Honeymoon Tours Travel

BARMAH – MILLEWA FORESTS & WETLANDS

Location : VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Area of Barmah-Millewa Forests and Wetlands : 170,000 acres (70,000 ha)

Notable feature : part of largest red gum eucalyptus forest in Australia

The Barmah–Millewa forests and wetlands are among the most important in the world, forming part of the largest periodically flooded red gum forest in Australia. The region is a very popular place for bird-watching, as huge numbers of ibis and other nesting waterbirds such as cormorants and spoonbills use the wetlands for breeding; the tranquil lakes and billabongs, seasonally flooded grassland, and dense forest are home to half of all the threatened species found n the region. In 1936, the ecology of the wetlands came under threat after building of a huge dam interrupted the natural water cycle.The flow ran high in summer for irrigation and low in winter when the dam refilled.This reversed natural flow patterns,leaving the red gums with wet roots in summer and dry in winter. Over the years this caused dramatic tree dieback and choking overgrowth.In 1999 a new strategy reintroduced winter flooding.