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Threatened Species and Threatened Ecological Communities
Round 8
On September 7, the 2005 Threatened Species Network Community Grants recipients were announced. The Grants are joint initiative of the Natural Heritage Trust and the World Wide Fund for Nature. Summaries are listed by state, below.
Project Title: Managing Fire Regimes for Brush-tailed Rock wallabies at "Currawinya"
Grant: $4,500
Proponent: West of Ranges Landcare Inc
Project Description:
The project will monitor known colonies of Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies using scat searches. Active refuge areas and connecting corridors will be plotted using Arcview and incorporated into Fire Management Plan to ensure optimum fire regimes. A vegetation survey to assess changes in response to burning will also be undertaken.
Project Title: Habitat Protection for Swift Parrots and Regent Honeyeaters
Grant: $10,815
Proponent: Central Coast Regent Honeyeater Volunteer
Project Description:
A habitat assessment and revegetation project, benefiting Swift Parrots, Regent Honeyeaters and a whole suite of other threatened species including the Grey-headed Flying Fox. In implementing the project to ensure availability of long-term winter resources, it is simultaneously enhancing the conservation of a number of Endangered Ecological Communities.
Project Title: Western Cape York Turtle Conservation Project
Grant: $10,840
Proponent: Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council
Project Description:
The Western Cape York Conservation Project dates its origins back to Sept 2003. Following a survey of the coastline (Pennefather River to Skardon River north of Weipa) by Mapoon Aboriginal Rangers, QPWS & Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries, it was determined that both feral pig predation and ghost nets entrapment were having such a profound impact on marine turtles in the area that nesting turtles would be non-existent in the region within 20-25 years. Immediate remedial action was required to reverse this cycle. The project engages community members and volunteers to work with Rangers in protecting turtle nesting sites from feral pig predation and removal of ghost fishing nets from the 3 Mapoon beaches. Trials of 2 prototype Feral Pig Exclusion Devices were conducted in 2004. A project site on Flinders Beach (24kms) was established and Feral Pig Exclusion Devices installed over identified nesting sites. The prototype devices proved 98% effective leading to successful incubation, nest eruption and hatchling dispersion.
Project Title: Restoring Threatened Frog Habitat in Upper Stanley Catchment
Grant: $20,490
Proponent: Barung Landcare Association Inc
Project Description:
Value add to "Recovery Plan for Stream Frogs of South-east Queensland 2001-2005" by restoring and enhancing 3.75ha of key habitat for Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iterates), Cascade Tree Frog (Litoria
pearsoniana) and Tusked Frog (Adelotus brevis) on public and private land. Habitat enhancement for a suite of other threatened species.
Project Title: Gympie Grey-headed Flying Fox Colony Roost Restoration
Grant: $16,800
Proponent: Gympie & District Landcare Group Inc
Project Description:
Project Title: Reversing Cassowary Habitat Fragmentation in an Endangered Regional
Ecosystem
Grant: $5,400
Proponent: Malanda and Upper Johnstone Catchment Landcare
Project Description:
This project will restore connectivity between the northern and southern portions of a significant patch of Endangered RE (Complex Notophyll Vine Forest - Tracey & Webb 5a) on the Atherton Tablelands - the largest remnant of this type outside the World Heritage Area. The area has been mapped as essential habitat for the endangered southern cassowary. A 1 ha corridor will be established over 12 months.
Project Title: Protecting the Black Breasted Button Quail (BBBQ) (Turnix melanogaster)
Grant: $13,990
Proponent: Friends of the Escarpment Parks (Toowoomba) Inc
Project Description:
Madeira Vine (Andredera cordifolia) and Cats Claw-creeper (Macfadyena unguis-cati) have infested an area of locally endangered dry vine thicket adjacent to Black Breasted Button Quail habitat. The concern is that these weeds are spreading and if not contained will continue into BBBQ habitat.This project will contain and reduce the spread of these weeds using both chemical and mechanical means. The site will continue to be maintained and monitored by Toowoomba City Council staff and members of the community.
