Cape York Image by Kerry Trapnell

Healthy Country Newsletter Protecting Biodiversity Issue 13 - May 2013 Cape York is an ancient landscape with fragile soils, fertile alluvial plains, expansive savannas, beautiful rainforests, rich mineral deposits and many plants and animals unique to the area (not telling you anything... right?). It has been managed by people for many thousands of years. Aboriginal people used fire as a key management tool, and more recently European settlers have farmed, mined, fished and grazed CapeYork to earn a living and establish a new life. Part of effective land and sea management is ensuring a sustainable environment Biological diversity for the many generations to follow. While there is a need to live off the land and sea is the existence of to survive, it must be done is a way which ensures there is enough biodiversity left diversity within species, for the natural environment to sustain us into the future. genetics and ecology. In this edition we look at biodiversity (biological diversity), why it’s important, and what is happening around Cape York to protect it. High biodiversity is considered essential for Biodiversity: what it is and why it’s important by Cape York NRM’s Luke Preece ecosystem stability. Biodiversity describes the variety of life on Earth and the values people Biodiversity in Australia and around attribute it. Biodiversity is not just the world is declining from direct and about the variety of species, but also indirect impacts of threats, such as is genetic diversity within species and clearing of habitats, pest species, the diversity of ecosystems, including industrial development and climate habitats and ecological processes. change. It is everyone’s responsibility to curb the loss of biodiversity, which Biodiversity encompasses several can be achieved in many ways. values for nature among individuals. These values include: cultural values Here are some: such as sacred sites and totemic ►►implementing sustainable development and species; environmental services such land management practices as water and carbon sequestration; ►►actively reducing threats intrinsic values of species to exist ►►conducting monitoring and research in their own right; aesthetic values ►►improving environmental awareness and including ethical and psychological education aspects, landscape beauty and ►►setting up appropriate governance structures charismatic species; and economic Looking over the McIlwraith Range ►►implementing policies for market-based values to use products and for Image: Luke Preece approaches to conservation, such as through tourism. water, tourism or carbon sequestration. Printed on 100% recycled paper In n... this editio 8 Conserving flatback turtles on Cape York 2 Snakes of Cape York 9 Wildlife corridors for biodiversity 3 CSIRO biodiversity project 10 Indigenous ranger dropbox project; understanding the 4 Qld ranger meeting, South-east Cape beach cleanup health of Cape York’s biodiversity 5 Cape York NRM Regional Investment Strategy; West 11 Cape York nature refuge project Cape ranger meeting; Weipa Landcare launch 12 What’s on in Cape York

6-7 Funding review: Who Cape York NRM funded in 2012-2013 and what they were funded to do Within this publication you will see Cape York Natural Resource Management referred to as Cape York NRM. The Snakes of Cape York with Michael Anthony

Cape York is blessed (some may say cursed) with a vast diversity of snakes. The region is a melting pot of faunal influences with snakes from arid regions, the tropical northern region and the east coastal region. A multitude of Blind Snakes are small worm-like reptiles that live forest types, diverse topography and proximity to almost completely underground, feeding on ants means that there are many groups of and termites. snakes represented here. The highest number of species on Cape York belongs to the Elapid family, a group of front-fanged land snakes ranging from the large venomous species down to small inoffensive burrowing snakes. The largest of the 18 elapid species is the Taipan (pictured left), a shy intelligent snake which mostly keeps away from humans, but if cornered can become a dangerous adversary. It is rated as one of the two most dangerous snakes in the world. Another well represented group live in the seas surrounding Cape York. One quarter of the world’s Sea Snakes are found here (fifteen species). There are two more groups of aquatic snakes - the Achrochordids, which include the Arafuran File Snake (file snake pictured below) and the Homalopsid snakes that occur in fresh or brackish Fifty-eight species of snake call Cape York home, waters. All images this page: Michael Anthony ranging from the tiny 17 centimetre Flower Pot Snake (an introduced species) to the giant Scrub or Amethystine Python, the worlds fifth largest snake which grows to about six metres in length. There are eight species of pythons on Cape York comprising 32% of the worlds species. One of the most beautiful pythons in the world is the Green Python (above right), within Australia restricted to the Iron and McIllwraith Ranges. They are believed to have migrated from New Guinea via Torres Strait during periods of low sea level, or floated on rafts of debris from New Guinea rivers. Colubrid Snakes, including the nocturnal Brown Tree Snake and the diurnal Common Tree snake are also recent colonisers of Australia.

