Caring for country - Northern and Yorke Natural Resources ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

4ground work upper north lower north Walk on the wild orchids side Above: Ecologist Dr Eri Mulder with a couple of sleepy lizards at Buckaringa Sanctuary in Quorn. Photo: Kaz Bowland It is easy to be captivated by the natural beauty of Spring Gully Conservation Park - spanning rocky sandstone outcrops, steep-sided valleys and flowing cascades following heavy rain. Situated south-west of Clare, this picturesque park of 400 hectares was set aside to conserve the State’s westernmost population of red stringybark (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha). It is the only reserve in South Australia featuring this species. However, the area that once provided an abundance of food for the Ngadjuri people prior to European settlement, is also a showcase of diverse grassy woodland with a tapestry of native orchids that flower in Spring. It was on an orchid trail walk about 15 years ago that Elaine van Dijk and her husband, Charlie, fell in love with the park that embraces the meanderings of the Spring Gully Creek and Iron Pot Creek. “I have a passion for preserving our natural resources, and the unique features of the park had an immediate impact on me,” said Elaine, who is now president of the Friends of Spring Gully volunteer group. Rock stars Spotting a yellow-footed rock wallaby is the highlight of the famous ridge-top tours of the spectacular scenery of Arkaroola in the northern Flinders Ranges. Turning off the engine of the Toyota and quietly watching a family of the strikingly beautiful yellow-footed rock wallabies interact with each other, and stare back at you serenely, is a moment you won’t forget. The yellow-footed rock wallaby is now listed as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ by the Australian and South Australian Governments. Getting a glimpse of these macropods that call the mountain ridges of northern South Australia home, is becoming a rare event. But at the Buckaringa Wildlife Sanctuary near Quorn, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy is playing a vital role in helping the colorful wallabies to survive and prosper in semi-arid areas where they live among the steep cliffs, rocky outcrops and nearby caves. The once abundant yellow-footed rock-wallabies have been decimated by intense hunting for the fur trade in the past, their habitats destroyed by goats, sheep and rabbits and fatal attacks from feral cats and foxes. Low numbers and competition from goats are the two most significant ongoing threats that have reduced the species to dangerously low numbers. Colonies once healthy and vigorous, are down to a handful and the little family groups are so isolated from each other that they are extremely vulnerable to regional catastrophic events, loss of genetic diversity and any habitat loss or disturbance. Buckaringa Sanctuary, 30km north of Quorn, covers 2000 ha of the southern Flinders Ranges. It is owned by Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of Australia’s threatened wildlife. Since being acquired by the AWC, Buckaringa has been cleared of feral plants and animals with the help of volunteers and the results are being assessed – with two baseline studies into the flora and fauna. The surveys are being carried out with funding support from Northern and Yorke NRM Board and with the help of dozens of volunteers. Buckaringa wildlife ecologist, Keith Bellchambers said two surveys had been carried out in the past 12 months – the first on fauna and the second on the flora of the wildlife sanctuary. He said the survey results would help AWC come up with better conservation and land management practices. The first fauna survey was completed in late spring 2009 by AWC staff and local volunteers. The survey covered 18 sites and recorded 18 mammal species, 73 bird species, 29 reptiles and a single frog species. The second baseline biodiversity study established a series of vegetation survey and monitoring sites in a range of plant communities that occur on the sanctuary. Native plants were measured for re-growth following the culling of more than 1000 goats. Another important part of the survey was to find out the rate of recovery of areas of the former sheep station that had been contour-furrowed in the past. “Vegetation recovery in these semi-arid areas is a slow process dependent on seasonal conditions and ongoing management of total grazing pressure,” Mr Bellchambers said. AWC owns and manages 21 properties covering more than 2.5 million hectares around the county. Volunteering opportunities for Buckaringa as well as some of its other sanctuaries are outlined on its website at: www. australianwildlife.org Above: White beauty spider-orchid (Caladenia argocalla). Its range is limited to the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills regions, and is listed as Endangered under the Australian EPBC Act and the SA National Parks and Wildlife Act. Photo: Mick Higgins. 6 Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board
