Dakalanta Sanctuary Near Polda and Lake Newland Conservation Park Just North of Elliston

WILDEYRE SHEOAK RESTORATION IN THE STREAKY BAY REGION

Opportunities for Implementation of the WildEyre Conservation Action Plan in Relation to Sheoak Grassy Woodland Restoration

Oct 2009 Produced for the WildEyre Working Group

Produced By Mick Durant Greening Australia Oct 2009

Citation: Durant, M.D. 2009 ‘WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region’, Report to the WildEyre Working Group, Greening Australia SA

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 2

CONTENTS

Summary………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations………………………………………………………... 4

1 Introduction and Background …………………………………………………… 5 1.1 The WildEyre Project……………………………………………………….. 5 1.2 Links to the WildEyre 1st Iteration Conservation Action Plan…………... 5 1.3 Related Projects and Research……………………….…………………... 6 1.4 Scope……………………………………………………...………………….. 7

2 Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) Grassy Woodlands………… 8 2.1 Sheoak Grassy Woodlands Definition…………………………………… 8 2.2 Notes on the Biology of Allocasuarina verticillata………………………. 9 2.3 Distribution of Sheoak Grassy Woodlands in the WildEyre Region….. 10 2.3.1 Former (Pre-European) Distribution and Extent……………………… 10 2.3.2 Current Distribution and Extent………………………………………… 10 2.3.3 Grassland and Low Sedgeland Communities………………………… 10 2.4 Viability………………………………………………………………………. 12 2.5 Threats………………………………………………………………………. 12

3 Management and Restoration of Sheoak Grassy Woodlands……………… 14 3.1 Vegetation Condition and Management Responses…..………………. 14 3.2 1st Iteration CAP Goals……………………………………………………. 14 3.3 Remnant Site Management………………………………………………. 16 3.3.1 Vegetation Condition Target……………………………………………. 16 3.3.2 Grazing Management…………….……….……………………………... 16 3.3.3 On-Ground Management Actions……….……………………………… 17 3.3.4 Opportunity Costs for Lost Production.……………………………….. 17 3.3.5 Monitoring……………………….……………………………………….. 17 3.3.6 Approximate Costs/ha………………………………………………….. 18 3.3.7 Ensuring Long-Term Protection……………………………………….. 18 3.4 Management and Restoration of Recoverable Sites………………….. 19 3.4.1 Vegetation Condition Target for Condition Improvement…………… 19 3.4.2 Grazing Management……………………..……………………………. 19 3.4.3 On-Ground Management Actions……………………………………… 20 3.4.5 Opportunity Costs for Lost Production…..……………………………. 20 3.4.6 Monitoring……………………….………………………………………. 20 3.4.7 Approximate Costs/ha………………………………………………….. 21 3.5 Revegetation of Non-Recoverable Sites………………………………... 22 3.5.1 Establishing Sheoak Grassy Woodlands……………………………… 23 3.5.2 Establishment and Management Actions…………………………….. 23 3.5.3 Monitoring and Adaptive Management……………………………….. 25 3.5.4 Revegetation Calendar…………………………………………………. 25 3.5.5 Approximate Costs/ha………………………………………………….. 26

4 The Streaky Bay Region……………………………………………………………. 27 4.1 Region Description…………………………………………………………. 27 4.2 Extent and Distribution of Sheoak Woodlands…………………………. 27 4.3 Landholdings………………………………………………………………… 27 4.4 Targets for the Streaky Bay Region………………………………………. 30 4.4.1 Remnant Site Management Targets…………………………………… 30 4.4.2 Recoverable Site Targets……………………………………………….. 30 4.4.3 Revegetation Targets…………………………………………………… 30 4.5 Regional Target 1….……………………………………………………….. 31 4.5.1 Sheoak Distribution and Key Landholdings…………………………… 31 4.5.2 Implementation Outline………………………………………………….. 31 4.6 Regional Target 2…………………………………………………………... 33 4.6.1 Potentially Recoverable Sheoak Areas and Key Landholdings.…… 33 4.6.2 Implementation Outline………………………………………………….. 33 4.7 Estimated Cost Summary for Implementation…………………………. 35

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References……………………………………………………………………………………. 36

Tables Table 1: Additional WildEyre Goals Potentially Supported by Sheoak Woodland Restoration. 6 Table 2: Remaining Grassy Ecosystems in the WildEyre Region…………………...... 10 Table 3: Viability Assessment with Key Ecological Indicators…………………………………. 12 Table 4: Threats to Sheoak Grassy Woodlands ………………………………………………. 13 Table 5: Condition States and Management Responses………………………………………….. 14 Table 6: Approximate Costs for Remnant Site Management……………………………. 18 Table 7: Approximate Costs for Recoverable Site Restoration…………………………... 21 Table 8: Key Structural and Floristic Species for Sheoak Restoration……………………………. 23 Table 9: Specific Measurables for Adaptive Management Relating to Revegetation…………… 25 Table 10: A Typical Revegetation Calendar………………………………………………………….. 25 Table 11: Approximate Costs for Revegetation of Sheoak Grassy Woodlands………………….. 26 Table 12: Regional Targets for Streaky Bay…………………………………………………………. 30 Table 13: Implementation of Protection Target……………………………………………………….. 31 Table 14: Implementation of Recoverable Site Target………………………………………………. 33 Table 15: Estimated Cost Summary for Streaky Bay Sheoak Targets…………………………….. 35

Maps Map 1: WildEyre Sheoak Regions and Sheoak Grassy Woodland Distribution..………………… 11 Map 2: Streaky Bay Region with the Distribution of Sheoak Grassy Woodland…………………. 28 Map 3: Landholdings in the Streaky Bay Region……………………………………………………. 29 Map 4: Key Properties for the Implementation of Protection Goals……………………………….. 32 Map 5: Key Landholdings for the Implementation of Recoverable Site Goals…………………….. 34

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Summary

This document is one of 3 plans relating to the restoration of Sheoak grassy woodlands in the WildEyre Region, and one of 5 plans produced in 2009 seeking to guide the implementation of the WildEyre Conservation Action Plan (CAP) using funding from the Australian Government Caring for Our Country Program, administered through the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board.

Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) grassy woodlands once covered extensive areas on western and southern Eyre Peninsula and have supported a productive grazing industry since the 1850’s. However intensive grazing practices along with the introduction of rabbits, wildfires and clearance for agriculture and firewood has led to a dramatic decline in the condition and extent of Sheoak woodlands to the point that they are now considered a threatened ecosystem in South Australia.

The WildEyre CAP process recognised the poor viability and high threat status of Sheoak grassy woodlands on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula and attributed a high priority for protection, management and restoration. Accordingly 3 goals or objectives have been developed which directly relate to the management or restoration of Sheoak grassy woodland.

5.1 Restore and secure long term protection for 1,350ha of high quality Sheoak Grassy Woodlands to ensure adequate and representative areas by 2012.

8.1 Measurable improvement of vegetation condition of 17,125 ha of recoverable Sheoak Grassy Woodlands (through sustainable grazing regimes) to ensure adequate & representative areas and to support landscape linkages by 2014.

4.1 Revegetate 1,500 ha of Sheoak Grassy Woodlands on non-regenerative sites to ensure adequate and representative areas and create buffers for linear ecosystems by 2015.

The Streaky Bay Region contains 67% of the mapped Sheoak woodlands in the WildEyre project area and thus presents a good opportunity to work toward the protection and condition improvement goals. This plan suggests a long-term protection target of 812 ha for the Streaky Bay area and a condition improvement target of 3,830 ha. A revegetation target of zero hectares has been suggested which reflects the higher priority need for revegetation in the Elliston and Sheringa regions.

Long-term protection targets could potentially be achieved by working with the owners of 15 key landholdings which are identified in this plan. A further 12 key landholdings could form the basis of a program to achieve the condition improvements on 3,830 hectares. The on-ground implementation costs for achieving these goals in the first year are coarsely estimated at $928,000 for fencing, $311,014 for pest animal control, $283,406 for targeted weed control and $155,971 in opportunity costs for foregoing production.

