The Friends of Mallacoota recently completed their 17th conservation trip to Gabo Island, marking eight years of dedicated volunteer efforts to eradicate the invasive Mirror Bush (Coprosma repens) and support the recovery of native vegetation.
The group’s weeding project on the island began in 2018.
Over successive trips, volunteers have progressively expanded their work areas, starting with the rocky terrain surrounding the island’s historic lighthouse before moving around the coastline and across large portions of the
accessible inland areas.
During the multi-year project, the Friends of Mallacoota have removed thousands of mature Mirror Bush plants and seedlings.
Recent surveys have provided encouraging results, with volunteers finding only small numbers of new seedlings during their visits, indicating that the seed bank is starting to deplete.
The reduction of the dense weed has allowed native plant species to naturally regenerate and reclaim ground previously dominated by the invasive Mirror Bush – a positive sign that the conservation work is having its desired ecological effect.
Alongside the primary weeding program, the group maintains a running record of the island’s biodiversity.
Volunteers document plant and bird species during each visit, frequently adding new sightings to their ongoing ecological records.
The Friends of Mallacoota’s Gabo Weeding Project is supported by Parks Victoria and funded through grants provided by the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA).
