Just three months after SEQ Catchments and ENERGEX joined forces to help preserve the threatened Richmond Birdwing Butterfly, one of Australia’s largest and most spectacular native butterflies, over 300 vines have now been potted up in the first stage to restore the butterfly’s food source.
In a joint bid to help the south east Queensland community preserve the endangered butterfly, ENERGEX has linked with SEQ Catchments and Gecko Regen (Gold Coast & Hinterland Environment Council) to facilitate the propagation of the Richmond Birdwing Vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa).
Gecko Regen is carrying out the propagation program, and General Manager Mark Bibby said that so far the program was proving a success.
He said: "In these early stages, we are propagating from cuttings, as that will produce the food vines quicker. A recent planting day produced over 300 vines, and we are very pleased with the results."
When first planted, the vines need to have their roots kept warm to help with the initial growth spurt.
SEQ Catchments CEO Simon Warner said the introduced Dutchman's Pipe vine was contributing to the Birdwing’s demise as it lures the butterfly to lay eggs on its leaves.
"Dutchman’s Pipe is toxic to this species, and the emerging larvae are quickly poisoned. Protecting remnant habitat, planting Richmond Birdwing vines and eradicating Dutchman’s Pipe are essential to helping the butterfly fight back.
"Thanks to ENERGEX we have a real opportunity, with our partners, to preserve an iconic South East Queensland native species and revegetate biodiversity corridors in South East Queensland."
The iridescent green, yellow and black butterfly was once abundant from Grafton in New South Wales to Maryborough in Queensland but has decreased in numbers from two-thirds of its original range due to habitat destruction.
Today only isolated remnant colonies remain on the Gold and Sunshine Coast hinterlands and parts of northern New South Wales.
ENERGEX is funding selected sustainable projects across south east Queensland, and the investment for this project will be raised from the recycling of scrap metal from ENERGEX’s electricity network upgrades.
Mr. Warner said support from the corporate sector is imperative in the future as the real dollar value of government funding for natural resource management in Queensland is declining.
"Corporate sector investment is becoming critical to SEQ Catchments’ ability to assist local communities and governments to undertake priority activities and natural resource management in the future.
"Our challenge going forward will be to continue to build partnerships, align investment in natural resources with national, state and local priorities and help businesses and communities across the region to come together to maintain South East Queensland as a sustainable community," he said.
26 August 2009.
