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Friends of Grasslands supporting natiy e grassy e co systems Abstracts and Proceedings of a\)Torkshop held on26hMay 1998 - Canb erca Dcvdoprnerrtand Natirrc Grasslands N RcsolvtqgConflicts a I I I t , FR}ENI}S OF GRASSLANDS I tlevelopment and Nat*ve Grasslands t t I ffieselvfrmg Cotrtricts I I r B Jr r r T I I t T IlDi'IED Ill'r\RT LANGSTON. NAdRILI-A HIRSCH & KI\{ PL,LI-i:lN I T T I I I ,D ,i Copyright Friends of Grasslands Inc. ,t PO Box 987 Civic Square ACT 2608 t Ausualia I Plant illustrations copyright Michael Bedingfi eld I ,i *I r$r lr# G= It- = -{rDf :: r4F !*' J -trilt[ rr* L!+' Ht htr lE -r lb J- t- TE EE EE", E tr, 4W'6"l I '+-l IGngaroo Grass - Themeda triandra 1 -- I I ,Fl-Fr I r.i.-I ! r+1-Fl IE ! .l q B B e a 1E ThkX* sf C€)nterx*s -{ FORWARD 1 E= =a ACXNOWLEDGEMENTS 2 INTRODUCING FRIENDS OF GRASSLANDS 3 =r THE PLIGHT OF GRASSLANDS IN THE ACT AND SURROUNDING REGION 4 a ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP 5 WHO SAID WHAT 7 =r OPENING 9 a Grassland conservation - a nationa! perspective I il Setting the scene for the workshop 10 sctENcE, PROVTDTNG INFORMATION FOR DECISIONS 12 T Grassy ecosystems surveys in the Southern Tablelands of NSW and AGT 12 ir Research, survey and monitoring for the conservation of threatened grassland reptiles {9 lnvertebrate fauna 25 B Siro-Med: an approach for assisting with conflict resolution over use of natural resource areas 25 E Beyond reseryes: options for achieving nature conservation objectives in rural landscapes 30 STAKEHOLDERS, LOW INTENSITY LAND USE 43 B Native grasslands 43 El A landholde/s perspective 45 Natave grasslands: integrating sustainable agriculture and conseryation 47 t Command and contro! in the grasstands - a recipe for conflict 49 t STAKEHOLDERS, HIGH INTENSITY LAND USE 53 Gungahlin urban development 53 t Native grasslands in an urban park 58 a Appropriate urban development 59 Gonservation of native grasslands 59 T GOVERNMENTS, MANAGING THE COMMUNITY'S RESOURCES 65 I The role of Environment AGT in the conservation of natural temperate grassland sites 65 The role of NSW Agriculture 70 I Rural community programs for the conservation of grasslands 74 a Grassland management : the decision-making process in NSW 75 Planning and grasslands 78 I THE COMMUNITY, MOVING TO THE FUTURE 80 I What did work 80 What didn't work 8{ t lYhat we should try a2 t T _r= hr LT h POSTERS AND DISPLAYS 86 b Survey techniques for studying an endangered reptile 86 Effects of established trees on native temperate pasture growth 86 E Rocky outcrops in grasslands - living habitats 87 t= Gommunicating conservation on roadsides 87 E Landscape Function Analysis 88 Queanbeyan Landcare 88 E Grassland plants of Lanyon Valley 89 I Native Nooks 89 Australian Nationa! Botanic Gardens 89 r= = Society for Growing Australian Ptants 90 J Paintings of grassland flora and fauna 90 tntroducing Friends of Grasslands 90 REGISTRANTS 92 IE E ; riI q rl JJ ; ; ;d 'JJ r+ d J 4E{ Swainsona bebiana c+il q JC il J# tI I t a ^) / I \o' ,\t StSrl I N F*RlfifARX} ;r t$t iI fuildmSrlqlh I iI Minirarfor Urbat S entfu.s md Eruirunrnart It was with great pleasure that I accepted the Friends of Grasslands invitation to open their 1998 il workshop on Development and Native Grasslands - Resolving Conflicts. I welcomed this initiative by a community Soup as representing a growing interest and concern for consewation of t native grasslands and other grassy ecosystems. Since European settlemenq demand for land il suitable for development and rural production has reduced the area of native grassland in the ACT to about 4oh of its original exteflt. As a consequence some plants and animals are recognised as !I being dueatened with extinction. !f In opening the workshop I higtrtighted some of the positive steps that the ACT Govemment has taken to conserve and manage this important resource. For example, the ACT was the first rI jurisdiction in Australia to declare Natural Temperate Grassland and Yellow Box/Red Gum grassy woodland as endangered ecological communities. Also, several Natural Temperate Grassland a Reserves have been established in Gungatriin and Dunlop and the ACT Government is establishing il a Rural Conservation Trust to fund conseryation measures on mral leased land to enhance off- !r reserve biodiversity conservation. However, much remains to be done and for this reason I was pleased to support the Friends of t Grasslands in the otganisation and running of the workshop. Avoiding conflict requires good information, forward planning and co-operation by all involved. Govemments can facilitate this It process, but it is critical that all stakeholders participate in a conservation partnership. Ul- The workshop proved valuable by focussing on the features of native grasslands and the il requirements for their conservation. It exposed the many issues that impact on the successfirl