Vale of Belvoir Reserve Management Plan
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Vale of Belvoir Reserve Management Plan 2013 - 2018 Table of Contents Acronyms .................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Background ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 The Tasmanian Land Conservancy ............................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Management Plan Status ............................................................................................................................ 4 2. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 3. Management Plan Goal ................................................................................................................................... 5 4. Management Plan Objectives .......................................................................................................................... 5 5. Location and tenure ......................................................................................................................................... 6 6. Access ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 7. IUCN Protected Area Management Category status ....................................................................................... 6 8. Legal Status ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 9. Stakeholders .................................................................................................................................................... 8 10. Natural values .............................................................................................................................................. 8 11. Cultural history .......................................................................................................................................... 12 12. Current management and links to the past ............................................................................................... 14 13. Scientific research summary ...................................................................................................................... 15 14. Reserve management framework ............................................................................................................. 16 15. Conservation Targets for the Vale of Belvoir Reserve ............................................................................... 19 Target 1: Highland Grassland .......................................................................................................................... 19 Target 2 Streams and wetlands....................................................................................................................... 22 Target 3 Karst .................................................................................................................................................. 24 Target 4 Subalpine eucalypt forest ................................................................................................................. 25 Target 5 Rainforest .......................................................................................................................................... 27 16. Social Targets for the Vale of Belvoir Reserve ........................................................................................... 29 Target 6 Community knowledge, understanding and appreciation of conservation ..................................... 29 17. Strategies to manage threats .................................................................................................................... 31 18. Management Responsibilities ................................................................................................................... 37 19. Management Plan Review ......................................................................................................................... 37 References .............................................................................................................................................................. 38 Vale of Belvoir Reserve Draft Management Plan – August 2012 Page 1 of 39 Acronyms DPIPWE Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment EPBC Act Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature NC Act Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act 2002 NVA Natural Values Atlas database (DPIPWE) PWS Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service TASVEG Tasmanian Vegetation Monitoring and Mapping Program (TASVEG 2.0, 19 February 2009) TFS Tasmania Fire Service TLC Tasmanian Land Conservancy TSP Act Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 UTAS University of Tasmania Vale of Belvoir Reserve Draft Management Plan – August 2012 Page 2 of 39 Acknowledgements This draft Management Plan was prepared by TLC staff Denna Kingdom, Matt Taylor and Daniel Sprod, with assistance from key stakeholders, including the Charleston family, scientific experts and community interest groups. Significant input on the geomorphology and geoconservation values section was provided by Keith Corbett. The TLC greatly appreciates the assistance of its supporters, who have provided overwhelming support through donations towards the purchase of the Vale of Belvoir Reserve. TLC supporters continue to assist with management of the reserve, as volunteers and through financial donations. In addition, the Australian Government’s Maintaining Australia's Biodiversity Hotspots Programme provided significant financial support for the purchase of the Vale of Belvoir Reserve. Vale of Belvoir Reserve Draft Management Plan – August 2012 Page 3 of 39 1. Background 1.1 The Tasmanian Land Conservancy The Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) works towards achieving sustainability and biodiversity conservation in Tasmania, in partnership with other organisations, communities, individuals and governments. The TLC is a non‐ profit, non‐political and non‐governmental organisation that began in 2001 and has grown to be a respected leader in private land conservation in Tasmania, nationally and internationally. TLC 2050 Mission The mission of the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) is: In partnership with other organisations, communities, individuals and governments, the TLC will: 1. Take a lead role in building a landscape scale approach to conservation including a world‐class system of reserves complemented by sustainable development. 2. Demonstrate excellence in management for biodiversity conservation. 3. Contribute to Tasmania becoming a centre for knowledge and expertise for nature conservation and planning. 4. Develop and implement innovative mechanisms for achieving sustainability and biodiversity conservation. 5. Provide opportunities and mechanisms for communities and individuals to achieve conservation. 6. Demonstrate organisational leadership through exceptional governance, a positive working environment and financial sustainability. This management plan and the implementation of the strategies and actions within it, including monitoring and reporting, contribute to the TLC meeting Point 2 of the Mission. 1.2 Management Plan Status This Vale of Belvoir Reserve draft Management Plan expands on an Interim Management Plan that was prepared immediately following the purchase of the Vale of Belvoir Reserve. This Management Plan has been developed through consultation with key stakeholders and the public. Comments on the draft Management Plan were received from fourteen individuals or organisations. Many comments recommended the inclusion of additional information regarding monitoring and proposed actions. Where appropriate, these comments were addressed in the final Management Plan. With the aim of keeping the Management Plan as an overview document, a Monitoring Strategy and Annual Action Plan will be available as appendices to the Management Plan once they are finalised. This Management Plan was finalised on 26 February 2013 when it was approved by the TLC Board of Directors. In meeting obligations under a funding contract for the purchase of the Vale of Belvoir Reserve, this Management Plan was submitted to the Australian Government’s National Reserve System on 12 March 2013. Vale of Belvoir Reserve Draft Management Plan – August 2012 Page 4 of 39 2. Introduction The Vale of Belvoir Reserve was purchased by the TLC in 2008 and protects 476 ha of highland grassland, woodland and rainforest vegetation. The reserve contains five vegetation communities of conservation significance and thirteen threatened species have been recorded since 2008. In addition, the highland grassland ecosystem at the Vale of Belvoir is one of the most extensive and intact remaining in Tasmania and has exceptional floristic diversity compared to other Tasmanian highland grassland sites. The Vale of Belvoir has a rich, diverse and unique