NATURE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary Photo by Georgina Mollison

Achievements this year:

Our ongoing collaboration in significant biodiversity monitoring projects, including monitoring woodland birds with the University of Queensland, and Bushland Condition Monitoring with many NRM Boards

Our advocacy for protection of our state's biodiversity, with a focus over the past year on our state's "protected" areas, wildlife, habitats and water

Becoming a signatory, along with eight other South Australian environment organisations, to a significant new Mutual Agreement with the State’s Natural

11 ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL 11 Resources Management Boards - Continued support for conservation based research through our Conservation Biology Grant. This year we provided funding for four diverse topics ranging from the role of floating macrophytes as a habitat for juvenile fish; Dicyemid parasite diversity in South Australian cephalopod species; testing a method for estimating abundance of Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat; and the recovery of seed banks from fire.

With the support of our volunteers we have surveyed important remnant vegetation on the parklands and provided information to assist in advocating for its 2010 protection

Topical and interesting public meetings with presentations on vital conservation issues

Helen Vonow (Acting) President August 2011 P a g e 2 NCSSA ANNUAL REPORT 2010- 11

ABOUT THE NATURE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF

The Nature Conservation Society of South Australia is a not-for profit voluntary conservation organisation working to promote and protect South Australia’s wildlife and natural habitats.

The NCSSA has a history of almost 50 years as a leader in advocacy for the environment and is a respected source of scientific information and informed comment on the biodiversity of South Australia.

One of the primary objectives of the NCSSA is to “foster the conservation of the State’s wildlife and natural habitats”, and the Society has taken action on many varied environmental issues since its formation in 1962.

Our activities include: promoting, protecting and managing native habitats

researching and protecting threatened species and their habitats

advancing the protection, management and strategic expansion of the state’s reserve system, and

educating the community and all tiers of government about Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary Photo G Mollison environmental matters

2010 - 2011 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

Management Committee President vacant Staff Vice-President Helen Vonow Administrative Manager Elizabeth Lonie; Amanda Stewart (from March 2011) Secretary Susan Graham Conservation Ecologists Anthelia Bond and Georgina Mollison Assistant Secretary Caroline Taylor Database & Website Officer Lesley Parton Treasurer Richard Winkler Project Manager Tim Milne; Elizabeth Lonie (Acting PM) Threatened Plant Action Group Program Coordinator Tim Jury General committee Mt Lofty Ranges Woodland Bird Survey Coordinator Tina Gillespie Blair Grace Bushland Condition Monitoring Evaluation Officer Peter Mahoney Nerissa Haby Mokota Conservation Park Vegetation Survey Meg Robertson Robert Lawrence Other project contractors Andrew Allanson, Tom Bradley, Wes Crisp, Sonia Croft, Michael Stead Kerry Gilkes, Kelly McKenzie, Ben McCallum, Caroline Mussared, Bill New, Penny Jason Tyndall Paton, Janet Pedlar, Sarah Telfer, and all of the MLR Woodland Bird surveyors Andrew Crompton (co-opted)

Volunteers Regular: Max Possingham (database); Rachel Gein, Keith Lloyd, Christina Roberton (general); Sara Boulton (activities). and many others who generously contributed their time throughout the year to various NCSSA conservation projects and activities

2010— 2011 FUNDING

NCSSA activities are funded by membership subscriptions, donations, book sales, investment interest, government grants and external funding agencies that fund many of our conservation projects. Funding bodies for the 2010-11 financial year included: Australian Government Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations (GVEHO) Program; Department of Environment and Natural Resources (including the NRM Boards of Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, SA Murray Darling Basin, Northern & Yorke Agricultural Districts, and South East; and the Native Vegetation Council); SA Water. NCSSA ANNUAL REPORT 2010 - 11 P a g e 3

Our part-time Conservation about their framework for Provided advice to DENR

Ecologist position is shared by native vegetation clearance for regarding the determination of

Georgina Mollison and Annie road safety, recommending the 2011 Duck and Quail Bond, and focuses on our against the proposed hunting season. We advised biodiversity advocacy role. measures which remove the that a conservative approach disincentives to clearance of should be adopted, given Key areas of input include native trees on roadsides. continued low numbers of nature conservation and some species despite biodiversity protection, public Continued to support local favourable conditions at land and sustainable natural native flora experts and present, the long dry period resource management and concerned residents to that preceded the previous natural heritage conservation. highlight the significance of season, and uncertainty about remnant vegetation in Victoria In addition to our submission on recovery timeframes. Park and advocate for the the SA Strategic Plan targets, protection of the remnant. Argued for comprehensive these are some of the range of protection for Arkaroola’s areas covered in the last year: Provided information and biodiversity and landscape. advice to the NVC, seeking to Protected Areas protect biodiversity from Continued to support members Provided advice to Dept. of impacts of recent changes to of the community to advocate ADVOCATING... Environment and Natural the Regulations under the for biodiversity conservation. Resources (DENR) regarding Native Vegetation Act. We their strategy for protected asked for measures to ensure Water areas on public land; the new the minimum impact on Commented on the Water format for reserve biodiversity from native Allocation Plans for the management plans and the vegetation clearance for fuel Tintinara and Coonalpyn discussion paper on protected reduction; communications be region and the Eastern Mt areas on private land. Lofty Ranges revised to present a balanced Continued to promote the need and factual representation of Made submissions on: the for appropriate visitor the relative risks from native EPBC referral for pumping management in protected vegetation; and that the NVC hyper-saline water from the areas, including providing monitor and report on the Coorong; and the Brown Hill advice relating to the impact of the regulation Keswick Storm Water Project. development and changes. management of trails the Provided comment on the Gave a presentation on management strategy for the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges biodiversity values of Torrens region and Kangaroo Island, Upper South East Drainage Island at public meeting Network. and continuing to providing organised by Anne Bressington

