Category Archives: Fauna & habitat

Slopes2Summit Bushlinks Project

Posted on 22 April 2013 | Comments Off

Keywords – landscape, connectivity, restoration, revegetation, NSW southwest slopes

The Slopes2Summit (S2S) Bushlinks project commenced in August 2012 and is in the first stage of implementing on-ground works to build landscape-scale connectivity across private lands in the southwest Slopes of NSW – from the wet and dry forest ecosystems of the upper catchment and reserves to the threatened Grassy Box Woodlands of the lower slopes and plains (Fig 1.).

Fig 1. Map of the S2S area and priority landscapes for Bushlinks

Fig 1. Map of the S2S area and priority landscapes for Bushlinks

The increasing isolation of plant and animal populations in “island” reserves scattered through an agricultural landscape is a recognised threat to the long term viability and resilience of ecosystems under potential impact of climate change. If we can increase the viable breeding habitat through off-reserve remnant conservation, and increase the habitat for dispersal by increasing connectivity, we may be able to influence the trajectory for some of our species – the Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis)) and threatened woodland birds in particular.

The S2S Bushlinks Project is attempting to address connectivity issues through the following approaches:

1. Cross property planning. Foster and encourage cross property planning for habitat connectivity between neighbours, community, Landcare and/or subcatchment groups resulting in more integrated on-ground works projects, and raising awareness of the benefits of connectivity for wildlife.

2. On-ground investment in connectivity. The project is partnering with farmers and land managers to support and encourage fencing and revegetation in strategic places in the landscape with the objective of increasing habitat connectivity.  S2S Bushlinks applies scientific principles to the site assessments and evaluation, which then sets the level of investment in a site.  High scoring sites receive the highest rates of rebate, but the provision of low levels of public investment in sites that may not be of high priority is important for fostering participation in revegetation of any sort to encourage the culture of caring for the land.

Site assessment and scoring for funding level uses the following criteria:

  • Connectivity and landscape value – Does the site link to or create new patches of habitat according to principles of habitat connectivity? (Fig 2)  Is there existing vegetation in 1000ha radius around the site in an optimal range of 30-60%?
  • Area : perimeter ratio – Bigger blocks of revegetation are more cost-efficient and better habitat than linear strips of revegetation, and the project scoring encourages landholder to go bigger and wider in order to qualify for a higher level of funding.
  • Habitat Values – Does the site have existing values like old paddock trees, rocky outcrops or intact native ground layer, and therefore become a more valuable site? Is it in the more fertile, productive parts of the landscape and therefore of more productivity benefit for wildlife as well?
  • Carbon value – The scoring is based on the size of the revegetation and rainfall zone. The CFI Reforestation tool is being used to value the collective potential carbon sequestration of the Bushlinks project.

The emphasis on cross-property planning flows through to the implementation of on-ground works. Landholders are encouraged to work with neighbours and the site evaluation system is used to assess site value without the property boundaries – cooperation makes the site bigger and usually increases the connectivity value, and therefore scores higher.

3. Review and adaptive management process. The site assessment is to be reviewed in July 2013 against the objectives – did it work to prioritise sites well – did we invest wisely? The scientists and experts are then able to work closely with Holbrook Landcare to adjust the project eligibility, assessment and evaluation criteria to continually improve the outcomes in subsequent funding years.

4. Monitoring framework. As part of the in-kind contribution to the project, S2S partners Dr Dave Watson, CSU Albury and Dr. Veronica Doerr, CSIRO are working towards a framework for the long-term monitoring of landscape scale connectivity for continental-scale initiatives like Great Eastern Ranges (GER).  As part of a GER Environmental Trust Project in 2013, an expert panel workshop will be convened to begin this process in 2013.

The framework will then be used to pilot a project-scale design for Bushlinks, which will allow us to measure ecological outcomes.

Bushlinks will contribute to the Slope2Summit portal of the Atlas of Living Australia, supported by the Slopes2Summit facilitator. To develop community participation in monitoring and evaluation, participants and the wider community will be encouraged to contribute wildlife sightings and other data to the atlas.

The S2S partnership applied for funds through the Australian Governments Clean Energy Futures Biodiversity Fund in 2011 and was successful in the 2011/12 funding year for a six year project. Holbrook Landcare Network is managing the S2S Bushlinks Project on behalf of the Slopes2Summit and the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, in partnership with Murray CMA.

