Preserving native vegetation in Lara

Our Environment team have been in Lara undertaking ecological burning helping to protect and preserve native grasses and the critically endangered Spiny Rice-flower.

The native grasslands are found on the Victorian Volcanic Plains and are listed as endangered with less than five per cent of this vegetation left compared with pre-European settlement.

Undertaking low-intensity ecological burning helps to suppress invasive weed species reduce biomass and promote the regeneration of native species.

Our team used the Cool Burn method which has been used by First Nations people for over 60 000 years to manage land plants and animals.

Cool burning is small scale and slow moving enabling animals and critters to escape from the burn site unharmed. It also helps to reduce the intensity of bushfires during dry periods.

We’ll be continuing to use these methods to increase biodiversity across the region as we continue to care for Greater Geelong’s valuable environment.

You can find out more about the work we’re doing to protect our biodiversity on our Nature and Environment page.