Parks and Reserves of the South-West Kimberley and North-West Pilbara Joint Management Plan 2019

Parks and reserves of the south-west Kimberley and north-west Pilbara joint management plan 2019

Management plan 91

Conservation and Parks Commission Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions 17 Dick Perry Avenue Technology Park, Western Precinct KENSINGTON WA 6151

Phone (08) 9219 9000 Fax (08) 9334 0498 dbca.wa.gov.au

ISBN 978-1-925978-05-6 (print) ISBN 978-1-925978-04-9 (online)

WARNING: This plan may show photographs of, and refer to quotations from people who have passed away. This work is copyright. All traditional and cultural knowledge in this joint management plan is the cultural and intellectual property of traditional owners and is published with the consent of the representative Aboriginal Corporations on their behalf. Written consent from Aboriginal Corporations must be obtained for use or reproduction of any such materials. Any unauthorised dealing is a serious breach of customary law and may also breach the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). All other non-traditional and cultural content in this plan may be downloaded, displayed, printed and reproduced in unaltered form for personal use, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act, all other rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. This plan was prepared by the Conservation and Parks Commission, the Karajarri Traditional Lands Association, Nyangumarta-Karajarri Aboriginal Corporation, the Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation, and the Wanparta Aboriginal Corporation through the agency of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Questions regarding this plan should be directed to: Planning Branch Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions 17 Dick Perry Avenue Kensington WA 6151 Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Phone: (08) 9219 9000

The recommended reference for this publication is: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions 2019, Parks and reserves of the south-west Kimberley and north-west Pilbara joint management plan 2019. Management plan 91. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Perth.

Cover photographs: Top left: Dragon trees over bulrush at Dragon Tree Soak, Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve. Photo – Stephen Reynolds/Environs Kimberley Top right: Saunders Spring, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Jan van de Kam Bottom right: Kujungurru-Warrarn Nature Reserve looking south from Waru Creek. Photo – DBCA Bottom left: Salt Creek, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Jan van de Kam Main: Greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis). Photo – Bert and Babs Wells/DBCA

This document is available in alternative formats on request. Parks and reserves of the south-west Kimberley and north-west Pilbara joint management plan 2019

Management plan 91

Conservation and Parks Commission Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Karajarri Traditional Lands Association Nyangumarta-Karajarri Aboriginal Corporation Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation Wanparta Aboriginal Corporation

Summary This management plan provides direction for the joint management of parks and reserves in the south-west Kimberley and north-west Pilbara regions; a coastal strip of conservation estate comprising nature reserves and conservation parks (Eighty Mile Beach coastal reserves), Walyarta Conservation Park and Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve.

The creation of new parks and reserves in the south-west Kimberley and north-west Pilbara and the subsequent preparation and implementation of this plan are key features of Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) negotiated with the Karajarri, Nyangumarta and Ngarla people. Each traditional owner group has a special connection with, and responsibility for, the lands and waters within their native title determination areas.

The plan describes the cultural heritage, natural, recreation, tourism, community and resource use values of the planning area and analyses management issues. It identifies objectives, strategies and key performance indicators (KPIs), to provide a robust framework to protect and manage the area’s values and support adaptive management.

The purpose of the plan is to ensure: • the planning area is managed in an ecologically sustainable and a culturally appropriate manner • management of relevant parts of the planning area is consistent with and complements management of the Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park • management of relevant parts of the planning area is consistent with Australia’s obligations under the Ramsar Convention.

Management needs to ensure that access to culturally sensitive and significant areas is appropriate. Access restrictions to a number of cultural sites will be given effect through the implementation of the plan. Traditional owners can continue to enjoy and maintain their customary activities in the planning area. Joint management of the planning area will also result in better integration of traditional knowledge with contemporary science and land practices.

Maintaining the integrity of hydrological systems that provide critical ecosystem services, and maintaining the condition and extent of wetland habitats, are high priorities for management, along with the conservation of threatened species and communities.

Over the next 10 years, visitation is likely to remain focused on existing nodes along the coast and just outside of the planning area, such as Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park and Cape Keraudren. These provide access to the adjacent Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park and offer the best options for managing visitor risk and safety. New cultural ecotourism opportunities may also be investigated.

The key management issues are introduced herbivores (including domestic stock) and inappropriate fire regimes. Walyarta Conservation Park and the Eighty Mile Beach coastal reserves have a long history of pastoralism. Destocking and fencing are important strategies to allow these areas to recover from grazing and to prevent adverse impacts on sensitive sites. Other land uses in the vicinity of the planning area have the potential to affect the hydrology and functioning of significant wetlands. These issues occur at a landscape-scale and, when considered with the fragmented nature of the planning area, it is essential to adopt a cooperative, integrated management approach involving all neighbouring land managers.

Developing an understanding of the key values of the planning area and collecting the relevant baseline data will be a strong focus in the early stages of implementation. It is a priority to increase understanding of the water requirements and regimes that are needed to sustain the groundwater-dependent ecosystems of the planning area. It is essential to establish a long-term monitoring program to evaluate management effectiveness and inform adaptive management.

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ontents Summary ...... i Contents ...... ii 1. Introduction ...... 1 he reserves and their values ...... anagement contet ...... lanning area ...... erm of the plan ...... 2. Vision and strategic goals ...... 13 ision ...... trategic goals ...... 3. Connection to country (cultural heritage values) ...... 14 . reamtime and traditional law ...... . raditional knowledge ...... . lants animals and sites of significance ...... . noment of countr and practices for customar purpose ...... 4. Caring for country (natural values) ...... 20 . etlands of significance ...... . lora fauna and ecological communities ...... . anagement issues ...... 5. People on country (recreation, tourism and community values) ...... 34 lanning for visitor use ...... Access ...... afet ...... isitor information education and interpretation ...... ommercial operations ...... ommunit involvement ...... 6. Using resources from the country (sustainable resource use) ...... 40 . astoralism ...... . ater abstraction ...... . ineral and petroleum eploration and development ...... 7. Performance assessment ...... 43 Acronyms and key terms ...... 44 References ...... 45

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Appendices ...... 50 Appendi ight ile each Ramsar site ...... Appendi hsical and biological environment ...... Appendi uiding principles for fire management in landscapes dominated b spinife grasslands ...... Appendi limate change vulnerabilit assessment of mound spring communities alarta onservation ark ...... Appendi ection A oint management agreements ......

Maps

ap verview of the planning area ...... ap ight ile each coastal reserves ...... ap alarta onservation ark ...... ap urrii a aula ature Reserve ......

Tables

able Reserve names origins and meanings ...... able enure of the planning area ...... able auna of conservation significance in the planning area...... able isting criteria met b portions of the Ramsar site in the planning area ......

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. ntroduction he reserves and their values he parks and reserves of the southwest imberle and northwest ilbara regions the planning area include the lands and waters of the araarri angumarta and garla people who have continuing rights and responsibilities for these areas. The region’s geomorphology and hydrology give rise to a spectacular and comple arra of landscape features and habitats including the coastal dunes along ight ile each the freshwater mound springs and inland mangroves of andora arsh and the striking red sand dunes and sandplains of the reat and esert.

he planning area comprises the ight ile each coastal reserves inmarnkur onservation ark inmarnkur ula ature Reserve an unnamed nature reserve uungurruarrarn ature Reserve uungurruarrarn onservation ark unnamed ‘Gap’ nature reserve and arrkunpungu ature Reserve alarta onservation ark and urrii a aula ature Reserve.

e values of the planning area andor their management are grouped under four headings

Cultural heritage – the reserves are living cultural landscapes which include sacred sites stories and songlines that cross the broader region linking places and people. an sites are believed to be created and inhabited b pulany powerful mthical water snakes and must be respected and approached in the right wa. hese sites and the associated knowledge and traditions demonstrate the long and ongoing connection traditional owners have with this area.

Natural – the planning area encompasses a range of wetland tpes and part of the internationall significant ight ile each Ramsar site. he reserves support large numbers of wildlife as well as populations of threatened species and provide breeding habitat for waterbirds particularl when flooded. ound springs and permanent water sources maintain uniue vegetation associations and have important refugia value for biodiversit. he planning area contains several threatened and priorit ecological communities. eeds introduced animals inappropriate fire regimes and a changing climate are all factors that can impact on ke values.

Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Chris Nutt/DBCA

Recreation, tourism and community – ight ile each arine ark is adacent to the planning area and accessible locations along the coast will be the focus for visitation. he provide opportunities for naturebased tourism and recreation for travellers between the ilbara and the imberle. Access is limited within the planning area and public visitation to the inland reserves particularl urrii a aula ature Reserve is considered a safet risk. raditional owners have epressed interest in developing new cultural ecotourism ventures.

Resource use – pastoralism horticulture and resource eploration and development are all eisting or potential activities of the surrounding area that can and do have impacts on ke values particularl in relation to graing and water abstraction. ermanent removal of livestock from the reserves determining the hdrological regimes and ongoing monitoring of groundwater dependent wetlands springs and communities will be critical in ensuring such resource use is sustainable. iii 1

ames o the reseres The araarri yangumarta and garla people hae hosen the names o the reseres o the planning area. The origin and meaning o the names are listed elo.

Table 1 Reserve names, origins and meanings

Reserve name Origin and meaning pukarrikarra reaming site or araarri people. ontains to jila permanent ater urrii a aula soures namely Kurriji and Yajula. yangumarta plae name assoiated ith the salt and reshater marshlands that streth alyarta rom the desert to the oast. Walyarta is a ommon name or the area used y oth the yangumarta and the araarri people. araarri plae name or the area non as ape issiessy the northern point o ighty inmarnur ile eah. araarri people isited Jinmarnkur to use a ish trap alled kunjunku and oten aught pirala hisered salmon. Jinmarnkur inmarngoor is the traditional araarri plae name or the area non as inmarnur ula ape issiessy. Kulja means ‘south’ in Karajarri language. uungurru arrarn yangumarta plae name meaning ‘ountry around the oean or sea around the ountry’. garla plae name or olitary sland. The origin or Jarrkunpungu is a reaming story Marnmulkura an nestral eing an otopus attempted to steal a iresti rom the arrunpungu people. hen Marnmulkura as desending into the oean Winti-Winti the naneen estrel interepted him and snathed the iresti rom him. Marnmulkura instantly turned to stone eoming olitary sland . ron nr pers. comm. . anagement ontet oint management partners The lands and aters o the planning area are highly signiiant to the ulture and heritage o the araarri yangumarta and garla people ho are the determined natie title holders oer the planning area. The yangumarta and araarri people also hae a shared natie title determination ithin the planning area.

oint management ill proide the opportunity or the epartment o iodiersity onseration and ttrations the department to work in partnership with the area’s traditional owners, to achieve the objectives set out in this plan. ah traditional oner group has oint management responsiility or the reseres or parts o the reseres loated ithin their natie title determination areas see Tale .

