More than 40,000 hectares at Lake Cobrico was burnt in 2018 during high-intensity fires in south-west Victoria. Photo: Cheryl Heynemann
Photo by
CHERYL HEYNEMANN
Four years on from the St Patrick’s Day fires in Victoria’s south-west, a swamp wildlife reserve has a new lease on life after an Australian-first drone reseeding program.
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Monitoring of the recovery of Lake Cobrico near Camperdownis showing positive results after high-intensity fires burnt more than 40,000 hectares in 2018.
Due to concerns that the lake’s ecosystem might not be able to regenerate naturally, drones were used to distribute 32 kilograms of native seeds over 40 hectares of the burnt lake bed.
The drones released the seeds from up to five metres above the ground, avoiding the need for hand seeding which would have further disturbed the fragile terrain.
Technology company XAG conducted the work, supported by Heytesbury District Landcare Network (HDLN).
HDLN and ecologists Landtech Consulting have monitored the results with aerial surveys, comparing the regrowth in sections that have undergone aerial seeding to areas that have been left to revegetate naturally.
Ecologists assessed the impact of the drone on revegetation/recruitment, comparing images taken from drone flights in 2020 and 2022.
Landtech Consulting ecologist Peter Austin said Lake Cobrico included isolated small patches of an endangered scoria cone woodland.
“The area has a lack of corridors that allow key species to disperse and maintain genetic diversity, but the successful drone reseeding will assist,” he said.
Drones have been used for many years to sow seed in broadacre agriculture-based contexts, however they are rarely used for seeding natural areas and it is understood this is the first time in Australia in a fire recovery program.
“Access to Lake Cobrico was difficult for many reasons, so it was good to try drones with intelligent spreading systems,” Peter said.
Higher rainfall from La Niña weather conditions in 2020 and 2021 resulted in significantly increased vegetation cover.
From that baseline, the assessment found more vegetation in the areas that were reseeded by the drone. In areas where the seed concentration was doubled, the research found even more indigenous vegetation cover.
“At Lake Cobrico drone-seeding has enhanced this increase in land cover,” Peter said.
“This experience suggests drones could be used in other areas failing to naturally regenerate in the future.
“It demonstrates that drones can undertake important work in fire-affected peat swamps in a safe and non-intrusive way, limiting exposure to risk for staff and contractors.
“This information will be important in climate adaption management.”
HDLN coordinator Geoff Rollinson said Lake Cobrico was showing a new lease on life following the innovative aerial seeding work that distributed a blend of 12 different native seeds.
“We can expect the regrowth has led to more wildlife in the area, more food, harbour and shelter for a range of birdlife, as well as other animals such as kangaroos and wallabies,” Geoff said.
A three-page summary of the report is available at: https://www.heytesburylandcare.org.au/drone-lake-cobrico
Drone seeding and good conditions have helped the Lake Cobrico reserve start to recover.
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