Project Title: Mission Beach Community Rainforest Revegetation Project
Grant: $10,100
Proponent: Community for Cassowary and Coastal Conservation
Project Description:
Effective engagement of the wider community in Cassowary conservation with emphasis upon restoration and conservation of habitat for Cassowaries and other locally threatened species and ecosystems through the following strategies:
Project Title: Restoring Biodiversity on the Hindmarsh Tiers
Grant: $29,450
Proponent: Hindmarsh Tiers Biodiversity Group
Project Description:
This project will restore and manage habitat critical for five nationally threatened species (four plants & one mammal), and a threatened ecological community on the Hindmarsh Tiers. The project is a collaborative partnership between 9 NRM organisations, council, state government, and local landholders and will implement urgently required on-ground actions at priority sites to protect key biodiversity assets on public and private land.
Project Title: South Australian Threatened Fish Action Plan
Grant: $25,000
Proponent: Native Fish Australia (SA) Incorporated
Project Description:
There has been an historic lack of information regarding the plight of native freshwater fish in South Australia, and this has acted as a severe impediment to their conservation. Complementing the first state list of threatened fish, the ‘Action Plan for South Australian Freshwater Fishes’ aims to provide information that will help managers and the community alike to better understand and protect these species.
Project Title: Trial Translocation of Numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus) into Arid Recovery Reserve
Grant: $9,000
Proponent: Friends of Arid Recovery
Project Description:
Funds are being sought to trial a re-introduction of the nationally vulnerable numbat Myrmecobius
fasciatus into the main exclosure of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Six adult numbats are proposed for transfer from Yookamurra Sanctuary or another site approved by the Numbat Recovery Team, into Arid
Recovery in November 2005. The trial release will confirm whether the resources available within the reserve can sustain a population of numbats, and justify the suitability of Arid Recovery as a site for numbat re-introduction.
Project Title: King Island Cat Control Project
Grant: $29,610
Proponent: King Island Natural Resource Management Group Inc
Project Description:
This project will control feral cats to protect the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrots during their stopover on King Island. A cat control baseline study will determine additional priority sites for future control to protect other threatened fauna species. A community education program will encourage the control of domestic cats.
Project Title: Save the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Program
Grant: $19,525
Proponent: Hobart City Council Faunacare Group
Project Description:
The project will implement prescriptions from the Eastern Barred Bandicoot (EBB) Recovery Plan through:
Project Title: Black Range Bandicoot Recovery Project
Grant: $11,100
Proponent: Black Range Bandicoot Recovery Team
Project Description:
Anecdotally and from trapping results, bandicoot numbers in the Black Range have plummeted over the last 10 years. The group will conduct a community awareness program identifying the Southern Brown Bandicoot and its threats, and engage the local community in revegetation, fox control and monitoring to address the decline in bandicoot populations.
Project Title: Protection and Enhancement of Buloke Woodlands and Northern Plains Grassland
Communities
Grant: $19,000
Proponent: Terricks Ridge Landcare Group
Project Description:
Terricks Ridge Landcare Group will implement actions outlined in the Riverina Bioregional Plan that protect and enhance habitat for a range of threatened species. Threatened ecological communities including Buloke woodlands and Northern plains grasslands will be targeted for works. Habitat restoration, flora species re-introduction, pest plant and animal control as well as community participation and education are all key aspects of the project.
Project Title: Helmeted Honeyeater and Leadbeater's Possum Protection Through Habitat Enhancement
Grant: $12,585
Proponent: Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater Inc
Project Description:
Work on sections of floodplain within the Yellingbo State Nature Reserve (Woori Yallock and Cockatoo
Creeks). Control herbaceous weeds such as Phalaris arundinacea, thistles, ragwort, St Peter's Wort and woody weeds such as Holly and Willows. Revegetate degraded areas adjacent to suitable habitat and areas previously occupied by these threatened species. Protect both revegetated sites and sensitive habitat from herbivores with fencing.
