Secrets of the Tall Timber Forests
Museum Victoria's Environment Program presented Secrets of the Tall Timber Forests in recognition of World Environment Day 1999.
The first Europeans to venture into the vast mountain ash forests north and east of Melbourne regarded them with awe. The entwining vegetation and the deep, rich leaf litter seemed to enfold so many secrets. Reverence for these forests did not stop colonists from destroying them. In fact, so infinite did the forests seem, and so much did they dwarf the human figure, that restraints in their use seemed unnecessary.
Take the opportunity to hear about the issues relating to the ecological integrity and the biodiversity of this important Victorian environmental habitat.
Speakers
Dr Tom Griffiths discusses the way in which human and natural history have interacted with this spectacular environment close to Melbourne, particularly when the Mountain Ash forests were destroyed by the horrific 'Black Friday' fires of 1939.
Dr Richard Marchant describes the rich variety of insect and other invertebrate life that is commonly found in the streams which flow through the Mountain Ash forests. Richard talks about mayflies, stoneflies, nymphs, dragonflies and waterpennies.