are now seeing the beginning of ecosystem collapse – drought, dieback and successive fires have altered the structure, composition, and condition of snow gum woodlands dramatically. We must intervene and develop a robust recovery plan if these ecological communities are to remain viable into the future.
The first step towards a coordinated recovery effort is to recognise the risk of extinction nationally. This will trigger the development of a national recovery plan, increase opportunities for funding, and support research, monitoring, and management interventions.
Friends of the Earth has initiated a plan to have snow gum woodlands recognised as a ‘Threatened Ecological Community‘ under federal environment laws.
You can add your voice at support the proposal by signing this open letter.
If you are a researcher and would like to actively contribute your skills and experience to the application to list snow gums under the EPBC, please fill out this form so we can get in touch to discuss.
The second snow gum summit will happen on Ngarigo Country in Jindabyne over the weekend of March 14 and 15.
There will also be guided walks and a tree planting afternoon on monday March 16.
We are delighted to announce the line-up of speakers.
Friends of the Earth will be hosting the 2nd snow gum summit in mid March. You can read a report on the first summit, which happened at Dinner Plain in Victoria in February 2025.
It will take place over the weekend of March 14 and 15 on Ngarigo Country in Jindabyne. The Summit will bring people together from across the Australian Alps bioregion spanning Victoria, NSW and the ACT, to address the threats facing these iconic landscapes we all know and love.
There will also be some day walks on the Monday March 16 – details to be announced shortly.
We are delighted to be able to announce the line up of confirmed speakers. They include:
The second snow gum summit will happen on Ngarigo Country in Jindabyne over the weekend of March 14 and 15 next year.
The first summit happened at Dinner Plain earlier this year, attracting about 100 people, who heard from wonderful speakers.
Tickets for the 2026 gathering have just gone on sale. Like the 2025 event, this is expected to sell out, so grab one today if you’re planning to attend.
Snow Gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) are the classic tree of the Australian High Country. They are profoundly different to the trees found in mountain areas in other parts of the world, and give a uniquely Australian sense to our high country. However, they are facing a double threat: they are at risk from dieback and climate change driven bushfires.
Like most eucalypt species, the snow gum can survive fire. However, climate change is leading to more frequent and intense fire, which is causing more death of trees and changes to forest structure. And while dieback, caused by a native beetle, is a natural occurrence, the dieback is getting worse and more widespread because climate change is making winters warmer and summers drier and hotter.
While most snow gums in Victoria are included in national parks, we are on the verge of losing the landscapes that we spent decades protecting.
Friends of the Earth have been running a campaign to ensure that the Victorian government acts in a meaningful way to head off these threats. Here is an update on recent progress made in the campaign, and new directions in the work.
Back in 2022, I helped host an event at Mt Hotham called Climate change, fire and the Alps. I remember being struck by something that was said by one of the speakers. Craig Hore, who at that point was a Ranger in Charge of Fire and Emergency Operations North East District, at Parks Victoria, reflected on his long connection to the mountains. Fire regimes in the high country have changed in the last quarter century, with more frequent and intense fires.
Craig reflected on the fact that since the fires of 2002/3, the mountains have been transformed. With ever more frequent fire and drier conditions, he doesn’t think that we can go back to what the Alps used to be like. In his early days as a Ranger he could drive through older forests for hours. But now so much of the park has been badly impacted by fires. “I doubt we will ever see those old forests again.”
Snow Gum Summit – Next Ascent: Protecting Alpine Landscapes
Friends of the Earth Melbourne is excited to share that we are organising a second Snow Gum Summit, which will take place in March 2026 on Ngarigo Country in Jindabyne. The Summit will bring people together from across the Australian Alps bioregion spanning Victoria, NSW and the ACT, to address the threats facing these iconic landscapes we all know and love.
Snow gum forests and woodlands are under accelerating stress from climate change, fire, and beetle-driven dieback. The widespread dieback is equivalent to that of a mass bleaching event of the Great Barrier Reef. Without bold interventions, these ecosystems face ecological collapse within our lifetimes.
The summit will happen over the weekend of March 14 and 15.
Globally, Alpine Ecosystems are in trouble. Right now our snow gums, an iconic feature of the Australian alps, are facing a mass mortality event and are at risk of ecological collapse due to dieback and the impact of repeated bush fire.
You can help save our snow gums by planning a hike through the Australian Alps this walking season. While you are walking, record your observations of snow gum dieback and fire impact via our citizen science initiatives.
As you will know, winning a significant campaign can take years of work. I am really pleased to be able to tell you about some great developments on snow gums that we have recently helped achieve.
You may recall that Friends of the Earth (FoE) started working in the Victorian high country in 2021 because there was very limited forest campaign work going on in the north east at the time, and many dire threats of logging in special forests. We released the Icon at Risk report, which made it clear snow gum forests are facing an existential threat from climate change driven fire and expanded impact of dieback. We campaigned for an end to logging in the high country, and developed a rescue plan for snow gum forests.
During the campaign, we have had to deal with three different environment ministers on these issues. Each time we needed to get the new minister and their staff up to speed on the issue, then encourage them to act.
In February this year we hosted the first ever snow gum summit, which allowed us to build the profile of the campaign and give the government more detail about how they need to respond to protect snow gum forests.
And now, after four years of consistent work, we have some great news.
Continue reading “Good news – protection for snow gums gets closer”
As you know snow gum communities across the high country face an existential threat from the combined impacts of dieback and more frequent and intense fire seasons. Sadly the isolated pockets of snow gums away from the higher mountains face similar threats, like in the Mt Cole ranges where the Bayindeen fire damaged sections of remnant snow gum forest.
There is currently a sustained threat to the wonderful snow gum forests on Mt Macedon and I am asking you to take a few moments to contact two MPs and urge them to stop proposed tree felling operations.
This information comes from our friends at the Victorian National Parks Association who are leading the campaign to protect these trees.
Continue reading “Protect Macedon’s rare Snow Gums from chainsaws”
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