Bimblebox Nature Refuge

Desert Uplands Central-west Queensland

Bimblebox Nature Refuge (or ‘Glen Innes’)Bimblebox or Poplar Box = Eucalyptus populnea

Location of Bimblebox Nature Refuge, 500km west of Rockhampton, 50km north-west of Alpha

Bimblebox History• In 2000 the property was bought to save it from clearing

with combined money of concerned families, plus $286,000 of federal National Reserve System funding

• In 2003 the Bimblebox Nature Refuge Agreement was signed between the land owners and the state government, to ‘permanently protect’ the property’s conservation values

• Nature Refuges are classified as IUCN VI* and counted towards Australia’s protected area targets

http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/nature_refuges/index.html

• There are extensive conditions under both the National Reserve System (Commonwealth Govt) and Nature Refuge (Queensland Govt) Programs.

• For example, there ‘must be no destruction of any native plants’.

• For example, The Minister must be informed if there are any ‘threats’ to the refuge.

Obligations by owners of Bimblebox

What’s so good about Bimblebox?

• 7,912 hectares, over 95% is remnant woodland and the remainder is being allowed to re-grow

• It is one of a small number of conservation areas in the biodiverse yet under-studied and under-protected Desert Uplands

• Is rich in biodiversity –

birds, reptiles, flora

• 138 bird species sighted

since 2003

Species Conservation StatusBirds    Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis Conservation Significance for Desert UplandsBlack Falcon Falco subniger Conservation Significance for Desert UplandsBush Stone-Curlew Burhinus grallarius Conservation Significance for Desert UplandsSquatter Pigeon Geophaps scripta scripta Vulnerable (EPBC)Brown Treecreeper Climactereris picumnus Conservation Significance for Desert UplandsSpeckled Warbler Chthonicola sagittata Conservation Significance for Desert UplandsInland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis Conservation Significance for Desert UplandsBlack-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis Near Threatened (DERM); Conservation Significance for

Desert UplandsHooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata Conservation Significance for Desert UplandsGrey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis Conservation Significance for Desert UplandsGreat Egret Ardea alba Marine; Migratory(CAMBA, JAMBA)Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus Marine; Migratory(JAMBA)Black-throated Finch (southern) Poephila cincta Endangered (EPBC)     Mammals    Common Dunnart Sminthopsis murina Conservation Significance for Desert UplandsSpectacled Hare Wallaby Lagorchestes conspicillatus Conservation Significance for Desert Uplands

Rufous Bettong Aepyprymnus rufescens Conservation Significance for Desert UplandsKoala Phascolarctos cinereus Conservation Significance for Desert Uplands     Reptiles    Mulga Snake (King Brown Snake) Pseudechis australis Conservation Significance for Desert Uplands

     Butterflies    Wanderer Butterfly Danaus plexippus Migratory (Bonn)     Plants    Large-podded Tick-trefoil Desmodium macrocarpum Near Threatened (DERM)

Significant species at Bimblebox

Biodiversity at Bimblebox

Silver-leaved Ironbark woodland and Spinifex understorey

Poplar Box (Bimblebox) woodland and native grasses

Mixed Eucalyptus woodland and native grasses

Eucalypt woodland, native shrubs and grasses

Black orchid

Migratory Rainbow Bee-eater

White-necked Heron

Brown Falcon

Red-tailed black cockatoo

Nobby Dragon

Pale-headed snake

On the boundary of Bimblebox

A view over the boundary

Why Protect Bimblebox?

• Only 2.3% of the whole Desert Uplands bioregion is protected in conservation estates, and is underrepresented in the NRS

• The Desert Uplands bioregion contains nationally endangered plants, birds, reptiles, mammals and fish.

Desert Uplands

http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs/science/bioregion-framework/ibra/index.html

Why protect Bimblebox?• Is a much needed example of cattle grazing co-

existing with biodiversity

• Innovative management, focussed on optimising biodiversity through strategic cattle grazing of exotic pasture grasses

• Hosts multiple cutting edge landscape scale research projects run by various agencies

1. CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems – Biodiversity Monitoring in Desert Uplands.

Research at Bimblebox

This programme is part of a much larger project assessing the relationship between the grazing practices and biodiversity.

From the information we gather in our surveys we hope to be able to provide a series or recommendations, or ‘tools’, for graziers who may wish to manage for biodiversity on some shape or form on their land.

2. Queensland Herbarium & Land and Water Australia Fire Management Project

Research at Bimblebox

Established with co-funding from Land and Water Australia and the Queensland EPA in 2003.

The project seeks to weigh the costs and benefits of using fire in conjunction with pastoralism. The project will look at the effects of fire on the structure of woodlands, their biodiversity, and pastoral production.

3. Qld DPI&F - Two projects on woodland monitoring and grazing carrying capacity

Research at Bimblebox

Developing Long-term Carrying Capacity models for the Desert Uplands

Understanding change in Queensland’s grazed woodlands (TRAPS woodland monitoring).

4. Birds Australia – Trends in Avian Diversity

Research at Bimblebox

Fourteen long term bird monitoring sites have been established at ‘Glen Innes’ [Bimblebox Nature Refuge] in the intact eucalypt woodlands to monitor trends in avian diversity due to climate change and land use.

