DARLING RIVERINE PLAINS BIOREGION Background Report

16/08/02 Darling Riverine Plains Bioregion Background Report
landscapes, such as unique lithologies or mountain ranges, that may result in the evolution of
centres of endemism for flora or vertebrate fauna.
8.4.4 Areas of high biodiversity
The patchy distribution of biodiversity data and data collection in the DRP makes it
impossible to assess accurately the levels of biodiversity across the entire DRP. Most
assessments have taken place in core blocks of remnant vegetation in the east of the
bioregion, and diverse areas in the west of the bioregion where clearing has not had a great
impact on biodiversity. The Macquarie Marshes and Narran Lakes wetlands appear to
represent areas of high biodiversity but there have been no comparative analyses enabling
areas of high biodiversity within the DRP to be defined.
8.5 WILDERNESS VALUES IN THE DRP(NSW)
The Wilderness Act, 1987 defines wilderness as an area of land that:
(a) with its plant and animal communities, is in a state that has not been substantially
modified by humans and their works or is capable of being restored to such a state;
(b) is of a sufficient size to make its maintenance in such a state feasible; and
(c) is capable of providing opportunities for solitude and appropriate self-reliant recreation.
As outlined in the Wilderness Act, 1987, wilderness areas are to be managed so as to:
(a) restore (if applicable) and to protect the unmodified state of the area and its plant and
animal communities;
(b) preserve the capacity of the area to evolve in the absence of significant human
interference; and
(c) permit opportunities for solitude and appropriate self-reliant recreation.
The National Wilderness Inventory uses four indicators of wilderness quality: remoteness
from settlement; remoteness from access; aesthetic naturalness; and biophysical naturalness.
Knight (1998) identified 14 areas in a study of the wilderness quality of the Western Division
of New South Wales. None of these fell within the DRP. This assessment did not include the
portion of the DRP bioregion east of the Western Division administrative boundary (Map 9).
With the extensive modification of land that has occurred in the eastern portion of the DRP
since European settlement there is limited opportunity for any of this area to satisfy the
requirements of the Wilderness Act.
8.6 SUMMARY AND PROPOSED FURTHER WORK
8.6.1 Summary
Less than one percent of the DRP is managed in conservation reserves and a variety of other
off-reserve conservation procedures are in operation within this bioregion. At present, the
lack of detailed information makes it difficult to identify specific areas of high biodiversity or
centres of endemism in this bioregion. Three nationally significant biological refugia have
been identified in the western portion of the bioregion but more areas may be important at the
bioregional level.
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