DARLING RIVERINE PLAINS BIOREGION Background Report

16/08/02 Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion Background Report
7.4.2 Grazing
Grazing by domestic sheep and cattle together with the introduced goat and rabbit, and the
increasing numbers of native macropods, has led to a reduction in total plant biomass and an
altered vegetation structure. Continuous grazing can prevent plant regeneration and reduce
seedling recruitment (Benson 1999). Grazing of domestic stock mostly occurs on leasehold
and private land, with grazing permits also being issued by Rural Lands Protection Board and
NSW State Forests for some Crown land.
7.5 SUMMARY AND PROPOSED FURTHER WORK
7.5.1 Summary
Fifteen listed or preliminary determinations of key threatening processes have been made
under the TSC Act and/or EPBC Act which are likely to negatively affect the biodiversity of
the DRP. Another four key threatening processes are listed for fish under the FMA, 1994 by
the Fisheries Scientific Committee. In addition to these threatening processes, weeds and pest
animals, firewood collection, private timber harvesting and grazing are threats to the
biodiversity of the bioregion.
The extent and severity of the majority of these identified threats in the DRP has not been
assessed nor have threat abatement procedures been determined.
7.5.2 Proposed further work
It is necessary that data be gathered for the assessment of conservation values of the DRP,
allowing for a comprehensive bioregional assessment to be undertaken and to assist in the
development of conservation strategies for threatening processes. This requires:
collection of detailed information about listed key threatening processes and their effects
on biodiversity within each province;
development of monitoring strategies for effects of key threatening processes;
definition and mapping of ecosystems at a useful resolution such as across the whole of
the DRP to assist conservation assessment and reservation or restoration of these
endangered ecological communities; and
identification of ecological processes and establishment of studies to examine the function
of ecological processes and their function in the DRP.
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