Department of Parks and Wildlife Yearbook 2014-15
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Department of Parks and Wildlife 2014–15 Yearbook Acknowledgments This yearbook was prepared by the Public About the Department’s logo Information and Corporate Affairs Branch of the Department of Parks and Wildlife. The design is a stylised representation of a bottlebrush, or Callistemon, a group of native For more information contact: plants including some found only in Western Department of Parks and Wildlife Australia. The orange colour also references 17 Dick Perry Avenue the WA Christmas tree, or Nuytsia. Technology Park, Western Precinct Kensington Western Australia 6151 WA’s native flora supports our diverse fauna, is central to Aboriginal people’s idea of country, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre and attracts visitors from around the world. Western Australia 6983 The leaves have been exaggerated slightly to suggest a boomerang and ocean waves. Telephone: (08) 9219 9000 The blue background also refers to our marine Email: [email protected] parks and wildlife. The design therefore The recommended reference for this symbolises key activities of the Department publication is: of Parks and Wildlife. Department of Parks and Wildlife 2014–15 The logo was designed by the Department’s Yearbook, Department of Parks and Wildlife, senior graphic designer and production 2015 coordinator, Natalie Curtis. ISSN 2203-9198 (Print) ISSN 2203-9201 (Online) Front cover: Granite Skywalk, Porongurup National Park. Photo – Andrew Halsall December 2015 Back cover: Spinifex. Photo – Jennifer Eliot/ Copies of this document are available Parks and Wildlife in alternative formats on request. Yardie Creek, Cape Range National Park. Photo – Jennifer Eliot/Parks and Wildlife Department of Parks and Wildlife Yearbook 2014–15 Department of Parks and Wildlife 2014–15 Yearbook Senior research scientist Juilet Wege. Photo – Carol Wilkins/Parks and Wildlife Department of Parks and Wildlife Yearbook 2014–15 1 Contents Acknowledgments Inside cover Commercial operations and events 24 Support to the Conservation Commission Recovery and management of threatened List of tables and figures 4 Commercial operations licences 24 and Marine Parks and Reserves Authority 35 species and ecological communities, Filming permits 24 significant species and ecosystems 56 Director General’s year in review 5 Other initiatives 36 Naturebank 24 Memoranda of understanding 36 Recovery of threatened species 56 Highlight: Big step towards the creation of Native plants 56 Legislation and policy 25 World and national heritage 36 a Kimberley National Park 8 Threatened Flora Seed Centre 58 Legislation 25 Regional activities 37 Highlight: Building ties with China 11 Native animals 58 Policy 25 Goldfields Region 37 Highlight: Revitalised health and safety Recovery of threatened ecological Recreation activities and trails 26 Kimberley Region 38 program rolled out 12 communities 66 Trails WA 26 Midwest Region 39 Restoration 68 Bibbulmun Track 26 Pilbara Region 40 Operational highlights – Recovery planning 68 Cape to Cape Track 27 South Coast Region 43 Parks Management 15 Mountain biking 27 South West Region 44 Wetland conservation 68 Ramsar and nationally significant wetlands 68 Planning for management 15 Munda Biddi Trail 27 Swan Region 45 Motorised recreation 28 Warren Region 47 Wetlands mapping and evaluation projects 70 Acquisition and administration Wheatbelt Region 48 Management of marine wildlife 71 of protected areas 16 Community involvement 29 Regional parks 48 Management of commercial activities Reserve acquisition 16 Volunteer awards and activities 29 involving native animals and plants 71 Leasing activities 16 Marine operations 49 Tourism and marketing 31 Regulation 72 Apiary site management 16 Highlight: Back on track: repairing the Campground booking Flora and fauna licensing 72 and information system 31 Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail 50 Park presentation and resource Damage and dangerous fauna licences 73 protection 17 Visitor research 31 Operational highlights – Wildlife interaction licences 77 Capital park improvements 17 Visitor use monitoring 31 Offences 78 Royalties for Regions park improvements 18 Visitor survey program 32 Wildlife Management 53 Managing system-wide threats 81 Roads 18 Astronomy 32 Legislation, policy and plans 53 Invasive species control 81 Recreation planning and design 18 Formal management arrangements Biodiversity conservation legislation 53 Western Shield 81 Enriching the visitor experience 20 with Aboriginal people 33 Regional nature conservation plans 54 State Cane Toad Initiative 83 Interpretive planning and design 20 Ngarla 33 Kimberley Science and Conservation Introduced pest animal management 84 Community liaison, consultation Nyangumarta 33 Strategy 