Enhanced knowledge and protection of the Giant Gippsland Earthworm
Identifying GGE habitat on local farms and future recommendations
Endemic to south-west Gippsland in a triangle roughly bounded by Loch, Korumburra and Warragul, the Giant Gippsland Earthworm is one of the largest earthworms in the world, growing up to 100 cm long, 2cm wide and weighing up to 200g. Through this initial project, earthworm colonies on 10 properties were studied with the intention of providing landholders with guidance on planting to protect habitat.
In 2021 GTSAG, in partnership with Bass Coast Landcare Network, South Gippsland Landcare Network and Trust for Nature, received a grant from the Federal Government awarded under the Environment Restoration Fund-Threatened Species Strategy Action Plan-Priority Species Grants. The project is entitled ‘Enhanced Knowledge and Protection of the Giant Gippsland Earthworm.’
This enabled the identification of Giant Gippsland Earthworm (GGE) habitat on farms and provided recommendations on habitat management. The project builds on the GGE National Recovery Plan (2010) recommendations by permanently protecting GGE colonies and habitat with two Trust for Nature Covenants and nine non-perpetual landholder agreements.
The project also conducted botanical assessments of GGE habitat and established long-term monitoring sites to produce refined Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) species lists more suitable for GGE habitat.