There are two main methods by which revegetation takes place in the south-west of Western Australia. Both have their advantages and limitations, depending on the project constraints and desired outcome, and these are often used in combination:
• direct seeding is a longer-term cost-effective technique that can result in large numbers of plants, but is limited in its application; and
• seedling planting produces faster results and is more reliable than direct seeding, though more expensive.
Other methods less often used, and which can be used in combination with the above methods are:
• translocation of topsoil, which can be effective, if the topsoil is relatively weed-free, in utilising the native seeds and nutrients it contains. However, suitable sources can be hard to find, and transport costs can be high; and
• transplanting of existing plants, which is generally cost-prohibitive, but may be appropriate for species that are difficult to propagate or slow-growing, such as grass trees.
There are many factors to consider in formulating a revegetation program incorporating these techniques including: target plant densities; soil type and nutrients; moisture availability and retention; likelihood of plant herbivory; the size of the revegetation area; and many other factors. Tranen can tailor a program to match all of the project constraints that suits any budget and risk profile.