A number of further steps need to be taken before the identified goals are able to be achieved on the ground:

 Contact identified landholders and begin discussions  Undertake site visits to assess vegetation condition and identify high quality remnants for protection and sites suitable for Sheoak recovery and restoration  Identify or develop the mechanism which will afford long-term protection for remnant vegetation on private land (whether it be through covenants, land management agreements, contracts or other means)  Determine appropriate financial incentives and the form in which they will be delivered (incentives, stewardship payments or compensation for lost production income)  Develop grazing management guidelines to provide clarity to landholders on what will be required within protection sites, condition improvement sites and revegetation sites (lock-up timeframes, grazing frequency, duration, timing and intensity)  Develop a project proposal and seek funding for on-ground implementation.

The costs of developing and managing a project to deliver the on-ground outcomes are estimated at $66,400.

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Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

CAP Conservation Action Plan (or Planning) NRM Natural Resources Management Native Pine refers to Southern Cypress-pine (Callitris gracilis) Sheoak refers to Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) Sheoak Woodlands refers to Drooping Sheoak Grassy Woodlands Derived Grasslands refers to grasslands and sedgelands which originally supported a tree and shrub layer or overstorey (ie. derived from a Sheoak woodland)

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1 Introduction and Background

Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) grassy woodlands (herein referred to simply as Sheoak grassy woodlands or Sheoak woodlands) once covered extensive areas on western Eyre Peninsula and have supported a productive grazing industry since the 1850’s. However intensive grazing practices along with the introduction of rabbits, wildfires and clearance for agriculture and firewood has led to a dramatic decline in the condition and extent of Sheoak woodlands with a grassy understorey on the Eyre Peninsula and elsewhere in the State, to the point that they are now considered a threatened ecosystem in South Australia.

The Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH unpublished list 2001) define the following Sheoak community as Vulnerable within the agricultural regions of South Australia:

Allocasuarina verticillata grassy low woodlands on clay loams of low hills within the Eyre Block 1 and Eyre Block 3, Fleurieu Block 1, Fleurieu Block 2, Kanmantoo 1 and Kanmantoo 2 IBRA sub- regions.

Conservationists and farmers alike have a vested interest in the persistence and recovery of Sheoak grassy woodlands in the landscape and this is demonstrated by a number of research and restoration projects. The WildEyre Working Group is currently focussing resources on the issue as one of the first priorities to come out of the WildEyre Conservation Action Plan.

1.1 The WildEyre Project

The WildEyre project began in 2007 as a small and diverse group of natural resource managers on Eyre Peninsula (non-government, State agencies and the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board) undertaking a series of facilitated planning workshops with a goal of conserving significant environments on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula. The workshops were based around a Conservation Action Planning (CAP) framework which has been developed by the US-based The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and which is currently being applied to many large conservation projects in Australia and worldwide (see www.nature.org ).

The Wild Eyre project has been developing since 2007 and the group has produced a 1st iteration Conservation Action Plan for an area of western Eyre Peninsula covering around 1.2 million hectares from Mount Hope in the south to around Streaky Bay in the north and including the large habitat areas of Hinks and Hambidge Wilderness Reserves in the east. The Plan identified 12 assets to become the focus of conservation efforts in the region and these are listed below.

1) Sandy Coasts and Dunes 2) Rocky Coasts and Clifftops 3) Sheltered Coastal Bays 4) Sub-coastal and Inland Wetlands 5) Coastal and Inland Limestone Plains Mallee 6) Sand Mallee Communities 7) Sand Mallee Dune-top Remnants 8) Red Gum Floodplain Woodland 9) Mallee Box and Native Pine Woodlands 10) Sheoak Grassy Woodlands 11) Native Grasslands and Low Sedgelands 12) Granite Outcrops

1.2 Links to the WildEyre 1st Iteration Conservation Action Plan

The WildEyre CAP process recognised that Sheoak grassy woodlands are a highly depleted and highly threatened asset on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula and thus are a priority for protection, management and restoration. Accordingly 3 goals or objectives have been developed which directly relate to the management or restoration of Sheoak grassy woodland. These have been refined during the process of writing this plan and are presented on the next page.

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5.1 Restore and secure long term protection for 1,350ha of high quality Sheoak Grassy Woodlands to ensure adequate and representative areas by 2012.

4.1 Revegetate 1,500 ha of Sheoak Grassy Woodlands on non-regenerative sites to ensure adequate and representative areas and create buffers for linear ecosystems by 2015.

The management and restoration of Sheoak ecosystems may also indirectly support a number of other WildEyre goals and these are listed in Table 1.

Table 1: Additional WildEyre Goals Potentially Supported by Sheoak Woodland Restoration

Objective/Goal Relevance 4.2 Protect high priority sub-coastal wetlands with native Sheoak grassy woodlands often occurred on low vegetation buffers to improve habitat diversity and limestone hills adjacent to wetlands such as Lake linkages by 2015. Newland 8.3 Measurable improvement in vegetation condition of Patches of Red Gum often co-occur with Sheoak grassy 1000ha of Red Gum Woodlands (through sustainable woodlands and thus may end up being managed similarly grazing regimes) by 2015 7.2 Restore & secure long term protection for an Mallee Box and Native Pine woodlands also often co- additional 10,000 ha of high quality Native Pine & Mallee occur with Sheoak grassy woodlands and thus may end Box Woodlands by 2011. up being managed similarly 8.2 Measurable improvement in vegetation condition of Sustainable grazing programs are likely to benefit all 40,000ha of Mallee Box & Native Pine Woodlands grassy assets (sustainable grazing) by 2015. 9.1 Maximise the distribution and populations of native Management of Sheoak areas should also include feral fauna species threatened by feral predators (foxes, cats) animal management by 2020. 9.2 Regeneration of palatable native plant species and Managing grazing in Sheoak systems should facilitate stabilisation of soil structure in areas not grazed by stock recruitment of other palatable native plant species by 2020. 8.1 Protect & buffer granite outcrops greater than 1 ha to Sheoak grassy woodlands often occurred in close restore specific habitat type by 2010. proximity to granite outcrops such as Mount Wedge

1.3 Related Projects and Research

A number of projects have focussed on the issue of declining Sheoak woodlands on Eyre Peninsula including projects looking at production values (Reseigh & Bartel 2005), vegetation condition (Bey 2009) and restoration using herbivore control (Peeters, Gerschwitz and Carpenter (2006). A recent community workshop held at Pt Kenny in July 2009 also focussed on landholder views regarding Sheoak grassy woodlands in the landscape.

1) Restoring Sheoak Grassy Woodlands (Reseigh and Bartel 2005)

The J. Reseigh and B. Bartel (2005) project focussed on the productive capacity of Sheoak woodlands and reported the following achievements from grazing management:

Monitoring:  A decrease in annual grasses, particularly silver grass (Vulpia bromoides) cover  Clovers and medics fluctuate depending on seasonal conditions  Feed utilisation has improved across paddocks due to fencing into small paddocks

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Landholders  Better pasture utilisation, as noted above  Reported better productivity from areas on their properties previously under-utilised for grazing  Increased awareness of the plants that make up their pastures

2) Sheoak Grassy Woodland Site Condition Report (Bey 2009)

This report consists of 15 site assessments aimed at building a picture of the condition of Sheoak grassy woodlands across the WildEyre Region. Sites were mainly examined from roadside survey and were categorised into 5 condition classes (see Section 3.1)

3) Restoring Sheoak Grassy Woodlands on Lower Eyre Peninsula (Peeters, Gerschwitz & Carpenter 2006)

This project by the Department for Environment and Heritage examined Sheoak regeneration issues in Coffin Bay National Park using rabbit and kangaroo control as the main variable. Field observations indicated that browsing by herbivores and seed availability were the main factors limiting Sheoak recruitment. The study also found that kangaroo browsing height reached to around 1.3m.