54 Management of environmental weeds 85 and advisory services 20 Karajarri 33 Establishment of the terrestrial and Plant disease management 86 Guided interpretive programs 20 Dambimangari 33 marine conservation reserve system 55 Myrtle rust 87 Aboriginal liaison, consultation Miriuwung–Gajerrong 33 Effective management of the Altered hydrology and salinity 87 and heritage 21 Yawuru 34 conservation reserve system 55 Assessment of land and resource Planning and relationship building 21 Burrup (Murujuga) 34 Management planning 55 use impacts on public reserves and Education and training 22 South West Native Title Settlement 34 Management action 55 biodiversity conservation assets 88 Business management 23 Other joint management arrangements Good Neighbour policy 56 Building biodiversity knowledge 89 Park passes and fees 23 currently in negotiation 34 Biological inventory 89 Terrestrial inventory 89 Marine inventory 90 2 Department of Parks and Wildlife Yearbook 2014–15 Taxonomy and biotic collection management 92 Forest monitoring and research 102 WA Herbarium specimen database 92 Forest auditing 103 Flora data for WA 92 Monitoring of native forest harvesting 103 Herbarium volunteers 92 Coupe management and Fire and biodiversity research projects 93 environmental protection 103 Information and data management 94 Planning checklists 103 Encouraging public understanding and Coupe demarcation 103 support for biodiversity conservation 94 Protecting water and informal reserves 103 Provision of biodiversity conservation Habitat retention 104 support and advice for private land 94 Protecting crop trees 104 Roadside conservation 94 Protecting soil 105 Healthy Wetland Habitats 95 Rehabilitating landings 105 Urban Nature 95 Protecting threatened flora 105 Land for Wildlife 96 Protecting threatened native animals 105 Nature Conservation Covenants 96 Adaptive management 105 Animal ethics 96 Provision for harvesting, regeneration Highlight: Surveying the islands and growth of forest products 106 of the Kimberley 98 Silvicultural guidance 106 Monitoring of areas subject to timber Operational highlights – harvesting and associated treatments 106 Forest Management 100 Operational highlights – Implementation of approved forest management plans and government Fire Management 108 policies and programs 100 Bushfire season 2014–15 109 Forest Management Plan 2014–2023 100 Prescribed burning 112 Community forest inspection program 101 Operations, planning and interagency Inventory, assessment and modelling cooperation 117 of natural resources 101 Aerial bushfire suppression operations 117 Maintenance and enhancement Bushfire detection 117 of biodiversity and other values 101 Bushfire training and development 117 Health and vitality in natural landscapes 101 Prescribed fire planning and risk Integrated planning support 101 management 118 Management of soil disturbance in timber Bushfire preparedness on unallocated harvesting 102 Crown land 118 Implementation of fauna habitat zones 102 Interagency bushfire management 118 Management system for approvals, Key efficiency indicators 118 monitoring and compliance 102 Glistening triggerplant. Photo – Parks and Wildlife Department of Parks and Wildlife Yearbook 2014–15 3 List of tables and figures Table Page Operational area Description 22 106 Forest Management Silvicultural objectives 1 23 Parks Management Breakdown of park pass distribution 23 107 Forest Management Trends in the area of native forest harvested 2 23 Parks Management Fees waived – estimated visits by region 24 109 Fire Management Bushfires in 2011–12 to 2014–15 3 29 Parks Management Register of volunteer numbers and contribution 25 110 Fire Management Bushfire causes in 2012–13 to 2014–15 4 58 Wildlife Management Flora translocations 26 111 Fire Management Area and number of bushfires 5 66 Wildlife Management Native animal translocations 27 121 Fire Management Prescribed burns conducted by Parks and 6 69 Wildlife Management Management plans for Ramsar wetlands in WA Wildlife in local government areas 28 116 Fire Management Area (ha) and number of prescribed burns 7 73 Wildlife Management Flora licences issued for all Parks and Wildlife regions 8 74 Wildlife Management Fauna licences issued 29 116 Fire Management Area (ha) of prescribed burns on each 9 75 Wildlife Management Dangerous fauna licences issued tenure type 10 77 Wildlife Management Damage licences (fauna) issued Figure Page Operational area Description 11 78 Wildlife Management Reported offences 1 32 Parks Management Total visits to Parks and Wildlife-managed 12 79 Wildlife Management Offences under WC Act and Regulations lands and waters 13 80 Wildlife Management Offences under the CALM Act and Regulations 2 32 Parks Management A comparison of annual visitor satisfaction levels and the Animal Welfare Act within Parks and Wildlife-managed