Author Archives: fobif

How do they do it? [3]: Out of a pile of rocks…

Posted on 25 January, 2016 by fobif

Goldfields landscapes are dotted with mullock heaps: and one of the curiosities of these heaps of apparently useless rock is that they often feature quite healthy trees. How can these trees get a foothold in material you definitely wouldn’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on How do they do it? [3]: Out of a pile of rocks…

Parks Vic 2: ‘God’s in His heaven and all’s well’

Posted on 25 January, 2016 by fobif

Not that you’d know about pressure and stress by reading the Parks Victoria Report. As is the nature of these documents, it’s nicely illustrated, and full of good news. It might be unfair to call the general tone gaga, but … Continue reading →

Posted in News | 2 Comments

Moss guide goes to reprint edition

Posted on 14 December, 2015 by fobif

FOBIF’s field guide to Mosses of dry forests in south eastern Australia has sold so well we’ve had to go to a reprint edition, adding a few improvements along the way. The new edition is on sale via this website, … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Moss guide goes to reprint edition

It’s Australia’s only National Heritage Park: so, should it be managed in a unique way?

Posted on 14 December, 2015 by fobif

What is a heritage landscape, and what difference does the tag ‘heritage’ make to the way a landscape should be managed? Of course, all landscapes are ‘heritage’ or ‘cultural’ landscapes in one way or another: but there’s only one in … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management, News | Comments Off on It’s Australia’s only National Heritage Park: so, should it be managed in a unique way?

How do they do it? [1] Making something out of nothing

Posted on 14 December, 2015 by fobif

It’s been a bleak period in our bushlands this year, but even in the bleakest of times, something surprising can be seen: and, as during the millenium drought, one of the most surprising is the sight of this delicate looking … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations | Comments Off on How do they do it? [1] Making something out of nothing

How do they do it? [2] Surviving in the pollution soup

Posted on 14 December, 2015 by fobif

The picture below is a Common Long Neck turtle [Chelodina longicolis] sun baking in the horrible pollution soup that is Forest Creek at the Wheeler Street bridge. Turtles have been seen in this unpromising location for many years, and seemed … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations | Comments Off on How do they do it? [2] Surviving in the pollution soup

Lessons from Lancefield [2]: public land, private land

Posted on 22 November, 2015 by fobif

A second point worth highlighting in the Carter report is the importance of integrating public and private land in fire preparations. The report says: ‘The Department must adopt a tenure-­‐blind approach to the management of bushfire risk including the planning … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management, News | Comments Off on Lessons from Lancefield [2]: public land, private land

Heritage: um, what about us?

Posted on 2 November, 2015 by fobif

Whatever its merits, VEAC’s draft report on heritage places is notable for one baffling deficiency: its failure to consider landscape as a heritage ‘place’. More specifically, it’s clear that the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park is considered, in this report, … Continue reading →

Posted in News | 1 Comment

Guess what? We’re not looking after our heritage places properly

Posted on 26 October, 2015 by fobif

The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council has released its draft proposals paper on Heritage Places. You can find it here Not surprisingly, the Council found that management of heritage sites is seriously underfunded: ‘It is clear that there is insufficient funding … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Guess what? We’re not looking after our heritage places properly

Historic places, and what they’re worth: revelations soon

Posted on 19 October, 2015 by fobif

The Draft Proposals Paper for VEAC’s Historic Places Investigation will be released for public comment on Thursday 22 October 2015 and made available on that day on the VEAC website. VEAC is holding three information sessions on the Paper, one … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Historic places, and what they’re worth: revelations soon