Printed on 100% recycled paper CSIRO Biodiversity Project Since late 2008 the CSIRO that will provide meaningful by Justin Perry biodiversity team has been information that can inform land working in partnership management decisions. We have with Cape York Sustainable also considered ways to manage Futures and various land data so it is safely stored and easily accessible for rangers and managers on Cape York community members now and Peninsula to monitor in the future. We are currently terrestrial biodiversity in the working with the Atlas of Living context of fire. Australia to develop the ideas we This has included re-sampling over have discussed with the people 600 bird survey sites that where of and other originally surveyed in the late service providers into a useful tool. 90’s and setting up over 200 new permanent multi-species survey Image: Map of the permanent biodiversity sites have been surveyed as a monitoring sites set up in collaboration with baseline for future monitoring. CSIRO and indigenous rangers. In these surveys we have these data to look at the patterns documented the birds, mammals, of fire and biodiversity across the reptiles and frogs and the region. This will provide an insight landscape and vegetation into how plants and animals are characteristics that are associated dispersed across the landscape with these. This has been done in the context of fire. It will also in a systematic way which means break down the broad vegetation changes in the sites can be Image: An example of the Atlas of Living Australia biodiversity portal in development for types and investigate how fire measured over time. Cape York Peninsula. frequency impacts on the species At the same time we have been composition at those sites. working with indigenous rangers A field guide mobile application The data will be mapped with across Cape York Peninsula to is in production that can easily different colours representing the develop monitoring techniques be updated as new information properties surveyed and will show that can be completed as part comes to light. how variable the landscapes are of their normal work plans. This Currently the across the region even though involved investigating ways of field guide they look very similar. We can use collecting and managing data application for this information to break down the Cape York has sites into more comparable units all the snakes so the impact of fire can be pulled completed and out from the general variability we are now across the peninsula. working on In the past few years we have the frogs and learned a lot from the people lizards. of Cape York Peninsula and Most of the work we have done are committed to setting up a has focused on measuring the monitoring and data management impact of fire on biodiversity. system that will help people make Recently the CSIRO team has decisions about biodiversity compiled and summarised the conservation, land management entire Cape York Peninsula and sustainable development in Image: Laura Ranger, Brian Ross holding a biodiversity data set and is the future. Bandy-bandy snake with Justin Perry CSIRO. currently completing an analysis of

