NationalParksNSWJournalWinter2011

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NPA'S CONSERVATIONPROGRAMSK'RSI'N PROFI, NPA BIODIVERSIIY CONSERVAIION OFFICERNPA is driven by a 5O-year vision that imagines a landscapeof intact natural areas on land and sea, integrated with viablerural and urban communities that respect and nurture theland, rivers and oceans, as well as all the species that dependon them.

A Bearded Dragon near Coonabarabran, NSW. Photo: Anthony O'Halloran

ealthy, natural ecosystems providebillions of dollars worth of goodsand services essential for the

wellbeing of local communities and busi-nesses in NSW. From erosion control andflood mitigation to clean water and freshfish, natural ecosystems underpin the

sociai and economic fabric of our state.NPA is working for a level of nature

conservation in NSW that allows spe-cies to persist and ecosystems to remainresilient in the long term. We have a clearview of what is needed across NSW toachieve this. As a state-wide organisation,

we invest our precious financial resourcesinto targeted activities and campaigns toachieve this. We realise that the magni-tude of conservation issues are so greatthat we must prioritise our efforts. We areproactive in what we want to achieve butare able to react to the changing nature

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of environmental threats and challenges.As a membership organisation with localbranches, we support our membership toundertake conservation work locally.

This article highlights our currentstate-wide conservation priorities forterrestrial ecosystems. In the Springedition of Nature NSI4/ we will providean update on our marine conservationpriorities, and showcase some of the localconservation campaigns being run by ourbranches.

TRAVELLING STOCKROUTESTravelling Stock Routes and Reserves(TSRs) are an iconic feature of thelandscape in NSW and Queensland. Forseveral years, NPA has been conductinga program to protect and raise awarenessof the TSR network. The TSR network isunique in its importance to a wide rangeofusers and interest groups.

TSRs are of great importance toconservation and our environment.TSRs protect vital remnants of woodlandand grassland, and support a rangeof threatened species and ecologicalcommunities. The TSR network alsoprovides a unique network of well-managed habitat stretching across thestate, and indeed most of the east coast ofAustralia, which may help native speciesto cope with the effects of climate change

and habitat loss.The TSR network is also of great

cultural significance. It providesimportant connections for manyAboriginal Australians to traditionaltravel lines, as well as being significantin contemporary Aboriginal cultureand heritage. TSRs also link Australiansto the history of European settlementand exploration, and this connectionto TSRs and the droving lifesty'e isreflected in folklore, poetry, songs andart. The network has ongoing socialimportance, supporting a range ofrecreational activities including birdwatching, angling and cycling. TSRs alsohave a number of sustainable economicuses, including their original purpose ofstock movement and emergency grazing,as well as environmental and culturaltourism.

As TSRs are of such importance toso many different people, they requirean innovative, multi-party approachto conservation. To this end, NPA, inconjunction with the Grass RoutesInitiative, is hosting a conference andworkshop in Orange on 28 fuly this year.We are bringing together stakeholdersfrom the widest possible range of interestgroups, with the aim of developing thefoundations of a framework of strategicmanagement principles for the sharedand sustainable use of the NSW TSRNetwork.

Thursday 28 July,20119.30 am - 4.30 pm

The Kokoda Lounge,Orange Ex-Services Cl ub,

231 -243 Anson Street, OrangeFollowed by launch of The Grass Routesinitiative, then an optional dinner andnetworking event in the evening.

PURPOSETo draw together a wide range ofstakeholders, to develop the foundationsof a framework of strategic managementprinciples for the shared and sustainableusg of the NSWTSR Network.

e05T(inelucling lunch amd refreshynentE)' S55 concession. SB0 general community members. S120 government and industrydelegates.For more information or to register, go towww.npansw.org.au or contact the NPAoffice, phone: 02 9299 0000.

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Grassland Earless Dragon. Thought to have been extinct for 30 years, these dragons are knownto survive in the Canberra-Queanbeyan grasslands and a colony in the Cooma region.Photo: Courtesy University of Canberra.

WOODTANDSGrassy woodlands were once amajor feature of the NSW landscape,dominating much of the statet centralwest. Unfortunately, these woodlandsoccupied prime land in what is now thewheat- and sheep-farming belt of NSW.As a result, grassy woodlands now coveronly 3o/o of the state, and are one of themost modified and cleared ecosystems inNSW They include a range of threatenedecological communities, includingthe endangered Box-Gum Woodlandcommunity.Grassy woodlands are importantfor the survival of many native species.Woodlands contain old trees that havedeveloped hollows. These slow-forminghollows provide essential habitat,nesting sites and protection for birds,bats and tree-dwelling mammals. Inparticular, the remaining patches ofgrassy woodland in central-westernNSW are vital habitat for a wide range ofwoodland bird species, many of whichare threatened or declining.

NPAs work on preserving thenetwork of Travelling Stock Routesand Reserves (TSRs) in NSW will helpto protect our woodlands, because

many of the best remaining woodlandremnants are found in TSRs. NPA willalso campaign to expand our system ofnational parks and reserves in westernNSW which will help to protect thesemi-arid woodland ecosystems found inthe west of the state.GRASSTANDSThe native grasslands of NSW dont justcontain a wide variety of species of grass.In the spring, it quickly becomes appar-ent that grasslands also support manydifferent species of forbs (small, non-woody plants) such as daisies, orchidsand lilies, many of which have strikingflowers. Grasslands are also importanthabitat for a range ofthreatened andendangered species like the Golden SunMoth and the Grassland Earless Dragon.

Unfortunately, more than 90o/o ofgrasslands in NSW have been cleared,and they now cover only 1% ofthestate. The best remaining fragments ofgrassland are usually found in areas thatescaped agricultural development, suchas roadsides, travelling stock routes andcemeteries. As a result, a new approachto conservation is needed, incorporatingareas from all kinds ofland uses and

land tenures. NPA is involved in severalprojects of this sort, including theTravelling Stock Routes program andthe Great Eastern Rangers Initiative,which are important for protectingour grasslands and other threatenedecosystems.

FORESTSNPA is involved in several projects toprotect various NSW forests. The RiverRed Gum forests of southern NSWhave been the focus of campaigningfor many years. The creation of overi07,000 ha of Red Gum national parksand conservation reserves last year was amajor victory, but there is no time for usto rest on our laurels. A large proportionof Red Gums have been killed bydrought in recent years, and our newly-created national parks will need regularwatering to flourish in the long term.With the help of our members, we arenow campaigning to make sure that theMurray-Darling Basin Plan puts enoughwater back into the environment to keepthe Red Gum forests healthy.

Currently, a trial of 'ecologicalthinning' in certain Red Gum forests onthe Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers isbeing developed by NPWS. 'Ecologicalthinn ing' refers to the selective loggingof trees within a forest with the aim ofdeveloping certain desirable habitatfeatures. Sally Barnes refers to this inher article about Western NSW nationalparks in this issue. NPA is closelyfollowing the development of this trial toensure that the environmental values andhealth of the Red Gum forests are notjeopardised.

NPA is also involved in anassessment of the eucallpt forests ofnorth-eastern NSW for future WorldHeritage listing. A World Heritage listingwill help to ensure the protection andrecognition of these unique old growthforests.

For over halfa century NPA hasadvocated tirelessly on these and otherconservation issues. Our strong regionalnetwork is a powerful voice for natureprotection in NSW Thatt whyNPA iscalling on our new state governmentto show courage and leadership onenvironmental protection by lookingbeyond the politics. r

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NationalParksNSWJournalWinter2011