4) Landholder Workshops (Pt Kenny, July 2009)

A workshop organised by the WildEyre Working Group was held in Pt Kenny during July 2009 to discuss issues relating to Sheoak woodland management with local landholders. The major points covered in the workshop were:

Overview of the WildEyre project and the context of the workshop  Sheoak woodland biology and ecology  Management of Sheoak remnants  Sheoak grassy woodlands, production and native pastures (guest speaker Jodie Reseigh)  Feral animal grazing impacts and management (guest speaker Greg Mutze)  Financial incentives (discussions on appropriate financial incentives for excluding grazing)  Ways for landholders to be involved

The main points to come out of the workshop were:  That landholders in the Streaky Bay Region wanted to see more Sheoak in the landscape and expressed interest in participating in a project  A number of landholders have fenced off paddocks of their own accord and have reported Sheoak regeneration  Incentives or some other form of payment will be necessary to make stock exclusion a viable option for most farmers  Rabbit and kangaroo grazing is a big issue  Landholders seemed to be ready to participate but they needed something concrete to ‘sign up to’

1.4 Scope

This document is one of 3 plans relating to Sheoak grassy woodlands in the WildEyre Region, and one of 5 plans produced in 2009 seeking to guide the implementation of the WildEyre Conservation Action Plan (CAP) using funding from the Commonwealth Government Caring for Our Country Program, administered through the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board.

The major aim of this plan is to provide the link between the 1st Iteration WildEyre Conservation Action Plan and the on-ground implementation of the strategies. To do this the plan examines 3 management responses which relate to the WildEyre CAP goals and provides indicative costs for the various management components. Quantitative targets are then set for Sheoak protection and restoration in the Streaky Bay region and key landholdings within the region are identified and mapped.

The plan then outlines the foundational projects and strategic actions which will be required to progress to the on-ground implementation phase.

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2 Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) Grassy Woodlands

2.1 Sheoak Grassy Woodlands Definition

Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) woodlands (herein referred to as simply Sheoak woodlands) occur throughout the southern agricultural regions of South Australia, generally within the 350 to 550 mm rainfall zone, and generally associated with sandy soils near the coast, skeletal soils on limestone flats or low hills (particularly on western Eyre Peninsula), or on steep rocky slopes in higher rainfall areas (for example in the Mount Lofty Ranges).

There are two relatively distinct Sheoak ecosystems on the Eyre Peninsula which differ in structural and floristic composition. Near the coast on sandy soils and dunes Sheoak generally occurs with a dense or sparse shrubby understorey with a variety of coastal plants (examples can be found at Lake Newland Conservation Park and Coffin Bay Conservation Park). This association is not the Threatened Ecosystem referred to in this plan.

The Sheoak grassy woodlands dealt with in this plan occur on shallow clay loam soils amongst limestone in the western Eyre Peninsula region. Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) is the dominant overstorey species but it may occur with scattered or clumped Mallee Box (Eucalyptus porosa), Coastal White Mallee (Eucalyptus diversifolia), Dryland Tea-tree (Melaleuca lanceolata) and Southern Cypress-pine (Callitris gracilis) and may occur adjacent to River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. camaldulensis) woodlands, mallee associations or closed depressions containing Swamp Paperbark (Melaleuca halmaturorum).

Intact examples display a sparse or scattered shrub layer with common species including Acacia brachybotrya, Acacia cupularis, Acacia triquetra, Acacia spinescens, Bursaria spinosa, Dodonaea viscosa ssp. spatulata, Dodonaea baueri, Hibbertia riparia, Leucopogon parviflorus, Olearia axillaris, Olearia ramulosa, Rhagodia candolleana ssp. candolleana, Rhagodia crassifolia and Xanthorrhoea semiplana ssp. semiplana. Healthy examples will also contain multiple age cohorts of Sheoak due to the high regenerative capacity of the species under minimal or no grazing.

The ground layer is dominated by grasses such as the Speargrasses (Austrostipa spp), Wallaby Grasses (Austrodanthonia spp.) and Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra), and sedges (eg. Gahnia lanigera, Lepidosperms spp.) and/or tussocky lilies (eg. Lomandra spp.). There may be a rich herb layer where grazing is absent or light/infrequent.

Heavily degraded examples may lack the overstorey and appear as open grasslands (derived grasslands) or may maintain scattered mature Sheoaks but occur with an understorey of mainly exotic annual grasses and broadleaf weeds. Drooping Sheoak is a relatively short-lived tree (perhaps between 60 and 100 years) which often results in only senescing or dead trees remaining in continuously grazed paddocks (ie. a lack of recruitment means the older generation is the only age class and when these die out the paddock remains an open grassy area).

Associated fauna species or nested targets include ground-dwelling birds such as the Plains Wanderer, Australian Bustard and Bush Stone-curlew, reptile species such as the State Vulnerable Carpet Python (Morelia spiltoa) and mammals such as the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat and Western Grey Kangaroo. The box below presents the nested targets as identified by the WildEyre Working Group.

Box 1: Nested Targets within the Sheoak Grassy Woodlands Conservation Asset

Nested Target #1: Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) Grassy woodlands - STATE THREATENED Nested Target #2: Plains-wanderer (Pediononus torquatus) - NATIONALLY VULNERABLE Nested Target #3: Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis) - STATE VULNERABLE Nested Target #4: Bush-stone Curlew (Burhinus garllarius) - STATE VULNERABLE Nested Target #5: Chestnut Quailthrush (Cinclosoma castanotum) - STATE VULNERABLE Nested Target #6: Painted Button-quail (Turnix varia) - STATE VULNERABLE Nested Target #7: Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata) - STATE VULNERABLE Nested Target #8: Carpet Python (Morelia spiltoa) - STATE VULNERABLE

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2.2 Notes on the Biology of Allocasuarina verticillata

Description (from Berkinshaw 2006)

Growth Form: Small to medium-sized, rough-barked, grey-green tree, 5-10 m high, with distinctive slender, drooping branchlets Branchlets: Long, drooping, dark green, ribbed Leaves: Seemingly absent, reduced to tiny scales (leaf teeth) in whorls of 9-12 around the branchlet joints Flowers: Male and female flowers on separate trees. Male flowers are thin yellow-brown spikes at the ends of branchlets, 5 – 10 cm long. Female flowers are red and occur in small stalked, rounded heads. Flowering Time: Autumn to winter. Fruit: On female plants only. Large cylindrical woody cone, 2-5 cm long by 2-3 cm wide with pointed valves

Seed Dispersal

Sheoaks are predominantly wind pollinated and seed is thought to be dispersed mainly by birds (Bonney 2003). The woody cones can open in summer while still on the tree although this does not appear to be main source of seed release and many of the cones can persist on the tree for years without opening. There are reports that fire may be required for seed release (Moncur et al 1997) however the capacity for regeneration in the absence of fire would suggest this relationship is not significant. Most seed release probably occurs from cones being knocked or dropped onto the ground by birds or wind. Once on the ground they open readily during hot dry weather.

The seeds have a brown, papery wing which may facilitate some wind dispersal if cones open on the tree, however dispersal distances are relatively restricted by the weight of the seed (heavier than many other wind-dispersed species). Hence the majority of dispersal is thought to occur on a paddock-scale. This has implications for regeneration potential in paddocks where mature seed-bearing trees are absent.

Germination and Regeneration Potential

Sheoak seeds germinate readily when conditions are right and generally seedlings will emerge in winter or spring depending on soil moisture and temperature conditions. This gives this species a high capacity to regenerate on a yearly basis and many remnants with low levels of grazing will exhibit multiple age classes as a result.

Growth

Sheoak is a nitrogen-fixing tree which is relatively fast growing, particularly if conditions are good. Trees have been observed by the author reaching 1 metre within 2 years, producing seed between 4 and 6 years and growing up to 3 or 4 metres in height after 6-7 years. It is estimated that trees reach above browse height (for the majority of herbivores) after between 6 and 9 years.

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2.3 Distribution of Sheoak Grassy Woodlands in the WildEyre Region

2.3.1 Former (pre-European) Distribution and Extent

Pre-European vegetation mapping is currently underway for western Eyre Peninsula (Tim Croft pers. comm. 2009) although there was no product available at the time of writing. Indications are however that much of the now cleared low limestone hills from Sheringa and north into the Polda Basin were predominantly Sheoak woodland, including much of the area either side of the Flinders Highway through to Talia. From rough desk-top estimates in the Sheringa area, well over 60,000 hectares of what is now non- native cover may have been predominantly Sheoak woodland (mixed with other vegetation types). Much of the area between Pt Kenny and Streaky Bay was also predominantly Sheoak grassy woodland. General historical distributions can also be found in Bishop and Venning (1986) and on the DEH website (www.environment.sa.gov.au/west_bcp/sheoak_gw_recovery ).

