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Conservation Management ZonesEastern Australia Woodlands

Prepared by the Department of the Environment

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project and associated products are the result of a collaboration between the Biodiversity Conservation Division and the Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN). Invaluable input, advice and support were provided by staff and leading researchers from across the Department of the Environment (DotE), Department of Agriculture (DoA), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and the academic community. We would particularly like to thank staff within the Wildlife, Heritage and Marine Division, Parks Australia and the Environment Assessment and Compliance Division of DotE, Nyree Stenekes and Robert Kancans (ABARES), Sue McIntyre (CSIRO), Richard Hobbs (University of Western Australia), Michael Hutchinson (ANU); David Lindenmayer and Emma Burns (ANU); and Gilly Llewellyn, Martin Taylor and other staff from the World Wildlife Fund for their generosity and advice.

Special thanks to CSIRO staff Kristen Williams and Simon Ferrier whose modelling of biodiversity patterns enabled identification of the Conservation Management Zones of Australia.

© Commonwealth of Australia, 2015.

The Conservation Management Zones of Australia profile is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people.

For licence conditions see here.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/

ContentsAcknowledgement of Traditional Owners and Country.................................................................4

Introduction....................................................................................................................................4

Zone at a glance............................................................................................................................5

Population characteristics............................................................................................................10

Employment, volunteering and incomes......................................................................................15

Agriculture, Natural Resource Management practices and sources of NRM advice...................18

Land tenure, land use, Native Title and Local Government Areas..............................................21

Zone vegetation characteristics...................................................................................................23

Ramsar and Nationally Important Wetlands................................................................................24

World and National Heritage.......................................................................................................25

Major National Reserve System properties.................................................................................25

EPBC Act (1999) threatened ecological communities.................................................................26

EPBC Act (1999) threatened species..........................................................................................27

EPBC Act (1999) migratory species............................................................................................29

Threatened endemic species......................................................................................................30

Invasive species..........................................................................................................................32

Vegetation profiles and management recommendations............................................................35

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners and CountryThe Australian Government acknowledges Australia’s Traditional Owners and pays respect to Elders past and present of our nation’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We honour the deep spiritual, cultural and customary connections of Traditional Owners to the Australian landscape, including Australia’s waterways, land and sea country.

Introduction The 23 Conservation Management Zones of Australia are geographic areas, classified according to their ecological and threat characteristics. The zones are also aligned with the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia.

The Conservation Management Zones provide a way of understanding Australia’s natural environment that will assist in long-term conservation planning and help the Australian Government to better design, deliver and report on Natural Resource Management (NRM) investments, including ensuring alignment of national NRM priorities with local action.

The Conservation Management Zones also provide a filter through which to make national environmental and socio-economic data more accessible and comprehensible, and a framework for gathering on-ground knowledge and expertise about the environment. This will improve information flow to the Australian Government about regional NRM requirements, best practice management, emerging NRM issues and knowledge gaps.

The Conservation Management Zones do not represent any change to existing administrative boundaries or governance structures, but aim to support the NRM and wider community to cooperatively manage environmental assets across boundaries, where they share common threats, ecological characteristics and stakeholders.

Each Conservation Management Zone profile contains a standard suite of nationally available ecological and socio-economic information. We hope that this information will enable Australians of all ages and backgrounds to engage with, understand and appreciate Australian landscapes, and support all Australians to manage our natural resources more effectively.

The profile information provides an indicative, high-level stock-take of the environmental and socio-economic landscape and it is not intended to be comprehensive. It should also be noted that, at present, the profiles contain only limited information on aquatic ecosystems, coastal assets and Indigenous land management practices. In future, consultation and comprehensive literature reviews will enable us to provide more complete information.

Zone at a glance

Source: Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data

RURAL CENTRES POPULATION

Bourke 1,726

Coonamble 2,459

Gilgandra 2,662

Goondiwindi 5,508

Lightning Ridge 1,495

Narrabri 1,856

Narromine 3,783

Nygan 2,073

Roma 6,906

St. George 2,647

Walgett 1,632

Warren 1,515

Wee Waa 1,662

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (NRM) REGIONSCentral West Local Land Services NSW

North West Local Land Services NSW

Western Local Land Services NSW

Queensland Murray Darling Committee Inc. QLD

South West NRM Group Ltd QLD

Fitzroy Basin Association Inc QLD

Desert Channels Group QLD

TOP FIVE AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES VALUE (MILLIONS)

Other broadacre crops $1,085

Cereals for grain $961

Beef $431

Legumes for grain $148

Wool $86

Total value of agricultural commodities (including other commodities not listed here) $2,890

CLIMATE CHARACTERISTICS*Mean annual temperature 19.3 Celsius

Mean Maximum of the Hottest Month 34.3 Celsius

Mean Minimum of the Coldest Month 3.5 Celsius

Mean Annual Rainfall 487.9 mm

Dominant rainfall season Summer

* The figures are interpolated 75-year means (1921 to 1995) representing the period prior to the onset of rapid climatic warming. Cited in: Williams KJ, Belbin L, Austin MP, Stein J, Ferrier S (2012) Which environmental variables should I use in my biodiversity model? International Journal of Geographic Information Sciences 26(11), 2009–2047. (Data derived from Australian Climate surfaces version 2.1 for the ANUCLIM-BIOCLIM package).

For future climate projections please refer to: http://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/


http://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/

Source: Based on data from the National Native Title Register; Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD); National Vegetation Information System (NVIS); Species’ Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT).

