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A species list of Port Parham.

An article about Port Parham.

Report on sowing mangrove seed direct.

Port Parham Project

How many people know about the propagation of mangroves? I certainly didn't, that is until I discovered that the Port Parham area has no mangroves at all, and the remains of where they were, is quite evident all around the area. After working at the revegetation work along many of the foreshore areas, I decided that we should look at restoring mangroves to the area, so from that point, it became a very steep learning curve.

To grow mangroves is quite simple, because the seed basically is planted in normal potting soil that we would use for all our native plants, then nature really does the rest. If you think about it, all we are doing is copying nature. The seed of the mangrove drops from the parent tree when it is fully ripe. It then is picked up by the incoming tide, and this will carry it hopefully to a position where it cannot be dislodged. This enables the seed to send out some anchor roots to lock it in position. The seed does this very quickly, because otherwise it will die in a matter of only a few days.

Placing the seed in a pot at home is exactly the same. The seed has lodged into a permanent position, and will send down the anchor roots very quickly, especially when the temperature is high. I generally collect seed around Christmas Day, and at that time of year the temperature is generally pretty hot. Once the seed has been collected, it needs to soak in water for a few hours (mimicking the tide) so that the protective outer coat can come away naturally. This then exposes the seed inside, which incidentally is really a small tree curled up into a package that looks very much like an almond. Once that coating comes away, the small "tree" can be planted.

There is no need to add salt to the mix, nor do you need to water the plant with salty water. I treat the seedlings exactly the same as I would any other native plant - standard potting mix, and normal tap water. They still develop healthy leaves, and are soon large enough to plant out. That is the easy part, now they have to survive where you plant them!!!!!

Experience has taught me to do a few at a time, and make very sure that the seedling is protected, either by a tube, or planted near or under other vegetation, because if you don't, the tide complete with sea-weed will drag your newly planted seedling out of the mud where you have planted it, and deliver it to some beach many miles away, and that is extremely disappointing. I know, it has happened many a time. My method this year, (2005) is to drive a plastic stake into the mud, as far as I can get it, then tie the seedling to the stake.....I hope that method works better. Anyway, it is all a learning experience, but eventually I will master the best method. I have quite a number of mangrove trees surviving there at present, just I would like to see many more.....I am a bit impatient I suspect.

I will keep reporting my progress, so keep your eye on this page.

Some of the species found at Port Parham                                                                                   

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The  Mangrove  Project  at  Port  Parham.             (Article written 15-5-2001)

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Firstly, Port Parham for those who have never heard of it, is a small fishing and crabbing town situated right on the coast of Gulf St. Vincent. It is about forty miles in a northerly direction from the heart of Adelaide, which is the capital of South Australia. It consists of around seventy or so shacks which are in varying states of condition, from very modern to almost derelict. In many cases the owners visit only on weekends, but some live there all year round. Unfortunately many of the shacks are only a place where unwanted items are stored and it is this very reason that it has the appearance of being no more than a run down slum. However given time maybe all this will change, and the place will become more enticing. It also seems such an unlikely place to do revegetation work. The mangrove project has been a very interesting one for all those members who have participated. There have only been a few members that have been seriously involved in this project, and I suppose most of the other members cannot see the challenge or the rewards of being involved at this stage, but I am hoping that eventually they will want to be.

Let us start at the beginning and see how this project has evolved.

Port Parham beach has been an SGAP (now Australian Plants Society) project since 1996, and the first year was a very disheartening one for those who participated, because the entire planting was destroyed by a massive king tide that covered all the young seedlings with a metre of seawater. We had planted about 300 plants and not one survived. I might also add that quite a lot of the established vegetation succumbed to the salty environment as well. It is interesting to note however that this was a problem that had been foreseen by the local residents, many of whom were in the Port Parham and Webb Beach Progress Association, and this was expressed to the Mallala Council on many occasions as being a potential problem, so ways were discussed as to how it could be overcome. Finally it was decided to build a sand barrier along the foreshore so that it would act as a form of buffer zone, to protect the fragile coast against such large tides.

This action was a good idea except that trail bike riders think that it is a great opportunity to show their skills in flying over this man made sand barrier. This caused a breach in the barrier which allowed the sea to easily penetrate through to the vulnerable area behind. The action of the king tide was so severe that it cut a deep channel through the sand barrier which was metres wide and deep at the point where the riders had been riding. One wonders about the mentality of some of these trail bike riders at times because they often do some very stupid things. 