The o the department ill ointly manage the releant parts o the planning area ith the araarri Traditional ands ssoiation T the yangumarta–araarri original orporation the yangumarta arrarn original orporation and the anparta original orporation in aordane ith oint anagement greements s pursuant to setion o the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 t. oint management ill ormally ommene upon eeution o the s to e attahed to this oint management plan and signed as soon as pratiale olloing its approal. epartment o ars and ildlie a proides urther guidane on oint management ith traditional oners.

lanning and deision maing The s ill estalish oint anagement odies s to oersee management o the planning area in aordane ith the agreements and the t. The s ill mae management deisions proide strategi input into ho management strategies are implemented and strategially monitor the implementation o the plan.

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dministration nder the uidance o the s, the est Kimberle istrict o the department will be responsible or coordinatin the operational manaement o the plannin area he reional oice in Kununurra and a number o other specialist branches will provide support, direction and assistance t ma be beneicial or all joint manaement partners to come toether on an annual basis to share eperiences, celebrate achievements and participate in operational plannin

Ngarla and Nyangumarta rangers Augustine Badal, Jeffrey Brown, Nathan Hunter and Stephen Brown. Traditional owner rangers will play an important role in implementing this plan. Photo – Miecha Bradshaw/DBCA

eislative and polic ramework he Karajarri, anumarta and arla people hold native title rihts and interests over the plannin area hese rihts and interests are reconised b the common law o ustralia and protected throuh the Native Title Act 1993 th his is discussed urther in the section Connection to country.

he plannin area will be manaed in accordance with the ct, which provides or the protection o native lora and auna and boriinal culture and heritae on lands and waters to which the ct applies, and the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 iodiversit onservation ct, which provides or the conservation and protection o biodiversit on all lands within the tate

The Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ct relates to the protection o nationall listed species and ecoloical communities, amsar wetlands, heritae and mirator species protected under international areements he ct also establishes a ramework or manain amsar sites, in the orm o the ustralian amsar manaement principles

hese and other leislation applicable to the plannin area, or eample heritae protection and bushire manaement, are available rom the estern ustralian eislation website umerous departmental policies are also relevant to this plan

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nternational onservation areements The onvention on etlans non as the amsar onvention is an international treat onerne ith the onservation an ise use o etlans alarta onservation ar an the iht ile eah oastal reserves rotet ortions o the iht ile eah amsar site hih as liste as a etlan o international imortane in une see Appendix I ner the onvention ontratin arties aet a numer o resonsiilities inluin a ommitment to revent hanes to the eoloial harater o liste etlans The Ecological Character Description of the Eighty Mile Beach Ramsar Site ale an uther is an imortant uiin oument or the lannin area

n aition to the amsar onvention Australia is a sinator to ilateral areements ith hina hina–Australia irator ir Areement aan aan–Australia irator ir Areement an the euli o orea euli o orea–Australia irator ir Areement to rovie a ollaorative rameor or the rotetion o haitats o mirator irs ithin the ast Asian–Australasian la A numer o seies liste in these areements our in the lannin area an some are also liste uner the onvention on the onservation o irator eies o il Animals onn onvention

lannin area oation The lannin area a is loate in northestern Australia aroimatel m rom erth an alls ithin oth the hire o ast ilara an hire o roome

overin an area o ha the iht ile eah oastal reserves a run arallel to the iht ile eah arine ar strethin almost m rom ae issiess in the north to ootenran ree in the south ner the lassiiation sheme rovie in the nterim ioeorahi eionalisation o Australia A the iht ile eah oastal reserves are loate ithin the amierlan inanlan sureion ioreion

alarta onservation ar a is on the estern ee o the Great an esert an overs an area o ha t etens eastest or aroimatel m t is loate at the untion o the amierlan inanlan sureion an Great an esert art sureion ioreions hoever the latter ontains the main o o the reserve

urrii a aula ature eserve a is loate a urther m to the eastnortheast overin an area o ha t is situate omletel ithin the Great an esert ioreion art sureion

Eighty Mile Beach coastal reserves and adjacent marine park. Photo - DBCA

The rest o the amsar site is larel overe iht ile eah arine ar an manae in aorane ith the A At ith smaller areas also ourrin on unalloate ron lan an astoral lease on surrounin lans

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and the pastoralist’s involvement in this is acknowledged

Table 2 Tenure of the planning area Reserve Reserve Area Traditional Tenure Class Vested name number (ha) owners Eighty Mile Beach coastal reserves (from north to south) ‘Gap’

nnamed ‘Gap’ nature r

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road reserve the e Gre tock oute and some smaller reserves o varing purpose also occur in the vicinit ining and petroleum interests eist over parts o the planning area particularl alarta onservation ark see Using resources from country and ight ile each aravan ark eserve at ape eraudren ape eraudren oastal eserve and ardoo tation are important recreational nodes with caravan and camping acilities availale see People on country

ective management cannot e achieved in isolation ut must e integrated with management across the roader landscape he department and its oint management partners will need to work collaorativel with adacent land managers eg shires o roome and ast ilara pastoralists and caravan park owners to maintain an appropriate level o access and ensure crossoundar issues such as weeds eral animals ire and water astraction are considered and addressed hese management issues are urther discussed in the relevant sections o this plan essons rom other regional works programs eg orth imerle andscape onservation nitiative ma also e applicale

everal government agencies have responsiilit or and provide advice on landscapescale management issues such as declared pest animals and plants epartment o rimar ndustries and egional evelopment water resource use epartment o ater and nvironmental egulation and ire management epartment o ire and mergenc ervices close working relationship must also e maintained with the ommonwealth epartment o the nvironment with regard to management o ke values relevant to the ct including the ight ile each amsar site

ther lands ma e considered or addition to the conservation reserve sstem i the ecome availale or reservation and suect to the usual government process enure proposals ma include new areas identiied as having conservation signiicance amendments to reserve oundaries to improve protective coverage o ke values or eample ight ile each amsar site threatened ecological communities or occurrences o conservation signiicant species or haitats and strengthening reserve connectivit particularl where roader landscape eatures and unctions such as drainage acilitate improved protection and management o eisting ke values

ther protected areas everal other protected areas are relevant to the management o the planning area

ight ile each arine ark auts the ight ile each coastal reserves t was gaetted in anuar and covers an area o approimatel ha including all o the tate waters within the ight ile each mesoscale ioregion and a small portion o the ilara earshore mesoscale ioregion he marine park is a lass reserve ointl managed with the araarri angumarta and garla traditional owners Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park Management Plan No. 80 2014- 2024 outlines the values and management arrangements or the marine park epartment o arks and ildlie a

n the araarri people declared an ndigenous rotected rea across km more than million ha o araarri countr t includes urrii a aula ature eserve and the araarri portion o alarta onservation ark he pirra inland desert area o the is an ategor protected area with the primar oectives o nature conservation and sustainale resource use he araarri traditional owners would like to increase the area o their to include sea countr adacent to and north o the planning area Karajarri Healthy Karajarri elders Philip Wildridge and Joe Edgar at Jinmarnkur (Cape Missiessy). Lands Country Plan 2013-2023 sets out the north-east are part of Frazier Downs pastoral lease and managed as the Karajarri IPA longterm conservation targets and while coastal waters to the west are part of Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park. Photo – Matt Fossey/DBCA management strategies

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he angumarta traditional owners declared the angumarta arran in across km more than million ha o their countr he is listed as ategor and includes the angumarta portion o alarta onservation ark uungurru arrarn ature eserve uungurru arrarn onservation ark and ight ile each arine ark angumarta art Nyangumarta Warrarn Indigenous Protected Area Plan of Management 2015-2020 provides strategic direction or management o the and

hile the various reserves across the landscape have een planned and estalished independentl o each other the result is a mosaic o protected areas etending rom the Great and esert to the coastal waters o ight ile each

erm o the plan he oint management plan will guide management o the planning area or ears the plan is not reviewed and replaced the end o the ear period it will remain in orce until a new plan is approved mendments to the plan ma e made in accordance with the ct and the s relevant to the planning area

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Summary of management directions for joint management, legislative and policy framework, tenure arrangements and adjacent lands

Key points and considerations • he planning area and proposed additions comprise a numer o nature reserves and conservation parks collectivel reerred to as the ight ile each coastal reserves the alarta onservation ark and the urrii a aula ature eserve • he o the department will ointl manage the relevant parts o the planning area with the and and will ormalise this arrangement under the ct through section s • he s will estalish s to oversee management o the planning area in accordance with the agreements and the ct • perational management will e coordinated the department’s West Kimberle istrict • arge portions o the planning area were held under pastoral lease until une • landscapescale management approach is needed or the planning area involving adacent land managers other agencies and the wider communit he ight ile each coastal reserves in particular have a ver high perimeter to area ratio which makes management challenging and will reuire a coordinated approach rom neighouring land managers • variet o cts egulations policies agreements eg amsar onvention migrator ird agreements s and s and management documents appl to or have relevance to this plan and the planning area Management objectives Strategies onsider tenure opportunities acilitate oint vesting o the unnamed ‘Gap’ nature reserve if native title is to improve management determined or this reserve andor increase ormal other lands ecome availale consider them or addition to the planning area protection o the planning where the provide a eneit to the management o ke values area mplement oint management o the relevant parts o the planning area etween the o the department and the and in accordance nsure legislative with the ct section s attached to this oint management plan reuirements and other commitments are met during onduct the minimum numer o meetings reuired or each though two or plan implementation more meetings per ear are encouraged rovide opportunities or training and mentoring traditional owner rangers and aintain close working continue to provide euitale support to the araarri anger group on a eeor relationships and regular and service asis open communication with ssess oint management eectiveness o the planning area ie how oint traditional owners management arrangements work or the department and traditional owners and romote eective coordinated whether the arrangements themselves are unctioning eectivel crossoundar management acilitate the transer o inormation rom research and monitoring to the oint o landscapescale inluences management partners eg through research licence or other approval conditions iaise with and provide advice and support to relevant agencies stakeholders and neighouring landholders with management and monitoring responsiilities eg hire o roome and pastoralists across the planning area and on surrounding lands including portions o the ight ile each amsar site that occur outside the ormal conservation reserve sstem nsure that research and monitoring in the planning area is integrated with that eing undertaken in adacent protected areas dhere to andor maintain consistenc with relevant legislative and other ke documents as outlined aove

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isin and stratei als isin

“The livin ultural landsapes sinifiant etlands and uniue plant and animal mmunities f te plannin area are prteted and led after fr future eneratins intl it te Karaarri anumarta and arla traditinal ners and it neiburin land manaers and te ider community.”

