Enhancing Biodiversity Hotspots Along Western Queensland Stock ...

Site 7. Morven – Tregonning Road
STOCK ROUTE NUMBER: M570
PRIORITY SPECIES: Plants:
womal (Acacia maranoensis).
RATING: BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT
SHIRE COUNCIL: MURWEH SHIRE
This site is on a back road that is rated as an active stock route, but as with many of
these sites it is virtually inactive. The womal trees (Acacia maranoensis) at this site
are scattered over a wide area (Plate 37), but consist of both mature and
regenerating trees. Additionally, there was good connectivity with habitat on adjoining
private land.
Plate 37. Womal (Photo: B. Walsh).
THREATS: The major threats to this site are overgrazing by cattle, habitat
degradation by rabbits, inappropriate fire regime, gravel extraction, and habitat
degradation by weeds. There is also a borrow pit in the middle of a mature stand of
trees.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT: None.
RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that the borrow pit be phased out as
further expansion of the pit will cause more trees to be removed.
Some priority species, such as womal in this area, are often locally common, and it is
recommended that awareness programmes for field-based council staff would be
useful to raise awareness of the value of these species as well as their management
needs.
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