Participants also visited one of the giant Gippsland earthworm colonies near the farm, where “the worms were quite active with lots of gurgling and squelching noises, much to the delight of those present,” according to the website. The first Giant Gippsland Earthworm Information Session and Field Day was held in September, and organizers say it was a success.Īt the event, which was hosted by a local dairy farm, a biologist discussed the history, biology, and habitat requirements of the worms. ( Learn more about sustainable agriculture.) The worms’ burrowing and feeding activity helps keep plants healthy, improve drainage, and stabilize soil structure, all of which contributes to more productive farms.įor instance, in 2013, a local organization called the South Gippsland Landcare Network was awarded a grant from the Australian government to work with local farmers to try innovative revegetation designs that help protect the soil moisture of giant Gippsland earthworm habitat. It’s a win-win: Earthworms get a home, and the farms’ soil quality is improved.
To bring the worm back, the government is encouraging Gippsland farmers to create worm-friendly habitat on their land. Now, most colonies of giant Gippsland earthworms are found only under small, isolated patches of vegetation on privately owned farms, and the species is considered vulnerable to extinction by the Australian government. The forests disappeared in the 19th century, when the first Europeans settled Australia and chopped down forests to make room for pasture and farmland.
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