PARK WATCH Article June 2026 |

Adrian Marshall, Facilitator, Grassy Plains Network, reports on the recent Grasslands Resurrection forum

This May, the biggest grassland get-together in a decade focused on building capacity across the grassy restoration sector and highlighted heroic efforts to reverse the decline of our Critically Endangered grasslands.

Three hundred land managers, academics, researchers and community members gathered for a sold-out Grassland Resurrection forum, co-hosted by the Grassy Plains Network, VNPA, Merri Creek Management Committee and the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators.

It began with a profound Welcome to Country by Dr Mandy Nicholson. The Arthur Rylah Institute’s Dr Steve Sinclair then opened our eyes to a global perspective, highlighting spatial reasons for the vulnerability of our grasslands to weed invasion.

Keynote Dr Megan O’Shea showed that persistence, community, and the right combination of people can reverse decline. The work that’s been done at Iramoo Wildflower Grassland Reserve is a beacon of hope.

Lauren Talbot’s presentation on Parks Victoria’s Wilsons Prom work using fire to rescue coastal grassland from shifting to coastal tea tree monocultures was similarly inspiring. It showed the power of long-term evidence-based science driving positive outcomes for nature.

The transformative power of fire used well was a strong theme throughout. CFA’s Dr Joshua Hodges detailed how burning native grassland is a win–win for nature and bushfire management. His map of a fire exhausting itself within Mt Mercer Grassland while running unchecked through crop stubble was a definitive moment.

Wurundjeri’s Narrap Rangers’ keynote highlighted the increasing nature and social benefits of Traditional Custodians managing Country. Those benefits were also strongly evident in young Kai Lane’s schools-based grassland work through Eco Warriors Australia, a predominantly First Nations organisation. A remarkable energy striving to create a remarkable future.

Another theme was creating new grasslands directly from sowing seeds. Prof. Nick Williams from the University of Melbourne, and John Delpratt and Susan Bosch from the Woorndoo–Chatsworth Landcare Group, talked about the scrape and sow method and the emerging cap and sow technique.

Dr Cindy Hauser took us through rigorous modelling of grassland quality outcomes compared to management inputs to highlight successful scenarios that may reduce the risk of future decline.

The vital connection between research and practice was continued by Ben Courtice, the first Facilitator of the Grassy Plains Network, with a fascinating analysis of how Ecological Vegetation Community (EVC) benchmarks don’t work for restoring grassy escarpments. EVC’s, and the mapping that underpins them, are 20 years old and need serious revision to be fit for purpose.

Case studies delved into the details of on-ground management. Lincoln Kern from Practical Ecology gave a masterclass in monitoring-driven biomass management for positive nature outcomes. Taylor Gundry detailed carefully chosen herbicide application. Tim Connell and Alex Hodgson from the City of Whittlesea showed the virtues of a committed team and long-term wildlife monitoring driving management.

Gidja Walker’s talk on the calcareous swale ‘grasslands’ of the Mornington Peninsula wove a story from a lifetime’s profound observation, from green slimy algae that captures carbon to rocks that grow.

And then there were the Basalt Buddies, an urban restoration collective inspiring everyone with their tales of liberating seeds and the radical alternatives that can mobilise at the grassroots level.

The skills, willingness, and commitment to protecting the last of our grasslands were on show. The Forum was genuinely uplifting. A strong positive experience to build change.

And yet, as Michael Goddard from Biosis emphasised, decline is ongoing. Our grasslands are spiralling towards extinction as they become increasing rare and increasingly under pressure.

Policy and funding at the state and federal level are currently inadequate. We have a habitat on the verge of collapse, desperately in need of sustained government action backed by significant funding. The Forum was inspiration to keep the momentum going to push for better outcomes.