Ecological pressure on the swamp communities in the Blue Mountains is continuing, according to the Blue Mountains Conservation Society.
The upland swamps, so vital to the health of the water catchment of Sydney and the Lower Blue Mountains, are threatened by urbanisation, forestry and underground coal mining.
Environmental scientist Dr Ann Young will talk about the swamps importance at an event next month in the Mountains.
The upland swamps provide a unique insight into the climatic and fire histories of the region over the last 40,000 years or more. Dr Young will talk about their importance – like ‘canaries above the mines’, these swamps give the first evidence of water-loss from streams on the plateaus.
Dr Young is the author of several books on environmental impact in Australia and has recently released the book Uplands Swamps in the Sydney Region.
Dr Young’s talk is being held on Thursday April 5 at 6.30 pm at the Conservation Hut in Wentworth Falls.
Blue Mountains Conservation Society president Madi Maclean said the Society was delighted to hear about Dr Young’s research of the swamps.
“This will be a great talk, not just for those directly involved with bushcare or swampcare but anyone who is interested in protecting our local environment,” Ms Maclean said.
Her research of the valley and hanging swamps spans four decades and she has played an integral role in helping to unravel the complex scientific questions about these fragile ecological communities.
Dr Young was recently appointed to the NSW government’s Independent Expert Panel into Mining in the Special Areas of Sydney’s Drinking Water Catchment.
Copies of her book will be on sale at the event.