Population characteristics

Population


LANGUAGES SPOKEN AT HOMEEnglish 91.18%

Other languages 2.16%

Not stated 6.62%

Education

Employment, volunteering and incomes

Employment


Volunteering

Income


Agriculture, Natural Resource Management practices and sources of NRM adviceAustralian farmers manage over 60% of the Australian continent and shoulder much of the burden of responsibility for maintaining and protecting Australia’s natural resource wealth. The information contained in this profile aims to assist the wider community, non-governmental organisations and government agencies to support Australia’s key environmental custodians.

Agricultural commodity values


Natural Resource Management practices and sources of NRM advice

* Data obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2012 Land Management Practices Survey (LaMPS) 2012. LaMPS collected land practices information from approximately 50,000 farm businesses across Australia. The data has been aligned to Conservation Management Zones from ABS Statistical Area 2 units and Australian Agricultural Environment units. The % figures presented here are indicative only. For more information on LaMPS please refer to: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/4630.0

** The sample for the Drivers of Practice Change 2012 survey consisted of a random subsample of 1228 broadacre farm managers from the Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey (AAGIS) frame. The data has been aligned to Conservation Management Zones from ABS Statistical Area 2 units. For this reason, the figures presented here are indicative only.

^ This chart indicates the sources of advice utilised for native vegetation management from respondents who identified they sought advice.

For more information please refer to http://www.daff.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/forestry/domestic-forestry/prep-for-future/drivers-

Land tenure, land use, Native Title and Local Government Areas

Source: Land tenure data based on Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN) categorisation of Public Sector Mapping Authority (PSMA) State Tenure 2012; Land use mapping based on Australian Collaborative Land Use and Management Program (ACLUMP) 2012. For more information on Australian land use and management information and classification please refer to: http://www.daff.gov.au/ABARES/aclump/

INDIGENOUS LAND COUNCILS

New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council: www.alc.org.au

INDIGENOUS LAND COUNCILS

NATIVE TITLE AND TRADITIONAL OWNERSTraditional Owners Registered Native Title Body Corporate Hectares % of

zone

Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC

Gunggari People 102,479 0.55

Source: The Native Title Tribunal Register, October 2013.For more information please refer to: http://www.nntt.gov.au/Pages/Searchportal.aspx

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREASBogan Shire Council NSW

Bourke Shire Council NSW

Brewarrina Shire Council NSW

Coonamble Shire Council NSW

Gilgandra Shire Council NSW

Gwydir Shire Council NSW

Inverell Shire Council NSW

Lachlan Shire Council NSW

Moree Plains Shire Council NSW

Narrabri Shire Council NSW

Narromine Shire Council NSW

Parkes Shire Council NSW

Walgett Shire Council NSW

Warren Shire Council NSW

Warrumbungle Shire Council NSW

Balonne Shire QLD

Banana Shire QLD

Barcaldine Regional QLD

Blackall Tambo Regional QLD

Goondiwindi Regional QLD

Maranoa Regional QLD

Murweh Shire QLD

Paroo Shire QLD

Western Downs Regional QLD

Zone vegetation characteristics

The National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) framework is a nationally consistent vegetation classification system based on vegetation data collected by states and territories. It provides information on the extent and distribution of vegetation types across the Australian landscape.

Two products are used to provide the Zone Vegetation Characteristics graph. A modelled pre-European vegetation distribution (pre-1750), and extant (current extent) vegetation, which is based on contemporary vegetation mapping. The information presented here relates to Major Vegetation Subgroups (MVSs). There are 85 MVS types across Australia, describing the structure and floristic composition of dominant and secondary vegetation stratums (e.g. canopy and mid-storey species). Major Vegetation Subgroups only reflect the dominant vegetation type occurring in an area from a mix of vegetation types. Less-dominant vegetation groups which may also be present are therefore not represented.

It is important to note that the vegetation information is indicative only, as state and territory mapping in Australia is of variable resolution and scale. However, this data is the best available nationally consistent information on vegetation, and the dataset continues to evolve and increase in accuracy.

Analysing this information at Conservation Management Zone, rather than national level provides greater discrimination for decision makers, as clearance levels of vegetation types are not uniform across Australia. For example, eucalypt woodlands with a tussock grass understory is a vegetation type found across Australia. In the Brigalow Woodlands Conservation Management Zone, eucalypt open woodlands with a tussock grass understory originally covered approximately 36% of the zone, but today it only covers only 14.5 % of the zone (58.7% of this vegetation community has been cleared in the Brigalow). In the Northern Australia Tropical Savannah zone, this vegetation type originally occupied 19.6% of the zone. Today, it occupies approximately 19.4% of the zone (only 2.3% of this vegetation type has been cleared). It should be noted that this data only provides an indication of change in extent, and not vegetation condition.

