a case for retaining all crown lands and other public lands with high conservation value

7/31/2019 A Case for Retaining All Crown Lands and Other Public Lands With High Conservation Value

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A case for retaining all Crown and other public lands with high

conservation value.

David Carr Stringybark Ecological 11/10/2102IMMINENT THREATS TO THE CONSERVATION VALUES OF TSRS AND OTHER PUBLIC LANDS............. 4

ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE THREATS ........................................................................................................ 7

THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES OCCURRING IN THE BORDER RIVERS-GWYDIR CMA

AREA. .................................................................................................................................................................. 9

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................ 13

In northern NSW, and likely elsewhere, high conservation-value vegetation on

public lands is under threat from changes to grazing regimes by the LivestockHealth and Pest Authority, and from weed invasion. In this heavily cleared

landscape, Travelling Stock Routes (TSRs) and other public lands support large,

areas of Threatened Ecological Communities, in good condition and which

provide connectivity through the landscape for the movement of livestock.

Crown Lands in NSW include showgrounds, cemeteries, public recreation

reserves, travelling stock routes, and stock reserves. Other public lands include

road reserves and parklands managed by local government and railway

corridors reserves.

In areas of the state where agriculture, mining and urban development are the

principal land uses, there is often a low percentage of the land reserved in

National Parks, State Forests and other conservation reserves. More than 200

years of changed land management, including intensive grazing, farming, urban

development, altered fire regimes, loss of many mammals and birds and

introduction of weeds and feral animals, has led to significant declines in many

ecological communities. This decline is in both extent and condition.

In the western portion of the area of NSW managed by the Border Rivers-Gwydir

Catchment Management Authority, eight ecological communities are listed as

endangered or critically endangered under the Commonwealth Environment

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). A further seven ecological

communities are listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act

(1995). Many of the remaining remnants of these communities in good condition

are located on Crown and public lands. Most of these are located on Travelling

Stock Routes and Reserves (TSRs).


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Figure 2: Semi-evergreen Vine Thicket on a TSR north-west of Croppa Creek

Figure 3: Natural Grassland on a TSR south east of Crooble


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The principal reason that the ecological communities on TSRs remain in goodcondition is the pattern and frequency of grazing used on them. Traditionally,

TSRs have been grazed intermittently, with long periods of rest between grazing.

Although some sites have been grazed very heavily, this has usually been for

short periods as travelling stock move through during droughts.

This type of grazing pattern has been shown to favour the maintenance of high

species diversity and to allow natural regeneration of trees, shrubs, grasses and

forbs.

In highly-cleared landscapes, such as where broad-acre cropping occurs, TSRstake on a conservation value disproportionate to their size. These sites provide

refugia for plant and animal species, which are unable to adapt to the altered

conditions provided by cropping fields or permanently grazed sites. Recent

surveys by Phil Spark for the BRG CMA in the Millie-Boggy and Gurley sub-

catchments has shown that a high diversity of fauna species, including rare and

significant species, are persisting in the landscape by exploiting TSRs for habitatand dispersal.

Other studies, notably connectivity mapping by OEH, has shown that in the

western and central parts of the Catchment, TSRs provide critical connectivityfor fauna to disperse for range expansion and in response to threats such as

drought, fire, flood and ultimately, climate change. In this respect TSRs are

critical infrastructure to mitigate the effects of climate change on biodiversity in

NSW.

Surveys conducted by Stringybark Ecological for the BRG CMA on TSRs in the

central half of the catchment (Carr and Mackinnon, 2010) have shown that whilemany thousands of hectares of TSRs and roadsides have been degraded by

weeds, grazing and disturbance; there are still many thousands of hectares with

high conservation value, without weeds or with manageable levels of weeds. In

particular, TSRs on the western parts of the Slopes and on the Plains have a

predominantly-native grassy gound layer, with strips of grassy weeds along road

edges.

In this landscape, all grassy ecosystems, particularly where native richness is

high, must be considered of very high conservation value. The landscape is

predominantly cleared for cropping, and remaining grazing areas are regularly

grazed, with subsequent reduction in biomass and species diversity.

Imminent threats to the conservation values of TSRs and other public lands

Throughout NSW, ecosystems are under threat from a range of sources including

ongoing clearing, changes to land-use intensity, weeds, feral animals and

urbanisation. Within the BRG CMA region, there are two imminent threats to

many of the high conservation value communities on public lands:

1. Changes to grazing practices on TSRs. In the North West LHPA area,many thousands of hectares of TSRs are changing from occasional use by

travelling stock to intensive and permanent grazing through the issuing of

Annual Grazing Permits. These TSRs are being permanently fenced. The


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change of grazing is likely to result in significant changes in the structure

and composition of the ecological communities on the TSRs.

2. Weeds threaten to permanently destroy the conservation values on manyTSRs throughout the region. Over the last 20 years many ecological

communities have become locally extinct and greatly reduced in areabecause of weeds. The most threatening weeds are exotic perennial

grasses including Coolatai Grass, African Love Grass, Green Panic, Buffel

Grass, Johnson Grass, Serrated Tussock, Chilean Needle Grass and Whisky

Grass. Lippia is a significant non-grass weed of wetter areas.