management of this ecological community. The workshop allowed the issues affecting native lI grasslands to be considered by all sectors of the community. This builds trust and confidence that I augurs well for the secure future of this important environmental tesource. I wish the Friends of Grasslands well in their endeavours and I am sure these proceedings will I continue the valuable momentum generated by the 1998 workshop. I il il iI T {rf {.b t t il G E E &*Kplr*KeHHlGffi#XruYS t E fueftA { Gras:lands u.dd lifu a fnmk:analpople mul uganirai,rns tbd am criiml in - naningfuis unrkslnp u.at a s//m,ss G ederal and Australian CapitoJ. Territory Governments provided financial support for this E and a previous workshop through their agencies Environment Australia and Environment ACT and the Save the Bush grants scheme. Over the last four years they have recognised G the importance of communicating the need for conservation of Native Grasslands. They have also recognised that small community groups do not always have the human resources E required to meet the deadlines that are normally demanded by bureaucracies. Without this E it is unlikely that the workshop and this pubJication would have eventuated. understanding G CSIRO \X/ildlife & Ecology provided considerable support in kind. They provided facilities and the venue. Perhaps more importandy they provided the time of several staff. Art Langston was the E pnmary organiser for the workshop, much of which was done during business hours. Nick Abel, Steve Cork, Jill Landsberg and Steve Morton each facilitated sessions during the workshop. David G Salt provided media liaison and reviewed press releases and brochures. Tnza Ojansuu and Kate Ransley provided support with catering and organisation on the day. G G l7ithin Friends of Grasslands several people piayed organisational roles. Geoff Robertson, Dierk von Behrens,I(im Pullen and Art formed the steering committee for the workshop. Margaret Ning E organised the advertisement of the conference through extensive phone contacts and use of print, radio and television media. Naarilla Hirsch organised refreshments and on the day ensured that the E registration desk, catering and inquiries all ran smoothly. Geoff coordinated posters and displays. Art, Naarilla and I{m formed the editorial committee for these proceedings. Illustrations of native .c grassland species that appear throughout this proceedings were kirdly contributed by Michael Bedingfield. G Courtney Kraus and Carmel K*lrp helped at the workshop. Both worked tirelessly throughout the E duy. E Lasdy, we would like to thank the participants, both speakers and audience. The presentations were E well prepared and extensive in their coverage of conflict in native grasslands. Comments from the audience were well-thought through and provided insights and ideas for how we might organise E development better in the future. It is the rvorkshop panicrpants who are involved in development conflicts. Ultimately without their enthusiastic participation this workshop would not have been a E success. E E = E- bF ^E E E G 7, ir ir ir r&xYffisewsx&xG Fffirxruxls sF il ir &red&$se-etr*s ir RfuA { Grasshds is a arurraniyg,uup a,ln oppt f,x mM.win { gasy il mgtsfurn il riends of Grasslands (FOG) is a community group formed n 1994 in response to a lack of il community attention to the conservation of native grassy ecosystems. The group was established with funding assistance from the l7ildlife Research Unit of Environment ACT il under the umbrella of the Society for Growing Australian Plants. FOG continues to work ir closely with Environment ACT as well as NS!7 National Parks and Wildlife Service. Membership includes range of people and interests. Most have a non-professional interest in ^ ir grasslands. Approximately twenty percent of the membership consists of a mix of botanists, rJ heqpetologists, entomologists afld reserve managers from organisations such CSIRO, Environment - ACT, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and private consulting companies. ir FOG concefltrates on two key areas of grassland conservation. Firstly, education of the community il through field days, displays, courses and lectures. In 1996 this included a two-day conference which was attended by a range of local and interstate people. Prof. Jamie Kirkparick, a renowned it grassland ecologist ftom the University of Tasmania, opened the conference. Secondly, FOG seeks to resolve conflict in relation to the loss of native grassland communities. It aims to find t conservation solutions that rvill benefit all grassland stakeholders. In the past FOG has prepared submissions relating to development proposals and action plans for listed grassland species. It is t represented on a range of scientific steering committees and recovely teams dealing with both ir grassland flora and fauna.

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