For more information on the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS) please refer to: http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/science-and-research/databases-and-maps/national-vegetation-information-system

Ramsar and Nationally Important WetlandsRAMSAR WETLANDS JURISDICTION HECTARESThe Macquarie Marshes – Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve NSW 18,423

Narran Lake Nature Reserve NSW 5,347

Gwydir Wetlands: Gingham and Lower Gwydir (Big Leather) Watercourses – Old Dromana

NSW 845

For more information on Ramsar please refer to: http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/water/water-our-environment/wetlands/ramsar-convention-wetlands

NATIONALLY IMPORTANT WETLANDS JURISDICTION HECTARES CRITERIA

Myola-“Mulga Downs” Salt Lake and Claypans QLD 53.18 1

Balonne River Floodplain QLD 23,982.01 1, 2, 3

Culgoa River Floodplain NSW 14,691.95 1, 4, 5

Gwydir Wetlands NSW 28,149.70 1, 3, 5

Macquarie Marshes NSW 218,603.59 1, 3

Morella Watercourse/Boobera Lagoon/Pungbougal Lagoon NSW 0.11 1, 2, 3, 6

Narran Lakes NSW 22,854.83 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Nationally important wetlands are defined according to the following criteria:

1. It is a good example of a wetland type occurring within a biogeographic region in Australia.

2. It is a wetland which plays an important ecological or hydrological role in the natural functioning of a major wetland system/complex.

3. It is a wetland which is important as the habitat for animal taxa at a vulnerable stage in their life cycles, or provides a refuge when adverse conditions such as drought prevail.

4. The wetland supports 1% or more of the national populations of any native plant or animal taxa.

5. The wetland supports native plant or animal taxa or communities which are considered endangered or vulnerable at the national level.

6. The wetland is of outstanding historical or cultural significance.

Please note, the above are a subset of all the Nationally Important Wetlands found within the Zone. For more information on Nationally Important Wetlands please see: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/directory-important-wetlands-australia-third-edition

World and National HeritageHERITAGE VALUES WORLD OR NATIONAL HERITAGE

TYPEJURISDICTION HECTARES % OF

ZONEBrewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps (Baiames Ngunnhu)

National Indigenous NSW 6.29 0.00003

Please refer to the Australian Heritage Database for detailed information on listing criteria for these heritage values: http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/heritage/publications-and-resources/australian-heritage-database

For more information on Australia’s world and national heritage please refer to: http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/heritage/about-australias-heritage

Major National Reserve System propertiesMAJOR NATIONAL RESERVE SYSTEM PROPERTIES

Name Property type IUCN category

Jurisdiction Hectares % of zone

Castlevale Nature Refuge VI QLD 51,496 0.28

Pilliga West CCA Zone 3 State Conservation Area II NSW 36,494 0.20

Chesterton Range National Park II QLD 30,969 0.17

Culgoa Floodplain National Park II QLD 30,072 0.16

Pilliga CCA Zone 3 State Conservation Area II NSW 29,540 0.16

Narran Lake Nature Reserve IA NSW 26,831 0.14

Thrushton National Park II QLD 25,625 0.14

Culgoa National Park II NSW 22,437 0.12

Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve IA NSW 19,489 0.11

Eversfield Station Nature Refuge VI QLD 18,013 0.10

Narkoola National Park II QLD 11,810 0.06

Pilliga CCA Zone 1 National Park IA NSW 10,532 0.06

Ginghet Nature Reserve IA NSW 8,894 0.05

Pilliga West CCA Zone 1 National Park II NSW 7,955 0.04

Tregole National Park II QLD 6,802 0.04

Bikini NRS Addition – Gazettal in Progress II NSW 6,158 0.03

Warrinilla NRS Addition – Gazettal in Progress II NSW 5,918 0.03

Barwon State Conservation Area II NSW 5,336 0.03

Gwydir Wetlands State Conservation Area II NSW 4,299 0.02

Barwon Nature Reserve IA NSW 4,146 0.02

Weilmoringle Indigenous Protected Area IV NSW 4,062 0.02

Budelah Nature Reserve IV NSW 4,038 0.02

Bunnor Westholme NRS Addition – Gazettal in Progress II NSW 2,679 0.01

Macquarie Marshes State Conservation Area II NSW 2,440 0.01

http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/heritage/about-australias-heritage

http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/heritage/publications-and-resources/australian-heritage-database

THE IUCN CATEGORIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Ia Strict Nature Reserve IUCN protected area management categories classify protected areas according to their management objectives. The categories are recognised by international bodies such as the United Nations and are utilised by many national governments, including the Australian Government, as the global standard for defining and recording protected areas.

Ib Wilderness Area

II National Park

III Natural Monument or Feature

IV Habitat/Species Management Area

V Protected Landscape/ Seascape

VI Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources

Please refer to the IUCN website for further explanation: http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/gpap_home/gpap_quality/gpap_pacategories/

For more information on Australia’s National Reserve System please refer to: http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/land/national-reserve-system

Source: Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database 2012.

EPBC Act (1999) threatened ecological communitiesTHREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

Name Listing status % of total distribution* % of zone**

Coolibah – Black Box Woodlands of the Darling Riverine Plains and the Brigalow Belt South Bioregions

Endangered 88.51 8.83

Weeping Myall Woodlands Endangered 46.5 4.63

Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland

Critically Endangered 16.01 5.40

Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co-dominant)


Semi-evergreen vine thickets of the Brigalow Belt (North and South) and Nandewar Bioregions


Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia


White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland

Critically Endangered 0.16 0.02

The community of native species dependent on natural discharge of groundwater from the Great Artesian Basin

Endangered 0.6 0.04

* % of the total national distribution describes the proportion of the total national distribution of the Threatened Ecological Community that is found within the zone.

** % of the total zone area describes the proportion of the zone that the Threatened Ecological Community is likely or known to occur in.