Change of grazing. In the last 12 months, the North West LHPA have mailed

flyers to ratepayers asking, Do you know of a TSR that is currently not used?.Landholders are invited to apply for an Annual Grazing Permit on an unusedTSR. This action is driven by the review of LHPA and a need to generate income

from TSRs to maintain the LHPA budgets.

Throughout the region many TSRs which have only ever had travelling stock are

now being fenced and permanently stocked (see photos below). Fences have

been placed on TSRs around Moree, Pallamallawa, Warialda, Mungindi,

Weemalah, Garah, Ashley, Caroda, Bingara and other areas. Many of these fenced

areas cover significant stands of Endangered Ecological Communities, despite

this being clearly in breach of the EPBC Act. For any new activity the Act asks, Is

the proposed action likely to have a significant impact on a Matter of National

Environmental Significance? Matters of environmental significance include

endangered species and ecological communities. Similar actions by LHPA in

Central Western NSW have been deemed to be controlled actions requiring

referral under the EPBC Act

(http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012

-6366-assessment-approach.pdf). The North West LHPA therefore must refer

under the EPBC Act, any sites to be fenced and leased under Annual Grazing

permits and which have threatened ecological communities or threatened flora

and fauna.

One of the features of a grassy woodland that is infrequently grazed, is a dense

and diverse ground layer, with a high number of tussock grass and other species.

Many reptiles, mammals, birds, amphibians and invertebrates depend on this

dense, diverse ground layer in order to survive. The vegetation in surroundingagricultural land is usually grazed or replaced by exotic pasture or crops.

Changing the grazing intensity and pattern of the TSR sites would permanently

alter the composition and structure of the ground layer vegetation, resulting in

altered habitat that is less suitable for many of these fauna species.

The recent announcement by the NSW State Government to merge the

Catchment Management Authorities, LHPA and DPI extension services, indicates

that it is unlikely that LHPA will need to generate income from TSRs to

supplement their operating budgets into the future. It would be a tragedy if large

areas of high conservation value land was significantly degraded in the last few

years of LHPA operation.
http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdf


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Grassy weeds continue to expand their range, particularly along roads and stock

routes, where vehicles, slashers and livestock move the seeds. Around the


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Inverell, Warialda, Graman, Delungra, Tingha and Bingara areas, many thousands

of hectares of Threatened Ecological Communities have been lost to Coolatai

Grass. Box Gum Grassy Woodlands and derived native grasslands, Natural

Grasslands on Alluvial Soils and other grassy woodlands are the main ecological

communities affected.

Along the Newell Highway, these weeds have aggressively invaded large areas of

Brigalow, Weeping Myall Woodland, Carbeen forest, Natural Grasslands, Semi-

evergreen Vine Thicket, Belah Forest and Bimble Box Grassy Woodland.

Most of these weeds are not listed as noxious weeds or weeds of national

significance (WONS), so there is no obligation to control them. While

landowners, LHPA, local government, weeds authorities and the CMA attempt

control of noxious weeds and WONS, there is a limited and poorly coordinated

effort to control the other, more serious environmental weeds.

The BRG CMA, in partnership with LHPA, Crown Lands and local government, iscurrently running a project in approximately 800ha of TSR around Bellata, to

manage these environmental weeds. This project targets areas of significant

conservation value, where grassy weeds are still manageable. This approach

commits funds for 3 years to weed control, which should be sufficient to destroy

existing grassy weeds and to deplete the soil seedbank.

There is a good body of evidence for methods to control many of these weeds.

The University of New England, the Weeds CRC, Northern Inland Weeds Action

Committee (NIWAC) and Department of Primary Industries have conducted

research and field trials to control these weeds. The methods are tested and

practical. What is lacking is the funding and the regualtory environment tocontrol these weeds in areas where they threaten to spread to high conservation

value vegetation.

Actions to address these threats

The following actions are required to mitigate these threats to Threatened

Ecological Communities and Species on Public Lands in the region:

Immediate cessation of the granting of annual grazing permits on TSRs

likely to support TECs and threatened species,

Examine financial viability of North West LHPA and ensure local staffretain jobs,

Referral by LHPA to the Minister of all activities likely to have a significantimpact on TECs and threatened species, including fencing and converting

to annual grazing permits.

Accurately assess all public lands to identify TECs, threatened species,

threats and management options.

In partnership with Crown Lands, establish a Regional Conservation

Reserve over Crown Lands with TECs, to be managed by a Reserve Trust.

As part of this approach compensate LHPA for lost income from grazing

leases until January 2014.


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Develop and install signage to alert users of public lands to the presenceof TECs and the Regional Conservation Reserve.

The Border Rivers-Gwydir, Western and Namoi CMAs, in partnership with

Crown Lands, LHPA and the Reserve Trust, should develop a management

plan for reserves covering weeds, feral animals, threat management,bushfire mitigation and maintenance.