Unfortunately the area is one of the few bastions where trail bike riders can still enjoy themselves without fear of being prosecuted as happens in other areas.  This is quite sad, because much damage is being done to the area, and the council is either unable or as it seems to me quite unwilling to do anything about it.  Enormous damage has, and is being done to the area, and I fear some of it can never be reversed. It can never be returned to its once pristine condition. Why is it that people can never see past, and are controlled by, the all powerful dollar, especially those who are elected to that power and control.

The Mallala Council has a responsibility to ensure that this type of activity ceases immediately and must take steps to protect the environment that they are responsible for. It seems to all of us who are doing something for the area, and many of us live outside of the council area, that all these councillors are interested in is getting into office and creating a name for themselves. They certainly are not showing the leadership that is necessary for their position.  This is not the cry of another bunch of useless greenies, this is a genuine concern for the ecology of our fragile coastline, and the Mallala Council has a lot to answer for. 

This brings me back to the revegetation that is taking place along the foreshore.

After that initial setback of losing all our plants, we were more determined than ever to replace the lost plants. The small seedlings that we plant in the area are indigenous to the area, we make sure that all our seed is collected locally, and we do our utmost to keep it that way. I am fortunate to have a copy of "Remnant vegetation in the Mallala district council area" by J.A. Pedler and W.E. Matheson. This publication was based on a study conducted during 1992 with the assistance and cooperation of the District Council of Mallala and funded by save the bush program. This valuable publication is the comprehensive report of the survey which covered all roadside and council reserve lands, and wherever possible railway reserves and some private land. It gives a detailed assessment of the status of that vegetation and includes the status of rare, endangered and vulnerable species.

It follows up this report with many recommendations of how best to preserve and enhance this vegetation.

To date, I am unaware of any major revegetation projects in the area, other than our own, that are closely linked with the recommendations of that report. I find that situation totally unacceptable. This is where the Mallala Council should be putting all their support behind anyone who is willing to do something worthwhile for the vegetation in the area. That report is a damning indictment of how we in a very short period of time have removed just about the entire vegetation of the area for either agriculture, recreation or some other selfish reason.   It is nothing to be proud of.

Our site is opposite what is known as site 80 in that report, which is the Port Parham rubbish dump, on the north east side of the township of Port Parham.  Site 80 is our most valuable seed source. 

It contains the following species and even possibly a few that we have not found yet. 

Callitris  preissii

Melaleuca  lanceolata

Clematis microphylla

Pittosporum  phylliraeoides

Acacia  hakeoides

Acacia  ligulata

Acacia  oswaldii

Acrotriche  patula

Adriana  klotzschii

Alyxia  buxifolia

Atriplex  paludosa

Beyeria  lechenaultii

Exocarpus  aphyllus

Lycium  australe

Myoporum  insulare

Pomaderris  oraria

Rhagodia  crassifolia

Carpobrotus  rossii

assorted  chenopod  species

Dianella  revoluta

Maireana  triptera

Tetragonia  implexicoma

Muehlenbeckia  gunnii 

Many more, smaller, under-story species are in the area, and unfortunately are quite sparse.  I might add that several of these species are rated as rare and endangered in this particular site, and the one species that would have been abundant along the coastal dune areas, the Allocasuarina verticillata has been reduced to only three trees, and they are male trees, which means that the gene pool for the area has been lost forever. This scenario has been repeated all over the district, and I find that an appalling situation. Each year we travel to Port Parham for seed collection and that is usually in the first week of December. We may go again in January, if we need particular seed. This would generally be the acacia seed, because sometimes it is not ready at the first seed collection date. We again travel there in the first week of June, to do our planting’s, because that is generally the best time of the year for planting.  It is after the first rains of winter. 

We can visit the site at other times however, because there is always watering to do, and removal of pest weeds.  Fortunately one of our members spends a lot of time at Port Parham, and with some local assistance, gets that type of work done.  I am appalled at the vandalism that occurs on a regular basis in the area, and this sometimes affects our revegetation efforts.  Campers get to the area and remove the tree guards and burn them.  The tree stakes are particularly inviting for the campfires.  If this is not enough, many young trees are literally ripped out of the ground or the trail bikes grind them into the ground.

We shall not give up ---- we cannot.