Contact: Kylie Durant, Bushlinks Project Officer, Holbrook Landcare Network, PO Box 121 Holbrook, NSW 2644 Australia. Tel: +61 2 6036 3121

Fig 2. Summary of the connectivity model outlined in Doerr, V.A.J., Doerr, E. D and Davies, M.J. (2010) Does Structural Connectivity Facilitate Dispersal of Native Species in Australia’s Fragmented Terrestrial Landscapes? CEE Review 08-007 (SR44). Collaboration for Environmental Evidence: www.environmentalevidence.org/SR44.html

Fig 2. Summary of the connectivity model outlined in Doerr, V.A.J., Doerr, E. D and Davies, M.J. (2010) Does Structural Connectivity Facilitate Dispersal of Native Species in Australia’s Fragmented Terrestrial Landscapes? CEE Review 08-007 (SR44). Collaboration for Environmental Evidence: http://www.environmentalevidence.org/SR44.html

Fig 3. Revegetation in the farming landscape in the Southwest Slopes of NSW

Fig 3. Revegetation in the farming landscape in the Southwest Slopes of NSW

 

 

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Posted in Community involvement, Ecosystem services, Fauna & habitat, Integrating ecosystems & industries, Landscape pattern & design, New South Wales, Organisations, reconstruction, Sclerophyll communities

West Hume Landcare Group – Taking stock, 24 years on

Posted on 21 April 2013 | Comments Off

Judy Frankenberg

Key words: agricultural landscape restoration, community involvement, salinity, threatened species

The West Hume Landcare Group was formed in 1989 as a community response to land degradation in the area. Funding to employ a coordinator for three years was obtained in 1990. This enabled a high level of project activity in addition to tree planting, including a roadside vegetation survey, farm planning workshops, demonstration sites for ground water recharge and discharge management, and perennial pasture establishment. In the first 5 years of its existence, the group organised nearly 250 different events, attracted funding of over $500,000 and managed 17 different projects.

The second 5 years saw a period of consolidation – then, from late 1997, the employment of a full time project officer enabled  the development of a Land and Water Management Plan.  By early 2000 the Group had attracted a total of $1,000,000 in project funding over 11 years.

“Taking Charge of Recharge” was the largest project undertaken by the West Hume Landcare Group, commencing in 2001. It involved 80 properties, with a total of 170,009 local trees and shrubs planted on 370 ha.  Some 93 ha of remnant vegetation were fenced over the two years of the project. This project was the climax of a very busy 12 years of the Landcare Group’s life, during which 400,000 trees and shrubs were planted in a wide variety of projects across the landcare area – in addition to direct seeding and natural regeneration.  This revegetation had a variety of purposes, including recharge and discharge management, corridor linkages between remnants, vegetation connections specifically designed to strengthen the local (threatened) Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) population, and livestock shelter.

Many of the planting projects initially involved only small numbers of trees, with a low proportion of shrubs.  They were important in giving landholders confidence that tree planting was a credible farm management activity and in their ability to succeed in species selection and establishment.  The Landcare group provided a lot of support in species selection, and, as the demand for shrubs grew, the nurseries responded by increasing their availability.

Nearly all revegetation in West Hume has used local species, and as far as possible these were grown from locally sourced seed.  The diversity of shrub species used increased over the years as knowledge and availability of the local flora improved.

Roadside survey. Local knowledge was greatly increased following the roadside survey carried out by 38 landholder volunteers.  They surveyed 460 km of road, recording floristics, conservation value and causes of degradation.  A total of 111 native species were recorded, including 28 shrubs, but very few road sections had greater than 50% shrub cover.  Many of the shrubs. grasses and forbs recorded are considered rare in the landcare area.  Knowledge of the whereabouts of these small remnants has allowed seed collection and propagation of some of them in seed production areas on local properties and at the Wirraminna Environmental Centre at Burrumbuttock.  The need for this local source of seed has been emphasised by the observation that in the case of a few acacia species, local forms are different from those growing in neighbouring areas.

Landcare survey. Landholder views about the importance of vegetation was shown in a landcare survey carried out in 1999. A majority of the 60% of respondents considered that dieback of trees and the lack of shrubs, understorey and wildflowers was of concern and there was a clear concern expressed about the decline of native birds in the area.

When the “Taking Charge of Recharge” project was funded in 2001, the response of landholders was enthusiastic.  The group members were eager to take advantage of the high level of incentives available in this project to increase the scale of planting beyond that generally undertaken previously.  While the prime purpose of the funding was for recharge management, members were keen to establish local species in ecologically appropriate sites.  Ecological and botanical skills within the group were able to support the species choices.

This confidence in the value and feasibility of large revegetation projects has been continued in subsequent years when the Murray CMA has offered good incentives for large area plantings.

Contact:  Judy Frankenberg, +61 2 6026 5326, Email: judy@frankenberg.com.au

Fig 1. School student volunteers planting in block AA on ‘Warrangee’ in 1995.

Fig 1. School student volunteers planting in block AA on ‘Warrangee’ in 1995.

Fig 2. Resulting tree and shrub habitats created from 1995 planting on block AA, 2013.

