THE LUGARNO TREE STUDY

This study was commissioned and funded by the Lugarno Progress Association.

The aim of the project was to produce a comprehensive inventory of the remnant native (indigenous) trees of the Lugarno area to provide a well-informed and accurate basis for: -

• determining the distribution and abundance of the various tree species,
• assessing the heritage significance of the native tree populations,
• determining the rate and nature of the decline of the native trees, and,
• producing practical and effective strategies for conserving the tree populations in perpetuity.

It was initially intended to record in detail only those trees occurring in streets and on public reserves (excluding bushland areas).

However, to better sample the remnant tree stands and to provide a more accurate indication of species abundance and distribution, the study was expanded to include those trees on private allotments which could be readily identified.

It should be noted that the scale of the mapping, time and access constraints prevented detailed, site specific mapping on private allotments.

Consequently, there has been no attempt to accurately record the position of each tree on private allotments. The number of trees indicated may only "sample" the trees on a block of land. For example, 3 Turpentine, 1 stringybark, 1 Blackbutt and 1 Scribbly Gum marked on an allotment indicates that at least this number of each of the species occurs somewhere on the block of land.