French Island, sitting in the middle of Melbourne’s Western Port Bay is one of the most unique landscapes in the Port Phillip and Western Port region.
French Island covers 17,000 hectares, with about 5,000 hectares of farmland adjoining the French Island National Park. The national park is an unspoilt wilderness combining unique mangrove saltmarsh with open woodlands that provide a haven for a host of bird and animals species.
Outside the national park is a full time population of 80 or so people, with at least the same number of part-time landholders. 50 landholders are now members of the French Island Landcare Group, formed in 1993 to improve the island’s properties.
Residents have their own challenges which include better land management, weed eradication, education about the benefits of native vegetation on land and collection of rain for drinking water and for stock (there is no mains water on French Island).
The French Island Landcare Group have ongoing campaigns to undertake sustainable farm practices and raise awareness of the need to protect and replant native vegetation. In 2007/2008 they successfully attained a $6500 Second Generation Landcare grant and a $48,000 Envirofund grant to help with this process.
Jane Unwin of the French Island Landcare Group says most of the challenges they face are unique to French Island due to its remoteness, including:
* Loss of native vegetation due to; dieback as a result of drought, pressure from the growing koala population
* Low fertility soils and high cost of fertiliser transport by barge
* Small volunteer base to undertake works
* Isolation from other Landcare groups due to the island location
“The importance of getting all of our landholders talking together about the issues affecting French Island is important,” Jane Unwin explained.
“The French Island Landcare Group encourages better land management contributing to the social and economic well-being of our Island community. We have established an indigenous seed bank for the island to ensure we continue to replant indigenous species and we share information through field days, workshops and walks and at regular social barbeques.
“One of the best things about the group as it has evolved has been the community building of a cohesive and inclusive group of interested members.”
The funding that French Island Landcare Group has attained has enabled them to:
* Establish an indigenous nursery producing up to 20,000 plants a year in conjunction with a private landowner
* Establish an indigenous seed bank
* Establish program for exchange of ideas with invited speakers on pasture management and other topical subjects of interest to members
* Established a volunteer coordinator position
* Conduct major revegetation projects for coastal protection, wildlife corridors, and shelter belts on private property.
* Encourage other landowners to fence remnant vegetation on their properties.
* Undertake mangrove rehabilitation which will also support the continuation of the nursery.
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