Eventually the message has to get through.  Again I say it would be marvellous if we had council support.  There is very little. This must all conjure up a picture of hopelessness, and it is very hard to cope with, but sometimes there is something that gives encouragement.  It may be the survival rate of some of the plants, or it may be the involvement of just one more local resident, whatever it is, it makes the project continue. 

The mangrove part of the project started quite by chance.

On reflection now, I think it was that king tide that really started it, because I wondered how this situation would have been prevented in the past, and somebody said that there was a line of mangroves along the coast which acted as a barrier to the forces of nature. Suddenly everything fell into place. There are very few fish and crustaceans in the area any more, the tides do enormous damage when they are high, there is much erosion now and a lot of the vegetation is under threat from the saline environment. We searched the foreshore, and yes there was evidence that the mangroves existed in the area because the remains of the trunks are still there in the mud for all to see. A short distance inland, more evidence of mangroves which had been chopped down.

There had been a forest of mangroves, and where have they gone now, and are we able to do something about their return to the area. Now the thoughts are as to how we can do it. There is precious little information around, because it is an area that few people really worry about. Well that is what I thought. A friend of mine did a search on the internet, and wouldn't you know it, there it is all the information that I ever wanted to know. It seems that overseas, there is a lot more awareness of the problem of mangrove removal, so there is a concentrated effort to return a lot of areas to their original condition. This means that there are many more people with ideas on how to achieve that situation. 

I know that our local mangrove is quite a bit different to what grows overseas, but the basic principles of propagation must be fairly similar. There are many problems associated with the restoration of mangrove forests, and I am beginning to find out just how many there are, but believe me I am learning very rapidly.

There are 30 species of mangrove on the Australian coastline and in the estuaries, but we in South Australia have only one species and that is Avicennia marina which is known commonly as the “Grey Mangrove”.

It is a very interesting plant, and has very little competition from other species, that is why it grows so well if left alone. It’s only problem, as with many things, is the interference of man. 

This can be summed up in determining why these forests have gone. Mainly, over the years there has been a total unawareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems and their functions and most importantly their benefits. This has led to the demise of the mangroves in the area and many other areas for the following reasons: 

1.  Firewood for the local shack-owners, and for the cooking of the crabs.

2.  Building of jetties over the years because of the durability of the timber.

3.  High levels of contaminants from the past farming practices.

4.  Mining in the area.  Shell-grit removal.

5.  Recreation: the area is used extensively for camping by fishermen and holiday-makers.

6.  Trail bikes are using the area and not keeping to tracks, they are destroying the vegetation.

There has been and still is, very little control over these activities, and now the situation in the area is in some parts unable to be fixed. Even the local shack-owners are either unwilling or unable to stop the degradation. The challenge for us is to see if we can return these magnificent species back to where they belong.

The first year that we tried to grow them was what I would consider very successful. Recently we looked at the site and found two plants still growing. This gives me lots of encouragement, because we have been instrumental in growing the very first mangroves that have been in the area for well over eighty years. Makes one feel good I have to say. Now let me tell you how we did it.

Firstly I went to a site near Garden Island which is situated in the Port Adelaide area, and searched for young seedlings. I found many young mangroves in varying stages of growth from just emerging from the seed capsule up to many inches high. So initially I decided to dig out a few very small ones. The mangrove seed is about the size of an almond when mature, and stays on the tree until it is fully ripe. Generally the outer case or skin turns yellow if left long enough on the tree, but mostly they fall off the tree just as the colour begins to change. The seed falls onto the sea floor and as the tide comes in, they get washed back and forth until they lodge into seaweed or the massive root systems that are so much a feature of mangroves. Once they are stuck into a position, the roots emerge, and very quickly they send these very large anchor roots into the sea bed floor so that they can take advantage of the rich nutrients that are in this particular area. It was good to observe these wonderful plants in their natural state, and it prompted me to try and grow them myself, and grow them for Port Parham.

I might say at this point, that all we have done so far, is purely experimental, and based on what we have read from overseas, and our own experiences. We believe that we are on the right track, but many changes and improvements will be made as we learn more. I decided to collect seed as close as I could to the intended planting site at Port Parham, and was advised that the closest would be at Webb Beach. We chose a day very close to Christmas Day, because that seems to be the best time to collect. We picked the yellow seed from the mangrove trees, and we collected seed which had fallen on the ground. The mosquitoes were a bit much to contend with, but we were able to collect a small bag of seed in a very short time. This was taken home, and placed in tap water. Within a few hours, if the weather is warm, and it generally is at that time of the year, the water starts to froth, and the mangrove seed outer layer starts to come away. This leaves the mangrove seed which is bright green, ready to plant.

