The forests and coastal ecosystems of the East Gippsland bushfire region is defined by the East Gippsland Natural Resource Management boundary and cover an area greater than two million hectares.
The Gunaikurnai people are recognised as the Traditional Owners in Gippsland, west of the Snowy River, through their native title rights and have a strong cultural connection with its lands and waters. Together with the state government they jointly manage 10 parks and reserves in their native title settlement area. A number of traditional owners and groups have interests east of the Snowy River.
Impacts of the 2019–20 bushfires
East Gippsland was significantly impacted by the 2019-20 summer bushfires. More than 870,000 hectares were burnt in the region, with 59 per cent at high or very high severity.
This map shows the extent and severity of the 2019–20 bushfires in the forests and coastal ecosystems of East Gippsland region.
Text version of image
This map shows the extent and severity of the 2019–20 bushfires in the forests and coastal ecosystems of East Gippsland region.
Environmental values
Important environmental values impacted by the bushfires that were identified by the Expert Panel for management intervention include:
- four Threatened Ecological Communities, including Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh
- 57 animal species, including the Long-footed Potoroo, four galaxias fish species, the Eastern Bristlebird, five spiny crayfish species, and the Sedge Darter
- 50 plant species including the Gippsland Banksia, Betka Bottlebrush, and Leafy Nematolepis.
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Photo: George Bayliss CC BY-NC 2.0 |
David Cook CC BY-NC 2.0 |
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The Long-footed Potoroo has 76 per cent of its range in the East Gippsland region, of which 74 per cent was burnt. Threats to this endangered marsupial include habitat destruction and predation by feral animals. |
Bushfire recovery actions in the region have supported threatened species like the vulnerable Greater Glider through the building of hollows and refuges. |
Australian Government bushfire recovery funding in the region
$16 million is being invested in recovery of native wildlife and their habitat in the East Gippsland bushfire region. This investment is in two phases.
Phase 1 – Emergency Response
The Australian Government directly invested $1.2 million in the forests and coastal ecosystems of East Gippsland bushfire region, as part of the initial $50 million investment in bushfire recovery for wildlife and habitats. This includes:
- $750,000 to East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority for recovery actions including pest animal control, weed control and habitat restoration
- $336,090 to Cmore Pty Ltd to install tree hollows and create refuges for native wildlife affected by bushfires
- $131,250 to East Gippsland Landcare Network to help landowners support recovery by revegetating and protecting remnant vegetation.
Additional funding includes:
- $4.1 million for grant projects where some activities are being undertaken in, or are relevant to this region to support Eastern Bristlebirds, snails, butterflies, beetles and orchids
- $3 million to the Victorian Government for post-fire recovery of species across the state, including the Long-footed Potoroo, Eastern Bristlebird and freshwater fish species in this region.
Phase 2 – Resilience and Recovery
The Australian Government is investing over $14 million into the forests and coastal ecosystems of East Gippsland bushfire region under the $110 million Regional Bushfire Recovery Fund. This includes an investment of $8.55 million through the Victorian Government for recovery activities mainly on public land, including Traditional Owner-led reading and healing country, pest control, and species-specific interventions for threatened animals and plants like the Eastern Bristlebird.
The remaining $5.45 million allocated to this region is supporting recovery activities described under the multiregional and strategic investment stream and include:
- $1.05 million to Trust for Nature to create and manage refuge areas, including through weed removal, feral animal control and revegetation
- $0.35 million for a CSIRO-led assessment of bushfire impacts to the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site
- $4 million through the $14 million grant to Landcare to support community-led recovery.
A further $800,000 is being invested in this region through 10 projects supported under the $10 million Bushfire Recovery for Wildlife and Habitat Community Grants Program.
A detailed list of funded projects is available on the Activities and Outcomes page.
A co-design workshop was held with stakeholders from the region on 1 September 2020. The workshop report is available on the Workshops and ministerial roundtables page.