Native plant identification
Tailoring Eucalypt identification to a range of groups
Local Links - Stronger Communities - LLCI001-013
The issue
There are over 700 species of eucalypts in Australia and about 240 in New South Wales. These trees are a common part of most Australian landscapes and provide essential environmental services like water and nutrient cycling, provide food and shelter for our native fauna, and are also very important features in our agricultural production systems. Eucalypt species are recognised as indicators of the suitability of land for agriculture, yet many people find it difficult to identify one Eucalypt tree from another.
The solution
Central Tablelands Landcare staff have been working with Central Tablelands Local Land Services to provide native plant identification workshops across our region. Our workshops are all tailored for the geographic locations they are held in, with species lists developed specific to each locality. The workshops comprise of a morning introductory session, explaining the role Eucalypts play in our landscape, and the identifying characteristics such as bark, tree form, leaves, glaucous structures, buds and fruits, habitat and associated species. Participants were encouraged to bring in samples, and the afternoon was spent using books and online identification resources to key out species, and practise the new skills learnt on the day.
The impact
Since 2016 we have delivered 10 native plant identification workshops in the localities of Orange, Bathurst, Cowra, Rylestone, Lithgow, Oberon, Merriganowry, Perthville and Blayney. A total of 176 people have participated to date. The feedback from these courses is very positive, and Local Land Services wish to continue running them with our help every year. These Native Plant Identification workshops not only increase people's understanding of our native flora and fauna, but has also strengthened our professional working relationship with Central Tablelands Local Land Services.
Key facts
- There are about 240 Eucalypt species in NSW.
- Eucalypts are recognised as indicators of the suitability of land for agriculture.
- Features used to identify Eucalypts include bark, tree form, leaves, glaucous structures, buds and fruits, habitat and associated species.