Strategic assisted regeneration refers to the idea that indigenous landscapes have an inherent willingness to return to a healthy state.  My role as a bush regenerator is to strategically assist ecosystems to do their best work. 

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Above: Native grasses, herbs, sedges, rushes and groundcovers have been flourishing with glyphosate-free management techniques.

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Holistic Habitats is site-based, ecological and adaptive bush regeneration. Each site is studied and assessed both individually and within the greater ecological context that it sits. Exotic plants are assessed both individually and within the greater ecological context that they sit. Understanding that there is no simple blueprint to restoring healthy habitats means that I see my craft as a process of constant learning, creating and growing with the site. As with all projects, planning well is essential. 

From this perspective, I try to see the bigger picture: the ecological picture.  For example, a single species of plant can occur in a variety of ecological contexts. In the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Camphor Laurel can grow in thick coppicing stands in the middle of a cow paddock, or it can grow as a single tree in an established forest alongside a diversity of tall indigenous trees. Species-based bush regeneration sees Camphor Laurel as undesirable in any context - it would control both the cow paddock Camphors and the single tree, not caring for the context in which they occurred in the landscape. A site-based approach to bush regeneration might control the cow paddock camphor laurels but not the single tree in the forest, deeming it an acceptable part of the whole habitat.  Or, a site-based approach might decide to leave the cow paddock Camphors as floristic structure to base a revegetation project around.

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I've noticed that plants like to be around other plants... but they don't like to be choked or blocked out either. A balance of close proximity to each other and "breathing room" helps them to thrive. Exotic plants may take space that an indigenous plant might have occupied, but they are often established in disturbed areas of soil. In terms of ecological succession, that is their "role", to establish vegetation cover in disturbed areas so other species are more inclined to live there. If we clear around indigenous plants to provide "breathing room" but leave exotic plants in place wherever is practical, we can provide growing companions and protect the soil.

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These are just a few examples of how Holistic Habitats works.  Successful bush regeneration is about not only having a good plan, but making sure that the work strategies are effective too.  For more details on work methods and more, please see our FAQ.