1. Thriving Neighbourhoods Conference Sustainable Urban Transformations From Urban Forest to Trans-Continental Eco-System Corridors Allan Rodger 13 th November 2012 From Urban Forest to Trans-Continental Eco-System Corridors Allan Rodger 13 th November 2012

2. Once upon a time there was a beautiful eucalyptus tree in Carlton The City of Melbourne called for submissions in response to its Draft Urban Forest Strategy

3. Starting with Design Objective: creating sustainable processes of interaction between people and their environment

4. Applied Ecology Objective: Healthier Communities in Progressively Healthier Environments

5. We are now starting with a doubly degraded ecosystem 1It is depleted and has lost biodiversity 2It is broken up and has lost continuity 1It is depleted and has lost biodiversity 2It is broken up and has lost continuity

6. Think of a Sponge A sponge consists of a continuous fibrous structure that forms a very large number of holes and passage ways.

7. Change over Time Like all other organisms, humans started by occupying small holes in the continuous sponge-like fabric of the ecosystem We now occupy the fabric component of that structure and have consigned the rest of the ecosystem to the holes Like all other organisms, humans started by occupying small holes in the continuous sponge-like fabric of the ecosystem We now occupy the fabric component of that structure and have consigned the rest of the ecosystem to the holes

8. If our life supporting ecosystem is broken? We had better fix it! By systematically enhancing biodiversity, and, By reconnecting the elements of the system to restore ecosystem continuity We had better fix it! By systematically enhancing biodiversity, and, By reconnecting the elements of the system to restore ecosystem continuity

9. We can start with waterways, major road and railway corridors and linear utility reserves as the connecting systems and parks, existing nature reserves and flood-plains as the larger nodes

10. Starting with indigenous plants Expanding the pallet Prohibiting toxic intrusions Expanding the pallet Prohibiting toxic intrusions

11. Action is inevitably local But there are mutual benefits in cooperation with neighbours From Local Governments to Cities From Towns and Cities to non-urban areas From the Regional to the National But there are mutual benefits in cooperation with neighbours From Local Governments to Cities From Towns and Cities to non-urban areas From the Regional to the National

12. Trans-Continental Ecosystem Corridors

13. There are self-similar patterns within the ecosystem From the very small to the very large

14. The repair and maintenance of the ecosystem offers a valuable, life- enhancing and culturally unifying theme across Urban and Rural Australia