Total Earth Care‘s Ecological Restoration experts have been actively involved in pioneering changes to bushland management and estuary, wetland and riparian management for over 30 years.
We have been considered the industry educator and we are renowned for our innovative approaches.
A good example is our approach in the protection of endangered species like Acacia terminalis subsp. Eastern Sydney (Sunshine wattle).
“Flame weeding is the process where heat is used to kill weeds and treat the soil whilst also activating the biological trigger for seed germination that is inherent to many native Australian species. Often smoke and its components are responsible for this trigger, amongst other factors.”
Jack Kensey – Total Earth Care’s Project Manager in Ecological Restoration
Acacia terminalis subsp. Eastern Sydney (Sunshine wattle) is an endangered species with a range between Cronulla and Manly where it only occurs rarely. Due to its range and proximity to urban development most areas of habitat or potential habitat are small and isolated and are highly modified or disturbed. Seeds are highly viable and often disperse by ants. Seed germination (recruitment) usually occurs only after a fire with the optimum temperature for the fire found to be approx. 60 degrees. Mature plants can be killed by the fire however have been observed resprouting from the base.
In order to support weeding programs designed to improve space and remove competition for Acacia terminalis subsp. Eastern Sydney flame weeding was chosen to remove weed and promote seed germination in specific locations known to have had Acacia terminalis subsp. Eastern Sydney in the recent past.
ecological benefits:
- Promote and protect seed germination
- Removal of weeds to create space
- Natural and chemical free
- Good ecological outcomes
- Increase light and remove competition for resources
what innovative services do we offer?
Total Earth Care offers the following innovative approaches to Ecological Restoration:
- Best Practice Bush Regeneration Practices;
- Integrated Pest Management Approach;
- Use of Natural Resources (i.e. Sugar Control);
- Flame Weeding;
- Soil Seed Bank Translocation;
- Hydromulching;
- Integrated Bush Fire Management;
- and much more.