As a young Ranger back in 1990 I can vividly recall being mesmerised standing in this unique alpine bog complex. At my feet calling deep from within a mossy sphagnum refuge, a crescendo of mating threat calls erupted. A cacophony of corroboree frogs was ringing in my ears as the echo reverberated across this mountain landscape. 

With each step I took a wonder of the natural world revealed, a mountain trigger plant here, a metallic bog cockroach there, a broad-tooth rat disappearing over there. Up above flew a transient Latham’s Snipe, on route to a distant northern hemisphere wetland in Japan.

Deep in the heart of Ginini Flats a natural rhythm to the natural world simply resonated.

On a scorching summer’s day in January 2003 a series of lightning strikes peppered the Brindabella Ranges.  Smoke soon hung low across this unique plateau. Late one afternoon fire crossed this alpine wetland, burning the sphagnum, drying out a moist riparian ecosystem. The bogs were smouldering.  A stench saturated the air; a reddish-brown colour permeated the streams. Bearing witness I was left pondering could it get any worse?

The following day a fire of immense proportion engulfed this natural landscape.  An inferno burnt so hot that hardened steel simply melted, twisted in the all consuming firestorm. 

The bogs burnt hard. Fire had intervened.

History tells us this was not the first time fire had crossed this landscape. Drought, fire and floods have been shaping our Australian environment for millenniums.

In the days which followed we worked with nature as the natural processes of regeneration took hold, sprouting new life and once more transforming a blackened bog to again be a kaleidoscope of colour. Today as a wetland of international significance, Ginini Flats are a fully functioning natural ecosystem of wonder.

Guiding their management into the future, an integrated plan has been crafted. With climate change possessing inherent challenges, the threat of destructive wild horses also looms large over the border. The combination of these emerging challenges requires a coherent narrative; a plan to guide those who will walk in our footsteps.​

As a community we have a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of these important wetlands by looking at the plan atwww.yoursay.act.gov.au.  This is your chance to have your say on the role these healthy ecosystems play in the life of our beautiful bush capital today, tomorrow and well into the future.