Fig 2. Resulting tree and shrub habitats created from 1995 planting on block AA, 2013.

Fig 3. ‘Corridors of green’ project, 2013, planted in 1994, “Warrangee” .

Fig 3. ‘Corridors of green’ project, 2013, planted in 1994, “Warrangee” .

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Posted in Assisted regeneration, Community involvement, Education & communication, Fauna & habitat, Grassland/grassy understorey, Integrating ecosystems & industries, New South Wales, Organisations, reconstruction, Sclerophyll communities

Holbrook Landcare “Rebirding the Holbrook Landscape” – assessing performance and learning in action

Posted on 15 April 2013 | Comments Off

Chris Cumming and  Kylie Durant

Key words: tree dieback, lerps, restoring the agricultural landscape, community involvement, Holbrook Landcare Network

Holbrook producers established Holbrook Landcare Network in 1988.  It was one of the first Landcare groups in Australia, covering initially 171,000 ha of productive agricultural land in the upper reaches of the Murray Darling Basin. The organisation has directly managed grants of more than $6M across more than 85 projects to address NRM and agricultural issues including salinity and erosion control, soil and pasture management the protection of wildlife habitat.

Of the habitat projects, one of the most successful has been the “Rebirding Project”. A recognition of the importance of birds in the landscape occurred in 1994, when there was widespread concern in Holbrook over eucalypt tree dieback and the potential loss of paddock trees in the landscape. Holbrook Landcare commissioned a survey that identified 41% of the trees in the district were showing signs of dieback, and initiated (with support from our own extension staff and Greening Australia) education programs to inform landholders about the causes of dieback, including the link between cycles of lerp and other insect attack exacerbated by the loss of insectivorous birds.

In 1999 the group was successful in gaining funding for the “Rebirding the Holbrook Landscape to mitigate dieback” revegetation program through the Australian Governments Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), with the aim of drawing birds back onto farms and reducing eucalypt tree dieback.

Actions undertaken. Bird surveys were undertaken at 94 study sites in remnant vegetation on hills, flats and along creek lines. Education components succeeded in engaging the community and increased community knowledge and awareness of habitat issues in Holbrook.  The research information was used to recommend specific guidelines for the revegetation component, including ideal patch size (min 6ha), distance to remnant (1km), position in the landscape and habitat values.

The Rebirding on-ground projects (1999 – 2002) achieved 2150ha of remnant and revegetation work and put 475,000 plants back in the landscape across 118 properties – estimated at 80% of the Holbrook landholders.

Outcomes achieved. Measuring success of the program was very important to the community. A partnership with CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems gave rise to a research project measuring bird use of plantings and remnant vegetation on local farms in 2004 to 2006.  This found that a range of bird species rapidly colonised planted areas and showed evidence of breeding activity, a positive message about the early signs of success of the Rebirding project. Tree health monitoring is ongoing by the community. Current ANU research is showing the positive benefit of the revegetation work in the landscape at the site, farm and landscape scale. The science is therefore indicating that yes, “rebirding” of the Holbrook landscape is underway, and HLN will continue to look to science to help us with the longer term outcomes for birds and tree health, and provide the feedback to us to adaptively manage our programs for the best outcomes.

The lessons and recommendations that come from the research are being applied directly to inform the design of subsequent programs such as the current major biodiversity project being managed by Holbrook Landcare – the “Slopes to Summit Bushlinks Project”.

Contacts: Chris Cumming (Executive Officer) and Kylie Durant,  Holbrook Landcare Network, PO Box 181 Holbrook NSW, Australia.  2644 Tel: +61 2 6036 3121, Email: kyliedurant@holbrooklandcare.org.au.

Paddock tree health field day, Holbrook, 2011.

Paddock tree health field day, Holbrook, 2011.

Before planting habitat blocks at Woomargama station, Holbrook.

Before planting habitat blocks at Woomargama station, Holbrook.

Stands of trees and shrubs established at Woomargama station, Holbrook.

Stands of trees and shrubs established at Woomargama station, Holbrook.

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Posted in Assisted regeneration, Community involvement, Cultural & socio-economic issues & solutions, Ecosystem services, Education & communication, Fauna & habitat, Integrating ecosystems & industries, Landscape pattern & design, New South Wales, Planning, monitoring & assessment, reconstruction, Sclerophyll communities

Bat recolonisation of restored jarrah forest in south-western Australia

Posted on 5 March 2013 | Comments Off

Joanna Burgar

Keywords: Eucalyptus marginata, dry sclerophyll forest, fauna, echolocation, roost sites

The jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest is part of the internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot of south-western Australia. The northern jarrah forest, approximately 700 000 ha, is subject to multiple uses including timber production, bauxite mining, water supply, recreation and conservation. Alcoa of Australia (hereafter Alcoa) clears, mines and restores approximately 600 ha of forest annually. Alcoa aims to restore a self-sustaining jarrah forest ecosystem. Research suggests that the floristic composition of the jarrah forest tends to be restored, but it is unknown whether the restored forest is habitat for the nine species of insectivorous bats that inhabit the region. Bats are generally considered resilient to human-induced disturbances because of their mobility, ability to exploit anthropogenic structures for roosting and their broad diet. This research project aims to determine if jarrah forest restored after bauxite mining provides habitat for bats.