Karajarri traditional owners at Elizabeth Soak, Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve. Photo – Ilse Pickerd/Environs Kimberley

tratei als set f stratei als as been develped fr te plannin area tat prvides a lin beteen te visin statement and te desired utmes epressed tru te betives identified in tis plan e stratei als are t • upld and respet te ulture and traditinal nlede f te Karaarri anumarta and arla traditinal ners • prtet and nserve te value f te land t te ulture and eritae f briinal peple • prvide fr sustainable traditinal and ustmar briinal use and enment • nserve and restre etlands f internatinal and natinal sinifiane • nserve bidiversit and maintain esstem presses and funtin • inrease understandin f te ultural eritae natural values and manaement issues t supprt adaptive manaement • prvide fr rereatin turism and resure use tat is mpatible it and respetful t the area’s cultural heritage and natural values

Spinifex sandplain and melaleuca thicket, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Jan van de Kam

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. onnection to country cultural heritage values rotecting and conserving the value o the land to the culture and heritage o original eole is a riority or all oint management artners o the lanning area as ell as an oective under section o the ct.

. reamtime and traditional la The traditional oners o the lanning area elieve the landscae its eatures and all orms o lie ere created y suernatural ncestral eings during the reamtime Pukarrikarra or Pukarrikarrajangka. These ncestral eings also created the social and cultural norms and dierent regional languages and inscried the country ith meaning T and .

Traditional la is a set o rules that guides the area’s traditional owners in all aspects o their lie. The hysical environment lants and animals have een insearale rom traditional la culture language and noledge since reation Time and this is integral to the maintenance and rotection o country. nder traditional la the araarri yangumarta and garla eole have a inding resonsiility to care or country and ee culture strong. ountry is the source o sirit culture and language and is here sirits return hen they die.

. Traditional noledge Traditional oners esecially the elders collectively hold an etensive ody o cultural and ecological noledge that has een develoed over millennia. n accordance ith traditional la they are resonsile and oliged to transer noledge to the younger generation. This is tyically undertaen hile sending time on country caming telling stories erorming song and dance articiating in ceremonies and rituals maing sears ishing hunting learning aout ush tucer and natural medicine and generally through everyday lie T and . Traditional ecological noledge is underinned y seasonal calendars and the lie cycles o individual secies as ell as a dee siritual attachment to country illing .

Traditional oners are increasingly concerned aout the diiculties in eing ale to ass on their traditional noledge ecause o limited oortunities to send time on country due to distance costs access and health conditions the younger generation eing distracted y modern inluences and ecoming less interested in learning aout their on culture and heritage and elders assing aay eore all their noledge can e assed on and . The araarri eole are articularly een to use modern technology to document and mae availale as aroriate traditional noledge Karajarri traditional owners, Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve. including language to ensure the longevity o their culture Being on country is the best place for old people to pass on and heritage T . traditional knowledge to the younger generation. Photo – Ilse Pickerd/Environs Kimberley

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anaeent o this ale will ocs on ainin a etter nderstandin o traditional nowlede applicale to the plannin area and inestiatin opportnities or interation with conteporar conseration science and anaeent reios collaoratie research proects in the plannin area hae eneited oth scientists and traditional owner rops e and eeni esearch rop ccessl interation reires an nderstandin and appreciation that traditional nowlede is part o a copleentar worldiew with its associated ales instittions and anaeent sstes

lants anials and sites o siniicance lants and anials hae sstained oriinal people liin on contr or an ears proidin the with ood water and edicine lin noted that an plants and anials are totes or the araarri people special cereonies are performed, “expressin desire or the spirits o totemic species to go forth and increase”. In addition nowin when plants and anials are in season is an iportant part o aintainin ood health and proides idance or sae trael oerland or lon periods o tie stalishin sstainale harest strateies or aored anials sh oods and edicines on contr is necessar to ensre that these resorces aintain a health condition and persist into the tre in ood ners ppropriate ire reies (‘rightway fire’) are also a e actor in their sccessl conseration he e Dromaius novaehollandiae and the stralian stard or sh tre Ardeotis australis are two species that are cltrall iportant to the area’s traditional owners t ased on anecdotal eidence a e in decline locall

he pathwas o ncestral eins traerse the plannin area and their tanile or is present in sacred sites s otlined aoe traditional owners are responsile or and olied to protect presere and anae sites and oects o siniicance associated with their contr een oriinal sites within the plannin area are recorded on the epartent o lannin ands Nyangumarta elder with bush turkey. This is a culturally important and eritae’s oriinal eritae nir species that may benefit from sustainable harvest strategies and targets. ste althoh this proal onl represents a Photo – Chris Nutt/DBCA sall proportion o the actal sites that occr there hese inclde water sorces as well as ceremonial, mythological, and men’s and women’s sites. rrii a ala was also noted as an iportant place or araarri people to echane tradin parcels and oects with the near art people and estalish riendships and alliances which soeties led to arriaes

ore enerall peranent and seasonalteporar water sorces especiall the wetlands o the plannin area hold reat cltral and spirital siniicance ater plas a e role in cltral practices and stories as well as ein sed traditional owners or srial as the traersed contr ollowin the seasonal aailailit o resorces and in odern ties when st spendin tie on contr

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any of these sites also hae spirital ale, haing een created and inhaited y pulany, snae eings or serpents with the powers to prodce rain, regenerate or damage country and take people’s lives (Yu 2000). Acknowledging and respecting the origin, type and hydrological integrity of these water sorces ensres the health of the ngurrara (contry) and all forms of life, as well as isitor safety, is maintained.

Box 1: Pulany

oth the araarri and yangmarta people regard pulany as powerfl eings who are to e respected and approached in prescried ways. hey eliee that pulany can exhiit hman emotions, sch as anger, which can e manifested as iolent storms, with lightning and wild winds, and cyclones.

he presence of pulany at springs is often indicated y panyjin reeds, which grow in the springs and are said to e the whisers of the pulany. It is considered dangeros, particlarly for children, to swim near areas where the panyjin grow. ecase of the npredictaility of the pulany, traditional owners neer camp in the immediate icinity of permanent water sorces.

( yangmarta eople pers. comm. )

here is a strong connection to the adacent coastal pastoral stations, associated with longterm employment dating ac to the s, irth place, ceremonial areas and rial sites, the latter of which are highly lnerale to distrance ( and ). ost rial sites are nfenced and traditional owners wold lie to fence them to stop damage y cattle (Bos taurus). considerale proportion of the planning area was preiosly part of these pastoral leases and may contain some of these significant sites (e.g. rial sites located in coastal dnes).

Nyangumarta traditional owners, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Matt Fossey/DBCA

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All Aoriginal sites registered or oterwise are protected under te Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. epending on te cultural sensitivity tese sites can e vulnerale to a variety o management issues (e.g. weeds introduced animals inappropriate visitation and development) tat are discussed in more detail in te relevant sections o tis plan. n many cases maintaining conidentiality and restricting access to people wo ave special cultural autority in culturally sensitive areas will e imperative to retaining site integrity. rovisions or special access restrictions ave een incorporated into tis plan accordingly. . noyment o country and practices or customary purpose Altoug te maority o te traditional owners o te planning area live in towns and communities suc as ort edland roome and idyadanga amilies and individuals retain close personal connections (social spiritual and cultural) wit teir country. or eample a numer o yirrau (anecdotal songs composed and sung or pleasure) illustrate te connection te garla people ave wit teir coastal territory (rown and eyteneek 200).

ere is a strong desire to continue living on country rom time to time learning aout and enoying important places and utilising te resources o te land. rovisions o te A Act enale traditional owners to access te planning area or customary purposes suc as preparing and consuming ood preparing or using medicine and engaging in artistic ceremonial or oter customary activities. is will assist traditional owners o te planning area to continue tese traditions transer knowledge to younger generations and protect and conserve tese values. urter inormation is availale in epartment o arks and ildlie (20 and 20).

As muc o te planning area is diicult to access providing an appropriate level o veicle access to sites were traditional owners can continue to undertake cultural activities and responsiilities is te main reuirement or te management o tis value. n particular te araarri people ave epressed te need or improved access to urrii a Yaula ature eserve as it takes several days Karajarri and Nyangumarta traditional owners fishing at Salt Creek, y veicle to reac te reserve rom te reat Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Matt Fossey/DBCA ortern igway (eynolds et al. 20).

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Summary of management directions for cultural heritage values

Key points and considerations • nder traditional law traditional owners ave a inding responsiility to care or country and keep teir culture strong. • eing on country is te est place or traditional owners to engage wit teir culture and or elders to pass on knowledge o country to younger generations. • stalising some sustainale arvest strategies will ensure tat avoured ood animals and us oods are availale in ealty numers. • ater sources especially te wetlands o te planning area old great cultural and spiritual signiicance to traditional owners. any sites are elieved to e created and inaited y pulany and must e respected and approaced in te rigt way. • ocal pastoral stations eature strongly in te memories o many traditional owners and are an important part o teir eritage and contemporary identity. • Access to certain culturally sensitive areas may e restricted to people wo ave special cultural autority. • raditional owners can continue to enoy and maintain teir customary practices in te planning area. • raditional owners are concerned aout diiculties in accessing parts o te planning area and tus carrying out customary practices and passing on knowledge o country. Management objectives Strategies . ecognise protect and mplement strategies in tis plan to maintain or improve te ealt o country. conserve te planning area evelop a sared understanding and appreciation o te cultural signiicance o te as eing part o living cultural planning area to traditional owner groups (e.g. troug cultural eritage mapping landscapes. on country or oter means as appropriate). upport te collation and recording o traditional knowledge rom senior traditional 2. upport retention o traditional knowledge and its owners and oter sources and encourage its uptake or management o te planning area. integration into management operations researc proects evelop and oserve approved processes and protocols or undertaking and monitoring. management activities andor integrating traditional knowledge wit contemporary science and management (e.g. ‘rightway fire’ to protect important sites and . upport traditional owners to species and promote aitat diversity). carry out teir roles and upport oncountry trips y younger and older generations o traditional owners to responsiilities as protectors te planning area to maintain permanent water sources and keep pulany alive and managers o teir ensure knowledge stories and songs aout country are passed on and to country and culture. undertake oter customary practices. . ecognise and support te iaise wit traditional owners to determine wic sites o ig cultural sensitivity rigts o traditional owners may reuire special access restrictions and implement as appropriate. to continue customary nsure cultural and eritage places are protected and maintained in particular practices in te planning igly signiicant and sensitive sites at immediate risk (e.g. encing o urial sites). area. n partnersip wit eac traditional owner group identiy culturally important species (e.g. availaility and aundance o us medicines ruits and avoured ood . onitor canges o te key animals) and develop and apply sustainale arvest strategies and management cultural eritage values o targets. te planning area to provide Assess actors tat may iniit te rigts o traditional owners to enoy country and a asis to assess adapt and maintain teir customary practices and eploreimplement management improve management. interventions to address issues as necessary. nsure tat traditional owners ave a primary and active role in communication aout teir culture and eritage. onitor te condition o culturally signiicant sites and species in te planning area to determine weter tese are eing adeuately protected and maintained.

