12 September 2014
Community rallies to save Western Dorrigo Plateau species
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is working with local landholders on the Dorrigo Plateau to use fire to protect threatened species from extinction.
Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife’s Great Eastern Ranges Partner Grants Program has awarded the council $50,000 to give landowners the knowledge and skills they need to arrest the decline in biodiversity.
“As a result of inappropriate fire regimes, the internationally significant forests of the western Dorrigo Plateau are suffering substantial and ongoing degradation,” said NCC CEO Kate Smolski.
“Affected areas include World Heritage listed rainforests and eucalypt forests. Uncontrolled burning at the wrong time of year causes habitat loss and decreased plant diversity.
“It also reduces the extent of the rainforest, and can drive sensitive native species to local extinctions.
“There is concern locally about this trend and strong interest from local landowners who want to play a part in the shift to better fire management.
“The work we will be doing with the community aims to improve habitat connectivity, resilience and biodiversity conservation in the western Dorrigo Plateau.”
The project will engage between 30 and 60 local landowners, including Aboriginal custodians, to ensure appropriate burning regimes across 10,000 hectares of the western Dorrigo Plateau.
NCC will conduct two workshops where landowners will hear from fire and land management specialists, including those from the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. Education materials on fire and biodiversity management will support this effort.
The project will result in planting of 2,000 local native plants to create a buffer against bushfires that would harm the World Heritage rainforests.
NCC will conduct five surveys of key private properties, and develop appropriate fire regimes with those landholders.
Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife CEO Susanna Bradshaw said she was proud the foundation could support NCC‘s work.
This project is critical to the health of Australian species, not just in the western Dorrigo Plateau, but also along the Great Dividing Range,” Ms Bradshaw said.
“Areas of unhealthy habitat stop species from being able to move through the landscape safely, to find mates, territories or food.
“As many of Australia’s plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth, if we lose them now, they’re gone forever.
“Local landowner involvement is so important in protecting species, as most of the land Australia is under private ownership.
“I look forward to hearing about the difference these local landowners make. I applaud their efforts and they truly deserve our recognition.”
About the Great Eastern Ranges & the grant program
The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife is administering the Great Eastern Ranges Partner Grants Program in partnership with the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative. These grants fund projects that link and protect healthy habitats in the NSW section of the Great Eastern Ranges corridor.
The Great Eastern Ranges is Australia’s longest north-south mountainous landscape, stretching more than 3,600km from far-north Queensland to western Victoria.
This corridor is rich in native plants and animals, and contains catchments that provide clean water to over 90 per cent of the population of eastern Australia.
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Great Eastern Ranges Initiative
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