Page 3 JOint Workshop Engages Indigenous Rangers A joint workshop of senior “We are now coming together Indigenous rangers and and discussing issues such coordinators engaged under as training opportunities, the Indigenous leadership and capacity Land and Sea Rangers and building of our ranger teams Australian government and it is very encouraging to Working on Country programs see how our rangers have has highlighted the depth developed,” he said. under the Queensland program, due to grow to 80 in the next 2 of Indigenous rangers’ “The Newman Government is years, and more than 170 Australian achievements in Queensland. committed to an extra forty rangers Government supported rangers in across Queensland in this term of Held in over two days Queensland. The programs work Government which includes the in February, coordinators and collaboratively on fire, weed, feral first Indigenous Land and Sea senior rangers from more than 50 animal and threatened species Rangers in the Lake Eyre Basin,” Mr ranger groups across Queensland management and the collection Wildermuth said. came together with officers from of harmful ghost nets in coastal the Queensland and Australian Assistant Director from the regions. governments to share ideas and Indigenous Policy and Programs Mr Wildermuth said that many experiences at this collaborative Branch David Crea said it is thousands of hectares of traditional workshop. evident how hard coordinators lands in the , and senior rangers are working to The workshop was an opportunity Cape York, western Queensland build a professional reputation and for the rangers and coordinators and the reef catchments had been achieve long-term results for their to hear how their peers carried out better managed as a result of the communities with the support of their duties as rangers on country. It programs. programs like Working on Country. was also a chance for the rangers to Participants reviewed training network with each other. “It is clear that Indigenous rangers priorities, collaborative work are having real success in Queensland Indigenous Land and planning, building skills, workplace managing the threats to natural Sea Rangers program manager health and safety and a variety of and cultural heritage in northern Dave Wildermuth said he was workshop exercises that assisted Queensland, and their work is impressed with the growth of the the coordinators and senior rangers nationally important,’ Mr Crea said. ranger program in recent years and to get their demanding job done. with the capacity that now exists in There are currently 53 Indigenous ranger ranks across Queensland. Land and Sea ranger positions Clean Sweep for Cooktown to Weary Bay Beaches Volunteers are set, skip bins are empty and rubbish bags prepped for the annual Cooktown to Weary Bay Beach Clean-up at a beach near you on Sunday 19 May. Last year was a gigantic effort where more than 100 volunteers filled three large skip bins with rubbish removed from Cooktown beaches. Beach cleanups in the Cooktown and Archer Point areas have removed over 7000 items of marine debris. Data collected during the clean ups indicated that 88% of the beach debris was plastic with plastic bits and pieces being the most common item found. This year North Shore Cooktown, Walker Bay, Archer Point and Weary Bay beaches will be targeted and volunteers are still wanted. All clean up materials will be provided, so all

Printed on 100% recycled paper Natural Resource Management Around the Cape Regional Investment Strategy Externally, Cape York NRM will continue to deliver the majority of its funded on-ground activities through Cape York NRM has compiled their high level program contracted service providers. The high level RIS logic and regional investment strategy (RIS) which document will be released soon. contains the priorities for Cape York’s natural resource investment for 2013-2018. These priorities were identified More information available at http://www.nrm.gov.au/ by reviewing scientific publications and community funding/previous/meri/meri-toolkit.html consultation processes from recent years, and through an additional consultative workshop on 8 April, with Western Cape ranger groups met in representatives from Cape York NRM’s six sectors Napranum on 12 and 13 April to discuss coordinated (Indigenous, Community, Local Government, Primary arrangements for turtle conversation for the Western Industry, Conservation and Tourism/Small business) Cape. Rangers from Pormpuraaw, Napranum, ,together with technical experts. Mapoon and Apudthama were represented at the meeting, and were joined by regional technical partners Five key areas for investment were identified through for turtle conservation (see image below). the workshop. These are fire, water, soil, livelihoods and integrated pest management. They form the basis of Cape York NRM’s RIS program logic for the next five years and will inform development of specific program logic documents and proposals as funding opportunities arise. These key areas will be underpinned by activities which improve our organisational governance; the coordination of natural resource management activities and the overall governance of natural resources across scales. Cape York NRM will focus its internal resources on developing tools and technology, capacity building, communication, innovation and information management with foundational activities of coordinating access to co- investment, clan estate mapping and regional planning. Weipa Landcare and Community Garden The community of Weipa will soon be home to a new landcare group, with start-up help from Cape York NRM and the Business Navigator Initiative. Strong support was shown for the project with over 80 people attending the launch on 10 April, hosted by Cape York NRM.

A community garden for Weipa is also on the cards, with support from Western Cape College, Scherger Detention Centre, DIAC, Rio Tinto Alcan, and many Weipa locals.

To get involved in the projects contact Cape York NRM on 1300132 262.

Beach Clean-up...continued from page 4 you need to do is bring plenty of water and sun protection and lots of enthusiasm. A free BBQ will finish the day. The clean-up could not go ahead without help from sponsors and supporters:- Cook Shire Council, Yuku Baja Muliku, Cooktown Landcare, South Cape York Catchments, The Lure Shop, Tangaroa Blue and all the volunteers for their ongoing support and huge effort on the day. Registration is from 7am at the Fishing Lease Cooktown. More information from Pete Kilshaw 0407573666, Andrew Hartwig 0418216300, Mick Hale 0408577193 or Jason Carroll 07 40696890.