Project Title: Remnant Dwarf Galaxias Galaxiella pusilla Population Habitat Enhancements
Grant: $18,000
Proponent: Australia New Guinea Fishes Association (ANGFA)
Project Description:
A large remnant population of Dwarf Galaxias Galaxiella pusilla exists in a table drain in Marre Warren.
A survey conducted for Melbourne Water (McGuckin 2004) found this drain to be the last remaining body of water within the Eummemmerring and neighbouring Dandenong Creek catchment to still support this species. Urgent action is required in order to protect this threatened population over the short term until a long-term management program is enacted by State and local government.
Project Title: Further Searching for Quolls
Grant: $1,814
Proponent: Wooragee Landcare Group
Project Description:
Since our previous 'Searching for Quolls' project interest and awareness of quolls has increased in the district. Department of Sustainability and Environment officer Jerry Alexander will run a training session on scat identification and quoll characteristics and habitat. A coloured quoll information flyer will be produced to be included as a special insert in our newsletter and award 6 copies of 'Tracks & Scats' to volunteers for their efforts.
Project Title: Swift Parrot Habitat Enhancement Project
Grant: $24,750
Proponent: Australian Bush Heritage Fund
Project Description:
To enhance habitat for the nationally endangered Swift Parrot on two protected reserves, located in Victoria and NSW. On ground management will be guided by an ongoing monitoring program, the framework of which is being set up with assistance from CSIRO.
Project Title: Bald Hill Threatened Species Monitoring Program
Grant: $4,500
Proponent: Merriang District Landcare Group
Project Description:
Locate, propagate & establish 3 plant species - Swamp Everlasting, Blue Swamp Wallaby Grass & Curly Sedge. Access habitat, monitor and record 3 fauna species - Growling Grass Frog, Golden Sun Moth, Plains Wanderer.
Project Title: Monitoring and adaptive management on the Longwood Plains
Grant: $34,000
Proponent: Trust for Nature
Project Description:
This project aims to develop a set of standardised monitoring methods that will be used to assess the success of the ongoing Longwood Plains Biodiversity Project, and which could be used for other such landscape projects. The project will also establish some management trials as part of the monitoring program.
Project Title: The protection of threatened fish of the Cape Range Karst System, North West Cape, Western Australia
Grant: $22,260
Proponent: WA Speleological Group Inc
Project Description:
This project will protect two species of threatened subterranean fish (blind gudgeon and blind eel) from the potential disease impacts and habitat competition from introduced exotic guppies in a number of caves of the North West Cape Karst system. The project will include the trial of a number of fish eradication techniques including fishouts and fish traps, followed by the monitoring of the effectives of these techniques. The project will also instigate an educational program that will use the blind gudgeon and blind eel as the flagship species for protecting the proposed nominated Ramsar site of Cape Range Karst system and its associated threatened ecological communities. In addition, the project will monitor the groundwater quality and quantity and key locations within the karst system that are known habitat for both species. This information is essential in understanding the interconnectedness of the groundwater system and the impact of human extraction (given the fast growing residential and tourism population and increased demands on groundwater resources).
Project Title: Securing the Future of Flatback Turtles - Pretty Pool Beach
Grant: $38,845
Proponent: Care for Hedland Environmental Association Inc
Project Description:
The Flatback turtle (Natator depressus) is the only species of marine turtle endemic to Australia and it has a significant nesting site along Pretty Pool Beach, Port Hedland. It is classified as vulnerable, with human activities one of the main threatening factors. However, Pretty Pool Beach is suffering from degradation and the turtle rookery is threatened through unrestricted vehicle access. The project will fence the designated turtle rookery area along Pretty Pool Beach to restrict vehicle access and to stabilize the eroding dune system. The project also aims to rationalise existing access to the turtle rookery via designated walkways and use of interpretive signs (English and Kariyarra). It is hoped the long-term outcome will be a reduction in accidental turtle deaths from human impacts, such as beach driving and disturbance of turtles and nests.