Works undertaken: Bat activity was surveyed at 64 sites, restored forest of increasing age and reference (mature, unmined) forest (Fig 1), using passive echolocation call detectors. Each site was surveyed for eight nights in spring and summer over two consecutive years. During the first year of the survey, invertebrates were also surveyed at a subset of the sites (n = 24) to determine if there was a difference in invertebrate biomass between restored and reference sites. During the second year of the survey two species of bat, Southern Forest Bat (Vespadelus regulus) and Gould’s Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus gouldi), were radio-tracked to their diurnal roosts to determine roost site preferences.

Results to date: Bat activity was extremely variable both within sites across nights of sampling and by restoration age. Despite this variation, overall bat activity was significantly higher in reference forest than in restored forest in either year of the survey. In restored forest, overall bat activity was relatively similar regardless of forest age. There was no difference in overall invertebrate biomass between restored and reference sites. The two bat species that were radio-tracked were never found roosting in restored forest. Rather, all diurnal roosts were located within the reference forest, largely in mature jarrah trees.

 

Figure 1. Restored jarrah forest of increasing age and reference (unmined) forest: a) 0-4 years post restoration; b) 5-9 years; c) 10-14 years; d) >15 years; and e) reference forest.

Lessons learned: Restored jarrah forest provides some habitat for bats, although bat activity was lower in restored than reference forest. Restored forest may provide foraging opportunities, as invertebrate biomass is similar in restored and unmined forest. However, tree hollows take decades to form, so roosting habitat is limited in the restored forest.

 Acknowledgements: This research was possible thanks to ARC Linkage Project LP0882687 between Murdoch University and Alcoa of Australia Limited.

Contact: Joanna Burgar, PhD Candidate, Murdoch University. J.Burgar@murdoch.edu.au Tel: +61 (0)8 9360 6520 http://www.plants.uwa.edu.au/research/ecosystem_restoration

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Posted in Fauna & habitat, Other communities, Western Australia

Regeneration of Lismore bushland cemetery, north coast NSW.

Posted on 25 November 2012 | Comments Off

Key Words: bush regeneration, selective herbicides, transplanting, cemetery management

Since 2006, Lismore City Council’s Lismore Memorial Gardens (LMG) has been restoring and managing a 1.5ha  patch of regrowth Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis) grassy open forest in Goonellabah, north coast NSW – primarily for use as a bushland cemetery.  The site was part of a registered Koala corridor  and was in a highly weedy condition prior to the commencement of the project, with the understorey dominated by Lantana (Lantana camara) and most trees having at least one multi-stemmed Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) encircling it.

Bush regeneration works. In 2006 the lantana was mechanically cleared and Camphor Laurels were stem-injected with glyphosate herbicide. After woody weed removal, the ground stratum rapidly responded with a germination flush of herbaceous weeds, mainly Blue Billygoat Weed (Ageratum houstonianum), Farmers Friends (Bidens pilosa) and Broad-leaved Paspalum (Paspalum mandiocanum) although some native herbaceous species were also regenerating, particularly Basket Grass (Oplismenus aemulus), Weeping Grass (Microlaena stipoides) and Kidney Weed (Dichondra repens).

Subsequent detailed spot spraying with herbicides was undertaken; in the first few years on a monthly basis by volunteers, and more recently by a horticulture-trained LMG staff member after some workplace tuition in bush regeneration methods.

1. Resilient areas. Herbaceous weed was systematically sprayed with broad-leaf selective herbicides (Dicamba/MCPA plus surfactant) or glyphosate.  Three larger patches consolidated with native species fairly rapidly, while other areas in poorer condition colonised with fewer species or took longer to convert to native dominance.  There are now 69 species on site that  are characteristic of this ecosystem (including 8 tree species, 15 grasses, 5 sedges, 8 twiners/climbers, 5 ferns and 1 moss).  About 20 of these species have been added to the list since the start of the project and all existing species have vastly increased in cover and density. The intermittent watercourse area regenerated over time with wetland herbaceous species largely including Persicaria spp. and Cyperus exaltatus.