It should be noted that the identification of any given Threatened Ecological Community above does not imply that the Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) is found uniformly across the Conservation Management Zone. Rather, the % of the TEC’s total distribution (*) within the zone is an indication of its importance to that zone in terms of conservation efforts. The % of the zone (**) indicates how rare, or difficult the ecological community may be to find within the zone.

http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/land/national-reserve-system

http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/gpap_home/gpap_quality/gpap_pacategories/

The threatened ecological communities above are listed under The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), which is the Australian Government’s principal environmental legislation. For more information, please refer to http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities

EPBC Act (1999) threatened speciesTHREATENED MAMMALS

Common name Scientific name Status % of totaldistribution*

% of zone**

Pilliga Mouse, Poolkoo Pseudomys pilligaensis Vulnerable 45.98 2.13

South-eastern Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus corbeni Vulnerable 16.24 98.48

Koala (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory)

Phascolarctos cinereus Vulnerable 13.05 99.93

Large-eared Pied Bat, Large Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri Vulnerable 10.61 28.67

Northern Quoll Dasyurus hallucatus Endangered 1.95 14.07

Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis Vulnerable 0.02 0.29

Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata Vulnerable 0.01 0.01

THREATENED BIRDS


% of zone**

Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii Vulnerable 13.04 18.0

Squatter Pigeon (southern) Geophaps scripta scripta Vulnerable 11.8 45.6

Star Finch (eastern), Star Finch (southern) Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda Endangered 10.89 23.9

Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus Endangered 6.12 21.7

Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus Vulnerable 4.15 50.7

Australian Painted Snipe Rostratula australis Endangered 3.9 100.0

Regent Honeyeater Anthochaera phrygia Endangered 1.31 3.4

Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata Vulnerable 1.26 13.4

Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor Endangered 0.24 0.9

Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis modestus Vulnerable 0.03 0.1

* % of total distribution describes the proportion of the total national distribution of the threatened species that is found within the zone.

** % of zone describes the proportion of the zone that the threatened species is likely or known to occur in.

The % of zone indicates how rare, or difficult the species may be to find within the zone.

THREATENED REPTILES

Common Name Scientific name Status % of totaldistribution*

% of zone**

Five-clawed Worm-skink, Long-legged Worm-skink

Anomalopus mackayi Vulnerable 36.83 15.78

Collared Delma Delma torquata Vulnerable 16.21 28.79

Yakka Skink Egernia rugosa Vulnerable 12.44 52.96

Dunmall’s Snake Furina dunmalli Vulnerable 11.86 22.56

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities

THREATENED REPTILES

Ornamental Snake Denisonia maculata Vulnerable 7.84 17.20

Fitzroy River Turtle, Fitzroy Tortoise, Fitzroy Turtle, White-eyed River Diver

Rheodytes leukops Vulnerable 3.68 2.83

Border Thick-tailed Gecko, Granite Belt Thick-tailed Gecko

Uvidicolus sphyrurus Vulnerable 0.85 0.21

Pink-tailed Worm-lizard, Pink-tailed Legless Lizard

Aprasia parapulchella Vulnerable 0.46 0.36

Plains Death Adder Acanthophis hawkei Vulnerable May be present

May be present

OTHER THREATENED FAUNA


% of zone**

Mary River Cod Maccullochella mariensis Endangered 0.29 0.002

Trout Cod Maccullochella macquariensis Endangered May be present

May be present

Murray Cod Maccullochella peelii Vulnerable May be present

May be present

THREATENED FLORA

Common Name Scientific name Status % of totaldistribution*

% of zone**

a shrub Bertya calycina Vulnerable 100 0.02

None Calytrix gurulmundensis Vulnerable 27.48 0.14

None Bertya opponens Vulnerable 20.55 0.22

Ooline Cadellia pentastylis Vulnerable 19.88 9.75

None Rulingia procumbens Vulnerable 12.62 0.65

Slender Darling-pea, Slender Swainson, Murray Swainson-pea

Swainsona murrayana Vulnerable 12.54 16.33

None Eucalyptus virens Vulnerable 10.3 0.69

Belson’s Panic Homopholis belsonii Vulnerable 8.65 0.01

Finger Panic Grass Digitaria porrecta Endangered 8.29 2.34

Cobar Greenhood Orchid Pterostylis cobarensis Vulnerable 8.04 1.60

Spiny Pepper-cress Lepidium aschersonii Vulnerable 6.88 0.04

Red Darling-pea, Red Swainson-pea Swainsona plagiotropis Vulnerable 6.37 0.20

None Philotheca ericifolia Vulnerable 6.31 1.13

None Westringia parvifolia Vulnerable 3.69 0.10

Salt Pipewort, Button Grass Eriocaulon carsonii Endangered 2.49 0.01

Basalt Pepper-cress, Peppercress, Rubble Pepper-cress, Pepperweed

Lepidium hyssopifolium Endangered 2.12 0.12

None Tylophora linearis Endangered 1.71 0.16

Curly-bark Wattle Acacia curranii Vulnerable 1.39 0.14

None Austrostipa metatoris Vulnerable 1.23 0.36

THREATENED FLORA

a spike rush Eleocharis obicis Vulnerable 1.08 0.01

Lobed Blue-grass Bothriochloa biloba Vulnerable 0.49 0.02

bluegrass Dichanthium setosum Vulnerable 0.42 0.01

Winged Pepper-cress Lepidium monoplocoides Endangered 0.32 0.17

Chariot Wheels Maireana cheelii Vulnerable 0.26 0.04

None Atriplex infrequens Vulnerable May be present May be present

Hairy-joint Grass Arthraxon hispidus Vulnerable May be present May be present

a shrub Homoranthus decumbens Endangered May be present May be present

a leek-orchid Prasophyllum sp. Wybong (C.Phelps ORG 5269)

Critically Endangered

May be present May be present

* % of total distribution describes the proportion of the total national distribution of the threatened species that is found within the zone.