Project Title: Multi-species monitoring by Yarnangu on the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, WA
Grant: $33,000
Proponent: Ngaanyatjarra Council (Aboriginal Corporation)
Project Description:
Traditional Owners with high levels of traditional ecological knowledge and skills will update the
Ngaanyatjarra threatened species database by monitoring population and habitat changes and predation levels at bilby, great desert skink and malleefowl sites. Fieldwork will extend into marsupial mole habitat.
Project Title: Threatened Species Management on Aboriginal Lands, North Kimberley
Grant: $38,950
Proponent: Kimberley Land Council
Project Description:
The North Kimberley Biodiversity Hotspot contains significant threatened species and ecological communities. A collaborative activity is planned between traditional owners and government research agencies with a mandate to manage these species. The activity will take place on Aboriginal land and involve baseline surveys and on-ground actions (fire management).
Project Title: Signage and Baiting in the Shire of Dalwallinu for Malleefowl Conservation
Grant: $16,500
Proponent: North Central Malleefowl Preservation Group
Project Description:
The Shire of Dalwallinu is known to contain populations of the nationally vulnerable Malleefowl species. This project is consistent with the National Recovery Plan as it aims to conserve Malleefowl through increasing public awareness and reducing the impacts of introduced predators.
Project Title: Freshwater Sawfish - Conserving the Fitzroy River population
Grant: $23,440
Proponent: Kimberley Land Council
Project Description:
We would like to use pop-off satellite tags on larger juveniles to determine their movements through
King Sound and possibly the Pilbara coast, where they will mature. This may also lead to the identification of important breeding grounds and in determining habitats that are critical and protected areas. We would like to develop further education information for community about monitoring of sawfish. We would like to see an incentives program in place as reward for communicating tag numbers, length of fish as well as locality of where the fish was caught. The incentive for information exchange would be lures. Many of the species impacted upon are primarily impacted upon at these two sites and on the majority of occasions people don’t want to catch sawfish – they are looking to catch Barramundi which is more likely to be caught on a lure, this would be an avoidance for sawfish as they are bottom eaters.
By offering the lures as incentives we would hope to perpetuate a shift in the use of technology in fishing which would preclude the sawfish.
Project Title: Conserving Malleefowl on Habitat Remnants in Western Australia
Proponent: Yongergnow Inc
Project Description:
This project focuses on the needs of two communities for Malleefowl conservation. Merredin, where conservation efforts are limited and little is known of the species and Ongerup, with a community active in conservation, but requiring further direction to maximise their management strategies.
Project Title: Community Driven Recovery of Threatened Mammals at Useless Loop (Shark Bay
World Heritage Area)
Grant: $10,000
Proponent: Useless Loop Community Biosphere Project Group Inc
Project Description:
Heirisson Prong (a peninsula fenced to exclude exotic foxes and feral cats) is located in the Shark Bay
World Heritage Area and provides habitat for 3 species of nationally-listed threatened mammals. These mammals include the burrowing bettong, western barred bandicoot and the greater stick nest rat.
These species have been reintroduced to the area through a CSIRO reintroduction program that commenced in 1989. The local community of Useless Loop (a small mining town of 80 residents) has played a major role in the management of Heirisson prong, including maintaining the barrier fence and controlling predators. The Useless Loop Community Biosphere Project Group is seeking funding to continue mammal recovery efforts including predator control, community education and population monitoring. This project is crucial, as at present the community requires assistance to fill the gap created by the withdrawal of CSIRO from the project (as of June 30 2005) and new partnerships and capacity building is required to maintain the long-term community driven recovery of these species.
Project Title: Black Cocky - Awareness and Threat Abatement in Southern Forests WA
Grant: $11,038
Proponent: Warren Catchments Council (Manjimup Land Conservation District Committee)
Project Description:
There has been significant community concern and landholder anguish regarding the Black Cockatoos.
This project will assist some direct local actions as a part of the statewide recovery plan. The existing catchment groups will coordinate and encourage more volunteers through an awareness campaign to participate in breeding site surveys. Upper Lefroy Orchardists will trial non-destructive scare techniques.