VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN for Bidjigal Reserve - Land

Vegetation Management Plan - Bidjigal ReserveAssembling Flora ListsThe assembly of flora lists is basic to all bushland projects. The purpose of the bush regenerationproject is not to accumulate an ever-increasing list of new species, but rather to record the diversityand abundance of the existing vegetation community and to monitor any changes that take place asthe project proceeds.Flora lists should be updated regularly and the location(s) of any unusual, rare or threatened speciesshould be marked on the base map and the relevant authorities should be informed (eg. NationalHerbarium, DECC/NPWS).In addition to the information recorded in permanent quadrats, comprehensive lists of plant specieswill be maintained and updated for each management zone. This will be performed as perThreatened Species Survey & Assessment Guidelines NPWS.Assembling Fauna ListsThe recording of fauna follows the same guidelines as for flora and is of equal importance. In thefirst instance a simple list of fauna sighted (or evidence of) can be used.Ultimately, comprehensive (both exotic and native) fauna lists will be compiled and maintained.Data will be collected as per NPWS Wildlife Atlas Format.Assembling a List of Flowering and Fruiting TimesFor the native species, a long-term project will be useful since this project calls for local seedcollection and propagation.Adapting weed-clearing activities to coincide with natural seeding times and germination patterns ofdesirable natives is advised, as clearing weed growth increases germination sites and increasesseedling survival chances.For each indigenous plant species, the flowering and fruiting period will be recorded each year as aweek of year figure (i.e. 1 to 52). This is to monitor for pollination and seed set.Keeping a record of flowering and fruiting times for local weed species can make weed controleasier. For example, if it is known that Pampas Grass flowers and as the seed ripens locally betweenMarch and May; plan to treat Pampas Grass well before that time. If berry-fruited weeds likeCotoneaster, Lantana or Privet are present, remove the plants before the berries are ripe andattractive to birds.It is recommended that quantitative measurement be used within each management zone in orderto provide information relating to:• Type and % cover of weed species before and after bush regeneration work;• Type and % cover of native plant species before and after weed removal; and• Type and % cover of native plants species regenerating after regeneration.UBM Ecological Consultants Pty Ltd