Rescue Mission Under Canopy: Adventurous Duo Recovers Endangered Tree Species from Cliffside Perch
In a daring feat of horticultural heroism, two abseiling experts have successfully retrieved seeds from an endangered tree species clinging to the face of a 300-meter cliff in southern New South Wales. Stan Wawrzyczek and Amy Downie, a threatened flora ecologist and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) horticulturist respectively, embarked on a five-day expedition that pushed them to their limits.
The pair's mission was to collect seeds from four Eucalyptus stenostoma trees – known locally as Jillaga Ash – which are native to Wadbilliga and Deua national parks. The trees were identified by Downie, who had previously worked on the RBGV's Grey Garden, a botanical wonderland featuring hard-to-reach plants on steep slopes.
The rescue operation was logistically complex, with the two abseilers facing significant challenges including limited mobile phone service and grueling 4WD tracks. To overcome these obstacles, they relied on creativity and ingenuity, tying together ropes to extend their reach to the perilous perch.
"We had to tie two ropes together because they weren't long enough," Downie recalled of the ordeal. The duo's efforts paid off, as they successfully collected a substantial quantity of seeds that will be used to cultivate new seedlings to bolster dwindling populations of the endangered species.
The Jillaga Ash is a critically threatened tree native only to Wadbilliga and Deua national parks. Its population was decimated by the 2019-2020 black summer bushfires, which left it without regeneration capabilities. The RBGV's conservation efforts have been instrumental in saving six species in the region, including the Jillaga Ash.
While Downie and her colleague Ollie Sherlock faced numerous challenges during their expedition, they also highlighted innovative solutions for future conservation endeavors. "Drones could be used in the future to spot plants and assess any risks before going in for retrieval," Sherlock suggested.
The collected seeds will be stored at RBGV's state botanical collection, home to over 1.5 million plant specimens. The recovery of these endangered tree species marks a significant milestone in the ongoing conservation efforts aimed at preserving Australia's unique flora.
In a daring feat of horticultural heroism, two abseiling experts have successfully retrieved seeds from an endangered tree species clinging to the face of a 300-meter cliff in southern New South Wales. Stan Wawrzyczek and Amy Downie, a threatened flora ecologist and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) horticulturist respectively, embarked on a five-day expedition that pushed them to their limits.
The pair's mission was to collect seeds from four Eucalyptus stenostoma trees – known locally as Jillaga Ash – which are native to Wadbilliga and Deua national parks. The trees were identified by Downie, who had previously worked on the RBGV's Grey Garden, a botanical wonderland featuring hard-to-reach plants on steep slopes.
The rescue operation was logistically complex, with the two abseilers facing significant challenges including limited mobile phone service and grueling 4WD tracks. To overcome these obstacles, they relied on creativity and ingenuity, tying together ropes to extend their reach to the perilous perch.
"We had to tie two ropes together because they weren't long enough," Downie recalled of the ordeal. The duo's efforts paid off, as they successfully collected a substantial quantity of seeds that will be used to cultivate new seedlings to bolster dwindling populations of the endangered species.
The Jillaga Ash is a critically threatened tree native only to Wadbilliga and Deua national parks. Its population was decimated by the 2019-2020 black summer bushfires, which left it without regeneration capabilities. The RBGV's conservation efforts have been instrumental in saving six species in the region, including the Jillaga Ash.
While Downie and her colleague Ollie Sherlock faced numerous challenges during their expedition, they also highlighted innovative solutions for future conservation endeavors. "Drones could be used in the future to spot plants and assess any risks before going in for retrieval," Sherlock suggested.
The collected seeds will be stored at RBGV's state botanical collection, home to over 1.5 million plant specimens. The recovery of these endangered tree species marks a significant milestone in the ongoing conservation efforts aimed at preserving Australia's unique flora.
I'm so stoked to hear about this rescue mission! It just goes to show that with determination and creativity, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges 
. Those two adventurers are total heroes for saving those seeds from the cliffside perch 
. And the fact that they're contributing to conservation efforts to protect Australia's unique flora is just amazing 
. I mean, who needs a big budget or fancy tech when you've got teamwork, resourcefulness, and a can-do attitude? 
The use of drones as a future solution is genius too! Can't wait to see the impact this has on saving endangered species 
that were stuck on the edge of a cliff 
... and now scientists can try to grow more of them 
which is awesome 
... it's crazy how much effort these people put in for something that's just plants but still 
...
but these two are like the hope for conservation efforts 
did u know that australia's got like only 6% of its original forests left? 
it's wild. i'm def rooting for the team behind this rescue mission 
that's some serious problem solving skills right there... tying ropes together? genius! 
and can you believe the Jillaga Ash is even more endangered than we thought? like what are they gonna do next? i hope those seeds get used to create new babies of these trees ASAP 
! 
). And I'm sure those seeds are gonna make a huge difference in helping to rebuild the dwindling populations of Jillaga Ash trees.
. Anyway, kudos to Downie and Sherlock for their bravery and ingenuity - we need more people like them fighting for our planet's biodiversity 
But seriously, it's amazing what people are capable of when they're passionate about something. I've had my own DIY projects go awry (literally), but seeing this kind of determination and creativity is really inspiring. Plus, who knew abseiling could be so cool? 
! These two adventurers are literally saving the world one seed at a time 
. Who knows, maybe one day we'll have more Stan Wawrzyczek-like heroes saving the planet one seed at a time 
!