Phytophthora cinnamomi (Cinnamon Fungus) and Bush Dieback
Management and mitigation policies
Author: Craig Allen
Unfortunately there is a very large gap between policy and practise in the Otway ranges and probably elsewhere in Victoria.
The Commonwealth Department of Environment & Heritage Threat Abatement Plan for Dieback caused by the root-rot fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi
Phytophora is recognised as an environmental issue of national importance. The National Threat Abatement Plan is available here.
The Draft Strategic Plan for the management of Phytophthora cinnamomi in Victoria is currently before the Victorian Minister for the Environment
You can download the plan for the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment website here.
The draft strategic plan is before the Victorian Minister for the Environment right now. If you have the time, please write to him urging him to approve it and to ensure that adequate resources are devoted to implementing it.
The Environment policy of the Mountain Bike Trail Association of Victoria
The full MBTA environment policy is available for download here.
The Biodiversity section is as below.
Biodiversity
Due to the limited knowledge about the impact of trails on wildlife, management decisions about access should be applied equitably to all trail users.
MBTA promotes progressive conservation management policies. By permitting greater suitable patronage to natural areas, the community will perceive greater ownership and, as a consequence, value the region more highly. Conservation and protection of a region is an outcome due to this community ownership. By encouraging greater managed usage, natural areas will be preserved for our future generations. One way of encouraging users to an area, which has been demonstrated in many regions throughout the world, is by providing a desirable location for mountain bike riding.
In natural areas that have times of the year important to the local fauna or flora access
should be appropriately managed for all users.Where there are particularly sensitive environmental areas, or areas that are affected by soil-borne diseases which must be contained, all recreational access to these areas should be prohibited.