A significant outcome will be the assessment of the potential for birds as surrogates for monitoring biodiversity and ecological health on a landscape scale.

Waratah Coal’s proposed mine

• 52% Bimblebox open cut coal mine, remainder long-wall underground coal mines

• The EIS claims that ‘the project will not be viable without coal reserves under the BNR’– In other words, according to the EIS, either the

mine goes ahead or Bimblebox Nature Refuge remains intact

• Anticipates extracting 40 Mt of thermal coal per year – will be one of the largest in the southern hemisphere

• Over the life of the mine the total emissions (Scope 1 and 2) would be in the order of 150 Mt– Australia’s total emissions are around 545 Mtpa

• Scope 3 (from coal burning) not calculated in EIS, despite contributing more than 90% total climate impact

Waratah Coal’s proposed mine

Impacts to threatened species on Bimblebox

• Confirmed sighting of ‘endangered’ (EPBC) Black-throated Finch (Poephila cincta cincta) (BTF) on Bimblebox Nature Refuge in May 2011 by Birds Australia

“It is apparent from the review of existing information that there have been no systematic or regular surveys in regards to BTF in the Desert Uplands, with most data derived opportunistically and descriptive in nature. In considering the information available at the time of preparing this report, it is clear that there is insufficient information for adequate conservation planning for BTF [in] the bioregion” (Appendix 10A, p.21)

From the EIS:

• Offset area to be legally “secured” by a Nature Refuge Agreement…– Nothing to stop this offset to be cleared in the future

e.g Newlands Nature Refuge established to offset Newlands coal mine (Xstrata), but proposed extension to mine will destroy Nature Refuge

• No evidence that appropriate offset areas are available– Management needed to obtain ‘ecological equivalence’ of

offset area– It took over 10 years of dedicated management to restore

undergrowth to Bimblebox

Impacts to Bimblebox & areas around rail and port to be “offset”

Mining & Exploration at Bimblebox

• To date, 20 exploration holes have been drilled on Bimblebox.

• Waratah has built roads on Bimblebox without our consent, have caused erosion on roads and have helped spread the invasive Buffel Grass.

• No mining has occurred on Nature Refuges, to date, but in August 2009, Dept Environment and Resource Management (DERM) approved an additional 100 exploration holes on Bimblebox.

• We were given no notice of this approval.

• At the same time, we purchased infrastructure to improve management of cattle to protect the biodiversity values of Bimblebox.

Mining & Exploration at Bimblebox

• While Queensland legislation has put an end to clearing of remnant vegetation by landholders – this does not apply to mining companies– Mineral & resource developments exempt from Vegetation

Management Act 1999

• There is no security for landholders who are trying to do the right thing by the land

• Current legislation does not protect significant conservation areas from destruction from mining

Issues

• Landholders generally have very few rights in the face of mining interests

• The mine will also be in the recharge zone of the Great Artesian Basin. The impact on this and local water tables is unknown

• The threat to Bimblebox Nature Refuge is not from the landholders but purely from government legislation

More issues

QLD coal expansion

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/exploration-threatens-to-cover-state/story-e6freoof-1226140323300

• Over 30% PA’s in Qld by 2020 expected to be nature refuges....• Relies on landholder trust• Nature refuges = Not protected!• Growth in PA’s (largely through offsets)...but what are we losing?

Qld Biodiversity Strategy (2011)http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/biodiversity/biodiversity-strategy.html

• Wrote to Queensland & Commonwealth Ministers• Submission to EPBC Act• Petition to the Queensland Government.• Hosted former Premier Beattie’s visit to Bimblebox.• Working with Mackay Conservation Group, Human

Society International, Capricornia Conservation Council, 6 Degrees etc..

What we are doing…

• Police Waratah’s activities & report breaches to DERM.

• Submission on Waratah’s Draft Term of Reference

• Letter to the IUCN• Submission to Qld Draft Biodiversity Strategy• Media – newspaper, radio etc..

What we are doing…

While working 2 properties & a family…

Nature Refuge News, Aug 2007

“Today over 560,800 hectares of some the world’s most biologically diverse areas are protected in Nature Refuges”

“All 242 nature refuge landholders have one thing in common – they know their patch is worth protecting forever”

Nature Refuge News, Aug 2007

Nature Refuge News, Nov 2007

Hugo Spooner, Avocet Nature Refuge, Springsure

• Avocet contains 1 of only 3 populations of endangered Bridled nail-tail wallaby (Flashjack) http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2008/08/flashjacks-chan.html

“Our family, 10 years ago put every available last dollar into buying the place to save it from bulldozers. Then in securing it as a Nature Refuge, we were charged by both federal and state governments with the responsibility to restore and preserve.

That’s our brief and we intend to keep it and if government and industry cannot recognise its value, then we who do, must show them this place means as much to us as coal does to them.”

Ian Hoch, Bimblebox.

Public submissions to the EIS close 7th November

More info: www.bimblebox.org

Thank you for listeningAny questions?

Contact: Paola Cassoni bimblebox@gmail.com