Page 5 2012-2013 NRM Funding: A review of Cape York NRM’s major funding distributions, and how it is was agreed to be spent Have you ever wondered how funding for Natural Resource Key (not all) agreed outcomes: Major delivery partners Management on Cape York was distributed and why? APN: Support and employment of six Indigenous rangers; weed management Cape York NRM adopted a business model whereby projects are for parkinsonia and sickle-pod; culling of feral pigs over 75000 hectares; destock delivered through partnerships with Cape York organisations and land cattle and 10 km of fencing; traditional knowledge exchange between Elders and managers. So in most instances, Cape York NRM funds others for children; produce three newsletters. work to be delivered on the ground. We aim to support land managers Millenia Consulting: Indigenous individuals, communities and enterprises including graziers, farmers, urban residents, Traditional Owners and other assisted and supported to develop new business and economic proposals to people with historic connection to country, together with tourism and small enable them to navigate approval processes under the Wild Rivers legislative business operators, miners, local government authorities and community framework. organisations and groups. CYSF Coal Seam Gas: GIS and data management; engaging Traditional Owners and Pastoralists. So, where does the money come from, and where does it go? Cape York NRM receives state and federal funding to distribute across Cape CYSF Fire and biodiversity project: Resurvey monitoring sites at Laura and York. In the past year we have entered into service agreements with 23 deliver training to Laura Indigenous rangers (with CSIRO); aerial incendiary organisations across Cape York to carry out a variety of land management program, early season line and patch burns, mapping, ground-truthing, preparing activities, some big, some small. We have six major partners who information kits, developing sub-regional fire management plan, for over one million hectares incorporating 10 properties; remote sensing, data capture and deliver the majority of this work. They are Wik Projects, South Cape GIS analysis of fire; provide Northern Australia Fire Information (NAFI) with York Catchments (SCYC), Aak Puul Ngantam Development Corporation fortnightly fire-scar information for 13500000 ha. Ltd (APN), Millenia Consulting (Business Navigator Initiative), Cape York Sustainable Futures (CYSF) and Cook Shire Council for Cape CYSF Turtle Conservation: Training and mentoring for four Indigenous ranger York Weeds and Feral Animals Program (CYWAFAP). Of course these groups through partnering with Indigenous communities; turtle nest predation and pest animal monitoring program; education and awareness. organisations can receive funding from a variety of sources (not just Cape York NRM), including direct funds from state and federal governments. In Cook Shire Council: Devolved grants to graziers and farmers; feral pig control some cases their budgets are considerably bigger than ours! over 250 000 Ha with west coast ranger programs & CYSF for turtle conservation; wild dog control over 100 000 Ha over 26 properties; training, mentoring and In total across ALL organisations, we distributed $2,704,294.12. engagement with Napranum rangers for capacity building and containment; GIS and data input; survey, control and map for Gamba Grass, Hymenachne, Pond Apple, Sickle pod. Cape York NRM funded projects 2012-2013 $900,000.00 $800,000.00 $700,000.00 Information correct at time of printing. Funding as approved up to 30 April 2013. $600,000.00 $500,000.00 $400,000.00 $300,000.00 $200,000.00 $100,000.00 $- r s s s s s s s i l y g g e e d d d n n n s t s m e c c e e e c n t o i u r l i f L t a m L t L t o o n n n n

