Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...
Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...
Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...
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Fragmentation<br />
MIG indicator 1.1.e: Fragmentation <strong>of</strong> forest types (UNE, LNE, Southern regions)<br />
Indicator 1.2: Extent <strong>of</strong> connectivity in the forest l<strong>and</strong>scape in relation to threatened species, habitat, general retained habitat<br />
on private l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> conservation reserves (Eden region)<br />
In <strong>2007</strong>–08, two community partnership programs known as Kosciuszko to Coast <strong>and</strong> Slopes<br />
to Summit were successfully established on the southern section <strong>of</strong> the great eastern<br />
ranges in NSW.<br />
Data <strong>and</strong> interpretation<br />
Fragmentation continues to result in the listing <strong>of</strong> species, ecological communities <strong>and</strong> populations<br />
under the provisions <strong>of</strong> the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act).<br />
In <strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong>, there were 11 species, one population, <strong>and</strong> one ecological community occurring in the<br />
FA regions that were newly listed on the TSC Act. Of the eleven newly listed species, two (both<br />
species <strong>of</strong> orchid) have habitat fragmentation or clearing <strong>of</strong> vegetation listed as threatening processes,<br />
as does the newly listed endangered population <strong>of</strong> greater gliders (Petauroides volans (Kerr 1792)) <strong>and</strong><br />
the endangered ecological community, Tablel<strong>and</strong> Basalt Forest. Additionally, the threatened status <strong>of</strong><br />
two species, the orange-bellied parrot Neophema chrysogaster, <strong>and</strong> the North Rothbury persoonia<br />
Persoonia pauciflora P.H, both <strong>of</strong> which also list habitat fragmentation <strong>and</strong> clearing <strong>of</strong> vegetation as<br />
known threats, was upgraded from endangered to critically endangered.<br />
The Great Eastern Ranges (Alps to Atherton) Initiative (GERI) continued in <strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong>. This initiative,<br />
which aims to increase protections between reserved ecosystems <strong>and</strong> other retained habitats along<br />
more than 2800 km <strong>of</strong> the great eastern ranges <strong>of</strong> Australia from Walhalla in Victoria to Atherton in far<br />
north Queensl<strong>and</strong>, made several advances in <strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong>. Two community partnership pilot programs<br />
known as Kosciuszko to Coast <strong>and</strong> Slopes to Summit were successfully established on the southern<br />
section <strong>of</strong> the great eastern ranges in NSW as part <strong>of</strong> the Alps to Atherton Initiative. The programs<br />
involve 15 partner organisations including DECC <strong>and</strong> Forests NSW. Kosciuszko to Coast aims to<br />
reconnect isolated woodl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> grassl<strong>and</strong>s between Kosciuszko <strong>and</strong> Namadgi NPs <strong>and</strong> the coastal<br />
forests <strong>of</strong> the far south coast. Slopes to Summit aims to link natural areas between the western slopes<br />
near Albury <strong>and</strong> Kosciuszko NP.<br />
Projects taking place under these programs include sponsoring <strong>and</strong> supporting those managing<br />
l<strong>and</strong> for conservation; establishing voluntary conservation agreements <strong>and</strong> covenants; <strong>and</strong><br />
whole-<strong>of</strong>-paddock habitat restoration. They provide a model for three additional partnership<br />
programs that will begin operating in the upper Hunter River, Southern Highl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Border<br />
Ranges regions in <strong>2008</strong>–2009.<br />
More details <strong>and</strong> updates on this initiative can be found at:<br />
www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ger/index.htm<br />
NSW FOREST AGREEMENTS AND INTEGRATED FORESTRY OPERATIONS APPROVALS 13