2.3.2 Current Distribution and Extent

Approximately 2,669 ha of Sheoak grassy woodland remains in the WildEyre Region and local knowledge suggests that a considerable proportion of this is in poor condition. The distribution is fragmented but concentrated in three relatively distinct regions: Streaky Bay to Venus Bay, the Elliston region (Polda Basin and Talia) and in the south around Sheringa to Mt Hope. Map 1 shows the distribution across all three regions.

Sheoak remnants are generally small and scattered in the landscape as Map 1 shows. There are 171 mapped polygons in the WildEyre Region and the largest mapped remnant is 487 ha near Streaky Bay. The majority are under 10 ha with only 44 polygons over 10ha and only 4 which are over 100 ha).

2.3.3 Grassland and Low Sedgeland Communities

Speargrass (Austrostipa spp.) grasslands and Black Grass (Gahnia lanigera) low sedgelands within the WildEyre region are likely to indicate former Sheoak, Native Pine, Dryland Tea-tree and Mallee Box distributions rather than historically diverse grasslands and sedgelands in the true sense (such as the grasslands in the mid-north). In the absence of accurate pre-European estimates, these derived grasslands give a reasonable indication of the former extent of Sheoak in the landscape, although there are large areas that have been transformed into non-native cover such as east of Sheringa (described above).

Table 2 provides some context to the remaining grassy woodlands in the WildEyre region and highlights the poor protection status of Sheoak grassy woodlands in particular.

Table 2: Remaining Grassy Ecosystems in the WildEyre Region

% protected Area % within Area % within Within National protected protected Reserves National Parks under under and Total Area Parks and and Heritage Heritage Heritage Conservation Asset Remaining Reserves Reserves Agreement Agreement Agreements Red Gum Floodplain Woodland 4148 ha 606 ha 15% 239 ha 6% 20% Mallee Box and Native Pine Woodlands 199,087 ha 34213 ha 17% 17019 ha 9% 26% Drooping Sheoak Grassy Woodlands 2,669 ha 182 ha 7% 7 ha <1% 7% Native Grasslands and Low Sedgelands 57,084 ha 265 ha 0% 1656 ha 3% 3%

*Potential Sheoak Areas 59,725 ha 398 ha 0.6 % 1668 ha 2.8 % 3.5% * Potential Sheoak areas is a combination of mapped Sheoak, Austrostipa grassland and Gahnia lanigera sedgeland

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Map 1: WildEyre Sheoak Regions and Sheoak Grassy Woodland Distribution

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2.4 Viability

The majority of Sheoak woodlands in the project area are heavily degraded through grazing by sheep and rabbits. Table 3 below presents the viability assessment as undertaken in the 1st Iteration WildEyre CAP and shows that the overall viability (or health) of Sheoak systems in the WildEyre region has been rated as Poor. Within the CAP a Poor rating means that the asset is at risk of severe degradation within 10 years if there is no management undertaken.

Table 3: Viability Assessment with Key Ecological Indicators

Landscape Context Condition Size Overall Viability

Key Ecological ● fire regime ● fauna species ● total area Indicators ● connectivity to diversity remaining and patch adjacent vegetation ● flora species size communities diversity ● soil condition

Viability Rating Fair Poor Poor Poor

2.5 Threats

The main threat to Sheoak grassy woodlands currently is continual grazing pressure from both feral and native herbivores and from incompatible or inappropriate stock grazing practices (ie. practices which suppress Sheoak regeneration). Often it is a combination of threats which is causing the serious decline in condition and extent within the region, rather than a single cause.

Grazing The principle impact of stock grazing is the suppression of Sheoak regeneration in the landscape. Sheoaks do regenerate readily from seed but they are highly palatable to most herbivores and continuous grazing prevents seedlings and juveniles from becoming established and reaching maturity.

Rabbits are equally as damaging to emerging Sheoak seedlings and high rabbit numbers have a devastating impact on vegetation structure and diversity. Work by Greg Mutze as presented at the Pt Kenny workshop suggests that rabbit numbers need to be kept below 1 rabbit per 2 hectares (0,5 per ha) in order for natural regeneration to occur.

Goats, deer and over-abundant kangaroos also suppress vegetation regeneration and can cause severe browsing damage. Impacts from these animals vary within the landscape and can be severe in some regions.

Historic Land Clearance Physical vegetation clearance has not been the major factor in Sheoak decline on western Eyre Peninsula (Bishop and Venning 1986), however the history of grazing practices and other factors amounts to a similar end result. Impacts from this past clearance continue in the landscape long after the initial fragmentation. As detailed in the distribution section, most Sheoak remnants are very small and isolated from each other which facilitates damaging edge effects such as weed invasion, micro-climatic changes (wind and solar effects) and chemical drift. Historic land clearance has also resulted in the general removal of mature seed-bearing trees from large areas of the landscape.

Weeds Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) is a common woody weed within Sheoak woodlands and may invade relatively intact examples due to birds being a major dispersal method for the seed. There is anecdotal evidence that heavy infestations of Boxthorn on offshore islands are providing a seed source for dispersal by birds. Boxthorn is also one of the species that increases sharply in abundance if grazing is excluded from an area. Other notable weed species include Bridal Creeper, Horehound, Aleppo Pine, Wild Turnip and Lincoln Weed.

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Fire Fires have historically been part of the ecology on western Eyre Peninsula and Sheoak woodlands can recover from wildfires by basal sprouting and surviving seed. The major threat from fire is when grazing pressure continues while the woodlands are recovering in the post fire period. Local landholders recall that the Sheringa area was predominantly denuded of Sheoak woodland in recent times due to the combination of a large fire and high rabbit numbers in the post fire period.

Table 4: Threats to Sheoak Grassy Woodlands

Threats Across Targets Sheoak Grassy Woodlands

1 Stock Grazing Very High

2 Rabbit Grazing High

3 Historic Land Clearance (fragmentation) High

Over abundant native species grazing & 4 High trampling (kangaroos)

7 Weeds Medium

Overall Threat Status Very High

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 13

3 Management and Restoration of Sheoak Grassy Woodlands

The management and restoration of Sheoak grassy woodlands may be achieved by applying management responses which match the condition of the vegetation and the potential for natural regeneration.

3.1 Vegetation Condition and Management Responses

A recent project (Bey 2009) sampled 15 Sheoak grassy woodland sites on western Eyre Peninsula and assessed the vegetation on 5 levels of condition:

CR 1 – Healthy mature trees, evidence of regeneration (several cohorts present), healthy intact understorey. No evidence of stock or feral animal grazing.

CR2 - Healthy mature trees, some evidence of regeneration, some understorey species present. Under light grazing pressure.

CR3 – Mature trees with ability to regenerate, no native understorey remaining. Under heavy grazing pressure.

CR4 - Mature trees senescing with ability to regenerate. Under heavy grazing pressure.

CR5 – Mature trees sparse senescing to dead with limited or no ability to regenerate. Under heavy grazing pressure.

These 5 categories can be translated into 3 management or restoration criteria based on the type of management response (see Table 5 below). These management responses were used to frame the development of the 1st Iteration WildEyre CAP goals relating to Sheoak and other vegetation types.

Table 5: Condition States and Management Responses

State/Condition Description Related Management Response Condition Rating(s) 1 Remnant reasonably good condition with CR1 Secure formal protection and on- understorey species and a number going management. May require of age classes present fencing and destocking 2 Recoverable mature trees and possibly more CR2, CR3, Grazing management required to than one age class are present, CR4 improve condition and allow natural some understorey species may be regeneration (may require stock present, is able to naturally exclusion for up to 9 years and/or a regenerate over time with change grazing regime). Weed appropriate management control and feral animal control also needed 3 Non-recoverable mature trees absent or mostly CR5 Revegetation required if Sheoak senescing or dead, few native woodland is desired in this landscape plants remaining, natural regeneration unlikely to occur

3.2 1st Iteration CAP Goals

The WildEyre Working Group has developed numeric targets for Sheoak woodland management and restoration using the 3 levels of management described above. These targets are based on analyses of existing mapped vegetation and hence are best approximations which may be refined as further information comes to light (pre-European mapping for instance).

