SAVING OUR SPECIES Help save Cumberland Plain Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion

Saving our Species aims to secure as many threatened species and ecological communities as possible. This conservation strategy aims to secure the ecological community in the long term. The strategy was developed by experts who identified the priority management areas and conservation actions required to manage critical threats to conserve the ecological community.

Saving our Species is based on a cost-effective approach that Conservation status maximises the number of threatened species and ecological in NSW: communities conserved through on-ground management action. If Critically Endangered you want to contact us please email Ecological Community [email protected] Commonwealth Map of Cumberland Plain Woodland in the Sydney status: Basin Bioregion occurrence and priority Critically Endangered management area(s) Saving our Species management stream: Ecological community (widespread) Community profile: http://www.environment.nsw.g ov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/p rofile.aspx?id=10191

Saving our Species delivers on the NSW Government's legislative requirements under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Distribution(*) Priority management area Photo: Simone Cottrell Threats to this species are outlined at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.a *Distribution is mapped as sub- spx?id=10191#threats regions where the ecological community is known to occur (BioNet). The actions listed in the management action toolbox guide management at a site, regional or state scale. Action toolbox

Threat Action description Scale

Predation of native fauna by Determine any impacts from foxes and cats and identify sites prior to Site cats and foxes. undertaking any control. Liaise with the NSW Roads and Maritime Authority, local Council, private developers, consultants and ecologists to consider the impacts Inappropriate water run-off, on the TEC when designing cuttings and to include it in their technical which leads to increased guidelines. This may include workshops with engineers and other State, Area nutrients and sedimentation. relevant people to increase awareness and consideration of the TEC when designing and building works including impacts on surface and sub-surface hydrology and the use of wildlife sensitive crossings. Threat of further clearing for urban or rural development, Consult with landholders about participating in conservation and the subsequent impacts agreements (preferably long-term in perpetuity) to protect the TEC on Site from fragmentation including their property. increased roadkill of fauna. Threat of further clearing for Retrofit the design of existing culverts to improve habitat for fauna. urban or rural development, Discourage the use of fences that prevent wildlife movement. and the subsequent impacts Site Encourage land managers to consider incorporating wildlife corridors, from fragmentation including avenues and crossings when designing new infrastructure. increased roadkill of fauna. Threat of further clearing for urban or rural development, Identify blackspots on roads and install signage which includes the and the subsequent impacts Site number of a local wildlife rescue group. from fragmentation including increased roadkill of fauna. Threat of further clearing for Revegetate cleared areas of the TEC following Australian Native Plant urban or rural development, Conservation guidelines and update the NSW Government publication and the subsequent impacts "Recovering Bushland on the Cumberland Plain". Promote the NSW Site from fragmentation including Government Environment Line to report any unauthorised clearing or increased roadkill of fauna. damage to the TEC. Disturbance and damage by To prevent damage and disturbance by visitors, manage access to recreational users being litter, tracks (including vehicular and pedestrian) through the installation of arson, trail & motorbikes, deterrent signage, bollards, gates, and/or fencing at strategic locations. Site 4WDs, firewood collection, Encourage natural re-vegetation or re-vegetate following any track and removal of woody debris. closure. Inappropriate fire regimes, Undertake mosaic burning with larger patches not small ones. Fire which have altered the intensity should be variable, depending on the site as should the fire Site appropriate floristic and interval. structural diversity. Provide residents with the TEC on their property with information about Lack of awareness and fauna that depend on the woodland as well as threats to the community appreciation of Cumberland such as human disturbance, weeds, psyllids, fire and grazing. This may Plain Woodland, with the Area, Site be done through the distribution of relevant publications, erecting perception that the interpretive signs at strategic locations, school programs and community is unattractive. establishing a demonstration site for Cumberland Plain Woodland. Lack of awareness and Encourage local nurseries to stock Cumberland Plain Woodland appreciation of Cumberland species, particularly flowering varieties suitable to gardens. Provide Plain Woodland, with the advice with maps on topography and soil information for landscaping Area perception that the approaches. Continue Council native plant giveaways and distribution community is unattractive. of species lists. Liaise with land managers to provide advice on bush regeneration Urban heat island effect and contracts so that they take into account maintaining plantings during dry persistent dry/low rainfall Site, Area periods. This may include watering plantings or over-planting and/or conditions. direct seeding. Discourage the use of chemical treatment (as it kills beneficial insects Bell miner associated also) and instead use target spray diactomaceous earth if control is Site, Area dieback. required. Encourage retaining leaf litter, ground-covers and shrubs under one meter. Threat Action description Scale

Implement best practice measures to control, prevent and restore Bell Miner Associated Dieback. Follow recommendations in "An independent review of bell miner associated dieback - Final Report, Bell miner associated June 2017" by Knowledge Ecology commissioned by NSW Site dieback. government. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/vegetation/bell-miner- associated-dieback-independent-review.pdf Opportunistically monitor sites with spotted gum for signs of the Death of of trees caused by disease. Encourage landholders to monitor and report any outbreaks to Site fungus following borers. the Saving our Species mailbox. Death of of trees caused by Continue investigations into the death of trees caused by fungus Site, Area fungus following borers. following borers and develop options for prevention and/or treatment. Weed and foreign plant Undertake ecological burns where possible following weed removal. invasion, particularly African Site Investigate options of cultural burning. Olive and exotic grasses. Weed and foreign plant Encourage land managers to use periodic grazing by cattle and goats in invasion, particularly African weed affected areas to exhaust the seedbanks of appropriate weeds Site Olive and exotic grasses. (e.g. use cattle as follow up to primary weed control of African Olive). Weed and foreign plant Work with transport infrastructure providers and landholders to restrict invasion, particularly African the spread of weeds, particularly along railway lines and roadsides, and Area, Site Olive and exotic grasses. to control weeds on their properties. Undertake weed control using the most appropriate methods to suit Weed and foreign plant differing conditions and schedule regular follow up work. North of the invasion, particularly African Site M4 is a priority area to target for African Olive weed control to limit its Olive and exotic grasses. spread and undertake early cost-effective intervention. Monitoring actions

Regular monitoring of the effectiveness of management and trends in local populations and ecological communities at a site scale is an important component of all strategies. The toolbox and any site-based management will be adapted, added or removed over time in response to monitoring results.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Guidelines for Conservation Projects.

Find out more about our program

Visit http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/savingourspecies