View of central area of the site after control of woody weed. (Camphor chipmulch was initially spread in error then later removed to allow natural regeneration)

Same area two years later, showing extensive regeneration of native grasses and forbs

2. Highly weedy edge.  Standard bush regeneration approaches over at least 2 years in an edge site proved intractable due to high weed contamination and low native richness. A trial was conducted in 2009to see if scalping and revegetation (using transplanting and direct seeding ) could reduce the amount of weed control required and improve native vegetation establishment. This involved removal by a grader of 10 cm of the weedy topsoil, with the remaining subsoil broken up with a backhoe and hand raked. Sods containing multiples of 10 species were taken from the healthier parts of the cemetery and transplanted to the raked site in mid- to late-September 2009, resulting in a total of 145 plants in each of three zones (one transplanted only, one transplanted plus direct seeded with 10 species and one neither transplanted nor seeded). Seven weeks later, when germination from the sods had occurred, it was observed that 17 species (i.e. seven more) had been transplanted (Table 1.) Very few individual transplants died.

Top10cm of weedy topsoil removed and subsoil broken up before transplanting native grass and forb sods

Subsequent monitoring found that all the two scalped and revegetated zones, while requiring monthly weed control initially, had consolidated to a very low weed state by 9 months.  There was little visible difference between them except that the seeded one contained two more species not present in the unseeded site. Within 18 months, both zones had very high cover levels of native vegetation, particularly native grasses, and weed control demand was substantially lower than adjacent edge sites treated with conventional spot spray methods alone.  The non-transplanted or seeded zone remained with low species diversity and was more exposed to weed cover.  It has since become an access track and requires higher weed control inputs than the adajacent revegetated areas.

Nine months after transplanting. With some weed control requirement, natives now well established and commencing a process of steady recolonisation

Lessons learned. The bush regeneration treatments have converted a weed-dominated site to a recognisable Forest Red Gum grassy open forest with a diverse understorey. Cemetery operations are ongoing with the condition of the bushland showing an improvement with each year. Evidence of wildlife use of the habitat is increasing. This is due to ongoing management support, continuing volunteer inputs and the deployment of staff with some training in weed and bushland management.  Although a range of highly problematic weeds (including Asian Copperburr,  Acalypha australis, Prairie Grass, Bromus uniloides, and Hairy Commelina, (Commelina bengahlensis ) were initially not adequately addressed and are now requiring additional treatment; the site is now a pleasure to be in and is a wonderful demonstration site for not only restoration techniques but also the district’s grassy understorey species, once so widespread but now rarely conserved .

Contact: Tein McDonald 06 6682 2885 Email: teinm@ozemail.com.au – or Kris Whitney, Manager, Lismore Memorial Gardens, Email:  Kris.Whitney@lismore.nsw.gov.au

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Posted in Bush regeneration, Community involvement, Fauna & habitat, Grassland/grassy understorey, New South Wales, Sclerophyll communities, Techniques & methodology, Weed issues & solutions

Rotary Park regeneration project, Lismore NSW

Posted on 26 October 2012 | Comments Off

Tein McDonald

Key words: Dry rainforest, regeneration, Anredera cordifolia, long term project, flying-foxes.

Rainforest regeneration works at the 11.5 ha dry rainforest remnant, Rotary Park, Lismore, commenced in in June 1985 under the leadership of Keith King, the then Parks and Gardens Supervisor for Lismore City Council, and inspired by the success of John Stockard at Wingham Brush.

The site, surrounded by residential areas and bordered by a main road, was considered (prior to treatment) so degraded by weed vines that many considered it beyond redemption. The canopy was infested with vines including Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia), Asparagus africanus and A. plumosus and Morning glory (Ipomoea spp.) (Fig 1).  Within the forest, the ground was blanketed by Tradescantia (Tradescantia fluminensis) and Madiera Vine tuberlings, with Large- and Small-leaved Privet (Ligustrum spp.) dispersed throughout more degraded areas and edges and gaps often dominated by Lantana (Lantana camara).

Works and results. The project initially trialed minimal disturbance techniques promoted by the bush regeneration movement in Sydney but soon found that higher levels of disturbance were needed to trigger regeneration and render the tuberlings of Madeira Vine and other weed susceptible to herbicide spray.  Adapting the Wingham Method to local conditions, Keith King and the regeneration team led by Rosemary Joseph radically transformed the rainforest into a relatively healthy dry rainforest patch over a period of 10-15 years, although primary work in some parts of the site is still not completed.

Lessons learned.  Prior to primary work being completed, populations of  Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) and Black Flying-fox (P.  alecto) have established roosts in the forest.  This added significantly to the work load as it increased the density and number of weed species, with new species including by Flying-foxes including Giant Devil’s Fig (Solanum chrysotrichum) and tropical fruits such as Guava (Psidium guajava).  When the trees were stripped of foliage by the flying-foxes, the trees were then used as roots by White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca). This contributed additional ammonia which resulted in deteriorated working conditions for regenerators.  While the project remains on a maintenance budget, current budgets have been insufficient to complete the primary work on other parts of the site.