** % of zone describes the proportion of the zone that the threatened species is likely or known to occur in. The % of zone indicates how rare, or difficult the species may be to find within the zone.

The above species are listed under The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the Australian Government’s principal environmental legislation.

Please note that the list of threatened flora species is not comprehensive. The flora listed here have a significant proportion of their total national distribution within the zone. For more information please refer to: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species or the Species Profiles and Threats Database http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl

EPBC Act (1999) migratory speciesMIGRATORY BIRDS

Common name Scientific name

Cattle Egret Ardea ibis

Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus

Great Egret,White Egret

Ardea alba

Latham’s Snipe,Japanese Snipe

Gallinago hardwickii

Marsh Sandpiper, Little Greenshank Tringa stagnatilis

Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis(sensu lato)

Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus

Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons

Satin Flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca

White-belliedSea-Eagle

Haliaeetus leucogaster

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl

MIGRATORY BIRDS

White-throatedNeedletail

Hirundapus caudacutus

Threatened endemic speciesTHREATENED ENDEMIC SPECIES

Taxonomic group

Scientific name Reservation status EPBC Act status IUCN status

Plants Bertya calycina Recorded in Reserve Vulnerable n/a

Concentrations of unreserved endemic species

The colour grids and numbers are an indication of the location and number of endemic species that have all their known range outside of the National Reserve System. Concentrations of unreserved endemic species may be useful focal areas for private land conservation efforts.

Endemism analyses were provided by the Australian Government Department of Environment Australian Natural Heritage Assessment Tool (ANHAT). The ANHAT database has been compiled from specimens and site records held in state agency wildlife atlases, museum collections, and the work of individual researchers. For more information please refer to: http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/heritage/publications-and-resources/australian-natural-heritage-assessment-tool

http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/heritage/publications-and-resources/australian-natural-heritage-assessment-tool

http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/heritage/publications-and-resources/australian-natural-heritage-assessment-tool

Invasive species INVASIVE MAMMALS

Common name Scientific name % of total distribution* % of zone**

Red Fox, Fox Vulpes vulpes 3.01 100.00

Cat, House Cat, Domestic Cat Felis catus 2.41 100.00

Pig Sus scrofa 5.17 98.01

Rabbit, European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus 2.64 78.03

Goat Capra hircus 5.09 58.81

House Mouse Mus musculus 3.06 58.73

Brown Hare Lepus capensis 8.28 44.39

Domestic Cattle Bos taurus 3.86 35.45

Domestic Dog Canis lupus familiaris 2.61 35.09

Black Rat, Ship Rat Rattus rattus 2.51 15.07

Horse Equus caballus 0.62 4.97

Feral deer species in Australia Feral deer 0.83 1.72

OTHER INVASIVE FAUNA


House Sparrow Passer domesticus 5.73 91.35

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 6.79 79.09

Cane Toad Rhinella marina 7.33 76.47

Rock Pigeon, Rock Dove, Domestic Pigeon Columba livia 5.09 69.97

Common Blackbird, Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula 2.94 14.51

Spotted Turtle-Dove Streptopelia chinensis 2.48 11.16

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 2.12 8.08

Common Myna, Indian Myna Acridotheres tristis 2.06 5.75

Skylark Alauda arvensis 1.52 5.30

European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 0.56 2.70

Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus 1.22 1.49

Nutmeg Mannikin Lonchura punctulata 0.32 0.46

* % of the total national distribution of the invasive species found within the zone.

** % of the total zone area that the invasive species is likely or known to occur in.

INVASIVE FLORA


Parthenium Weed, Bitter Weed, Carrot Grass, False Ragweed

Parthenium hysterophorus 7.35 24.34

Prickly Acacia Acacia nilotica subsp. indica 3.79 23.54

Blackberry, European Blackberry Rubus fruticosus aggregate 5.21 23.40

INVASIVE FLORA

Prickly Pears Opuntia spp. 11.39 23.32

Buffel-grass, Black Buffel-grass Cenchrus ciliaris 1.23 22.86

Willows except Weeping Willow, Pussy Willow and Sterile Pussy Willow

Salix spp. except S.babylonica, S.x calodendron & S.x reichardtii

5.45 19.36

African Boxthorn, Boxthorn Lycium ferocissimum 5.8 16.45

Athel Pine, Athel Tree, Tamarisk, Athel Tamarisk, Athel Tamarix, Desert Tamarisk, Flowering Cypress, Salt Cedar

Tamarix aphylla 4.17 16.26

Parkinsonia, Jerusalem Thorn, Jelly Bean Tree, Horse Bean

Parkinsonia aculeata 1.26 10.77

Prickly Pears Cylindropuntia spp. 15.39 5.22

Mesquite, Algaroba Prosopis spp. 1.58 5.15

Lantana, Common Lantana, Kamara Lantana, Large-leaf Lantana, Pink Flowered Lantana, Red Flowered Lantana, Red-Flowered Sage, White Sage, Wild Sage