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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs) Reporting Performance measures Targets requirements e f raitia wege i aig it ierati feea fr traitia wer the ay aageet ratie are atifie that traitia wege i eig te a ate a arriate it aageet f the aig area iti f igifiat tra • ite a area with tra a geer ae ay a heritage ae retriti are iate a ere • ew ig f hyia itrae t eifie ite a area withi three year f the reeae f the a iti f tray irtat e eee ywith eah traitia wer gr ay eie eiiity f the aig area t aig it ierati feea fr traitia wer the ay ertae tary ratie are atifie that the aig area i aeie y traitia wer fr the re f arryig t tary ratie traferrig wege t yger geerati a eyig try

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arig fr try atra ae hi eti fe the aageet f erati igifiat eie a itie hweer a re geera eriti f the atra eiret f the aig area ha ee ie i Appendix II a iierity rey f ara arh wa ertae he ret were are with rer fr a rei rey ertae i ie with ther ir rey thee fiig fr the aeie egia ata w fr the ite frati i ti iite fr ther art f the aig area eta f igifiae he aig area tai weta aae featre regie atiay a iteratiay fr their gerhi a hyrgia ae hee i tr rt ie at a aia itie a tai a rage f eyte erie eartet f iret ater eritage a the rt

he weta f the aig area are argey a ret f gerhgy a hyrgia iterati fr re ifrati refer t Appendix II hey r withi a arge aaeraiage yte ae the ara aaeaey whih wa iterrete y ear a ater erifie y ey t et ar the reat ay eert i a wetery re fr trt ree t ara the at agee

ayarta erati ar riiay rie the ara arh weta e whih ie a er f aie a frehwater weta tye h a iterittet aie ae a arhe ae ayarta a at ae eraet aie trea at ree frehwater rig a frehwater eata t i a fr aie a frehwater weta tye t r i e riity t e ather he tw arget weta ae ayarta a at ae are reiaty rte y rfae rff fw rig eri f yi atiity whie ay f the ther weta i the reere are taie y grwater here are rree f eat rig attere ar ayarta erati ar i i rig i the t eee i the regi a i iere a ie gerhi frati weta eyte eartet f the iret gih et al rie a reet aeet f the rig f ara arh

Saunders Spring with central, raised mound of peat, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Jan van de Kam

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rrii a aa atre eere rie tw eraet rig rag ree a a the aer iaeth a he a a eata are a i ie t are regare a ae withi the reat ay eert ie the rig f ara arh they are grwater eeet

aiti t eig art f the iteratiay igifiat ighty ie eah aar ite ee Appendix I the ara arh e i ite the iretry f rtat eta i traia a it i a g eae f a weta tye rrig withi a igegrahi regi i traia riteri i irtat a the haitat fr aia taa at a erae tage i their ife ye r rie a refge whe aere iti reai riteri a i f ttaig hitria r tra igifiae riteri iret traia rag ree a i a regie a eig atiay irtat y eetig riteria a iret traia

he weta f the aig area are irtat reearh ite with the rig a grey agre Avicennia marina ity f at ree eig f ierae ietifi iteret ire ertaig f rfae water a grwater reharge a fw i eetia t their erati a aageet ra faa a egia itie ririty fra Atriplex eremitis i a ririty eie that ha ee rere i the aig area t i a reety erie ath eie whih r t graa rafie a hahyte a ahire hra Tecticornia Trianthema turgidifolium arey er

Atriplex eremitis. Photo – Adrienne Markey/DBCA

efiiti fr ririty eie a e f at httwwwawwagaiageetat aiathreateeeieitigeratieefiitif

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ee ririty eie hae a ee rere Acacia glaucocaesia Fimbristylis sieberiana Fuirena incrassata Gymnanthera cunninghamii Indigofera ammobia Pterocaulon xenicum Nicotiana heterantha, Solanum oligandrum Terminalia kumpaja Tribulopis marliesiae a Lawrencia a ai rige

arey ietifie three tatie ew taa Euphorbia aff hassallii Abutilon aff hannii a Tecticornia sp. “tall robust”), which require further work to determine their tai tat at water h Paspalum vaginatum wa rere ar the rig f ara arh a whie thi eie ha fte ee rere a itre i e art f traia i the tri it i iere t e atie a a tetiay rare eie ty retrite t ierey rig eighery a arey

Tecticornia sp. ‘tall robust’ is a putative new Salt water couch (Paspalum vaginatum) is a potentially rare species mostly species. Photo – Adrienne Markey/DBCA restricted to Kimberley mound springs. Photo – Adrienne Markey/DBCA

hreatee a ther igifiat faa he ara arh weta e i ayarta erati ar rie irtat haitat fr waterir artiary whe iate eteiey rig arge f i a the ite rte ar a waterir reetiey ae et al. athgh the area reye ie a tie the arie f the reere a the aar ite

White-winged black terns (Sterna leucoptera), Walyarta Conservation Park. When flooded, the lakes of the reserve support huge numbers of waterbirds. Photo - Jan van de Kam

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uch flood eents are also sinificant in supportin waterbird breedin, with species utilisin different habitats within the comple ale and utcher ). ecentl, oer one thousand breedin ullbilled terns Sterna nilotica), strawnecked ibis Threskiornis spinicollis) and black swans Cygnus atratus) were recorded at alarta onseration ark, demonstratin the onoin importance of the area in proidin forain and breedin habitat resources for waterbirds reatwich ). andora arsh also proides an important refue and source of drinkin water for other terrestrial fauna and supports a relatiel rich aquatic inertebrate fauna with some likel endemic species uinlan et al. ).

Communal breeding event, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Bruce Greatwich/DBCA

number of fauna species occurrin, or possibl occurrin, in the plannin area are listed under the iodiersit onseration ct or under the ct able ).

Table 3 Fauna of conservation significance in the planning area Biodiversity Species EPBC Act IUCN Red List Conservation Act latback turtle ulnerable ulnerable, arine, irator ata deficient Natator depressus) reater bilb ulnerable ulnerable ulnerable Macrotis lagotis) ustralian painted snipe ndanered ndanered, arine ndanered Rostratula australis) artailed odwit Limosa lapponica subsp. ulnerable, irator arine, irator east concern menzbieri) urlew sandpiper riticall ndanered, arine, ulnerable, irator east concern Calidris ferruginea) irator reater sand ploer Charadrius leschenaultii subsp. ulnerable, irator arine, irator east concern leschenaultii) re falcon ulnerable ot listed ulnerable Falco hypoleucos)

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he iht ile each coastal reseres proide some of these species with a sinificant buffer from eternal influences or disturbance and is a ke reason for their reseration.

View of Kujungurru-Warrarn Nature Reserve looking south from Waru Creek. The Eighty Mile Beach coastal reserves buffer the values of the adjacent marine park. Photo – DBCA

latback turtles are endemic to northern ustralia and nest in the iht ile each coastal reseres, with peak nestin from oember to ecember and peak hatchin from anuar to arch. esearch indicates that the flatback population at iht ile each ma be different eneticall to populations further west in the ilbara and north alon the imberle coast ittard ). istin and potential manaement issues in the coastal reseres include habitat deradation, disturbance from human interaction and actiities, and disturbance or predation b feral animals. urtles are reconised as a ke alue of the adacent marine park and their manaement and monitorin is dealt with in the marine park plan.

he reater bilb has been recorded in a number of locations across the plannin area indiiduals were recorded at the north end of iht ile each in iminski and ettink and north of andora arsh comple in ettink and onneman , as well as eidence of occupanc alon the route to urrii a aula ature esere in ) and will be a focus for manaement and monitorin oer the life of the plan.

ilbies occur across seeral broad landscape tpes includin laterite, silcrete or ston rises and uplands residual landforms) drainae lines includin upland creek sstems, calcareous areas and broad palaeodrainae sstems fluial landforms) and flat or entl undulatin plains and dune fields ramer et al. ).

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iminski and ettink ) proides a description of the habitat where bilbies were recentl identified in the a rane sure area, includin the north end of iht ile each coastal reseres, which included coastal dune habitat. he species can be hihl mobile and indiiduals can hae lare home ranes.

redation, habitat deradation b introduced herbiores, and unsuitable fire reimes are considered to be the maor threats to the species in the plannin area. n recent ears, multiple larescale, hot fires, coupled with an increase in cat predation hae likel led to the loss of a bilb population at ardoo, in the southwest of the plannin area iminski and arpenter ).

reater bilb interim conseration plan radle et al. ) was prepared in to form the basis for a reiew and reision of the The greater bilby is a threatened species that occurs at a number of eistin National recovery plan for the greater locations across the planning area. Management of introduced herbivores, bilby ae ). he new recoer plan is feral cats and fire regimes will help its survival in the reserves. Photo – Damian Kelly Photography anticipated to be published in .

n addition to the mirator birds listed in able , at least other mirator bird species hae been recorded at andora arsh, all of which are listed under art of the iodiersit onseration ct and are the subect of international areements. he presence of eiht mirator species recorded in the sure demonstrates that the comple continues to proide important habitat for mirator birds een when not in flood ackett and raff ). s a ke stain area within the ast–sian ustralasian lwa, man more mirator bird species isit iht ile each each ear. he shorebirds that feed on the beach and roost in the coastal reseres at hih tide) are a ke alue of the marine park and their manaement is primaril dealt with in the marine park plan and other ke documents such as the Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds ommonwealth of ustralia ). ntertidal habitat loss in the ellow ea threatens the lonterm prospects of seeral mirator species iersma et al. ).

ther conseration sinificant species recorded from the plannin area include • two riorit species the kakarratul or northern marsupial mole Notoryctes caurinus) and princess parrot Polytelis alexandrae) • two locall endemic aquatic inertebrate species Kimberleybathynella mandorana and Assiminea sp. no.) • a new species of fish Acentrogobius sp. no.) • nine species that are potentiall new two Gehyra sp., Mentia sp., Delma sp., urus Micruracarus , cf. Celsinotum n.sp., Schizopera sp. , Cyprididae n.en. n.sp., and Heterocypris sp. nr atia) • ten species close to, or at, their rane etent striated heron Butorides striatus), redwined parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus), spincheeked honeeater Acanthagenys rufogularis), restless paperbark) flcatcher Myiagra inquieta nana), spinifebird Eremiornis carteri), the common blue tonue Tiliqua scincoides), a whip snake Demansia sp.), the northern ilbara tree draon Diporiphora vescus), the eastern striped skink Ctenotus robustus) and an aquatic inertebrate Microvelia Pacificovelia lilliput eliidae) and • other species that are rarel collected within the state or ustralia ettink and onneman , ackett and raff and uinlan et al. ).

coloical communities uch of the plannin area is mapped as hummock spinife) rassland with habitats and species commonl associated with arid, desert landscapes eard et al. ). he water reime, howeer, is rearded as the sinle biest determinant of the ecolo of the reseres.

