Peter Latz has persisted in his care for the bush. He tells us of the challenges and rewards in this work.
Latzi’s knowledge of desert plants is probably unparalleled. He grew up at Hermannsburg (Ntaria), an Arunda - Lutheran settlement near Alice Springs. His book ‘Bushfires and Bushtucker: Aboriginal Plant Use in Central Australia’ is a bestseller. An ethnobotanist, he also has wide-ranging interests in natural and human history. His fourth book is soon to be launched, he tells me it too will be contentious.
Some people see native bush as scruffy and impenetrable, or degraded beyond repair. Whereas Latz shows us native bush can be productive; the source of food, fascination and more.
Since 1998, Latz has applied about three years full-time labour to remove Buffel grass from his block. This environmental weed outcompetes native plants, displaces animals and fuels extreme wildfires. It has forever changed the landscapes of desert Australia. But some people still sow buffel to stablise soils or provide cattle feed.
The ecological rewards of Latz's labour are most apparent by contrast to the ecological condition of surrounding land.
Native species now flourish on his five hectare block. He has counted more than 230 native plant species. The number of different species and the numbers of an individual species are the bread and butter of 'biodiversity'.
When he moved to his place, Latz recorded just four Native Passionfruit plants; now there are 90 of them.
As I take photos for this contribution, the bush buzzes, chortles and chirrups alive with different animals.
Both Latz and my CSIRO colleagues give us many valid reasons why we should value 'biodiversity'. But ultimately, Latz also distills his love of nature in terms of his own happiness.
Then off-camera, he adds “If I didn’t live here – I'd be dead”.
My hope is that Latz will inspire another generation to know and care for their land.
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