Truganina Swamp is a 175-ha wetland of Biodiversity Significance, providing critical habitat for threatened and protected fauna as well as threatened saltmarsh vegetation. However, particular areas of this wetland need restoration due to pressures from a range of urban threats.
With the help of local citizen scientists, Friends of Truganina Wetland (FOTW), and Melbourne Water (land managers) the Blue Carbon Lab will undertake both a feasibility assessment to determine the causes of degradation, as well as restoration actions to optimize the recovery of saltmarsh habitat. This project will educate the local urban community about the value of coastal wetlands while also informing on-ground restoration.
The two areas of focus for this project are the saltwater channel bank (Fig 1. Blue highlighted area), and degraded wetland area (Fig 1. Pink highlighted area). The saltwater channel bank is a man-made steep bank that is currently covered by invasive weeds. This project will develop a scientific plan to shave back the bank to allow for saltmarsh colonisation. We will also assess the degraded wetland area (pink highlighted area) to determine why the saltmarsh has not recovered well and is still in poor condition. Based off the findings we will put forward recommendation on management and restoration actions to help recover the saltmarsh.
Funds from the Port Phillip Bay Fund will support three citizen science workshops and the feasibility assessments of two degraded areas within the wetland.
Keep an eye out on Blue Carbon Lab social media pages for the announcement of dates for the citizen science workshops if you are keen to get involved and get muddy!
