Native wildlife between Albury and Holbrook, including vulnerable colonies of Squirrel Glider, can look forward to a safer existence and easier access to food thanks to a recent tree planting event organised by the Nature Conservation Trust of New South Wales as part of the Slopes to Summit program.
The event, held on National Wattle Day on 1 September 2009, saw 32 volunteers come together at Blue Metal Travelling Stock Reserve, 40km north of Albury, to plant 500 silver wattle and other species. The plantings will help connect wildlife habitat and boost an important food resource for Squirrel Gliders. The event took place on either side of a new Squirrel Glider crossing installed by the RTA across the Hume Highway. Those who attended the event were lucky enough to witness the release of a Squirrel Glider into Blue Metal reserve.
Alison Skinner, S2S Partnership Facilitator, said the tree planting event was a great example of what the Slopes to Summit program is all about.
"The tree planting event achieved at a local level what the Slopes to Summit program aims to achieve on a much larger scale; that is, bringing people together to reconnect ecosystems and valuable habitat for wildlife," said Alison.
The Squirrel Glider is a threatened species that requires hollows in mature trees for nesting. The animals will often use 10 to 12 nests across their home range. Gliders are ‘gap limited' species with an average glide length of 30 to 40m. If large gaps exist in the tree canopy in their habitat, they are forced to glide further, which brings them closer to the ground or even requires them to move across the ground. This increases their chances of being either caught in barbed-wire fencing or snared by predators. Revegetation activities, such as the National Wattle Day tree planting event, can help to widen or connect existing patches of habitat, allowing the animals to move through freely through the landscape.