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Inland mangroves of Salt Creek, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Matt Fossey/DBCA

• Assemblages of the organic springs and mound springs of the Mandora Marsh area – • Assemblages of Dragon Tree Soak organic mound spring – • Inland mangrove community of Salt Creek –

Dragon trees (Sesbania formosa) over bulrush (Typha domingensis) at Dragon Tree Soak, Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve. Photo – Stephen Reynolds/Environs Kimberley

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Using resources from country

Cenchrus ciliaris Cenchrus setiger Using resources from country et al Cynodon dactylon Aerva javanica Solanum linnaeanum et al Flaveria trinervia Muntingia calabura Setaria verticillata Phyla nodiflora Indigofera oblongifolia Parkinsonia aculleata Passiflora foetida Stylosanthes S. hamata pers. comm.

Camelus dromedarius Equus asinus et al.

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A group of feral camels in Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve. Camels threaten the natural and cultural values of the planning area. Photo – Ilse Pickerd/Environs Kimberley

et al.

Felis catus Vulpes vulpes Canis lupus familiaris et al.

pers. comm.

Rhinella marinus Feral cat captured on remote camera at an active bilby burrow, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – DBCA

Using resources from country

28 29

‘ ’ by large, hot and uncontrolled bushfires (‘wrongway fire’) occurring et al.

et al.

Karajarri ranger Braedon Taylor undertaking fuel reduction burning. Photo – Ewan Noakes pers. comm.

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he interaction of fire with flaable weed secies such as buffel grass reains a colicating factor for fire anageent in arts of the lanning area ire ay enhance weed inasion, which in turn can lead to ore freuent or intense fires or suress the regeneration of natie secies onetheless, rescribed fire, when cool and atchy and alied to areas adoining buffel infestations, ay aintain natie grass swards and roide soe coetition to liit the eansion of buffel grass (eartent of nironent and onseration b) here buffel grass is intersersed with natie grasses, care should be taen with rescribed fire to iniise the otential for such fire eents to facilitate the sread or intensification of buffel infestations or large arts of the lanning area doinated by sinife, fire lanning and anageent is also guided by anageent rinciles based on eisting nowledge of fire behaiour and effects (see Appendix III)

liate change liate change adds an oerarching ressure to the lanning area and the broader region t interacts with eisting stressors, leading to cole and unredictable outcoes (teffen et al. ) n , released a set of cliate change roections based on natural resource anageent boundaries of ustralia he roections indicated that the onsoonal northwest region (the releant cliatic subcluster to the lanning area) will increase in aerage teeratures across all seasons and while changes in rainfall are unclear, etree rainfall eents are roected to be ore intense but with fewer occurrences of troical cyclones ( )

f rainfall decreases, rolonged drought will result in deletion of shallower auifers, otentially iacting any freshwater ound srings in the lanning area that are deendent on this groundwater source onger dry hases of the eheeral wetlands of alyarta onseration ar could also lace endeic sring biota at higher ris with little caacity to recolonise hese iacts ay be offset by the increased intensity of etree rainfall eents

ound sring counities that riarily deend on deeer groundwater are less ulnerable to the direct iacts of cliate change, as the auifers are not sustained by local conteorary Departmental research scientists take a sediment rainfall but they are thought to be ore sensitie to increased core from a mound spring in Walyarta Conservation water deand (arrington and arrington ), see Using Park. Under a changing climate, the responses of resources from country raid cliate change ulnerability different springs will vary, with those more reliant on assessent for the ound srings of andora arsh, based on the shallow aquifer discharge likely to show more rapid changes. Photo – Val English/DBCA fraewor by itay et al (), is roided in Appendix IV

n increase in the intensity of cyclones will increase the ulnerability of the inland angroes, elaleuca and dragon tree (Sesbania formosa) counities to wind daage, and ay affect their ability to recoer between disturbance eents he dunes of the ighty ile each coastal reseres are articularly ulnerable to erosion fro seere weather if egetation coer is reduced or traditional owners, cliate change ay also affect seasonal atterns in resource aailability, rendering soe traditional nowledge inaccurate ( )

anageent ust ai to increase the resilience and resistance of secies and ecosystes, and decrease their ulnerability to a changing cliate ncertainty about aroriate resonses to the effects of cliate change eans that rotecting critical habitats in the lanning area (eg wetlands) and anaging other issues (eg weeds, introduced anials, fire and hysical disturbance) are liely to be aong the best otions to consere biodiersity in the iediate future uch aroaches are soeties referred to as ‘noregret’ or ‘lowregret’ strategies as they address shortter conseration challenges under current conditions, and roide large benefits under a range of future cliate scenarios (ross et al. ) urther research will be iortant in better understanding cliate change iacts at a secies and counity leel, and anageent should be adated on the basis of these findings

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Summary of management directions for natural values

Key points and considerations • • • • to weeds, introduced animals, ‘wrongway fire’ and climate change. Management efforts must consider • • • • • • Appendix I Management objectives Strategies • • • • • • ‘wrongway fire’ and the • Using resources from country

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Management objectives Strategies . Maintain or imroe the • eamines the resonse of terrestrial erterate fauna to destocing in the ecological character of the alyarta onseration ar see Using resources from country ighty Mile each amsar site • utilises remote sensing technologies e.g. for monitoring egetation coer including Mandora Marsh in and etent of surface water where feasile. alyarta onseration ar nsure that weed and feral animal management for the lanning area is and the areas rotected y considered and incororated into a regional management rogram that the ighty Mile each coastal • assesses and rioritises threats resented y weeds and feral animals i.e. reseres. new occurrences are liely to e a higher riority than those that are . tain an understanding of estalished the ey natural alues of the • identifies ey alues e.g. imortant srings, fauna nesting and roosting lanning area and the factors sites that are most ulnerale to the imacts of weeds and feral animals affecting those alues through and rioritises them for rotection aseline research, maing • maintains dune egetation coer in the ighty Mile each coastal reseres and addressing ey nowledge and inestigates oortunities to reegetate designated areas of weed gas. coer with natie secies • maintains or reduces the densities of feral heriores e.g. regular, late . Monitor changes in the ey dry season aerial cull, with a focus on the freshwater srings where natural alues of the lanning camels and doneys congregate area, including critical • outlines hygiene, uarantine and sureillance rocedures e.g. clean down comonents and rocesses of of machinery, ehicles and euiment used in the reseres to reduce the ighty Mile each amsar introduction and sread of weeds and feral animals. site, to roide a asis to lan and imlement fire management for the lanning area as art of a landscae assess, adat and imroe scale rogram that management. • rotects ey alues including fire sensitie ecosystems e.g. the central eaty areas of mound sring communities • reduces the area urnt y late dry season fires • creates a finescale atch mosaic of different seral stages fuel ages • integrates fire management lanning with efforts in adacent s. here feasile and assessed as manageale and suitale, estalish and maintain a strategic system of rotectie fire reas and access tracs for fire management, with a focus on areas of high conseration alue, sites of cultural significance and other community assets e.g. oundary fences and neighouring roerties. dentify and, where racticale, rotect corridors, microhaitats and landform features suitale for secies migration and refugia in resonse to etreme eents and climate change. eelo recoery lans for threatened and riority communities in the lanning area and imlement recoery actions for listed secies and communities in accordance with aroed recoery and conseration lans where they eist. or with the aroriate odies e.g. etlands and uatic cosystems u ommittee and technical eerts e.g. ustralasian ader tudies rou to coordinate aerial andor ground sureys of waterirds in alyarta onseration ar during eisodic flooding eents.

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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs) Reporting Performance measures Targets requirements ater uality and uantity o significant change in water uality and uantity arameters nnually. measures e.g. nutrients, salinity, i.e. eyond natural seasonal or other cyclic ariation at groundwater leels, flow rates, selected high ris andor high alue sites. etent of surface water. eel of understanding of the he hydrological functioning of the srings and the ecological ery years. hydrological functioning of the water reuirements of groundwater deendent communities srings and the ecological water and secies in alyarta onseration ar and the ighty Mile reuirements of groundwater each coastal reseres are defined y . deendent communities and secies. real etent, condition and • t least er cent of the areal etent of ey egetation ery years. numer of occurrences of ey assemlages maintained at the same or imroed egetation assemlages e.g. condition determined using ush oreer condition inland mangroes and melaleuca scales oer the life of the lan. thicets in alyarta onseration • o loss in the numer of occurrences of ey egetation ar, dragon trees in urrii a assemlages. aula ature esere. reater ily resence and • o decline in ily occuancy rates and numers from nnually for the aundance. aseline leels oer suitale haitat in the first three first years, years of imlementation. then reduced to • n increase in ily occuancy rates and numers oer eery years suitale haitat oer the net fie years of once a ositie imlementation. resonse is estalished. roortion of each resere within o more than er cent of each resere within the lanning nnually. the lanning area urnt y late dry area to e urnt er annum y late dry season fires. season fires. tent fire season, freuency and entral eaty areas of mound sring communities remain ery years. area to which fire sensitie unurnt or fire interals of years. ecosystems are urnt. iersity and distriution of seral finescale mosaic i.e. atches ,ha of seral stages ery years. stages. including recently urnt and long unurnt atches that roide suitale haitat diersity for ilies and other fauna oer the life of the lan.

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. eole on country recreation, tourism and community alues he deartment and traditional owners support the concept of ‘healthy parks, healthy people’ and endeavour to safely facilitate people’s enjoyment and recreational use of the lands and waters that they manage while still looing after other alues that occur there. er the life of the lan, recreation and tourism actiities will liely e focused on the adoining ighty Mile each Marine ar. isitor oortunities, constraints and management in the lanning area are discussed in more detail elow. lanning for isitor use The planning area is in Tourism Western Australia’s ‘North West’ region. t is dissected y the reat orthern ighway, howeer isitation is limited due to the isolation of urrii a aula ature esere, couled with large arts of the lanning area historically eing astoral land.

ighty Mile each and ae eraudren oastal esere are oular stooers and holiday destinations for traellers etween roome and ort edland, roiding some indication of isitor use in the icinity. Most isitors arrie during the dry season May to ctoer to enoy the remote atmoshere and anoramic istas, oating, recreational fishing, caming, four wheel driing and wildlife iewing eartment of ars and ildlife a. he recent estalishment of the marine ar is liely to attract more isitors and may create demand for isitor facilities and actiities in the lanning area.

he coast will e the focus for isitation esecially around eisting nodes at ae eraudren and ighty Mile each araan ar. hese oints roide access to the distinctie seascaes of the marine ar, and offer the est oortunities for isitors to eerience and enoy the natural enironment. mortantly, the eisting nodes roide the safest otions for isitors.

ith its alue redominantly natureased, any recreation actiities andor facilities within the lanning area should e • low imact and comatile with the area’s values • aroriate to isitor demand • consistent with Corporate Policy Statement No. 18: Beach spinifex (Spinifex longifolius), Kujungurru-Warrarn Recreation, tourism, and visitor services eartment of Nature Reserve. Photo – Chris Nutt/DBCA ars and ildlife .

ccess oortunities and constraints, funding and resource aailaility, and roision of isitor facilitiesactiities elsewhere in the surrounding area are other imortant factors in lanning for isitor use.

ighty Mile each araan ar, ae eraudren oastal esere and ardoo tation located near the southwestern etent of the marine ar comfortaly accommodate all oernight stays. aming reuirements are not eected to eceed current roisions oer the life of the lan. or safety reasons, isitation to urrii a aula ature esere reuires deartmental aroal to undertae remote caming. ay use facilities that may e suitale in the lanning area include oardwals, looouts and ird hides.

