Recent studies have described declining health in river red gum forests. Water regime, including volume, seasonality and timing, is a major factor in maintaining forest health, ecological function and resilience. Considering ongoing river regulation and the likelihood of more frequent and intense droughts under climate change predictions, reducing tree density may be an effective management tool for improving the health of river red gum forests.
The Murray Valley National Park, Millewa Group (Barmah–Millewa) was gazetted in New South Wales in 2010. In recommendations supporting the gazettal of these parks, the NSW Natural Resources Commission (NRC) stated that an ecological thinning trial be undertaken within an adaptive management framework to address management problems associated with high stem density and canopy dieback in stands of river red gum forests (NRC 2009).
Visit our Research in the river red gum forests webpage for monitoring and reporting on the trial.
Related documents
- Ecological Thinning Trial in NSW River Red Gum Forests: Public environment report - Appendices (PDF 17.5MB)
- Ecological Thinning Trial - Request for variation to Ecological Thinning Trial in NSW and Victorian River Red Gum Forests (PDF 828KB)
- Ecological Thinning Trial - Letter of support from the Scientific Advisory Committee (PDF 205KB).