Acknowledgements. The site is managed by Lismore City Council who have funded the project since its inception.

Contact: Rosemary Joseph  c/o Lismore City Council Martin.Soutar@lismore.nsw.gov.au

Canopy Gap at Rotary Park dry rainforest, Lismore in 1987 (prior to restoration works). (Photo Rosemary Joseph)

Same canopy gap at Rotary Park dry rainforest, Lismore in 1988 (1 year after primary clearing). (Photo Rosemary Joseph)

Same  canopy gap at Rotary Park dry rainforest, Lismore in 2006. (Photo Rosemary Joseph)

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Posted in Bush regeneration, Fauna & habitat, New South Wales, Rainforest, Weed issues & solutions

Restoration after pipeline installation: Pimpama Northern Gold Coast, Queensland.

Posted on 21 June 2012 | Comments Off

Key words: Assisted natural regeneration, topsoil transfer, Wallum Froglet, Regional Ecosystem 12.3.5, pipeline construction.

Mark Bibby

Revegetation works were carried out in 2009-10 to accompany a civil construction project in the northern Gold Coast, Queensland, where a pipeline was being laid through a natural area.

The Regional Ecosystems on site included palustrine wetland (12.3.5), which is habitat for threatened flora species including Phaius australis, P. bernaysii and Schoenus scabripes and the Wallum Froglet (Crinia tinnula).

The goals of the project were to: reinstate vegetation on site after the construction of the pipeline; minimise weed establishment and other maintenance issues; to ensure that no canopy species were replaced over pipes (to avoid root damage to the pipes); and to achieve an optimal  outcome for local biodiversity, including the Wallum Froglet.

Summary of works.  The native vegetation in the path of the pipeline was removed from wet areas with excavators and a crew of regenerators (Figs 1a and 1b). As much as possible of the macrophyte vegetation from the watercourse area was temporarily moved to ‘holding’ trenches, created to allow for a variety of soil moisture levels. (These were lined with plastic and then filled with water).

Some 600 specimens of other plants were removed to a nursery for later replanting. The top 200 mm of topsoil and site litter from the remainder of the site were stripped and stockpiled on site for later replacement.

Fig 1a: Macrophyte holding trenches before replanting.

Fig 1b: Macrophyte holding trenches providing temporary habitat during works.

Following civil works (conducted 8 months after the topsoil stripping) the stored topsoil and litter was replaced (at 30-50mm depth) and plants from the holding trenches replanted in their original positions. Spaces were left between the patches of litter to allow for regeneration from the replaced topsoil. Stumps were replaced on site as habitat.

The 600 nursery-spelled plants were reinstated on site and further planting of tubestock was undertaken, with grasses and sedges translocated from nearby at the site. Seed was collected nearby and spread on site when available. The site was regularly visited by skilled bush regeneration weed control staff members for 12 months.

Results. A high level success was achieved with the translocation of holding trench stock following inundation of the site during summer rains.  After replacement of the topsoil, vegetation and litter, the watercourse and surrounding fringes established well and natural regeneration from the replaced topsoil and germination from the seed dispersed by hand occurred. One year after the completion of works, the site was recovering well (Fig 2a-c) and recent inspections showed that vegetation cover and diversity in the watercourse area is consistent with the pre clearing condition. The terrestrial restoration area is showing good recovery with 15 species (that were not planted on site) observed regenerating. The native to weed ratio is 9:1. Conversely in the area of disturbance (adjacent the project site) without restoration the native to weed ratio is 1:9.

Fig 2a: The watercourse after removal of the vegetation.

Fig 2b: The watercourse upon reinstallation of topsoil and stockpiled plants

Fig 2c: The watercourse after the completion of the contract.

Lessons learned.  The joy of this project was being able to convince the the civil engineers if not also ecologists that a more natural regeneration-style approach could offer preferable outcomes to a standard civil landscaping approach.  Particularly interesting was the need to convince them not to be afraid of some short term ‘mess’ to ensure a good result for a natural area.

Contact: Mark Bibby, Gecko Regen, / 139 Duringan Street,Currumbin, Qld, Australia. Tel:  +61 (7) 5534 6395. Email: admin@geckoregen.org.au ; http://www.geckoregen.org.au/

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Posted in Bush regeneration, Fauna & habitat, Queensland, Riparian & stream ecology, Techniques & methodology, Wetland

The use of fauna gates to facilitate the movement of Southern Brown Bandicoots Isoodon obesulus through a feral proof fence at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne

Posted on 26 October 2011 | Comments Off

Key words: fauna gates, feral proof fence

Bronwyn Merritt

The Southern Brown Bandicoot (SBB) Isoodon obesulus, once common along the coast from Sydney through to Adelaide, has dramatically declined in range and number since European settlement. Listed as an endangered species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, SBBs are threatened by habitat loss, isolation, fragmentation, urban infrastructure and predation by introduced predators such as foxes.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne (RBGC) is regarded as one of the most secure remnant populations of SBBs in the Melbourne and Western Port region. The persistence and relatively high abundance of the species at the RBGC can be attributed to ongoing integrated feral animal control, feral proof fencing and vegetation management.