Lantana camara 1.58 4.17

Radiata Pine Monterey Pine, Insignis Pine, Wilding Pine

Pinus radiata 1.21 2.99

Water Hyacinth, Water Orchid, Nile Lily Eichhornia crassipes 3.71 1.88

Prickly Acacia, Blackthorn, Prickly Mimosa, Black Piquant, Babul

Vachellia nilotica 0.49 1.48

Hymenachne, Olive Hymenachne, Water Stargrass, West Indian Grass, West Indian Marsh Grass

Hymenachne amplexicaulis 1.07 1.30

Fireweed, Madagascar Ragwort, Madagascar Groundsel

Senecio madagascariensis 1.63 1.29

Cotton-leaved Physic-Nut, Bellyache Bush, Cotton-leaf Physic Nut, Cotton-leaf Jatropha, Black Physic Nut

Jatropha gossypifolia 0.49 1.05

Rubber Vine, Rubbervine, India Rubber Vine, India Rubbervine, Palay Rubbervine, Purple Allamanda

Cryptostegia grandiflora 0.2 0.74

Madeira Vine, Jalap, Lamb’s-tail, Mignonette Vine, Anredera, Gulf Madeiravine, Heartleaf Madeiravine, Potato Vine

Anredera cordifolia 1.11 0.56

Climbing Asparagus, Climbing Asparagus Fern Asparagus africanus 7.61 0.51

Cat’s Claw Vine, Yellow Trumpet Vine, Cat’s Claw Creeper, Funnel Creeper

Dolichandra unguis-cati 1.55 0.47

Silver Nightshade, Silver-leaved Nightshade, White Horse Nettle, Silver-leaf Nightshade, Tomato Weed, White Nightshade, Bull-nettle, Prairie-berry, Satansbos, Silver-leaf Bitter-apple, Silverleaf-nettle, Trompillo

Solanum elaeagnifolium 0.54 0.44

Climbing Asparagus-fern Asparagus plumosus 2.46 0.43

Climbing Asparagus-fern, Ferny Asparagus Protasparagus plumosus 2.46 0.43

Salvinia, Giant Salvinia, Aquarium Watermoss, Kariba Weed

Salvinia molesta 0.12 0.20

Serrated Tussock, Yass River Tussock, Yass Tussock, Nassella Tussock (NZ)

Nassella trichotoma 0.12 0.19

Bridal Creeper, Bridal Veil Creeper, Asparagus asparagoides 0.04 0.19

INVASIVE FLORA

Smilax, Florist’s Smilax, Smilax Asparagus

* % of the total national distribution of the invasive species found within the zone.

** % of the total zone area that the invasive species is likely or known to occur in.

It should be noted that the identification of any given invasive species above does not imply that the species is found uniformly across the Conservation Management Zone. The % of the zone area (**) indicates how common or rare the species may be within the zone.

For more information on invasive species please refer to: http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/biodiversity/invasive-species

http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/biodiversity/invasive-species

Vegetation profiles and management recommendations

Vegetation extent information and species lists contained in the vegetation profiles are based on analysis from the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS), including analysis of Major Vegetation Subgroups and NVIS Level V descriptions. Please see http://www.environment.gov.au/node/18930 for more information.

The management recommendations have been drawn from EPBC Act Recovery Plans, EPBC Act Ecological Communities Listing Advice and other sources. The recommendations are indicative only. Systematic reviews of management literature, consultation processes and improved Natural Resource Management program monitoring and evaluation will support development of a comprehensive set of management recommendations over time.

Eucalyptus woodlands with a shrubby understorey vegetation profile

55.41% Remaining

Commonly found species within this communityEucalyptus populnea; Eucalyptus crebra; Eucalyptus largiflorens; Acacia aneura; Eucalyptus exserta; Eucalyptus melanophloia; Eremophila mitchellii; Geijera parviflor; Canthium oleifolium; Apophyllum anomalum; Muehlenbeckia florulenta; Thyridolepis mitchelliana; Aristida jerichoensis; Paspalidium constrictum; Themeda triandra, tussock grass.

Management recommendationsPROTECTION SUSTAINABLE

AGRICULTURALPRACTICE

REHABILITATION FIREMANAGEMENT

WILDLIFEMANAGEMENT

WEEDMANAGEMENT

FERALANIMALMANAGEMENT

DISEASEMANAGEMENT

Encourage uptake of conservation agreements and covenants on private land.Protect from firewood harvesting. Protect paddock trees.

Avoid high-intensity set stocking and manage total grazing pressure. Avoid fertiliser drift from adjacent crops and pastures.

Allow natural regeneration through fencing and stock management.Replant where appropriate usinglocally-sourced seed.

Eucalyptus open woodlands with a grassy understorey vegetation profile

18.68% Remaining

Commonly found species within this communityEucalyptus coolabah; Eucalyptus populnea; Eucalyptus intertexta; Eucalyptus camaldulensis; Acacia stenophylla; Eremophila mitchellii; Muehlenbeckia florulenta; Chenopodium auricomum; Enchylaena tomentosa; Bothriochloa decipiens; Bothriochloa bladhii; Chrysopogon fallax; Dichanthium sericeum.




WILDLIFEMANAGEMENT

WEEDMANAGEMENT


DISEASEMANAGEMENT

Purchase Coolibah, Black Box and Grey Box remnants into reservation.Encourage uptake of conservation agreements on private land.Retain hollow-bearing trees and ensure that trees are always left to grow to maturity.Retain fallen timber.Encourage wise water use to prevent changes to water flows and water table levels.

