Conversations around trees on farms are often centred on tall trees, but the importance of the vegetation layers below the canopy can’t be understated in supporting biodiversity. Source: Timberbiz
Due to grazing pressure or the presence of exotic pasture grasses, many patches of remnant vegetation do not have ongoing tree recruitment, grass tussocks or shrubs. Infill planting that includes native grasses, herbs, shrubs and small trees is vital to provide healthy habitats for bird and insect life.
Jon Finch, Entomologist at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, notes the importance of creating and protecting diverse understory for wildlife.
“We really need to think about adding multiple layers to our plantings and allowing that to be undisturbed and not grazed, sprayed or managed,” he said.
“Everything from grasses, which are important for holding soil together and providing food, to native herbs and flowering plants that produce nectar and pollen, to shrubs providing structure, shelter and food, then above that small and large trees that slow wind speed and provide shade.
“Having these diverse plantings brings structural complexity back into the landscape, which wildlife needs to survive and prosper.”
Both insects and birds play significant roles on agricultural land, providing services for pest control, pollination and soil health.
Like insects, birds play a vitally important role in healthy ecosystems.
Despite their importance to healthy ecosystems, there are signs that birds and insect populations are struggling, largely due to loss of habitat. For birds, loss of habitat is paired with an increase in introduced species that are over-abundant.
Establishing or maintaining a healthy understory is an important part of supporting bird and insect communities.
The first step is to protect areas of remnant vegetation, which often contains vegetation of mixed ages, including dead trees and tree hollows, which are extremely rare on farms yet a vital habitat providing shelter and resources for threatened species.
In areas where tall trees require infill planting, caging individual tree seedlings for protection against browsing or damage from deer is an effective approach embraced on many farms.
