Friends of the Earth (FOE) is working on a proposal which, it hopes, will lead to the development of a national ecovery plan for snow gums, which are under threat in Australia’s alpine regions.
Snow gums are facing an existential threat linked to climate change. Higher winter temperatures have accelerated the life cycle of the native longicorn beetle, with increased insect predation causing widespread dieback. This is exacerbated by water stress from drought conditions.
‘The impacts of dieback are now being seen across the length of the Australian alpine country, and there is currently no viable landscape scale treatment to slow or halt this infestation,’ says FOE Campaigns Coordinator Cam Walker.
Furthermore, he says, more than 90% of snow gum woodlands have been burnt at least once in the last 20 years, with long-unburnt areas comprising less than 1% in the Victorian Alps.
‘In many areas we are witnessing localised ecological collapse, with degraded woodlands being replaced by grass and scrub. Even where the forests are starting to recover, the endless lines of dead greying trees and thick flammable regrowth pose risks for land managers.
‘If another fire passes through these areas while the regrowth is young, we could well experience mass scale collapse of the snow gum forests,’ he says.
Photo by Mike Bremers
‘The research is clear: if we want future generations to marvel at the majesty of snow gum woodlands, then decisive, sustained and coordinated action is imperative.’
FOE is working to build awareness about these threats to snow gums, and the animals and economies that rely on healthy ecosystems. In 2026, the environment group is working on a proposal to have one species of snow gum - Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. niphophila - listed under federal environmental laws.
FOE has opted for this approach rather than a community listing because of the scale of the work required to propose whole of community listing.
‘If successful, we believe that it will underscore the urgency of developing a robust recovery plan for all these fragile ecosystems at a national scale,’ Cam says.
‘Listing the subspecies will trigger the development of a national recovery plan, increase opportunities for funding, and support research, monitoring, and management interventions.
‘This will be a long process, with the proposal due to be lodged next March.’
If you wish to be involved in the campaign you can join FOE’s citizen science surveys to determine the health of snow gums cross the high country or sign an open letter to have snow gum woodlands listed as threatened under federal environment laws. You can find the current campaign actions, and background materials here.