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S p T u 5 l a n a p S a n l e S o u O t e C W u C k r i s w u o m o a s P H i o O K u B 2012-2013 NRM Funding: A review of Cape York NRM’s major funding distributions, and how it is was agreed to be spent Key (not all) agreed outcomes: Major delivery partners ON GROUND PROJECTS ^_ CYWAFAP Rubber Vine APN: Support and employment of six Indigenous rangers; weed management ¯ ^_ CYWAFAP Pond Apple for parkinsonia and sickle-pod; culling of feral pigs over 75000 hectares; destock SCALE !U ^_ CYWAFAP Gamba Grass cattle and 10 km of fencing; traditional knowledge exchange between Elders and 0 10 20 40 !U children; produce three newsletters. Kilometers ^_ CYWAFAP Hymenachne Millenia Consulting: Indigenous individuals, communities and enterprises *# Injinoo Apudthama Pig Cull (SG) assisted and supported to develop new business and economic proposals to *# *# Kuku Ya'u Bushfoods (SG) enable them to navigate approval processes under the Wild Rivers legislative *# framework. Oasis Springs Fencing (SG) *# Olkola Cultural Mapping (SG) CYSF Coal Seam Gas: GIS and data management; engaging Traditional # Owners and Pastoralists. !U 4' * Portland Roads Projects (SG) [ *# CYSF Fire and biodiversity project: Resurvey monitoring sites at Laura and 4' !U ^_ WUNTA Cultural Knowledge Transfer (SG) deliver training to Laura Indigenous rangers (with CSIRO); aerial incendiary !U *# !U Business Navigator Initiative [ !U program, early season line and patch burns, mapping, ground-truthing, preparing !U ![ Bioregional Assessment Area information kits, developing sub-regional fire management plan, for over one !U 4' !U ![ million hectares incorporating 10 properties; remote sensing, data capture and !U^_ *#*# CSIRO & CYSF Biodiversity Survey GIS analysis of fire; provide Northern Australia Fire Information (NAFI) with 4' !U ![ CYSF Turtle Project fortnightly fire-scar information for 13500000 ha. [ CYWAFAP Pig Cull CYSF Turtle Conservation: Training and mentoring for four Indigenous ranger 4' ![ South Cape York Catchments groups through partnering with Indigenous communities; turtle nest predation and ![ ![ pest animal monitoring program; education and awareness. ![ 4' 4' WIK Projects 4' *# 4' Indigenous Reference Groups Cook Shire Council: Devolved grants to graziers and farmers; feral pig control ![ [ 4' !U ![ Southern WIK Initiative (APN) over 250 000 Ha with west coast ranger programs & CYSF for turtle conservation; ![ wild dog control over 100 000 Ha over 26 properties; training, mentoring and ![ !. Traditional Fire Management engagement with Napranum rangers for capacity building and containment; GIS ![ !U 4' ![ CYSF Fire Management and data input; survey, control and map for Gamba Grass, Hymenachne, Pond [ ![ Apple, Sickle pod. 4' Sicklepod Roadside Corridor Abbreviations Cape York NRM funded projects 2012-2013 ![ Ha = Hectares $900,000.00 [ ^_ Km = Kilometres *# $800,000.00 !U *# $700,000.00 [ Information correct at time of printing. Funding as approved up to 30 April 2013. ![ $600,000.00 ![ $500,000.00 !U !. ^_ $400,000.00 ![ ![!. !.![ $300,000.00 ![ ![ ![ ![ ![ $200,000.00 Points indicate approximate location of on-ground project. $100,000.00 Project size is larger than the point indicated. Not all positional data was available at the time of publication. $- Locations will be identified in the next reporting period. r s s s s s s s i l y g g e e d d d n n n s t s m e c c e e e c n t o i u r l i f L t a m L t L t o o n n n n

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o o as needed over 389 ha in Laura/Normanby catchment; Fire management and monitoring on Quinkan o o

