PLANNING is under way to re-establish local vegetation across 170 hectares of land at Barwon Water’s Aire River site.<\/p>\n
The long-term project will increase biodiversity, provide new locally sourced habitat for up to 35 threatened plants and animals and create nature-based carbon offsets.<\/p>\n
Vegetation assessment and project design land management activities are set to be carried out in the next year before up to 80,000 native plants go into the ground in 2027.<\/p>\n
It is anticipated that the Aire River project could sequester up to 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over 25 years.<\/p>\n
Barwon Water general manager planning, delivery and environment Seamus Butcher said the project would have a range of ecological and economic benefits.<\/p>\n
“Restoring the forest ecosystem will have a positive impact on the local environment, extending the natural biodiversity of the adjacent Great Otway National Park,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We will be engaging local nurseries to grow the tube stock and using local contractors where possible to support the ongoing maintenance and management of the site.”<\/p>\n
Barwon Water is carrying out a similar restoration project near Barwon Downs, re-establishing 150 hectares of native forest at Dewing Creek.<\/p>\n
Both initiatives are part of a wider effort to help offset unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero emissions in Barwon Water’s operations by 2030.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PLANNING is under way to re-establish local vegetation across 170 hectares of land at Barwon Water’s Aire River site. The long-term project will increase biodiversity, provide new locally sourced habitat for up to 35 threatened plants and animals and create nature-based carbon offsets. Vegetation assessment and project design land management activities are set to be […]<\/p>\n