I am led to believe, that the seed remains viable for only a short period, eg two to three days. 

The seed is then placed on potting soil in styrene foam boxes, which needs to be about four inches deep. They are placed about two inches apart with the pointy end upward. The part that is placed into the soil may already have the beginnings of a root system showing. Place the seed on top of the soil, and push it gently into the soil. About one third of the seed needs to be pushed in. I use a potting soil that is free from any fertiliser, as we do with all other native plants. I buy it from a company called Nu-Erth in Adelaide, and it is known as "Trees For Life" mix, and within a few days, the large tap roots are heading to the bottom of the styrene box.

Now it is time to pot on. 

At this time, I have been potting on into three inch “Reko” pots, but I believe that a pot much deeper to accommodate the rapidly growing root system would be much better. I have even thought of using eight to ten inches of storm-water pipe. The seedlings are left in the hot house for a few weeks, because this seems to encourage much quicker growth, than leaving them out in the hot conditions of that time of the year. They are sprinkled daily with tap water, and nothing else is done for them until they are taken to Port Parham in early May for planting out. By this time they can be up to six to eight inches tall with three or four sets of leaves. I may leave them outside for a few weeks to acclimatise them, depending on conditions.

On the day of planting, we find that the local community involvement has proved to be positive. Once they find out what we are doing and why, the interest in the project becomes one of ownership and this gives me the feeling that the mangroves may have a good future. There is still a small element of resentment to our involvement in the area, but I am hopeful that it will pass in time.

The mangrove seedlings are planted in two areas. A small stand is being planted in the sea-bed floor, in what was a very dense mangrove area. We know this, because the remnant trunks of the trees are still visible to this day. Besides, we have seen an old photo of the area dated 1926, and there were vast stands of healthy mangroves growing in the area.

These are encased in stormwater pipe, about 24 inches long, and 3 to 4 inches in diameter. The pipe is pushed into the sand to a depth of 6-8 inches, and the pipe is split all along its length. This is to allow for expansion if for some reason they get forgotten, and also they can be removed without damaging the plant at some later date. The encasement of the seedling, protects it from the fast flowing tidal movement which brings sea-weed back and forth over the seedling, and would rip it out of the sea-bed floor if left unprotected. The area is then flagged off with bunting or similar to further protect the seedlings from fishermen driving through the area, because when the tide is high, the seedlings and the pipes are submerged under water. The remaining seedlings are planted along the tidal creeks that lead onto the foreshore.

The percentage survival rate would be only 5% and this is due to the heavy build-up of sea-weed in the area which smothers the young seedlings. Also we have found that something is eating some of the seedlings, but at this stage I am not sure what it is. However even a small percentage is good, because once these plants start to become established, the rate of increase naturally, judging by what is observed from other areas, has been found to be extremely rapid.

This is how the project has progressed over the last few years, and in the coming years, I am hopeful that I can report more promising figures, but this will be dependent on being able to grow large numbers of mangroves, plus having the ability to protect more adequately the seedlings that are grown.

In recent years, we are trying various ways of growing our mangroves, and getting limited success. I have to say that this project would have to be the most challenging that I have ever attempted. Nature seems to be against me at every turn. However I can boast a few trees now, with some of our very first seedlings showing flower buds for the very first time.

Jeff Reid.            COOTS Coordinator.

Report written in September 2003.                                                                                                                                                             Back to the top

Port Parham also had 800 seedlings planted this year, and many more were donated from Peter and Ronda Hall, who have local indigenous plants which are surplus to their needs, and can be planted at Port Parham. The mangroves still refuse to take off, even though this year, I personally planted nearly 1,000 mangrove seeds direct into the banks of the tidal creeks. Unfortunately the tiny crabs like to push them out of the holes which I pushed them into. Still some have survived, and are hanging in there. I need to try even more alternative methods to get them established. It certainly would be good to have more members keen to get involved with this project. Speaking of Port Parham, because I am involved with the Mallala Greening Committee, I also will be doing a small revegetation project at Lower Light, which is not that far away. I have collected some seed already, and it is hoped to put a small amount of plants there in 2004.

APS members are welcome to be involved with this project as well.

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