The RBGC is 363 hectares, with approximately 250 hectares of remnant vegetation listed as of state conservation significance. The site is bounded by an 8 kilometre ‘floppy top’ feral proof fence that has been an integral part of the fox control program. It has resulted in ongoing reduced fox numbers and the flow-on of significant benefits for the management of SBB. However, the fence also represents a barrier to the movement of native species and this may affect the viability of populations within and outside the RBGC.

It has been observed that smaller SBBs are able to pass thorough the 50mm diamond mesh cyclone wire of the feral proof fence. This activity is probably sufficient to reduce local genetic isolation for the species. However, in places the fence has been reinforced with a second or third layer of wire skirting to reduce rabbit incursions and has, therefore, become less permeable to a range of native fauna.

The RBGC has an ongoing program trialing different methods to make the fence selectively permeable to some animals, whilst limiting the movement of others. Originally, the RBGC developed custom made gates that allowed the movement of Common Wombats (Vombatus ursinus) and Long-necked Tortoises (Chelodina longicollis). More recently, the RBGC has developed and trialed the use of ‘Bandicoot gates’ that have allowed free movement of the endangered SBB through the fenceline.

The custom designed bandicoot gates were installed in the internal Australian Garden fence of RBGC through 2010-2011. The Australian Garden is an 11 hectare display garden of native plants. The aim of the bandicoot gates was to allow the free movement of bandicoots, but exclude rabbits. The gates were made using 90 mm PVC pipe. Different gate versions were trialed and the successful design included a weighted 100mm wide flap and cover to ensure the gate returned to the closed position. The gates were monitored using Reconyx™ infra-red cameras and have shown frequent bandicoot movement, with no evidence of other species use to date.

The ability of the SBBs to learn how to negotiate the gates has ongoing implications for the construction of semi-permeable feral proof fences. It may be possible that these gates could be modified and used by other conservation reserves with feral proof fencing, for the conservation of other endangered small mammals.

For the RBGC, this has implications for allowing the free movement of the SBB into the wider region beyond the boundary of the perimeter fence. Since 2002, the land surrounding the RBGC has been included in the Melbourne Urban Growth Boundary, which means the RBGC is likely to be land-locked by residential development in the near future. The development of these gates, and the implication of allowing increased movement of SBB from the RBGC into proposed biolinks, will have significant implications for the ongoing management and sustainability of this endangered species.

Acknowledgements: Terry Coates, Ollie Sherlock, RBGC Infrastructure branch, Jill Burness, Dave Hunt and Ricardo Simao.

Contact: Bronwyn Merritt, Coordinator Land Management and Infrastructure, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, 1000 Ballarto Road, Cranbourne, Victoria 3977. Ph (03) 5990 2221. Bronwyn.merritt@rbg.vic.gov.au

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Posted in Fauna & habitat, Techniques & methodology, Threatened species & communities, Victoria

Fire management at Two Peoples Bay – Mt Manypeaks, Western Australia

Posted on 26 October 2011 | Comments Off

Key words: environmental management, threatened species, collaboration, communication

Allan Burbidge

Fire management is a major challenge where there are multiple conservation values and potentially conflicting adjacent community values; the challenge is further exacerbated in landscapes involving rough terrain where access for fire management is difficult. All three factors occur in the Two Peoples Bay – Manypeaks area in south-western Australia, which is mostly conservation estate, with some water reserves, and surrounded by private land. In this often steep and rocky landscape, there are threatened vertebrates such as the Noisy Scrub-bird and Gilbert’s Potoroo, threatened plants and short range endemic relictual invertebrates, all with different habitat requirements, and therefore different management requirements. Superimposed on this are community values which involve the surrounding relatively small private holdings, with homes, timber plantations, stock and agricultural infrastructure

Bushfire on Mount Manypeaks (Photo: Ed Hatherley)

Fire management by the State conservation agencies in the area during the 1970s focussed on fire exclusion, as it was believed that this was optimal for the locally endemic and newly rediscovered Noisy Scrub-bird. However, this resulted in dangerous fuel levels, posing a threat to this species and other conservation values. Despite the need to reduce the threat, only minimal use of prescribed fire was able to be applied to manage fuel levels, because of the area’s difficult terrain and the requirements for many species for long interfire intervals.