The targets also use the basic ecological premise that retaining around 30% native vegetation cover in a region (in reasonable condition) should be enough to maintain viable populations of the majority of associated species in the landscape. This is a very simplified principle which is useful for setting initial, tangible targets. The WildEyre Working Group has chosen to increase the 30% to 50% in the case of protecting highly depleted and threatened ecosystems such as Sheoak grassy woodlands.

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 14

Using existing Sheoak mapping and mapping of Austrostipa spp. grasslands and Gahnia lanigera sedgelands as a guide to the former extent of Sheoak grasslands, the 30% target equates to nearly 20,000 ha of Sheoak grassy woodland in the WildEyre Region while the 50% target would be around 30,000 ha.

5.1 Restore and secure long term protection for 1,350ha of high quality Sheoak Grassy Woodlands to ensure adequate and representative areas by 2012.

This objective aims to compliment the existing formal protected areas network (National Parks, Heritage Agreements and private conservation reserves) by securing the long-term protection an additional 1,350 ha of good quality vegetation. The figure is based on a target of protecting 50% of remaining mapped Sheoak areas.

This objective relates to managing grazing practices over 17,125 ha in order to improve the general vegetation condition of Sheoak remnants in the region and to allow natural regeneration. The figure is based on the 30% extent premise using Austrostipa spp. grassland and Gahnia lanigera sedgeland as a surrogate for recoverable Sheoak Grassy Woodlands.

4.1 Revegetate 1,500 ha of Sheoak Grassy Woodlands on non-regenerative sites to ensure adequate and representative areas and create buffers for linear ecosystems by 2015.

This objective seeks to strategically revegetate areas of Sheoak Grassy Woodland to create native vegetation buffers for linear ecosystems such as sub-coastal wetlands (eg. Lake Newland) and it recognises that many areas of former Sheoak woodland are now non-recoverable by natural regeneration alone. The figure is based on an achievable level of yearly revegetation over the next 5 years using current technology and resources.

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 15

3.3 Remnant Site Management

Remnant sites refer to Sheoak grassy woodlands which are currently in good or reasonable condition and are therefore a priority to maintain and protect. In many cases they will already be managed for conservation in some sense as good condition indicates low levels of grazing and appropriate current management. The focus is therefore on maintaining or improving vegetation condition and ensuring that appropriate management will continue into the future.

3.3.1 Vegetation Condition Target

A site that is being managed for protection could be expected to have the following minimum attributes:  A grassy and/or sedge understorey consisting of predominantly native perennials  More than 2 native shrub species occurring commonly within the remnant  At least 4 age classes of Sheoak including mature seed-bearing trees, juveniles above 1.3m and seedlings

Photo: Sheoak with a grass and sedge understorey, mixed with Mallee Box in the background

3.3.2 Grazing Management

Managing high quality Sheoak remnants is essentially about maintaining some areas in the landscape without stock grazing and hence the standard management response for remnant sites should be to exclude domestic stock. However it is recognised that the grassy ecosystems we have left are now under high degradation pressure and stock grazing can be a useful tool for maintaining condition if managed carefully. Any program or protection mechanism should have in-built flexibility to allow informed management decisions to be made.

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 16

3.3.3 On-ground Management Actions

Fencing

Fencing to exclude stock is likely to be a component of long-term protection and requirements will need to be assessed on a site by site basis. In general fencing costs for remnant sites should be relatively low as the remnants are already in reasonable condition and therefore may be adequately fenced already or may occur where stock do not have access.

Water points and other production infrastructure may also need to be removed or relocated to avoid attracting excess grazing pressure from native and introduced herbivores.

Feral Animal Control (rabbits and foxes)

Feral animal control will be an on-going requirement for remnant sites and indeed for general property management. Costs may be incurred by the landholder due to remnant areas harbouring feral animals and native grazers, thus there could be on-going management costs as a result of the protection measures and these should be recognised.

Feral animal control will include rabbit and fox control and possibly goat and deer control depending on the location and feral animal abundance.

Kangaroo Management

There is some debate as to the impacts of kangaroos but there is evidence that high numbers of kangaroos cause severe browsing damage to juvenile plants, resulting in trees that never reach above browse height. Kangaroos have also been known to graze on small seedlings in revegetation causing a high mortality on newly emerging plants (pers. obs) and this may occur with naturally establishing seedlings also (although there is not the added attractant of freshly turned earth).

Kangaroo management may be necessary in some sites if plant recruitment and vegetation establishment is being impacted by over-abundant animals.

Targeted Weed Control

Weed control is another on-going cost of maintaining a protected area. A number of weeds such as Boxthorn and Bridal Creeper are required to be controlled by law but it should be recognised that maintaining an area without stock grazing can result in the establishment of certain weeds which would normally be grazed out under a grazing regime. A typical weed control program may involve a treatment in winter for weeds such as Bridal Creeper and a treatment during spring or summer to control summer weeds and woody weeds such as Boxthorn and Aleppo Pine.

3.3.4 Opportunity Costs for Lost Production

An opportunity cost exists if a landholder destocks and maintains a natural area which he/she would have derived income from if it was left in production. As most of the Sheoak areas occur on low limestone hills which are not suitable for cropping, the opportunity cost can be estimated on grazing enterprises.

One simple measure of opportunity cost is calculated by estimating the profit per Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE) and multiplying this by the stocking rate to achieve a cost per hectare. Work by local Land managers and the WildEyre Working Group has produced a current figure of around $28 per DSE and a stocking rate of around 1 DSE per hectare. There seemed to be general agreement with this figure amongst landholders at the Port Kenny workshop.

3.3.5 Monitoring

A minimum level of yearly monitoring in remnant sites would involve:  Weed monitoring (to inform weed management)  Grazing impacts (looking for signs of kangaroo and feral animal grazing impacts to inform management actions and feral animal control programs)

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 17

 Plant recruitment (Sheoak seedlings should establish in most years and if it is not occurring then there may be unseen reasons such as rabbit grazing over summer)

A more thorough and permanent monitoring program may include the set up of Bushland Condition Monitoring (BCM) sites at a number of protected areas (some properties may already have BCM sites established from recent WildEyre funding). BCM sites can be used to inform on-ground management actions as well as to assess the effectiveness of the project as a whole.

3.3.6 Approximate Costs/ha

The costs presented in Table 6 are based on managing an average sized 30ha remnant and are only considered as an indication. True costs will vary on a site by site basis.

Table 6: Approximate Costs for Remnant Site Management

Management Action Calculation Cost/30ha Cost/ha remnant Year 1 Fencing 1.5km (2 sides) x $4000/km $6000 $200 Feral Animal Control Based on NRM example $2000 $67 Kangaroo Management ~ ~ ~ Weed Control 2 x 0.5 days @ contractor rate $1000 $33 Opportunity Cost** $28 x 1 DSE/ha stocking rate $840 $28 Monitoring Inkind (landholder/project officer) ($0) ($0)

On-going Annual Cost Yearly management costs minus $3,840 $128 fencing

3.4.7 Ensuring Long-Term Protection

While on-ground management actions for the protection of remnant vegetation are reasonably well understood, a major gap exists in the form of an appropriate mechanism to ensure long-term protection of native vegetation on private land in South Australia. Heritage Agreements are currently the main mechanism available but it is recognised that they are unlikely to be effective in achieving protection targets in the future due to a number of shortcomings (including reluctance by landholders to take up the scheme and funding constraints). The Department for Environment and Heritage is currently investigating options for future schemes but there is no indication of when something may be available for implementation.

One arrangement which could be developed through the Eyre Peninsula NRM Board is the use of land management agreements tied to funding.

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 18

3.4 Management and Restoration of Recoverable Sites

The major driver for improving the condition of recoverable sites is the management of grazing, particularly regarding domestic stock. The other management actions will be similar to remnant sites.