Protect and encourage regeneration of paddock trees and riparian zones through fencing. Graze period 3-days on; 28-day rest in Summer. 7-days on; 56-day rest periods throughout autumn and winter. Maintain 80% groundcover and a sward height of 10cm at all times.Avoid herbicide and pesticide application in, or near, remnants. Do not divert run-off into remnant areas.Avoid soil compaction from vehicles / machinery or stock camps. Avoid cultivation, ripping and excavation.Limit or exclude grazing during drought periods, and in Spring / Summer when native groundcover is in flower or seed.

Revegetate gullies and stream banks where vegetation has been cleared and widen the strip of riparian vegetation.Do not revegetate high quality condition and/or derived grassland sites. These sites should naturally regenerate and planting disturbs compositional balance and natural succession patterns.Plant indigenous species only if the site shows no signs of natural regeneration. Replicate the composition and density of species evident in local, good quality grassy woodland sites. Use seed of local provenance if possible.Thin tree recruits once well-established, leaving the healthiest specimens. Please seek advice from your local NRM organisation as to

All fire management should be in accordance with local and State regulations. Apply mosaic burning in small areas at staggered intervals.Retain unburnt areas.Ensure that appropriate weed control measures follow any burning activity. A minimum fire interval of five years, maximum of 40 years is recommended. However, please seek advice from your local NRM organisation for advice on burning regimes.

Maintain and protect paddock trees as these provide critical landscape linkages for fauna. If few hollow-bearingtrees are present within remnants, provide nesting boxes. Monitor these regularly for invasive species. If fallen timber has been removed from sites, replace coarse woody debris (e.g. recycled untreated timbers).Monitor and manage densities of Eastern Grey Kangaroos. If the sward height reduces below 10cm because of kangaroo grazing, seek advice from your local NRM organisation on appropriate control measures.

Actively manage perennial invasive woody and grass species.Mow/slash sporadically and in a mosaic pattern in late summer or autumn after native ground layer plants have seeded.Hand pulling, spot spraying and weed wiping are appropriate weed control measures. Prevent weed introduction through adopting good hygiene measures and minimising soil disturbance. Don’t stockpile topsoil within remnant areas.

Control feral grazers (rabbits, goats) and erect fences where appropriate (e.g. of stock dams, individual guards for targeted plants).Control feral predators including foxes, dogs, cats and pigs.Do not push fallen timber into stacks or windrows as these form harbours for foxes, rabbits and cats.

Manage underlying causes of dieback in New England Peppermint and Grey Box, such as over-population of leaf-eating insects through management of surrounding exotic grasses and crop lands.

Eucalyptus woodlands with a tussock grass understorey vegetation profile

18.63% Remaining

Commonly found species within this communityEucalyptus populnea; Eucalyptus melanophloia; Eucalyptus camaldulensis; Eucalyptus crebra; Angophora floribunda; Eremophila mitchellii; Geijera parviflora; Bothriochloa decipiens; Themeda triandra; Aristida ramosa; Tripogon loliiformis; tussock grass.


AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE

REHABILITATION FIRE MANAGEMENT

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

WEED MANAGEMENT

FERAL ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Encourage uptake of conservation agreements on private land. Retain hollow bearing trees and ensure that trees are always left to grow to maturity.Retain fallen timber.Encourage wise water use to prevent changes to water flows and water table levels. Encourage uptake of conservation agreements and covenants on private land.

Protect and encourage regeneration of paddock trees and riparian zones through fencing.

Graze period 3-days on; 28-day rest in Summer. 7-days on; 56-day rest periods throughout autumn and winter.Maintain 80% groundcover and a sward height of 10cm at all times.Avoid herbicide and pesticide application in, or near, remnants. Do not divert run-off into remnant areas.Avoid soil compaction from vehicles/ machinery or stock camps. Avoid cultivation, ripping and

Revegetate gullies and stream banks where vegetation has been cleared and widen the strip of riparian vegetation.Do not revegetate high quality condition and/ or derived grassland sites. These sites should naturally regenerate and planting disturbs compositional balance and natural succession patterns.Plant indigenous species only if the site shows no signs of natural regeneration. Replicate the composition and density of species evident in local, good quality grassy woodland sites. Use seed of

All fire management should be in accordance with local and State regulations.Apply mosaic burning in small areas a staggered intervals.Retain unburnt areas.Ensure that appropriate weed control measures follow any burning activity.A minimum fire interval of five years, maximum of 40 years is recommended. However, please seek advice from your local NRM organisation for advice on burning regimes.

Maintain and protect paddock trees as these provide critical landscape linkages for fauna.If few hollow-bearing trees are present within remnants, provide nesting boxes. Monitor these regularly for invasive species.If fallen timber has been removed from sites, replace coarse woody debris (e.g. recycled untreated timbers).Monitor and manage densities of Eastern Grey Kangaroos. If the sward height reduces below 10cm because of kangaroo grazing, seek advice from your local NRM

Actively manage perennial invasive woody and grass species.Mow/slash sporadically and in a mosaic pattern in late summer or autumn after native ground layer plants have seeded.Hand pulling, spot spraying and weed wiping are appropriate weed control measures.Prevent weed introduction through adopting good hygiene measures and minimising soil disturbance.Don’t stockpile topsoil within remnant areas.