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P animals, reducing the impacts of weeds of national significance, protecting critical aquatic ecosystems. H i o O K u B Article continues back page... Page 7 RESEARCH What is the most cost-effective way to conserve Flatback turtles in Cape York? with Dr. Mariana Fuentes, Postdoctoral Fellow at James Cook University (JCU) Answering this question is the goal of my current research at JCU. Because conservation funds are grossly inadequate for addressing the plight of marine turtles, I am working with conservation planners, marine turtle researchers, ranger groups and Cape York Sustainable Futures (CYSF) to identify the best set of actions to maximize conservation of Flatback turtle eggs in Cape York, with a limited budget. The vast array of management actions necessary to stop decline and support recovery of marine turtles is usually stated and described in their recovery plans, which aim to maximize their long term Flatback turtles (Natator depressus) - pictured survival. Although recovery plans often provide a above - are listed as a vulnerable species under planned and logistical framework for policy makers the EPBC Act 1999. Distribution is restricted to coordinate their work, the majority do not provide to tropical waters of northern Australia, Papua prioritised management actions which can be New Guinea and western Papua, and nesting only carried out in the field. When they do, there is no transparency of how priorities where decided. takes place in Australia. On Cape York, the main breeding rookeries are Crab Island, Deliverance This research has developed a novel framework to and Kerr Islands and the mainland beaches of address this. First, a set of “implementable actions” north western Cape York. were identified to mitigate threats to Flatback eggs and that had a high likelihood of being successfully Turtles have 100 million years of history in the applied and accepted by local communities. From world’s oceans, and all marine turtle species are those, the best sets of actions were explored, to experiencing threats to their survival. Some of identify which combination of actions will provide the key threats for the Flatback turtle include the most conservation benefits with the least predation of eggs by feral pigs and goannas, ghost cost. Analyses are still under way, but preliminary nets, boat strike, destruction of nests by vehicles, results will be presented to local ranger groups and fishing and climate change. stakeholders in the coming months.

The structured approach undertaken for this project http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/ can be applied to multiple life-stages and can guide prioritisation of resources for other species in similar contexts. This will provide a foundation for more effective conservation investment and help to prioritise actions within recovery plans. I am extremely thankful for all the support and help obtained from CYSF and from the Land & Sea Coordinator from the Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council. To find out more about my research see http://www.coralcoe.org.au/researchers/mariana- fuentes

Image right: Cages are used to help save turtle eggs from goannas.

Printed on 100% recycled paper Protecting Biodiversity by Improving by Samantha Hobbs Connectivity South Cape York Catchments In fragmented landscapes, wildfires encroaching onto a the impact of late season wild wildlife corridors that corridor might reduce the size fires were also undertaken. connect healthy ecosystems and provide an avenue for weed Works conducted at the site have are necessary to maintain encroachments, in turn reducing protected the area from wild fire biodiversity. They allow habitat diversity and connection impacts allowing the rainforest function. tree species to re-establish, populations to interbreed increasing the canopy cover which improves long- South Cape York Catchments term genetic viability; they (SCYC) has been provide access to larger working on wildlife corridor rehabilitation habitats which ensures for the last 3 years. a wider range of food Our biggest project sources and shelter; and has been the Annan they provide an avenue for River National Park animals to move or shelter in to the Wet Tropics times of stress, during wild World Heritage area fires and climate change Wildlife Corridor. This impacts. site was identified as a critical link for animal Wildlife corridors must be wide movement that could enough to allow easy movement Above: Seed Collecting function as an avenue for animals for even the largest animals. For and preventing lantana from re- to move north or south when a Cassowary at least 50 metres establishing. facing threats such as climate wide is recommended. However, change. Upon inspection with Recent follow-up riparian wildlife corridors also work at Rangers and Traditional owners condition monitoring has shown smaller scales to provide habitat it was identified that rehabilitation the site has gone from a “poor” connectivity for other species, was needed. In some areas the riparian condition rating to a including amphibians, fish, and site was burnt right down to the “good” riparian condition rating. birds. They are particularly creek and Lantana had formed beneficial along riparian corridors, By working together the team has a thick mono-culture. The width where they provide both aquatic protected the biodiversity of the of the wildlife corridor had been and terrestrial connectivity. area and provided a healthier and reduced due to late season wild more resilient wildlife corridor. Wildlife corridors are vulnerable, fires, lantana encroachment and and must be managed with roaming cattle impacts. SCYC would like to thank our extreme caution. For instance, partners in this project; The Working with our Traditional Owners, Bana Yarralji project partners the rangers, Queensland Parks and team constructed a Wildlife Service, Rossville Rural cattle fence around Fire Brigade, local landholders, the riparian zone local schools and community to exclude cattle volunteers. Together we have from the creek, worked to build resilience and removed all lantana increase connectivity of the infestations and corridor. revegetated the riparian zone. Early This project was possible thanks burns to reduce to funding provided by Caring For Our Country and Cape York NRM.