3.4.1 Vegetation Condition Target

The goal of managing sites for recovery and condition improvement is to achieve vegetation which has a minimum of the following attributes after the initial management period:  A perennial grass cover on the ground with native species comprising at least 50% of cover  At least 3 age classes of Sheoak including mature seed-producing trees, juveniles above 1.3m in height and seedlings  At least 1 native shrub species colonising at the site

Most sites would be expected to be in better condition than the minimum requirements after the management period.

Photo 1: Example of a recoverable Sheoak site (note the presence of mature trees)

3.4.2 Grazing Management for Condition Improvement

Stock Exclusion Anecdotal evidence suggests that in order to naturally recover a Sheoak overstorey, paddocks need to be rested from stock for up to 9 years in order for trees to mature above browse height and become seed- producing, and for there to be multiple age classes in the paddock. This period may be shorter on some sites depending on past management practices, stocking rates, baseline vegetation condition and extenuating circumstances (eg. extreme dry years).

Sustainable Grazing Further investigation is needed to develop guidelines for sustainable grazing in Sheoak systems as they are a relatively unique case due to the high palatability of the main overstorey species and the life cycle and regenerative capacity of Sheoak. In particular any funding program will need to have guidelines for when stock can be put back into a Sheoak stand and the frequency, timing, duration and intensity of that grazing.

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 19

The work being undertaken by Reseigh and Bartel as outlined earlier may be an important source of information.

Some reports from the Northern and Yorke region suggest that Sheoak systems can be maintained by rotational, short period grazing if it follows a paddock rest and if regenerating Sheoaks are guarded from stock damage (which may or not be feasible depending on paddock size).

Any sustainable grazing regime should be based around achieving the vegetation condition target above within the suggested 9 year period.

3.4.3 On-Ground Management Actions

Fencing and Infrastructure

Fencing requirements for recoverable sites are similar to remnant sites and need to be assessed on a site by site basis. Water point management also applies.

Feral Animal Control (rabbits and foxes)

Feral animal control will be an on-going requirement for recovering sites, perhaps more so than in remnant sites as plant recruitment is the main focus. Rabbit control is particularly important as work by Greg Mutze in Sheoak systems of the Coorong has shown that rabbit numbers need to be at least as low as 0.5 rabbits per hectare to allow natural regeneration to occur. Fox control will be necessary in order to compliment rabbit control.

Many parts of central Eyre Peninsula also support goats and deer which can have heavy impacts on seedling regeneration as well as juvenile and mature trees, hence control may be necessary if present.

Kangaroo Management

Kangaroo management may be necessary in some sites if plant recruitment and vegetation establishment is being impacted by over-abundant animals.

Targeted Weed Control

Weed control effort may be higher in recoverable sites than remnant sites as they are often disturbed sites which have the grazing pressure suddenly and dramatically decreased. Local knowledge suggests that Boxthorn and Horehound for example can increase dramatically in Sheoak woodland once the grazing pressure is removed.

3.4.4 Opportunity Costs for Lost Production

The opportunity cost of managing an area for Sheoak recovery would be similar to that of a remnant site and may be slightly higher due to a higher stocking rate being used prior to the exclusion of grazing.

3.4.5 Monitoring

Minimum monitor requirements will be similar to remnant sites, perhaps with a stronger focus on plant recruitment and establishment. Monitoring parameters for recovering sites would involve:  Weed monitoring (to inform weed management)  Grazing impacts (looking for signs of kangaroo and feral animal grazing impacts to inform management actions and feral animal control programs)  Plant recruitment (Sheoak seedlings should establish in most years and if it is not occurring then there may be unseen reasons such as rabbit grazing over summer)

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 20

3.4.6 Approximate Costs/ha

The costs presented here are based on managing an average sized 30ha remnant and are only considered as an indication. True costs will vary on a site by site basis.

Table 7: Approximate Costs for Recoverable Site Restoration

Management Action Calculation Cost/30ha Cost/ha remnant Year 1 Fencing 1.5km (2 sides of a square block) x $4000/km $6000 $200 Feral Animal Control Based on NRM example for a 30ha site $2000 $67 Kangaroo Management ~ ~ ~ Weed Control 2 x 0.5 days @ contractor rate $2000 $67 Opportunity Cost $28 x 1 DSE/ha stocking rate $840 $28 Monitoring Inkind (landholder/project officer) ($0) ($0)

On-going Annual Yearly management costs minus fencing $4,840 $161 Costs

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 21

3.5 Revegetation of Non-Recoverable Sites

Non-recoverable Sheoak sites generally resemble open grassland or pasture, or may have scattered senescing or dead mature trees with no other age classes present. The capacity of these sites to regenerate naturally is not well understood but local knowledge suggests that natural regeneration in these areas would be severely limited due to the lack of mature trees to provide seed (given the dispersal ecology of Sheoaks).

If Sheoak woodland is desired in these landscapes then revegetation will be necessary. Due to the high cost of revegetation and the natural capacity of Sheoak to regenerate in most (other) situations, revegetation should be targeted for multiple landscape benefits such as connectivity and buffering of sensitive areas.

Additional benefits of establishing Sheoak woodlands by revegetation include:  An increase in the extent of native vegetation and habitat in the region  The restoration of a habitat/ecosystem type which is now highly depleted in the region (Sheoak Woodland) and which historically was more widespread  Opportunities to create vegetation links or to buffer sensitive sites  An increase in the capacity for Sheoak systems to regenerate naturally (by introducing a seed source)  The facilitation of natural regeneration from the soil seed bank and natural seed dispersal (creation of suitable microclimatic conditions)  Potentially assist species which prefer Sheoak habitats to move through the landscape  The establishment of future seed collection sites

Photo 1: Example of a non-recoverable Sheoak site (note the long-dead mature trees)

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 22

3.5.1 Revegetation Target

In order to be efficient with resources and to maximise the benefits of large scale revegetation in the landscape, practitioners need to be very clear about what the revegetation should look like and how it might function.

An appropriate aim for revegetation in the WildEyre region is to establish plantings with the following characteristics.  spatially heterogenous (uneven spacings, clumping and open areas)  structural diversity (trees, large and small shrubs and other plant life forms where possible)  a moderate level of species diversity (to begin with and only limited by feasibility)  an ability to self sustain into the future (through seed production and natural regeneration).

3.5.2 Establishment and Management Actions

Establishment Methodology

Surface and sheet limestone presents a challenge for revegetation on western Eyre Peninsula, particularly for direct seeding machinery. However, machine direct seeding is currently still the most cost effective and suitable methodology for undertaking large-scale revegetation. The main hindrance that the limestone presents is in slowing the speed of establishment and increasing the likelihood of mechanical breakdowns and damage to equipment (ie. higher costs).

Local experience estimates that an upper limit of 300 grams of seed per km of direct seeding (8-15 species) and an average of around 1.5km per hectare is a realistic goal which will allow for some losses to grazing pressure (rabbits, kangaroos and wombats) and will achieve vegetation of open character. These figures are relatively low and conservative taking into account that many areas will have rocky ground unsuitable for machinery.

Table 8 below gives a list of some of the common structural species found in Sheoak woodlands. The list is not exhaustive and focuses on species which are easily collected and established by direct seeding.

Table 8: Key Structural and Floristic Species for Sheoak Restoration

Species Name Common Name Approximate % of Seed Mix

Trees/Overstorey Allocasuarina verticillata Drooping Sheoak 20% Melaleuca lanceolata Dryland Tea-tree 10% Pittosporum angustifolia Native Apricot <5% Callitris gracilis Southern Cypress-pine 10%

Tall Shrubs Acacia brachybotrya Silver Mulga Bush 15% Acacia triquetra Mallee Wreath Wattle 10% Exocarpus aphyllus Leafless Cherry <5% Alyogyne huegelii Native Hibiscus <5%

Small Shrubs Dodonaea baueri Crinkled Hop-bush <5% Rhagodia crassifolia Sea Berry Saltbush 10%

Other Lifeforms Dianella revoluta ssp. revoluta Black-anther Flax-lily <5%

Seed Requirements and Collection

Establishing large areas of Sheoak woodland presents challenges in ensuring sufficient quantities of good quality, genetically robust and local provenance seed, particularly of Sheoak itself which is highly depleted

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 23

in the landscape. Seed collection should follow best practice guidelines such as the national Florabank guidelines.