Control feral grazers (rabbits, goats) and erect fences where appropriate (e.g. of stock dams, individual guards for targeted plants).Control feral predators including foxes, dogs, cats and pigs.Do not push fallen timber into stacks or windrows as these form harbours for foxes, rabbits and cats.

PROTECTION SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE

REHABILITATION FIRE MANAGEMENT

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

WEED MANAGEMENT

FERAL ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

excavation.Limit or exclude grazing during drought periods, and in Spring/ Summer when native groundcover is in flower or seed.

local provenance if possible.Thin tree recruits once well-established, leaving the healthiest specimens. Please seek advice from your local NRM organisation as to whether this is an appropriate action for your site.

organisation on appropriate control measures.

Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) forests and woodlands vegetation profile

18.52% Remaining

Commonly found species within this communityAcacia harpophylla; Eucalyptus populnea; Casuarina cristata; Carissa ovata; Eremophila mitchellii; Geijera parviflora; Alectryon oleifolius; Paspalidium caespitosum; Enteropogon acicularis; Paspalidium criniforme; Nyssanthes erecta; tussock grass.




WILDLIFEMANAGEMENT

WEEDMANAGEMENT


DISEASEMANAGEMENT

Purchase high quality/largeremnants intoreservation.Encourage uptake of conservation agreements on private land.Create buffer zones around remnants. Protect paddock trees and clumps of regrowth.Protect shrubby understorey and maintain dense stands of vegetation.

Manage grazing practices and stocking rates. Exclude grazing entirely from intact stands where possible.Avoid application of fertiliser, or the aerial/broad scale spraying of herbicides.Implement water management, sediment erosion and pollutioncontrol actions.

Connect shade-lines to one another and keep them as wide as possible (ideally more than 100 m).Facilitate restoration of high value regrowth sites and revegetation of degraded sites.Encourage woodland regeneration closeto areas of existing woodland.

In general, the most appropriate fire regime for Brigalow stands is fire-exclusion.

Retain standing dead trees and allow fallen timber and leaf litter to rot where it falls. Re-introduce microhabitat features (e.g. rocks, logs and other woody debris) to sites that have been disturbed.Protect woodland birds from noisy miners.

Manage high biomass exotic grasses (buffel grass, Rhodes grass, green panic grass).Prevent soil disturbance.Use spot application of herbicides.Minimise tree thinning.

Manage foxes, feral pigs and cats.

Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands and shrublands +/- tussock grass +/- forbs vegetation profile

38.43% Remaining

Commonly found species within this communityAcacia aneura; Eucalyptus populnea; Eucalyptus melanophloia; Eremophila mitchellii; Thyridolepis mitchelliana; Dodonaea viscosa subsp. Angustissima; Aristida jerichoensis; Cheilanthes sieberi; Thyridolepis mitchelliana; tussock grass.




WILDLIFEMANAGEMENT

WEEDMANAGEMENT


DISEASEMANAGEMENT

Encourage uptake of conservation agreements and covenants on private land. Protect aquifers, surface waters and overland flow from changes in water flow/water table level. Protect from soil disturbance and water flow changes caused by livestock trampling and track construction.

Do not high intensity set stock. Avoid fodder over-harvesting.

Protect fire-sensitive mulga shrublands from replacement with fire-tolerant spinifex when implementing fire regimes. Seek advice from your local NRM organisation on appropriate fire management practices.

Identify and mange key refugia and wildlife habitats.Manage native species (e.g. Kangaroos)

Manage exotic plants. Manage rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora), mother of millions (Bryophyllum tubiflorum), and parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata). Prevent weeds from establishing in high-valuerefugia and wildlife habitat.

Undertake exotic predator and rabbit eradication in key refugia particularly following major rainfall events.

Other Acacia forests and woodlands vegetation profile

46.87 Remaining

Commonly found species within this communityAcacia cambagei; Acacia maranoensis; Acacia pendula; Eucalyptus thozetiana; Eremophila mitchellii; Eucalyptus exserta; Geijera parviflora; Enchylaena tomentosa; Croton phebalioides; Aristida caput-medusae; tussock grass.




WILDLIFEMANAGEMENT

WEEDMANAGEMENT


DISEASEMANAGEMENT

Encourage uptake of conservation agreements and covenants on private land. Prioritise protection of Weeping Myall remnants.Protect acacia species from clearing and lopping for drought fodder.Avoid firewood collection and retain standing dead trees and fallen timber.

Use lopping methods that do not result in the death ofacacia species.Prevent trampling and excessive grazing pressure at known Weeping Myall Woodlands sites.Use strategic grazing, including stock exclusion, to allow regeneration to occur.Avoid fertiliser and herbicide application in or

Replant understorey species (such as chenopods) where they have been depleted.Repair and expand and connect remnants.Collect and store seeds for future plantings.

Implement fire regimes that protect chenopod shrubs (e.g. saltbushes and native cotton bushes).

Keep stock away from known nesting sites of ground dwelling birds.Allow fallen timber and leaf litter to remain on ground to provide fauna habitat.Do not remove mistletoe from Weeping Myall trees and other acacias and eucalypts as these provide important food resourcesfor birds and

Manage sites to prevent introduction of invasive plant species.Manage grassy weeds such as Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and Coolatai grass(Hyparrhenia hirta).Avoid cultivating or disturbing the soil to prevent weed invasion.

Control Bag shelter moth outbreaks in significant stands of Weeping Myall.Control introduced pest animals at known sites.