Above: Bana Yarraliji rangers building fences

Page 9 Shared Resources On-line for Rangers Cape York Indigenous ranger groups can now documents in the Dropbox maybe a huge share their knowledge on-line with a shared folder help to another group. You might even find system established by South Cape York Catchments. something here that could save you hundreds Dropbox folders have been set up for rangers to of hours! upload useful documents and information that they think other ranger groups can benefit from. To join Please feel free to invite other ranger groups email [email protected]. Here’s what you’ll to this Dropbox. Remember anything you put find: here will be free for anyone to use. Please Welcome to Ranger share: your place to avoid PDF’s so people can cut and paste and share documents, templates and media adapt your document to their needs. As there you have found useful with other ranger is only 2GB of free space please keep file groups. One hour of your time putting useful sizes small.

Understanding Cape York’s byBiodiversity Noel Preece If we are to manage native been undertaken on Cape York declines of species elsewhere, animals and plants, we need Peninsula. Recent small-scale and the extensive management to have good knowledge of studies hint that there may be faunal practices being implemented the effects of our actions, decline in some locations, but there across the Cape. This can be whether they are weed control, are too few sites to determine if done by establishing a network of these are short-term fluctuations, benchmark sites across the Cape, feral animal control, or fire long-term declines, or local or and to establish these as monitoring management. Without this regional trends. sites, so that trends in biodiversity knowledge we cannot can be determined, be sure that our actions and causes of decline are having a positive or identified. negative effect. About a dozen of the Graziers know this well – if former biodiversity their grass is in short supply, studies on Cape York they look at moving cattle or could be used as destocking. Fire managers benchmark sites. They know it too – if wildfires are include around 170 site burning out country, then better locations, confined to a fire management is needed. few areas across Cape Across northern Australian York Peninsula. Future savanna and forest regions, surveys can be repeated native mammals, and some at many of these sites, birds and frogs have been Conducting fauna surveys on Cape York using the same methods, disappearing from the landscape. to determine trends at these sites. Many hundreds of studies have Trends in biodiversity distribution So how do we know whether our been done in the Northern Territory and abundance, however, need to actions to reverse losses of native and Western Australia. These be determined at a regional or sub- fauna are working? Proper surveys studies together show that there regional scale, utilising a network and monitoring are needed to are significant losses of native of multiple sites, to determine the ensure our interventions such as mammals. degree and extent of observed weed removal are working. Without trends. Across Cape York Peninsula surveys, there is no evidence that there are few long-term studies the work results in increases in Cape York NRM is working to investigating these effects. Most native animals. obtain further funds to undertake of the prior surveys do not use these studies. Some have It is important to understand systematic methods that can commenced, including the CSIRO what is happening to species be repeated for monitoring. No fire and biodiversity studies, and ecosystems across Cape comprehensive assessment of funded partly by Cape York NRM. trends in biodiversity health has York Peninsula, given the serious Printed on 100% recycled paper Cape York Nature Refuge Project with Northern Gulf Resource Management Group

