‘Rewilding our Floodplains’ – Restoration Begins on the Brunswick River, Australia
We are so pleased to share that our restoration project on the Brunswick River has begun!
In July 2023, we began mangrove restoration at our project site on the Brunswick River. Volunteers and team members collected Avicennia marina (Grey Mangrove) seeds by kayak from the local area and planted them in the intertidal zone of our restoration site under strict permit conditions.
Lauren and Kris collecting mangrove seeds from the Brunswick River
Approved restoration site along the Brunswick River, July 2023
Why are we planting mangroves?
Mangroves help to increase waterway resilience by protecting the shores from erosion, buffering storm energy and binding sediment together with their roots and structures. They also provide critical habitat to fish, crustaceans and birds, boosting biodiversity and local fisheries. Mangroves, salt marsh and seagrass are known as blue carbon ecosystems or ‘carbon sinks’ due to their incredible ability to sequester and store carbon. They can store up to five times as much organic carbon as tropical upland forests and a high proportion of this is stored underground in the sediment. This ability makes protecting blue carbon ecosystems critical in the fight against climate change.
Grey mangrove seeds germinate while attached to the tree, this process is called vivipary and it allows for quick establishment once the seed settles. Many seeds are dropped by the mangroves during this time of year, by collecting a small proportion of them and hand-planting the seeds at the site we hope to assist mangrove regrowth. We will monitor the restoration sites’ progress with trained community volunteers as part of our wider wetland monitoring program.
Kris Boody from Gold Coast City Council explaining how to properly and carefully plant mangrove seeds.
Daphne volunteering to collect mangrove seeds on the Brunswick River
Restoration project goals:
By 2025 we will protect and support carbon sinks on the Brunswick River by restoring a minimum of 3km2 of riparian and connected intertidal land, engaging at least 50 community members in restoration and monitoring activities.
We look forward to updating our community on the mangroves progress as well as the carbon levels in the sediment.
Lauren Morgan, Northern NSW Rewilding Our Floodplains Program Manager
Lauren Morgan, our NSW Wetlands and Coastal Programs Coordinator was delighted to get the mangrove planting underway;
“As a long-time mangrove enthusiast, it was a really special moment to successfully collect and plant mangrove propagules at our restoration site with our amazing project partners and volunteers. We are excited to move on to the next phase of restoration. When the weather is less dry we will fence off the land and plant riparian vegetation to further reduce erosion. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported our project!”
Sediment core samples were also collected at the restoration site with project partners from Southern Cross University. The cores will undergo biochemical analysis to determine exactly how much carbon is stored by the mangroves underground. This data will be used as a baseline reference for carbon sediment stock at our site, and we hope it will increase as the mangroves mature. The sediment samples will contribute to a wider blue carbon potential assessment of the Brunswick River, a first for the catchment!
Volunteer with us!
We have a range of exciting volunteer opportunities coming up this year with our mangrove monitoring program, if you would like to get involved join our Facebook Group Here.
We would like to make a special thanks to…
- Our wonderful volunteers for collecting and planting mangrove seeds, and assisting with carbon sediment sampling
- Debra Stokes, Christian Saunders and Jess Berryman from Southern Cross University for conducting the sediment carbon sampling and analysis
- Kris Boody from Gold Coast City Council for mangrove restoration guidance.
- Arakwal Aboriginal Corporation for cultural monitoring and project guidance.
- Northern Rivers Community Grant Foundation, Ubuntu Foundation and Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, Strengthening Rural Communities Program 2023 for funding the project.
- DPI Cape Byron Marine Park Authority, Byron Shire Council, North Coast Local Land Services and Brunswick Valley Landcare for ongoing program support.
Jess Berryman from Southern Cross University taking samples to measure carbon in the sediment
Volunteers preparing carbon sediment samples
Acknowledgements
Our Northern Rivers project is being delivered through the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s Flood Recovery Program for Water Quality Monitoring, in partnership with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment. The Program is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
We would also like to extend our gratitude and thanks to Go Sea Kayak for donating the use of their kayaks for our river surveys, the Northern Rivers Community Foundation, the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and the Ubuntu Foundation for supporting our program.
Similarly to our program partners for their continued support, including Brunswick Valley Landcare, Southern Cross Credit Union, North Coast Local Land Services, Cape Byron Marine Park Authority, Department of Primary Industries, Byron Shire Council, Wildbnb wildlife habitat.
The Brunswick River, associated wetlands and coastline are considered a place of significance for Arakwal people and the Bundjalung nation. We follow cultural guidance from Arakwal to disturb Native Title land and care for country.
“We would like to Acknowledge the Arakwal people of the Bundjalung Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of this land which we live, work, and stand on. Arakwal People retain a strong connection to Country; actively caring for flora and fauna and land and waters. We ask that you respect and help look after Country and Culture. We also acknowledge and pay our respect to Elders both past and present, and the extended Aboriginal community.”