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Access The remote nature of the planning area, together with numerous unsealed tracks, many of which traverse private property, restrict access to the reserves.

n the southern half of the ighty ile each coastal reserves, there are only two major pulic roads ape eraudren oad and ighty ile each oad that lead from reat Northern ighway to the coast, allowing access to this part of the planning area. ourwheel driving is permitted on ighty ile each, though generally limited to the area adjacent to ighty ile each aravan ark i.e. etween aout km south and km north of the each access point. ome visitors drive along the each and access the ighty ile each coastal reserves y traversing the coastal dunes, however, vehicles are not permitted in these reserves see Access management elow.

The western oundary of Walyarta onservation ark is defined y the reat Northern ighway, the only major sealed road in the vicinity.

There is no other formal pulic access to the planning area and attempts to reach the reserves could e detrimental to visitor safety. Access to urriji a ajula Nature eserve, in particular, is etremely difficult and dangerous due to its remote location in the reat andy esert.

Traditional owners have epressed concern aout the difficulties in accessing the planning area to undertake customary practices see the section Connection to country.

isitation to urriji a ajula Nature eserve reuires access across eclusive possession native title country and permission should e sought from the arajarri traditional owners. They have also developed a permit system to manage visitor access to coastal recreation sites in the arajarri A. These sites are located outside the planning area.

Karajarri cultural advisors Celia Bennett and Rene Hopiga. Tyre tracks across a salt pan, Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Photo – Tom de Souza Reserve. It takes several days to reach the reserve from the Great Northern Highway. Photo - Stephen Reynolds/Environs Kimberley

Access management The limited access to ighty ile each has led to unauthorised offroad driving and camping in the ighty ile each coastal reserves to reach selected and isolated fishing spots or other smaller pastoral station tracks that are not open to the pulic. This has adverse impacts on important cultural heritage sites and practices, which are a key concern for the area’s traditional owners. The practice can destroy fragile coastal vegetation, impact turtle nesting sites, distur migratory shoreirds, and potentially introduce or spread eotic species. t can also distur stock and disrupt pastoral operations on surrounding lands.

There are no ‘permitted areas’ for offroad vehicles under the Control of Vehicles (Off-road Areas) Act 1978 in the ighty ile each coastal reserves. As such, the use of all vehicles licensed and unlicensed, including motorikes, uad ikes and dune uggies is not permitted in the reserves.

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ther nathorised actiities that can case distrance and ris to e ales and other isitors inclde campfires litterin phsical damae to cltral heritae sites and artefacts and eneral inappropriate ehaior.

eal access for departmental operations will e considered as reired drin the life of the plan and neotiated in consltation with pastoral lessees and traditional owners.

afet The plannin area eperiences etreme temperatres tropical cclones and floodin and has remote and challenin terrain with limited commnications and emerenc assistance.

isitor safet will e manaed in accordance with Corporate Policy Statement No. 53: Visitor risk management ars and ildlife c and will inclde dissemination of information to isitors aot safet riss and personal preparedness. Throh their laws and cstoms traditional owners also hae a responsiilit to eep isitors safe on contr.

isitor information edcation and interpretation isitor information edcation and interpretation will raise awareness aot the plannin area enender spport for its manaement and encorae commnit inolement and appropriate ehaior.

isitor information edcation and interpretation within or in the icinit of the plannin area ma coer • cltral heritae place names stories and lanae and natral sinificant wetlands flora and fana ecoloical commnities and amsar ales • manaement isses and manaement intent • releant cltral laws and protocols • appropriate isitor se and isitor safet • research and monitorin findins • opportnities for commnit inolement.

eeral commnication and edcation messaes cold e ien priorit incldin the • cltral sinificance of the plannin area and the traditional owner associations with the area’s wetlands • importance of the coast for mirator irds and nestin trtles the effects of distrance and steps the commnit can tae to minimise distrance to mirator irds and trtles • need for a collaoratie approach to address e isses sch as introdced heriores and inappropriate fire Nyangumarta elder Margaret Rose with the green bird reimes flower (Crotalaria cunninghamii), Walyarta Conservation • need to accratel determine the hdroloical reime of Park. The cultural significance of the planning area is a key the mond sprins and wetlands in the plannin area to communication message. Photo – Matt Fossey/DBCA ensre resorce se is ecoloicall sstainale.

n addition to sinae information as plications the department’s wesite and other electronic media the department encoraes its own staff traditional owners neihorin land manaers commercial tor operators conseration rops and the wider commnit to disseminate this information.

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ommercial operations ommercial concessions sch as licences and leases or commercial operations proide opportnities or priate sinesses to oer torism and recreation opportnities acilities and serices to the plic he can also proide eneits or resere manaement enenderin isitor spport and respect or e ales and associated manaement reimes throh edcation icences allow commercial operators to enter and se lands and waters manaed nder the ct to condct actiities sch as ided wals and tors eases can e ranted or commercial serices that occp land reire eclsie rihts o access and reire sstantial inrastrctre

ommercial concessions are ranted in consltation with the onseration and ars ommission and traditional owners throh the s and mst e consistent with the prpose o the plannin area the protection o its ales the conditions o the department’s Commercial operator handbook and the oecties o this plan ost importantl natral ales mst e maintained and cltral heritae protected and respected incldin associated site restrictions and protocols

he department encoraes traditional owners to deelop commercial opportnities that celerate oriinal cltre on land that the ct applies to hile there are no eistin commercial concessions releant to the plannin area the anmarta people hae epressed an interest in cltral ecotorism opportnities and a desire to deelop an interpretie centre near iht ile each araan ar and otential also eists or traditional owners to lead and operate dr season tors in alarta onseration ar rom andire oadhose or iht ile each araan ar to iew the sprins in the western part o the resere and the inland manroes o alt ree oweer the areas remote location comined with the independent campers that it attracts mean the ailit to enerate isitor interest will e challenin and mst e well planned in consltation with e staeholders rom the torism indstr

Nyangumarta elder Teddy Hunter at Salt Creek, Walyarta Conservation Park. The planning area may provide cultural ecotourism opportunities over the life of the plan. Photo – DBCA

36 37

s s s s s ss s s s ss s ss s

ss s ss s s s s s s ss s s s s s

s s ss ss ss s s s

Summary of management directions for recreation, tourism and community values

Key points and considerations • ss s s s s s s ss s s • ss s s s s s • s ss ss s ss s s s s ss s s s s s ss • s s s s s s ss • s ss s ss s ss s s s s s s • ss s s s s Management objectives Strategies ss ss s ss ss s s ss s ss • s s • s s ss s ss s s ss ss s s s s ss • ss ss ss s s s ss s ss s s ss ss s s s s s s s s s ssss • ss s ss s sss • s s s s s

38 39

Management objectives Strategies s s s ss • s • s s s • s ss ss s • s s s s s s ss s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s ss s ss s s s s s ss ss s s s ss s s ss s s s s s s s sss s ss ss s s ss ssss s s s

38 39

s ss ss s s ss ss s ss s s s s s s s s ss ss s ss s s ss s s s s s s ss s s s s

s s s s s s s s s ss ssss s s s s s et al s s s s s ss s et al. s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s

s s Parts of the planning area have long s s sss s been subject to the adverse effects of s s s s domestic stock. Destocking is a priority • s ss s to allow these areas to recover. s ss Photo – Dave and Fiona Harvey/Naturalist Volunteers • ss • s s

s s s s ss s s

s ss s ss s sss s s ss s ss s s s s et al. s s ss s s ss s s s ss s s s s s ss Soil pugging by cattle at a spring, s s et al. Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Karen Bettink/DBCA

40 41

s s s s s s s ss ss s ss s s s s ss s s s s s s sss s

s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s ss s et al. s s s s s s s s s s s s ss sss s s ss s s s Appendix I s s s s s s s s s s s ss s s s s sss

s s ss s s s Pilbara Groundwater Allocation Plan La Grange Groundwater Allocation Plan s s s s s s s s s s s s s ss s s s s s s s sss ss s s s ss s s s s s s

s s ss ss s ss s s s s s s s s s s s s pers. comm.

s s ss s ss – s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s ss

ss Mining Act 1978 Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 s ss sssss s ssss s s s s s s ss s ss s s s ss s s s s s s s ss s s s s s s

40 41

and rock) for use on roads, trails and foundations for infrastructure. Due to the area’s landforms (wetland

Summary of management directions for sustainable resource use

Key points and considerations • • • Management objective Strategies Caring for country Caring for country

42 43

. erformance assessment roisions for monitorin, ealuatin and assessin the imlementation of manaement lans are secified in section () of the ct.

roress towards achiein the oecties of the lan is demonstrated reular monitorin, ealuation and reortin to inestiate the effectieness of manaement strateies and identif oortunities for imroement. hese are ke elements of an adatie manaement framework, enalin strateies to e reised where needed. set of s will e used to assess the imlementation and success of this lan.

he s (comrisin erformance measures, manaement tarets and reortin reuirements) hae een identified for selected alues and manaement issues and are resented in the releant manaement tales throuhout the lan. he s are linked to oecties and strateies, and reflect the hihest conseration and manaement riorities of the onseration and arks ommission, the deartment, oint manaement artners and the communit. n sustained chane (e.. a continuous decrease or increase) will trier the need for further inestiation to determine the cause of that chane and therefore the reuirement for, and te of, manaement interention.

roidin accurate and releant data and information as eidence of lan imlementation is essential to ensure the assessment rocess is erformed uickl and effectiel. ortfolio will e maintained showin eidence of those areas where the lan is ein successful and those where chanes are needed. ome eamles of eidence that ma e used to assess imlementation of this lan include • secific, uantitatie monitorin of sinificant assets such as conseration sinificant flora and fauna and s • series of hotorahs, main or other imaer that show whether satial and temoral chanes hae occurred • checklists • sures • incident reorts or records • other written documents or corresondence.

ssessment should also e informed Kujungurru Warrarn Nature Reserve. Photo – Matt Fossey/DBCA monitorin and reortin under the araarri ealth ountr lan and the anumarta arrarn lan.

hile reortin reuirements ma e annual (or other), determinin reliale trends miht not e ossile for a numer of ears.