Site Preparation/Weed Control

In this type of country it is recommended that site preparation (herbicide weed control) occur immediately AFTER direct seeding. This achieves a number of objectives:  Avoids unnecessarily spraying areas which are unsuitable for seeding  Easy to follow the area requiring spraying  Weed die-off is timed to occur immediately prior to germination which prolongs the period in which weed competition is absent

Boom spraying with a glyphosate-based herbicide in strips is the most effective method for knockdown weed control. The minimum width of herbicide control should be around 60cm (20-30cm either side of the seeding furrow) and no more than 1.5m in total. Strip spraying ensures that a grass cover is maintained between seeding lines to avoid both broadleaf weeds proliferating, and exposing bare ground to wind erosion.

Feral Animal Control (rabbits and foxes)

Feral animal control (particularly rabbits) is essential for establishment success as the furrows and seeding lines tend to attract herbivores which can graze easily along the lines. A coordinated effort to control rabbits 1 – 2 years prior to establishment is ideal.

Control of field mice may be necessary in occasional years when numbers are very high and deer and goat control may also be applicable.

Native Grazing Animals

Kangaroos are known to be attracted to turned earth (ie. seeding lines) and will graze on revegetation as well as any juvenile plants up to around 1.3m in height. Wombats may be common in open areas and edges of native vegetation. There has been little research into the impacts of wombat grazing on revegetation and the Author is unaware of any anecdotal evidence to suggest that they have serious impacts, or indeed that they do not. Nevertheless some losses could be expected if only from curious animals.

A number of native animal deterrents exist on the market but none that are easily applicable or cost effective for large-scale revegetation.

Snail and Red-legged Earth Mite Control

Snails and Red-legged Earth Mite can both damage and kill young seedlings as they emerge. Control can be assessed on a site by site basis and there are a number of relatively cheap pellets and sprays for these pests.

Targeted Weed Control

Similarly to recovering sites there will often be a dramatic increase of some weeds in the paddock following the removal of grazing and from the disturbance and weed control activities and control can be undertaken in a similar manner.

Timing and Feasibility

As covered in the seed collection section, establishing vegetation on a large scale presents a number of challenges, the foremost of which is seed availability. Staging the project over a number of years should address these challenges and this is reflected in the WildEyre objective which aims to establish 2000 ha by 2020.

Adapting to a Drying Climate

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 24

Seed collection should be mindful of the rainfall zones in which key structural species are collected and where possible should look to collect from similar or lower rainfall areas in order to build in resilience to drying climatic conditions. Obviously there a large number of variables to consider and this suggestion should be treated as a general principle to follow where possible.

Fencing and Infrastructure

Fencing may be required to exclude stock from revegetation areas and requirements will vary from site to site.

3.5.3 Monitoring and Adaptive Management

Specific parameters related to monitoring of revegetation are summarised in Table 6 below. The most important step in this type of monitoring is to define the project goals and to be clear about what the desired result is (see earlier in this section).

Table 9: Specific Measurables for Adaptive Management Relating to Revegetation

Parameter Response Grazing impacts from wombats and kangaroos Asses the need for control or deterrents Vegetation structure (emerging) – ie. the balance of Adjust seed mix (ie. too many overstorey then lower species resulting from the seed mix used percentage of overstorey species in the mix) Spacings and establishment success resulting from Adjust the seeding rate the seeding rate (ie. 300g/km too high or too low) Weed infestations (new weeds, spreading of Develop a weed control plan and implement. existing weeds) and requirements for additional control

3.5.4 A Typical Revegetation Calendar

Table 11 below presents a typical revegetation calendar for the drier areas of the southern agricultural regions of South Australia.

Table 10: A Typical Revegetation Calendar Activity J F M A M J J A S O N D Seed Collection Rabbit Control Fox Control Stock Exclusion Site Visit Direct seeding Site Preparation/Weed Control Site Visit (assess germination, grazing impacts and weed impacts) Additional Fox Control (if necessary) Seed Collection

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 25

3.5.5 Approximate Costs/ha

The costs presented in Table 11 are based on revegetation of an average 100 hectare site.

Table 11: Approximate Costs for Revegetation of Sheoak Grassy Woodlands

Management Action Calculation Cost Cost/ha Year 1 Fencing 2km (2 sides) x $4000/km $8000 $80 Feral Animal Control $1,000 /yr $3,000 /yr $30 Site Visits (2 days in 1st $800 x 2 $1,600 $16 year) Direct Seeding $450 /ha* $450 /ha $450

Site Preparation $50 /ha* $50 /ha $50

Targeted Weed Control $2,000 /yr per 100ha site $2,000 /yr $20

On-going Annual Costs Yearly management costs minus $5000 $50 fencing and vegetation establishment * Based on local contractor rates

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 26

4 The Streaky Bay Region

4.1 Region Description

The Streaky Bay Region covers around 467,500 hectares and includes sandy coasts from Streaky Bay north to Haslam beach, rocky coastline from Cape Bauer through Sceale Bay to Point Labatt and south to around Pt Kenny near Venus Bay, and a number of granite outcrops in the south-central area. In the east the region extends to Poochera and south to near Mt Damper.

Native vegetation covers around 237,370 ha in the Streaky Bay Region including extensive areas of mallee on limestone in the east (112,000 ha or nearly half the total vegetation) and large areas of Mallee Box and Native Pine.

The area includes the 3 large conservation reserves of Kulliparu CP, Venus Bay CP and Calpatanna Waterhole CP along with a number of smaller reserves. Kulliparu CP conserves large areas of mallee while Calpatanna Waterhole conserves important wetland and swamp vegetation and significant areas of Sheoak woodland. Venus Bay CP conserves coastal dune, cliff and mallee vegetation.

4.2 Extent and Distribution of Sheoak Woodlands

The main areas of Sheoak woodland (remaining and historical) are located just south of Streaky Bay, down through Calpatanna Waterhole and Calca toward Venus Bay.

Approximately 1,790 hectares is mapped as Sheoak woodland within the Streaky Bay region which is around 67% of the total mapped Sheoak woodland in the WildEyre project area. Around 166ha of this is conserved within Calpatanna Waterhole Conservation Park and the remainder occurs on private land (none mapped within Heritage Agreements).

A further 11,038 hectares are mapped as Austrostipa spp. grassland and 1,719 hectares as Gahnia lanigera sedgeland. If these grasslands and sedgelands are treated as derived vegetation associations (derived from former Sheoak areas) there is an indication that there could be up to 13,000 hectares of potentially recoverable Sheoak woodlands in the Streaky Bay region (mixed with Mallee Box, Native Pine and Dryland Tea-tree).

4.3 Landholdings

There are 271 unique entities which own land parcels greater than 10 ha in the region and the distribution is shown on Map 3. The single largest landholder is the Minister for Environment and Conservation with around 41,850 ha in conservation reserves and other lands (not including recent purchases of coastal land through the DEH Coastlinks project near Streaky Bay).

Only 15 properties have Sheoak woodland remnants of 10ha or more mapped on their property.

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 27

Map 2: Streaky Bay Region with the Distribution of Sheoak Grassy Woodland

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 28

Map 3: Landholdings in the Streaky Bay Region

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 29

4.4 Management Targets for the Streaky Bay Region

4.4.1 Remnant Site Management Targets

In the context of the WildEyre region Streaky Bay provides a good opportunity for achieving the remnant protection goals as it contains 67% of all remaining mapped Sheoak in the WildEyre region and around 1,624 ha on private land. This should be the main focus of implementation in the Streaky Bay Region.

Using the 50% protection target for highly depleted conservation assets this equates to 812 ha for long- term protection.

4.4.2 Recoverable Site Targets

The large area of potentially derived grassland and sedgeland in the region (12,757 ha approx.) may present good opportunities for implementing the condition related objectives (recoverable sites), however site visits would be needed to confirm the amount of land that is recoverable as defined earlier in this document. Using the 30% threshold for landscape function this equates to implementing sustainable grazing practices and other management on around 3,830 ha of land in the Streaky Bay region.