Cape York Nature Refuges common weed species range from properties observed. comprising hundreds of Pigs constitute the major pest thousands of hectares down animal threat. Low numbers to areas you could kick a of cats, feral horses and feral football across. Woodland, cattle were seen. riverine, rainforest, vine thicket and coastal habitats Numerous fires were are represented, even an observed, burning over large island on the barrier reef. areas, for weeks or even months. Methods of fire control Twenty-five Cape York Nature vary widely, reflecting the Refuges have been contacted different types of country but with site visits made to 17, from also the individual preferences late October to early December. of land managers. In some Despite visits taking place areas adjoining properties at the hottest, driest time work together on fire but often of year, numerous wildlife there appears to be very little sightings were made especially communication. of nocturnal animals. Few Some erosion was observed. small reptiles were observed due to the heat. Numerous Road-works may result in bird species were seen near considerable siltation of permanent water. Frogs were watercourses. observed after rain events. Many refuges have Agile wallabies were common unauthorised visitors but other species of macropod lighting fires, damaging were rarely seen. roads, spreading weeds, In general the landscapes knocking down fences and appeared healthy, with good in an extreme case burning plant diversity and ground infrastructure cover. Fencing areas for Threats to the refuges vary management of cattle is the highly, reflecting the diverse most popular proposal for nature of the properties. utilising funding. Landowners also expressed interest in Sicklepod appears to be the biodiversity surveys, fire major weed threat. Lantana, breaks and weed and feral Sensitive Weed, Noogoora animal control. Burr, Hiptus, Sida and Grader Grass are among the other

Images: Michael Anthony

Page 11 Printed on 100% recycled paper Coming up on the Cape www.capeyorknrm.com.au/calendar.html June May 12-13 Cape York NRM Board Meeting and 19 Cooktown to Weary Beach Clean-up Community BBQ - Northern Peninsula Area CYPPMAG, FNQPAF NAMAC joint meeting 21-23 7-9 8th Annual Weipa Fishing Classic World Turtle Day 23 8-10 Cooktown Discovery Festival Opening - First Contact Memorial Mapoon 27 21-23 Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival Mareeba Rotary Agricultural Field Day 29-30 July Indigenous Land and Sea Conference Darwin 27-31 31-5 August Chili Beach (Lockhart River) Clean-up

Cape York NRM Project Funding Allocations (cont.) Small Projects Allocations: Small project funding paid for items like fencing, cultural mapping, recording traditional knowledge, fire management, weed and feral animal control and Wunta Aboriginal Corporation turtle conservation. The success and value for money of these projects TM & LT Rayner has been profound, and because of this, Cape York NRM encourage funding for future projects being delivered by people with direct access Portland Roads Property Services to country, who can undertake the work in the right way, at the right Olkola Aboriginal Corporation time. Oasis Steve Irwin Technical consultants provided scientific advice, surveys, reviews, writing, reports, GIS, water monitoring, Indigenous engagement, recording traditional Noel Accoom knowledge andC aculturalpe Yor kmapping NRM fu fornd eCaped pro Yorkjects NRM 2012 and-201 on-ground3 projects. Kuuku Ya’u Aboriginal Corporation Further details of funded projects including Cape York NRM’s projects and Injinoo ranger program expenditure will be published in our annual report in October. Technical Consultants: Aak Puul Ngantam Biome5 Environmental Consultants Millenia Consulting 6% Cultural Mapping Consultancy 12% 9% Firescape Science 6% Cape York Sustainable Futures Footloose Publications Cape York NRM Cook Shire Council Howley Environmental Consulting 12% 2012-2013 Karrell Ross Funding South Cape York 29% Catchments Northern Gulf Resource Management Group distribution 8% Wik Projects Ltd Sandy Robinson & Associates

TierraMar Consulting Pty Ltd 18% Small Grants Various Mulong Productions / Traditional Knowledge Technical Consultants Revival Project Information correct at time of printing. Various Funding as approved up to 30 April 2013. CONTACT US: Next Edition: Land and Sea Cape York Natural Resource Management Want to contribute? 47-49 Maunds Road | PO Box 907 www.capeyorknrm.com.au Deadline 7 June 2013 Atherton QLD 4883 1300 132 262 To contribute or subscribe: [email protected] 0488 656 690 Most projects within this newsletter are supported with funding from the Australian and Queensland governments and Cape York NRM. We gratefully acknowledge this support.