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cronms and ke terms Acronyms Definition iodiersit Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 onseration ct ct Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 customar rearin or consumin food, rearin or usin medicine or enain in artistic, ceremonial or urose other cultural actiities customaril undertaken oriinal eole. (ractices for) D Deartment of iodiersit, onseration and ttractions D Deartment of ire and merenc erices DD Deartment of rimar ndustries and eional Deeloment D Deartment of ater and nironmental eulation deartment Deartment of iodiersit, onseration and ttractions (the) ct Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ndienous land use areement ndienous rotected area oint manaement areement oint manaement od oint rranements where the deartment ointl manaes arts of the lannin area with traditional manaement owner rous where those arts are located within their resectie natie title determination areas. hese arranements are formalied throuh a oint manaement areement () made under the ct and sined the releant arties. araarri traditional owner rou with a determined area oer art of the lannin area (see as ) ke erformance indicator araarri raditional ands ssociation arla traditional owner rou with a determined area oer art of the lannin area (see as ) anumartaaraarri oriinal ororation anumarta traditional owner rou with a determined area oer art of the lannin area (see as ) anumarta arrarn oriinal ororation lannin area collectie term used in this lan that refers to iht ile each coastal reseres (inmarnkur onseration ark, inmarnkur ula ature esere, an unnamed nature resere, uunurru arrarn ature esere, uunurruarrarn onseration ark, unnamed ‘Gap’ nature reserve and arrkununu ature esere), alarta onseration ark and urrii a aula ature esere. amsar etlands that are reresentatie, rare or uniue, or are imortant for conserin ioloical (wetlands) diersit and are included on the ist of etlands of nternational mortance deeloed under the amsar onention. threatened ecoloical communit raditional erson of oriinal descent with traditional rihts and interests in the lannin area owner anarta oriinal ororation

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eerenes ustraan ature nservatn en A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia – Second Edition ustraan ature nservatn en anerra

ard and aves eprt n auna tudes n Graaar and ard eds The Discovery Project 1996 Report

eard The elucidation of palaeodrainage patterns in Western Australia through vegetation mapping. Vegetation survey of Western Australia, Occasional paper No. 1. eap uatns ert estern ustraa

eard eetsn G are pns and eperd e veetatn estern ustraa at te sae panatr er end edtn Conservation Science Western Australia

ettn and nnean Mandora Marsh Fauna Survey September 2015: Draft Report epartent ars and de ert estern ustraa

rade ees undeenns G pe atrde ns utate a and ep ds 2015 Greater Bilby Conservation Summit and Interim Conservation Plan: an Initiative of the Save the Bilby Fund nservatn reedn peast Grup ppe ae

rn and Getenee Ngarla Songs reante rts entre reante estern ustraa

urde ene and ennea Nature Conservation Reserves in the Kimberley, Western Australia. epartent nservatn and and anaeent estern ustraa

arardne J., O’Connor ee ae ssna and artn G Priority threat management to protect Kimberley wildlife sste erves rsane ueensand

ares Visit to Dragon Tree Soak Nature Reserve esert sver ret

neat ustraa Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds. neat ustraa

raer ns utate arpenter s and van eeuen neptua raer r atat use and resear prrtes r te reater Macrotis lagotis n te nrt estern ustraa Australian Mammalogy essed ter ttppussrauapd

raned Atriplex eremitis enpdaeae a ne spees r nrtern estern ustraa Nuytsia

Climate change in Australia: Projections for Australia’s NRM regions. essed uust ttpsateanenaustraavauenatepretnsutureaterenaateane eprersuustersurrentppuptruettptrue

epartent nvrnent and nservatn a Regional Fire Management Plan Kimberley 2008-2013 epartent nvrnent and nservatn ert estern ustraa

epartent nvrnent and nservatn Fire Management Guideline No. S12: Buffel Grass and Fire Management epartent nvrnent and nservatn ert estern ustraa

epartent nvrnent and nservatn Resource Condition Report for a Significant Western Australian Wetland: Saunders Spring. repared r nand uat ntert esure ndtn ntrn ret epartent nvrnent and nservatn ert estern ustraa

Department of Environment and Conservation (2012). ‘Wetland hydrology’, in A guide to managing and restoring wetlands in Western Australia repared tu an and n epartent nvrnent and nservatn ert estern ustraa

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Department of the Environment (201). Manora Marsh reat Northern olsorth A Australia. stralian eritage Dataase. essed pril 201 (http.environment.gov.agi inahdsearh.plmodeplaedetailsearhplaenameDmandoraeyordDDoneyordDon eyordDonlatitde1dirDlongitde1dirDElongitde2dirDElatitde2dirD inregionDpartplaeid12)

Department of the Environment, Water, eritage and the rts (200). cosstem erices: e Concets an Alications, Oasional aper o 1. Department of the Environment, Water, eritage and the rts, Canerra, C.

Department of ars and Wildlife (201a). ight Mile each Marine Par Management Plan . Department of ars and Wildlife, erth, Western stralia.

Department of ars and Wildlife (201). Cane toa strateg for estern Australia – . Department of ars and Wildlife, erth, Western stralia.

Department of ars and Wildlife (201a). Cororate Polic tatement No. : Aoriginal joint management. Department of ars and Wildlife, erth, Western stralia.

Department of ars and Wildlife (201). Cororate Polic tatement No. : Aoriginal customar actiities. Department of ars and Wildlife, erth, Western stralia.

Department of ars and Wildlife (201). Cororate Polic tatement No. : isitor ris management. Department of ars and Wildlife, erth, Western stralia.

Department of ars and Wildlife (201). uie to Aoriginal customar actiities on Pars an illifemanage lans an aters . Department of ars and Wildlife, erth, Western stralia.

Department of ars and Wildlife (201). Cororate Polic tatement No. : Recreation tourism an isitor serices. Department of ars and Wildlife, erth, Western stralia.

Department of Water (2010). a range grounater allocation lan. Water resore alloation planning series, eport no. 2. Department of Water, Western stralia.

Done, C. (1). ‘Management issues’. In: Graham, G. (ed) A lan management assessment of Manora Marsh an its immeiate surrouns, pp. 11. Department of Conservation and and anagement, erth, Western stralia.

Diminsi, .. and ettin, .. (201). reater il sure: a range roject area. Department of iodiversity, Conservation and ttrations, erth, Western stralia.

Diminsi, .., and Carpenter, . (201). he conseration an management of the il arotis lagotis in the Pilara: Progress Reort . Annual Reort. Department of ars and Wildlife, erth, Western stralia.

Elin, .. (1). otemisim in orthWest stralia. ceania, (), 22.

English, ., , . and Coote, . (201). ure of Manora moun srings an alt Cree alarta. Department of ars and Wildlife, erth, Western stralia.

Environment stralia (2001). A irector of mortant etlans in Australia – hir ition. Environment stralia, Canerra, C.

itay, ., inlayson, C.. and Davidson, .C. (2011). A frameor for assessing the ulnerailit of etlans to climate change. amsar ehnial eport o. CD ehnial eries o. . amsar Convention eretariat, land, iterland eretariat of the Convention on iologial Diversity, ontreal, Canada.

raham, . (1). ‘Introduction’. In: Graham, G. (ed) A lan management assessment of Manora Marsh an its immeiate surrouns, pp. 1. Department of Conservation and and anagement, erth, Western stralia.

reatih, . (201). Aerial aterir sure of Roeuc Plains alarta Conseration Par an ae regor March . Department of ars and Wildlife, roome, Western stralia.

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Gross, .., oode, ., eing, .. and atson, ..M. (). . I, Gand, iterand.

ae, . and utcher, . (). eort to the eartment o nironment and onseration, erth, estern ustraia.

ase, .., earson, G.., asse, ., oins, ., canon, M.. and Minton, ... (). Mandora Marsh, northestern ustraia, an aridone etand maintaining continenta ouations o aterirds. , .

ande, M. (). . reared or the ustraian eritage ommission.

arrington, G. . and arrington, . M. (). reared Innoatie Groundater outions, ictor aror, outh ustraia.

adon, .., riar, .. and iana, . (). iredrien dnamic mosaics in the Great ictoria esert, ustraia. : .

one, . . (). ications o data to geoogica maing : .

acett, . and Gra, . (). . roome ird serator, roome, estern ustraia.

ohnstone, .. (). Mangroes and Mangroe irds o estern ustraia. , uement o. . estern ustraian Museum, erth, estern ustraia.

araarri raditiona ands ssociation (). ‘Everybody looking after country properly’. araarri raditiona ands ssociation, roome, estern ustraia.

eigher, G () tatus o . and . . (oaceae) in estern ustraia. : .

(). ee araarri raditiona ands ssociation.

egge, ., enned, M.., od, ., Murh, . and isher, . (). aid recoer o mamma auna in the centra imere, northern ustraia, ooing remoa o heriores. : .

eonard, . and mith, . (). . a roe niersit, undoora, ictoria.

Magee, . (). Geoscience ustraia, anerra, .

Mare, . (). . eartment o ars and idie, erth, estern ustraia.

Martin, .G. and ossingham, .. (). redicting the imact o iestoc graing on irds using oraging height data. : .

inti ne imited (). inti ne imited, ice rings, orthern erritor.

and M (). ee angumarta arrarn origina ororation and amati Mara origina ororation.

angumarta arrarn origina ororation and amati Mara origina ororation (). . reared r ichoas mith, outh edand, estern ustraia.

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ae, . (). ational ecovery lan for te reater ilby Macrotis agotis. orthern erritor eartment o atura esources, nironment and the rts.

earson, G., ice, . and onoo, ... (). Genera descrition o the stud area. In: iersma, ., earson, G.., ice, . and aaee, M. (eds) e ong ud ento and orebird of te foreore of Eigtyile eac etern utralia, . . Ieort , oa etherands Institute or ea esearch (I), ee, he etherands.

iersma, ., o, ., hen, ., asse, .., ang, .., oe, ., amaer, M., han, .., Meie, .., hang, .. and Ma, . (). imutaneous decines in summer suria o three shoreird secies signas a a at ris. ournal of pplied Ecology : .

ittard, .. (). enetic opulation tructure of te latback urtle (atator deressus): nuclear and itocondrial analyi. onours hesis, niersit o anerra.

uinan, ., inder, . and eis, . (). uatic fauna urvey at andora ar alyarta in epteber Prepared for Parks and Wildlife’s Kimberley Region. eartment o ars and idie, ensington, estern ustraia.

enods, ., icerd, I. and indsa, M. (). urrii a aula Epedition lant and anial of ragon ree oak nirons imere, roome, estern ustraia.

emeniu esearch Grou . and . (). etland of te nortetern reat andy eert in te a range ydrological ubbain. eort to the aters iers ommission o estern ustraia.

emeniu, . (). oocene sedimentation, stratigrah, iostratigrah, and histor o the anning oast, north estern ustraia. ournal of oyal ociety of etern utralia, uement to oume , art : .

hine, . (). he ecoogica imact o inasie cane toads (ufo arinu) in ustraia. he uarterly evie of iology, (), .