4ground work yorke peninsula Once a month, about 15 active members of the group, mostly from surrounding towns of Clare, Saddleworth, Auburn and Watervale, meet at the park for working bees to control weeds, maintain walking trails and organise wild orchid walks to monitor their distribution. The Friends of Spring Gully have received a State NRM community grant to help control pest plants in the park such as briar roses, wild olives, topped lavender, genista, artichokes and milk weed. “The grant will allow us to purchase tools and chemicals to address the weed problem, which is particularly threatening in the waterways,” Elaine said. “The weeds can stifle native species and compete for water and nutrients. It is very timely to receive this funding because the natural fauna and flora of the park is fighting to recover from a succession of drought years and the effects of recent fire.” Elaine said she hoped the purchase of safe, ergonomic tools would encourage other volunteers to help protect “a unique little part of South Australia.” Port Julia Progress Association members (pictured) are striving to live in harmony with their natural surroundings. Photo David Sloper Orroroo School students dig in Greening Port Julia to Pekina Creek revegetation project. Photo: Vanessa Size Port Julia is a small, coastal township on Yorke Peninsula where the residents are striving to live in harmony with their natural surroundings. Only a small proportion of the homes in Port Julia are permanent residences, yet the commitment to care for the natural resources is equally shared by those who live there, and those who come for holidays. Port Julia Progress Association secretary, Kerryn Moses, said regular working bees to remove weeds, collect native seeds and revegetate the surrounds helped to create a strong sense of community. “We know that many people come to relax and enjoy their holidays, so we have to find the right balance between their lifestyle choices and our efforts to protect and enhance the natural assets of the township,” she said. “I think we have done that successfully by making our working bees something of a social occasion that brings people from diverse backgrounds together. In terms of community and environmental outcomes, we are making a difference.” With funding support from the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board, the Port Julia Progress Association is working on a priority project to remove boxthorn and other weeds and revegetate a narrow strip of road reserve that links with an existing coastal reserve and walking trail in front of the town. Stretching about 2km, the reserve features significant trees and understorey, and is an important corridor between two areas of natural scrub that provides habitat for a wide range of native plants and animals. However, weed infestation and grazing, resulting from fences in disrepair, has had a negative impact on the reserve. With NYNRM Board funding, contractors have been employed to remove large boxthorns, and progress so far has been significant. Members of the Progress Association are swinging in behind this effort to collect seeds from local plants, including sheoaks, melaleucas and coastal wattles, to propagate and revegetate the reserve. Fencing repairs are also required. “We have received wonderful support and guidance from David Sloper, the Northern and Yorke NRM Board’s NRM Officer on Yorke Peninsula. “We have also been working to remove pest plants from the areas of coastal shrub that adjoin the reserve and revegetate them with native plants from Trees For Life,” Kerryn said. “If future funding is available, we would like to continue the rehabilitation of this area, extend the walking trail through the reserve, and provide some interpretive signage,” Kerryn said. “Through our working bees, we are protecting and enhancing the natural environment, but also building awareness about issues such as pest plants spreading from home gardens and threatening native habitat.” Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board 7
Page 1 and 2: A publication of the Northern and Y
Page 3 and 4: 4inside this issue 10 From the Pres
Page 5: 4acting local Freshwater network Co
Page 9 and 10: 4feature Good breeding The Mallee f
Page 11 and 12: 4feature Northern and Yorke Natural
Page 13 and 14: 4feature Jackie O’Reilly at home
Page 15 and 16: 4feature All hands on Althorpe They
Page 17 and 18: 4feature Plan bee Bill Nicholas rep
Page 19 and 20: 4feature Participants considered a
Page 21 and 22: 4feature Northern and Yorke Natural
Page 23 and 24: 4pest control Teams tackle pests Th
Page 25 and 26: 4coast lines Diving into marine edu
Page 27 and 28: 4board talk From left: Jackie O’R

Caring for country - Northern and Yorke Natural Resources ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?