The Riverine Plain Inland River Red Gums (RPIRRG) of the Riverina bioregion are small, resilient remnants still persisting after prior stream depositions thought to have ceased under arid conditions during the Pleistocene age. Stands of RPIRRG are generally less than 5 ha in size, and are randomly and widely scattered along prior streams on the extensive grasslands of the Hay Plains. These stands have been gradually declining over the years, possibly due to drought and grazing pressure, and to date no efforts have been made to identify, assess, monitor and map these uniquely adapted trees.
Funding was received to employ a project officer, and a technical expert was engaged to create a matrix for unbiased, uniform assessment of each identified stand. Since many of these stands exist on private property, it was first necessary to establish their whereabouts through members of the public volunteering information. A newspaper article and an email mail-out resulted in nine landholders volunteering sites for assessment. On a visit to one of the sites, an expert in Eucalyptus trees identified long-standing hybrids mixed in amongst the RPIRRGs.
