Kangaroo Managment Plan - Territory and Municipal Services - ACT ...

INTRODUCTION
While a sound scientific basis is essential for the kangaroo management plan, it is a policy document
that covers a range of matters for some of which there is not an established body of scientifically
based knowledge at present (e.g. the effectiveness of road warning signs and publicity about the
risk of motor vehicle – kangaroo collisions) or which involve ethical considerations (e.g. kangaroo
and human welfare) that lie wholly or partly outside of the framework of scientific analysis.
1.3 Purpose and outline of the Kangaroo
Management Plan
PURPOSE
The purpose of the kangaroo management plan is to set out the approach to be adopted
in maintaining wild populations of eastern grey kangaroos in the ACT while managing their
environmental, economic and social impacts and ensuring their welfare. Particular consideration
is given to managing kangaroo grazing pressure on native grassy ecosystems in the context of
grazing pressure from all herbivores.
GOALS
The goals of kangaroo management in the ACT are to:
· maintain populations of kangaroos as a significant part of the fauna of the ‘bush capital’ and
a component of the grassy ecosystems of the Territory
· manage and minimise the environmental, economic and social impacts of those kangaroo
populations on other biota, grassy ecosystems, ACT residents and visitors.
To achieve the purpose of the plan:
Chapter 1: Sets out why a management plan for eastern grey kangaroos is required in the ACT
and outlines key considerations and issues.
Chapter 2: Outlines ACT legislation, land management responsibilities and the relationship of the
kangaroo management plan to other plans, agreements and strategies.
Chapter 3: Considers ACT kangaroo management in the broader context of the distribution of
eastern grey kangaroos. The chapter outlines the biology and ecology of eastern grey kangaroos
and the grassy ecosystems that are their main habitat, as well as kangaroo impacts on those
ecosystems. This chapter also includes economic and social impacts.
Chapter 4: Sets out principles and policies to guide kangaroo management in the ACT regardless
of land tenure or location.
Chapter 5: Focuses on managing environmental impacts on different land areas in the ACT. The
chapter commences with a brief outline of an interactive grazing model for kangaroos in the ACT.
Chapter 6: Focuses on managing economic and social impacts of free-ranging kangaroos with
particular consideration of rural lands, horse paddocks, commercial kangaroo harvesting, and
vehicle–kangaroo collisions.
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