encer, ..., amton, .., acioni, ., enned, M.., aaed, ., ose, . and oonough, .. (). Genetic reationshis ithin socia grous inuence the aication o the udas techniue: case stud ith id dromedar cames. ournal of ildlife anageent : .

urr, . (). and Management an or an rid one etand. In: Grahamaor, . and amord, M.. (eds) e icovery roect eport.

teen, ., uridge, .., ughes, ., itching, ., indenmaer, ., Musgrae, ., taord mith, M. and erner, .. (). Australia’s biodiversity and climate change: a strategic assessment of the vulnerability of Australia’s biodiversity to cliate cange reort to the atura esource Management Ministeria ounci commissioned the ustraian Goernment. eartment o imate hange, anerra, .

tore, .., ase, .., hie, .. and reagh, . (). uatic auna and ater chemistr o the mound srings and etands o Mandora Marsh, northestern ustraia. ournal of te oyal ociety of etern utralia, , .

iing, . (). Tukujana Nganyjurrukura Ngurra ‘All of us looking after country together’: Literature Review with ecoendation for erretrial and arine Environent on araarri and and ea ountry. araarri raditiona ands ssociation, roome, estern ustraia.

iing, . and andasde, . (). ‘Vegetation and Flora’. In: Graham, G. (ed) land anageent aeent of andora ar and it iediate urround, . . eartment o onseration and and Management, erth, estern ustraia.

oinarsi, ... and sh, .. (). esonses o erterates to astoraism, miitar and use and andscae osition in an ustraian troica saanna. utral Ecology : .

oinarsi, ..., uridge, .. and arrison, .. (). ngoing unraeing o a continenta auna: ecine and etinction o ustraian mammas since uroean settement. , (), .

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roll .. enie .. ederon .. and ale .. . e reat and eert o nortetern tralia te lat ear. earch .

. . Ngapa Kunangkul: Living Water. Report on the Aboriginal cultural values of groundwater in the La range subbasin. reared te entre o ntroologial eear nierit o etern tralia or te ater and ier oiion o etern tralia. eond edition.

ieii .. oinari ... e .. Vanderd . t . it . itie .. eardon .. adord .. reee . err . r .. regor . egge . ea . ae .. anoi . onon .. ae . riit .. illeie . Fran ... Fier . and ridge .. . teing te tide rogre toard reoling te ae o deline and ileenting anageent reone or te diaearing aal ana o nortern tralia. Therya .

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endie endi igt ile ea aar ite e igt ile ea aar ite a lited a a etland o international iortane nder te aar onention on ne . e ite oer to earate and ditint area totalling a igt ile ea and aoiated intertidal lat and riar dne non a te ea etion and andora ar. e ea etion i largel roteted te igt ile ea oatal reere and te adaent arine ar and alarta oneration ar oer te aorit o andora ar. all area o te aar ite or on atoral leae otide te oral oneration reere te.

The planning area formally protects a significant portion of the Eighty Mile Beach Ramsar site. Photo – DBCA

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aar liting riteria o ali or liting a etland t eet at leat one o te nine aar riteria. e igt ile ea aar ite rrentl eet riteria .

Table 4 Listing criteria met by portions of the Ramsar site in the planning area

Group A of the criteria: Sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types Criterion 1: etland old e onidered internationall iortant i it ontain a rereentatie rare or nie eale o a natral or nearnatral etland te ond itin te aroriate iogeograi region. • andora ar itin te reat and eert ioregion ontain an iortant and rare gro o etland inlding eriodiall inndated lae a eranent eraline ree reater treedoinated etland and reater and aline ond ring. Group B of the criteria: Sites of international importance for conserving biodiversity eie and Criterion 2: etland old e onidered internationall iortant i it ort lnerale eologial endangered or ritiall endangered eie or treatened eologial onitie. onitie • e greater il lited a Vlnerale nder te iodierit oneration t and te t a een reorded at andora ar. • e oatal dne and inland etland ort eeral treatened oreird eie inlding te tralian ainted nie artailed godit rle andier and greater and loer. • e dne o igt ile ea roide neting aitat or te lata trtle lited a Vlnerale nder te iodierit oneration t and te t. • ne treatened eologial onit and one riorit eologial onit are loated at andora ar. Criterion 3: etland old e onidered internationall iortant i it ort olation o lant andor anial eie iortant or aintaining te iologial dierit o a artilar iogeograi region. • andora ar ontain teorar and eranent etland reognied a iortant regia or iodierit in a redoinantl arid ioregion. n artilar te ond ring ae a igniiant ontrition to te regional dierit o lora and ana. Criterion 4: etland old e onidered internationall iortant i it ort lant andor anial eie at a ritial tage in teir lie le or roide rege dring adere ondition. • en looded andora ar ort te ritial lie tage o reeding or at leat aterird eie inlding large ner o tralian elian Pelecanus conspicillatus and la an. • igt ile ea i one o te aor tooer and nonreeding area or igrator oreird iiting tralia. an o tee eed alot eliel on te intertidal lat o te arine ar t e te oatal reere or rooting at ig tide. • e oatal dne alo ort lata trtle neting. aterird Criterion 5: etland old e onidered internationall iortant i it reglarl ort or ore aterird. • e ea etion inlding te oatal reere i onidered to reglarl ort in ee o ird. • ere are reord o large ner i.e. o aterird aoiated it looding at andora ar tog on an inreent ai. Criterion 6: etland old e onidered internationall iortant i it reglarl ort one er ent o te indiidal in a olation o one eie or eie o aterird. • ai ont or at leat to reident aterird – te lainged tilt imantopus himantopus and atern great egret Ardea modesta – at andora ar eeed te one er ent olation treold. • ai ont in te ea etion eeed one er ent o te la olation or one er ent o te tralian olation or reident eie or aterird eie.

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Beach section Mandora Marsh

’s

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s s s s ss s s s ss s s s s ss s

s s ss s s s s s s ss ss s s s s s s s ss s ss ss

s s s s s s ss s s ss ss s s s s ss sss

s s s s s s s s s s s s s ss s s s s s s s s ss s s sss s s s s s s et al.

Eil Eil Spring, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Jan van de Kam

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s s ss s s s s ss s s et al. s ss s s s s s s s ss s s

s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s ss ss ss ss s

s s ss s s s s ss s ss s s ss s

s ss s s s s s s s s ss s s s s s s s ss s ss s s s s s s ss s ss s s s et al s s s s s

s s s s s s s s s s s s ss s s s et al. s s s s s ss s ss s s sss s s s s

s s s s s s ss s s s s s ss s s s s s ss s ss s ss s s s s s s s ss ss s s s s ss s ss s s s

s s ss ss ss s s s ss s s s s s ss s s s s s

s sss s s s s s s s s s s s ss et al. s s s s ss s Triodia sss elaleuca ss ss s s s

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s s ss ss s pinife longifolius s s Triodia epactia s ss s s s ss s Acacia bivenosa s s s ss s s

s s s s s s s s sss s s s s ss s s s s s ss s ss s s s s Typha domingensis

s s ss s s s s ss s s s s s s s s ss

s ss s sss s s s s s s ss elaleuca leucadendra . alsophila s s ss s s. Acacia ampliceps s s s s s Acrostichum speciosum s s s s ss choenoplectus ss s s imbristylis ferruginea s s s s s ss s s s s s s

Tall stands of paperbark are associated with many of the freshwater mound springs of Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Jan van de Kam

s s ss ss Tecticornia s s ss allisneria spiralis s s s s s s s s s s s . alsophilia A. ampliceps s s ss s Tecticornia s s s s ss s s s ss

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s s s s s T. domingensis s s aumea articulata s s ss s s s s s s ss s . articulata s s ss s s . virginicus ss s

s s s s ss sss s s s sss s s wenia reticulata

Scattered grove of desert walnut, Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve. When roasted, the nuts are a popular food for traditional owners. Photo – Stephen Reynolds/Environs Kimberley

s sss ss s ss s s s s s s s s

s ss s ss s s s s ss acropus rufus acropus robustus acropus agilis ss s s s s s s sss ss

s ss s s ss s s s

s s s ss s

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s s s ss s ss s s s s ss s s s s s s et al. s s s s s s s s s s s s ss s ss s ss ss s s

ss s et al et al ss et al. s s s ss s s s Breeding colony of pelicans, black swans and ss s et al straw-necked ibises in 2004, Walyarta ss s s s Conservation Park. Photo – Jan van de Kam et al ssss s s s ss s s s ss ss ss s s Caring for country). ss s s s s s pers. comm.

ss s s s s s ss ss ss s s s s s Porana fluminea s Acrocephalus stentoreus ss egalurus gramineus s s s yclorana australis s ss The little grassbird is rare in the Great Sandy Desert but inhabits the thick reed beds of s Dragon Tree Soak. Photo – CSIRO ss et al.

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s ss s sss ss s sss ss s s s s s s s s sss s s s s ss s s s ss s ss ss s s s s ss s sss s ss s s sss ss ss s ss fire’s s ss sss s s s s ss s s s s s s ss ss s s s s s ss s s ss s s s ss s sss s ss ss s s sss s s s s s sss s sss ss s s s s s s s ss s s s s s s s ss s s ss s s s s s ss ss s ss sss ss ss s ss s s s s s s s s s ss s s s s ss s ss s ss s ss s s s s sss ss ss ss ss s s s s ss s s s s s s ss s ss s s s s ss ss s ss s s s s s ss s ss ss s s s s s s sss s s s s

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ere siife rsss e ee ie fe ee seies s s ffe rss i is e f erse eri e free iesi f fire resrie fire s e se serie srei re e r f r sfires

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ei ie e erii ssesse f sri iies r seri r

Description: ie f rie sris i e r rs e e

Risk assessment

Present status Good

ris re ssifie s eir refi ese e re ie sr srre eei seies iiersi seri e is i ris re ree ii sr sie seri ese

e s siifi riers f e re ies ri fer erires es ee sres iie sris rss e sie e ee erse ie e e sie i s e ese e re f fer is reis

Risk perception

Sensitivity

Low ire ie is ese sris re rerfe Very high iire ie is rer sri er sressrs e eri f i er i e is f ies fer erires

Adaptive capacity

High fr i low fr eei i ese se sris e re resiie ire ie is e ei ssie eeer rer eei sri i e ie i reise if sris r r

e e resses f iffere sris i r e se i ier reie s ifer isre re ie s re ri es e e er res f e sris s r rer ere ii iis e e eriii f is ri

Risk minimisation/management

Vulnerability Moderate

Low erii ire ie is High erii iire ie is er sressrs

Risk minimisation and adaptation strategies

re ifers ir er ees i seee sris ee seis f e resere e sr eris ere i f es es ii esi is f fer erires ssess ere is resre if eee ssess e eees fr ei is sris e ifers sri e

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ei ei i ee reees

is e s ee ef iei i e ree i e ree sei i ee reees s e ee ie

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