Where are the Great Eastern Ranges?

What is the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative? The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative brings people and organisations together to protect, link and restore healthy habitats over 3,600km, from western through NSW and the ACT to far north Queensland.

The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative woodlands, heaths, wetlands, herb public lands outside these protected (GER) is a strategic response to fields and grasslands. It also contains areas. The GER recognises that mitigate the potential impacts of catchments for the most reliable nature’s interconnected systems need invasive species, land clearing, rainfall in eastern , providing to be supported across the whole climate change and other clean water to over 90% of the environment, not just in the protected environmental changes on our richest population of eastern Australia. areas of the landscape. So we seek to biodiversity and the mountains that The Great Eastern Ranges offer the integrate conservation efforts on the supply most of our population with widest possible range of refuge for land adjacent to and interconnecting clean water. plants and animals to adapt or move with the existing reserve system. as the climate changes. As such, they This will allow habitats for plants and Why are the Great Eastern are like a “Noah’s Ark” for Australia. animals to be managed better or Ranges important? rehabilitated and strengthened where needed. The Great Eastern Ranges contain What is our challenge? Australia’s longest and least Nature is an intricate network of fragmented north-south mountainous interdependent and often delicately What is our approach? landscapes and habitats. They balanced systems. Population growth, The GER is based on “connectivity include tablelands and escarpments urban and industrial development, conservation”, an approach that and span major variations in rainfall, pollution, weeds, feral species recognises the need for ecological temperature, soil types, altitude, and climate change are all placing processes to operate over much latitude and temperature. significant additional strain on them. greater scales than previously appreciated. By assessing these This vast area contains Australia’s Although parts of the GER corridor processes at local, regional and richest diversity of plants and are well protected by national parks continental levels and harnessing the animals that depend on a wide range and reserves, much of the rich existing efforts of many landowners of habitats, including rainforests, biodiversity is found on private and and organisations to respond strategically, we create the best conditions to preserve, restore and build resilience in our environment.

The key is simple – by creating stepping-stones between areas of native vegetation and managing and improving what is already in place, we reconnect the landscape and improve the health of the environment on which we all depend. This approach will support our biodiversity by providing the best available opportunities for species to survive as the climate changes. How will we achieve our goals? The GER works with local communities to build awareness about conservation and provides a practical framework for local action in the context of a much bigger picture. Partners along the length of the GER corridor are demonstrating that this bigger picture serves as a catalyst to galvanise local action into a more cooperative, coordinated and strategic approach.

This approach involves working with existing regional partnerships and networks and stimulating new collaborations. These partnerships bring together local landholders, agencies, non-government organisations, community and indigenous groups, researchers, councils and industry to collectively plan and carry out local efforts on a voluntary basis and through a What is a conservation • goes across 14 bio-regions collaborative approach. corridor? • contains three World Heritage A conservation corridor is a Areas Another key delivery mechanism strategically located area of land • has the world’s greatest is through GER Partners. These that links key habitats for plants concentration of primitive are organisations that operate at a and animals. It may encompass rainforest flowering plants regional, State or national level and are a range of land uses, including choosing to align their own activities • has Australia’s largest and tallest agriculture, industry and human with the GER vision. This provides old growth forests settlement, in addition to areas a broad range of expertise, ranging • contains more than 8,000 protected as national parks or from on-ground, youth engagement, species of plants of which 25% reserves. indigenous enterprise, volunteerism are endemic to research, all supported by the • contains the headwaters of 63 organisation’s own resources. With this Key facts large rivers approach we are expanding our reach The Great Eastern Ranges corridor • provides clean water to over over the full extent of the GER corridor, 11,000,000 people while maintaining a small central • is 3,600 kilometres in length support team. • is 33,000,000 hectares in area

Why participate? By lending your effort and aligning your work to the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, you are contributing to a strategic continental scale approach to conservation. You will also be part of a one of the largest conservation projects in the world, which is widely recognised in Australia and overseas for its innovation and achievements.

How can I play my part? • Join a local landcare or bushcare group • Get involved in a local conservation project • Support the work of our GER Partners or regional partnerships • Visit our website to learn more Where are the Great Eastern Ranges? Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in far north Queensland

GER Corridor

Protected area

State forest

Great Escarpment

Great Dividing Range Border Ranges in SE Queensland and NE NSW

Queensland

Hunter Valley region of NSW

New South Wales

Australian Alps in ACT and across the Australian NSW and Victoria border Capital Territory

Victoria

Grampians National Park in western South West Slopes of NSW Victoria

Lead Partners of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative

Photo Credits: Front cover: Ian Pulsford; On-ground Key Supporters efforts: Conservation Volunteers Australia; Research: GER; Scarlet Honeyeater: Chris Tzaros; Community engagement: Bellingen Landcare