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junction with the Watercourse Rd and along the Carnarvon Hwy near Ashley and

Garah.

We saw many examples of fences about to be erected around TECs such as

Weeping Myall near Mallawa and Natural Grasslands near Ashley.

Many grasses and ground layer forbs and chenopods are just beginning to flower

in ungrazed areas, but in fenced and stocked areas, no flowering was evident.

While some areas have grassy weeds such as Buffel and Coolatai Grass and dense

stands of Mimosa Bush (Vachellia farnesiana), the greatest and most immediate

threat to all of these communities is the change of grazing intensity as a result of

Annual Grazing Permits.

Update Reports from landholders concerned about set stocking of TSRs

Landholders and other concerned individuals have been contacting the Border

Rivers Gwydir CMA in recent months. They have identified the following areas ashaving been recently fenced and grazed:


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Threatened Ecological Communities occurring in the Border Rivers- Gwydir

CMA area.

Communities listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity

Conservation Act, 1999.

Threatened Ecological Communities of the Border Rivers-GwydirCatchments

Brigalow: Acacia harpophylladominant and co-dominant

National Threat Status: Endangered

Characteristics: Canopy dominated by Acaciaharpophyllabut co-dominant species such as belah(Casuarina cristata) may also be present. Highdiversity of grasses, chenopods and shrubs. Occursas either forest or woodland to 20 m tall.

Box Gum Grassy Woodland: White Box-YellowBox-Blakelys Red Gum Woodland and DerivedNative Grassland

National Threat status: Critically Endangered

Characteristics: Canopy dominated by eucalypts(E. albens, E. melliodora, E. blakelyi). Ground layerdominated by perennial tussock grasses with a highdiversity of herbs. Woodland to 25 m tall. Whentrees are removed it is described as a derivednative grassland.

Weeping Myall Woodland


Characteristics: Canopy dominated by WeepingMyall (Acacia pendula). Ground layer dominatedby perennial tussock grasses and chenopods with

a scattering of shrubs. Woodland to 12 m tall.

Semi-Evergreen Vine Thicket: Semi-evergreenvine thickets of the Brigalow Belt (North and South)and Nandewar Bioregions


Characteristics: A semi-arid form of dry rainforestdominated by a diversity of non-eucalypt trees and

shrubs such as Native Olive (Notolaeamicrocarpa), Wilga (Geijera parviflora) and Peach


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Some ecological communities are listed as threatened in NSW, but are not under theCommonwealth EPBC Act.

Cadellia pentastylis(Ooline) community in the Nandewar and BrigalowBelt South bioregion. This endangered community is a type of semi-evergreen vine thicket or dry rainforest dominated by the rare Ooline tree.

Carbeen Open Forest community in the Darling Riverine Plains andBrigalow Belt South Bioregions. This endangered community is a type ofwoodland or open forest dominated by Carbeen (Corymbia tessellaris)growing on sandy soils in floodplains.

Carex Sedgeland of the New England Tableland, Nandewar, BrigalowBelt South and NSW North Coast Bioregions. This endangered communityis a wetland community dominated by sedges including Carexspp.

Inland Grey Box Woodland in the Riverina, NSW South Western Slopes,Cobar Peneplain, Nandewar and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions. Thisendangered woodland is dominated by Eucalyptus microcarpaand other

eucalypts, with grassy understorey.

Howell Shrublands in the New England Tableland and NandewarBioregions. This endangered community consists of a low shrub dominatedon granite outcrops. It can be found mostly near Tingha and Inverell.

McKies Stringybark/Blackbutt OpenForest in the Nandewar and NewEngland Tableland Bioregions. This endangered community is an openforest with shrubby understorey. It is dominated by E. mckieana, E. andrewsiiand Callitris endlicheri.

Ribbon Gum - Mountain Gum - Snow Gum Grassy Forest/Woodland ofthe New England Tableland Bioregion. This endangered community is a

high altitude woodland or forest with grassy understorey dominated by E.viminalis, E. dalrympleanaand E. pauciflora.

Additional information

Flow Chart for referring actions under the EPBCAct.

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/assessments/pubs/flow-chart.pdf

Referral decision for proposed change to permanent grazing by Central

West LHPA on Golden Hwy

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-

6366-assessment-approach.pdf

Spark, P (2011) Fauna survey report for the Bellata-Millie-Gurley TSR (Draft).

Unpublished report to the Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management

Authority

Carr, D and Mackinnon, L (2010) Rapid Inspection of Threatened Ecological

Communities on Public Lands in the Border Rivers Gwydir CMA Catchments.Unpublished report to the Border Rivers Gwydir Catchment Management
http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/2012/6366/2012-6366-assessment-approach.pdf


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Authority. [A second report covering the Tycannah, Croppa Creek, Mungindi and

Collarenebri areas is in preparation].

a case for retaining all crown lands and other public lands with high conservation value

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