KES Projects
The Knox Environment Society is involved with a large array of projects and activities. Those listed on this page are just a few examples of the work of the Volunteer Members of the KES.
Biological Control of Boneseed
Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monlilfera) was introduced from South Africa for use as a garden shrub and is now a major noxious weed in our reserves and National Parks. Boneseed can form a dense, continuous canopy in dry woodlands which suppresses the growth of grasses, herbs and the seedlings of trees and shrubs.
Starting in 2010, KES is assisting the Victorian Department of Primary Industries to propagate boneseed plants that have been inoculated with the Leaf buckle mite (Eriophyidae aceria). These mites, which are related to spiders, feed on the embryonic leaves at the shoot tip. The plants then have a lower growth rate and are less reproductive. The plant may become stunted with reduced new branch development.
When sufficient numbers of mites have been bred they will be released into our bushlands that have a dense and persistent boneseed infestation.
Biological control cannot eradicate a weed but can reduce the spread and density of infestation. Other control methods will probably have to be used in conjunction with the mites in an integrated management program.
Breeding of Threatened Plant Species
The report, ‘Sites of Biological Significance in Knox’ (Lorimer 2010), identified that, according to the international standard ‘Red List’ criteria of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN 2001), 185 plant species, or 41% of all of Knox’s surviving indigenous plant species, are Critically Endangered in Knox, i.e. they fall into the highest risk category for local extinction. This is an indication that scores of species could die out in Knox over the next decade – a remarkably rapid collapse of biodiversity – unless corrective action is taken. Some of these species are threatened state-wide.
This project involves the propagating and planting of 78 of the most threatened plant species in the area. Seeds and other propagation material will be collected locally, grown in our nursery and then planted into the wild population and at other appropriate sites. Some seed will be stored at the Melbourne Indigenous Seedbank.
This biodiversity project will increase pollination success, gene pools and the number of colonies of species in an attempt to prevent extinction of wild populations. Monitoring will show to what degree the planting is successful.
Sword-Grass Brown Butterfly
[click image to enlarge]
The Sword-grass Brown Butterfly Project (SGGP) was initiated in 1993 by the Knox Environment Society in conjunction with the Knox City Council. We aim to link the populations of the Sword-grass Brown at Wicks Reserve in The Basin and the Old Joes Creek Retarding Basin in Boronia. This will be achieved by planting Saw-sedges, the food-plant of the butterfly's larvae in suitable reserves and schools. Local residents are invited to join in by growing the food-plants on their property.
The Sword-grass Brown Butterfly is an attractive chocolate-brown butterfly with orange markings and a blue eyespot on each forewing and an eyespot ringed with orange on its hindwings. It has a wingspan of up to 7cm.
A favourite food plant of the Sword-grass Brown is the Red-Fruit Saw-sedge, Gahnia sieberiana. The Saw-sedge grows in thickets with arching, narrow, strap-like pale-green foliage with sharp edges. Each fruit tuft produces multiple stems bearing heads of minute flowers in Spring. These stand two metres plus tall and when mature contain numerous bright red seeds. They like moist areas and are part of our indigenous bushland.
"The survival of the Sword-grass Brown Butterfly is threatened by the rapid destruction of the Gahnia swamps in which it breeds, as these swamps are often in the path of urban development."
(Total Environment Centre, Our Wildlife in Peril, 1983.)
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Work in Schools
In recent years the KES has supported local schools in a range of ways.
- Provided funding for the Gould League 'Sustainable Schools Project'
- Supplied many of Knox's schools with thousands of plants to support National Tree Days.
- Conducted weed removal and revegetation work at local schools
- In June 2006 the KES donated approximately 100 plants to the Coonara Community Centre to support a World Environment Day Seminar
- In July 2006 the KES purchased over $1000 worth of Gould League books entitled Living Rivers which were presented to 33 local preschools.
- The KES provides financial sponsorship of the School Pride Awards that form part of the annual Knox Pride Awards.
- Darren Wallace and his team at Operation Revegetation (OR) regularly support students from Wantirna and Fairhills Secondary Colleges, by involving them in seed collection, propagation and pricking out. Plants propagated by the students are labelled, grown on at the Wantirna nursery and eventually planted out at the relevant school by the students who assisted in growing them.
- Early in 2006 Scoresby Secondary College also visited the Koomba depot to learn about plant propagation with a view to improving their school grounds.
- OR and the KES community nursery have also supported individual students to help them meet the educational requirements of specific programs such as the Duke of Edinburgh award.
- Provided landscape advice and plants for a nature garden at the University of the Third Age in Fairpark, Ferntree Gully.