Water bomber on route to fire (Photo: Sarah Comer)

The problem seemed intractable until local managers, researchers, senior agency managers and policy makers were brought together to debate the options in a focussed meeting. After considerable debate, this group agreed that selected prescription burns in the untracked zones of Mt Manypeaks could be carried out and some patchy ignition could be initiated on the upper slopes by aerial ignition, in a way that minimised negative impacts on populations of threatened species. This in itself was a challenge, as virtually everywhere in the 28 000 ha study area provided habitat for at least one threatened species.

Noisy Scrub-bird (Photo: Alan Danks)

This process is ongoing and adaptive, particularly in the sense that wildfires extent and impact can never be predicted, but some key points have emerged. First, no single group had all the answers or expertise to understand the complex situation, underlining the importance for all practitioners to embrace dynamic and ongoing partnerships. Progress only came with co-ordinated and collaborative commitment from researchers, policy makers and managers. Second, we found that generalised models are inadequate for (complex) individual cases, particularly where there are multiple species of interest, and these species have different management requirements. Third, the old linear model of management was simply not functional; new knowledge and assumptions concerning the dynamic nature of the threatened fauna and flora populations demanded dynamic management, preferably in an adaptive management framework.

Mount Manypeaks after fire (Photo: Sarah Comer)

Major players in this process have come from Nature Conservation Division and Science Division staff within the Department of Environment and Conservation, with species specific input from the South Coast Threatened Birds Recovery Team, Gilbert’s Potoroo Recovery Team and the Albany District Flora Recovery Team.  Strong collaboration with other land managers such as Water Corporation and plantation managers is essential for the successful management of the conservation interface with other land uses.

Further reading:
Comer, S., and Burbidge, A. H. (2006). Manypeaks rising from the ashes. Landscope 22(1), 51-55.

Contact: Sarah Comer (Department of Environment and Conservation, 120 Albany Highway, Albany, Western Australia 6330; tel (08) 9842 4500; email sarah.comer@dec.wa.gov.au ) and Allan Burbidge (Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, Western Australia 6946; tel (08) 9405 5100; email allan.burbidge@dec.wa.gov.au)

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Posted in Fauna & habitat, Fire Ecology & Management, Threatened species & communities, Western Australia

Eels on Wheels – An evaluation of the trap-and-transfer method of Long-finned Eel (Anguilla reinhardtii) at the Ross River Dam, Townsville

Posted on 26 October 2011 | Comments Off

Key words: fish barriers, fish passage, migration, fishways, eels, Anguilla reinhardtii

Carla Hutchinson-Reade

Freshwater eels, like many other species, need to migrate to and from marine environments to complete their lifecycle. Throughout Australia large dams are restricting the migration success of native eels contributing to the overall decline of eel numbers. NQ Dry Tropics (the natural resource management body for north Queensland’s dry tropics) is conducting a project focused on removing fish barriers which will help to reverse this trend. An Eels on Wheels device is a simple yet effective method that can be employed in many locations that are impassable to eels. The device facilitates upstream migration of eels during the early stage of their lifecycle.

NQ Dry Tropics commissioned a study Eel passage over large dams of their catchment region in the dry tropics in Queensland, Australia. During the study no eels were recorded above the Burdekin Falls Dam while many were recorded below. This suggested a very real problem. The study identified the Ross River Dam as a major barrier to the Long-finned Eel (Anguilla reinhardtii), as several thousand elvers were observed attempting upstream migration by climbing dam wall abutments without success.

Elvers scale the blue netting up the sheer wall to get to the Astro Turf

To overcome this barrier an eel trap-and-transfer trial was established on 17 December 2010 prior to wet season rainfalls. (Local knowledge of previous migration history gave NQ Dry Tropics insight into migration events.) Since then around 3000 upstream migrants have been captured using a custom-designed trap we call Eels on Wheels and safely relocated within 48 hours. Trapping went on for 3 months.

Entry ramp lined with Astro Turf leads to a modified wheelie bin. The bin is filled with water and contains a live adult eel whose scent attracts elvers. The bin is then wheeled by project staff to the upstream side of the barrier.

The trap consists of a wheelie bin fitted with an Astro Turf-lined entry ramp which delivers a flow attraction fed from the upstream storage. The main drivers for trapping success and retention are in the level of attraction flow and trap accessibility. Once the elvers are in the wheelie bin they are transported and released by the project staff on the upstream side of the barrier. The Eels on Wheels device is a low cost and effective option to assist eels to overcome dam barriers. The same device can be replicated by natural resource managers around the country.

Contact: Paul Duncanson, NQ Dry Tropics (07) 4724 3544 or email paul.duncanson@nqdrytropics.com.au

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Posted in Fauna & habitat, Queensland, Riparian & stream ecology