4.4.3 Revegetation Targets

Revegetation for Sheoak restoration is not considered a priority in the Streaky Bay Region and is perhaps better achieved in the Elliston and Sheringa regions where there are large areas of cleared and degraded land. There are also known sites with large areas suitable for revegetation in the Elliston Region including Dakalanta Sanctuary near Polda and Lake Newland Conservation Park just north of Elliston. Accordingly no revegetation targets have been set for the Streaky Bay Region. However, individual landholders may wish to undertake revegetation for their own reasons and this could still be related back to WildEyre targets.

Table 12: Regional Targets for Streaky Bay

WildEyre Objective Streaky Bay Comments Regional Target 5.1 Restore and secure long term protection 812 ha This figure is based securing protection for 1,350ha of high quality Sheoak Grassy for 50% of the remaining woodlands in the Woodlands to ensure adequate and region representative areas by 2012. 8.1 Measurable improvement of vegetation 3,830 ha This figure is 30% of mapped Austrostipa condition of 17,125 ha of recoverable Sheoak grasslands and Gahnia lanigera Grassy Woodlands (through sustainable sedgelends grazing regimes) to ensure adequate & representative areas and to support landscape linkages by 2014. 4.1 Revegetate 1,500 ha of Sheoak Grassy 0 ha Other regions are considered better Woodlands on non-regenerative sites to suited to implementing the revegetation ensure adequate and representative areas goals within the 1st Iteration WildEyre and create buffers for linear ecosystems by CAP 2015.

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 30

4.5 Regional Target 1: Restore and secure long term protection for 812ha of the highest quality Sheoak Grassy Woodlands to ensure adequate and representative areas by 2012

4.5.1 Sheoak Distribution and Key Landholdings

A total of 15 key landholdings containing 1210 ha of mapped Sheoak woodland have been identified from vegetation mapping and local knowledge. These properties and the ownership details are presented in Map 4.

4.5.2 Implementation Outline

Table 13 below presents a series of steps that will be necessary to achieve the long-term protection of 812 ha of the highest quality Sheoak grassy woodland in the Streaky Bay region.

Table 13: Implementation of Protection Target

Strategies Approx. Costs

Strategic Undertake site visits to assess baseline condition of Sheoak woodlands and identify Action 1 the highest quality remnants Action Step Project officer to contact identified landholders and arrange site visit $800 Action Step Undertake site visits to assess vegetation condition and identify the areas that $6,400 landholders are willing to manage for conservation Action Step Produce basic condition report and site action/management plans (NRM officer and/or $12,000 contractor/consultant) Action Step Discuss issues and concerns with the landholder ~ Action Step Collate information and identify the priority 812 ha that are suitable for protection $1,600 measures

Strategic Investigate mechanisms and develop options for ensuring long-term protection of Action 2 Sheoak remnants on private land Action Step WildEyre Working Group to investigate existing options and consider new arrangements. $4,000 Collate and report to Working Group

Strategic Determine appropriate financial incentives and options for payment/delivery Action 3 mechanisms (incentive payments, stewardship payments, compensation payments) Action Step Project officer/contractor to conduct a literature review to investigate existing options and $4,000 consider new arrangements. Collate and report to Working Group

Strategic Receive feedback from landholders regarding preferred mechanisms for long-term Action 4 protection and payment methods Action Step Produce and mail out a landholder survey asking for preferences to optional schemes and $1,600 payment methods Action Step Collate results and report to Working Group $1,600

Strategic Develop a project proposal and seek funding Action 5 Action Step WildEyre Working Group member to write up a project proposal $2,400 Action Step Determine suitable funding sources and submit applications $~ Total $34,400

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 31

Map 4: Key Properties for the Implementation of Protection Goals

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4.6 Regional Target 2: Measurable improvement of vegetation condition of 3,830 ha of recoverable Sheoak Grassy Woodlands (through sustainable grazing regimes) to ensure adequate & representative areas & to support landscape linkages by 2014.

4.6.1 Potentially Recoverable Sheoak Areas and Landholdings

Map 5 identifies 12 additional landholdings in the Streaky Bay region which could form the basis a vegetation condition improvement program.

4.6.2 Implementation Outline

Table 14 below presents a series of steps that will be necessary to achieve the condition improvement target of 3,830 ha of recoverable Sheoak grassy woodland in the Streaky Bay region.

Table 14: Implementation of Condition Improvement Target

Strategies Approx. Costs

Strategic Undertake site visits to assess baseline condition of Sheoak woodlands and identify Action 1 recoverable Sheoak sites Action Step Project officer to contact identified landholders and arrange site visit $800 Action Step Undertake site visits to assess vegetation condition and identify the areas that $4,800 landholders are willing to manage for condition improvement Action Step Produce basic site action/management plans (NRM officer and/or contractor/consultant) $9,600 Action Step Discuss issues and concerns with the landholder ~ Action Step Collate information and identify priority sites which would support landscape linkages $1,600

Strategic Determine appropriate grazing practices which will result in the improvement of Action 2 vegetation condition in Sheoak systems Action Step Consult experts to determine appropriate rest periods, timing, frequency, duration and $4,000 stocking rates Collate and report to Working Group

Strategic Determine appropriate financial incentives and options for payment/delivery Action 3 mechanisms (incentive payments, stewardship payments, compensation payments) Action Step WildEyre Working Group to investigate existing options and consider new arrangements. $4,000

Strategic Receive feedback from landholders regarding feasibility of the recommended grazing Action 4 regime and preferred payment methods Action Step Produce and mail out a landholder survey asking for preferences to optional schemes and $1,600 payment methods Action Step Collate results and Report to Working Group $1,600

Strategic Develop a project proposal and seek funding Action 5 Action Step WildEyre Working Group member(s) to write up a project proposal $4,000 Action Step Determine suitable funding sources and submit applications ~ Total 32,000

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Map 5: Key Additional Landholdings for the Implementation of Recoverable Site Goals

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4.7 Estimated Cost Summary for Implementation

The scope of this plan does not allow in-depth analysis of the costs of implementation in the region but it does allow some very rough costs to be presented in order to understand the scale of the project. All costing methods are explained in previous Sections.

Table 15: Estimated Cost Summary for Streaky Bay Sheoak Targets

Management Action Estimated Estimated Costs Estimated Total Costs for the for the Costs Management Management of of Protected Recoverable Sites (812 ha) Sites (3,830 ha)

On-Ground Actions Year 1 Fencing * $162,000 $766,000 $928,000 Feral Animal Control $54,404 $256,610 $311,014 Kangaroo Management ~ ~ ~ Weed Control $26,796 $256,610 $283,406 Opportunity Cost for Lost Production $22,736 $107,240 $129,976 Monitoring ~ ~ ~ Sub-Total $265,936 $1,386,460 $1,652,396

Project Development and Management $34,400 $32,000** $66,400** Monitoring Sites (BCM)*** ~ ~ ~ Total $566,272 $2,804,920 $3,371,192

On-going Annual Costs**** $103,936 $616,630 $720,566 * Note that fencing costs are theoretically incurred in Year 1 only while the remaining costs are annual and therefore subject to CPI increases ** There may be cost savings made if undertaken simultaneously with the implementation of protection goals *** At this stage the installation of BCM sites has been omitted **** On-going annual costs could be expected to reduce as feral animal and weed issues are reduced. However yearly costs are subject to CPI.

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References

Bey S. and Samuel C. 2009 Sheoak Grassy Woodland Site Condition Report, Report to the WildEyre Working Group, Greening Australia

Bishop G.C. and Venning J. 1986 Sheoak Decline on Western Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, South Australian Naturalist, Vol. 60, No. 4

Bonney N. 2003 What Seed is That?: a field guide to the identification, collection and germination of native seed in South Australia

Peeters P., Gerschwitz T and Carpenter R. 2006 Restoring Sheoak Grassy Woodlands on Lower Eyre Peninsula, Department for Environment and Heritage

Reseigh J. and Bartel B. 2006 Restoring Sheoak Grassy Woodlands, Rural Solutions SA, Clare, South Australia

WildEyre Sheoak Restoration in the Streaky Bay Region 2009 36