advice on the development of MLC ADVOCATING.... ADVOCATING.... the visitor strategy “People in Parks”.

Commented on the Australian Government’s proposed South West Marine Reserve Network

Continued to support the campaign by SA Marine Conservation Alliance for the establishment of sanctuary zones in South Australia’s marine parks.

Made submissions on the Draft Reserve Management Plan for Reserves of the Yellabinna Region, and the South Para Fire Management Plan

Wildlife and Natural Habitats ADVOCATING.... Provided advice to the Native Vegetation Council (NVC) Coming to a roadside near you ?? . Photo by T Jury P a g e 4 NCSSA ANNUAL REPORT 2010- 11

MOUNT LOFTY RANGES WOODLAND

BIRDS SURVEY

The Mount Lofty Ranges habitat requirements for a successfully negotiated Woodland Bird Monitoring range of woodland species, increased funding for a further Program is a long-term project combined with over 10 years of two years with the AMLR NRM which aims to assess the bird monitoring data. Board. evidence for declines in woodland birds through Researchers continue to use A special thanks to all the repeated surveys of sites the data from this study, with surveyors who have helped throughout the Mount Lofty recent publications including a gather data for the project this Ranges. It was initiated by scientific paper published by year, to Brian Knill and Max Professor Hugh Possingham, J.udit Szabo, et al, in Emu in Possingham for assistance in University of Queensland, in February 2011. maintaining and updating the database, and to Tina Gillespie 1999. Community and government and Kelly McKenzie for survey Our Society manages and enthusiasm for this project coordination. coordinates the annual survey remains high, and we have as well as securing funding for

the project. Survey data is RESEARCHING... gathered annually from September to December. Each site is independently surveyed 3 times per year using the Bird Atlas’ 2ha/20 minute methodology. During the spring and summer of 2010, 163 sites were again surveyed from Gawler to Victor Harbor.

160 Bush Condition Monitoring sites have been established over the last 2 years to describe in detail the vegetation characteristics of the bird monitoring sites. The information collected has potential for the investigation of Musk Lorikeets (Glossopsitta concinna) Photo by Tina Gillespie

RESEARCHING... CONSERVATION BIOLOGY GRANT

Each year we offer honours - understanding the ecology of cephalopod species as a tool and post-graduate students species or communities to explore species status in the opportunity to apply for - understanding threats to Sepia apama (Giant Australian grant funding of up to $1000 biodiversity and cuttlefish)”

to support their research into management of those Jessica Strauss Flinders aspects of conservation threats. University of South Australia biology. This year we funded the “Testing a Mark re-sighting method for estimating Funds are available for following research projects: abundance of Southern Hairy-

nosed Wombat Lasiorhinus research which is aimed at: Ryan Baring Flin der s - improving understanding of University of South Australia latifrons at Brookfield the conservation status of Conservation Park” “An investigation of the role species or ecological that floating macrophytes play Laura Williams The University communities as a habitat for juvenile fish of Adelaide “Recovery of seed - providing recommendations from source to sink” banks from fire and the impact for improvement of some of grazing on post-fire seedling Sarah Catalano The University RESEARCHING... aspect of biodiversity establishment” of Adelaide “Dicyemid parasite conservation diversity in South Australian NCSSA ANNUAL REPORT 2010 - 11 P a g e 5

Collaborations are an important part of the way National Parks Australia Council we work ~ both in our advocacy and in our We have long been a member of the National Parks projects. Some highlights this year include: Australia Council (NPAC), a group of NGO’s from across Australia with a common interest in the A Mutual Agreement between SA environment preservation of the natural environment and organisations and Natural Resources development of national parks. It provides a way Management Boards. for regular communication, and to facilitate co- Along with eight other South Australian operative activities of members at a national level. environment organisations, we became a In November 2010 we hosted the annual workshop signatory to a new agreement with the State’s and the AGM, at Belair National Park. Natural Resources Management Boards. The agreement recognises the important WILDEYRE contributions made by non-government NCSSA has continued as a partner in the WildEyre environment organisations (ENGOs) as well as project, with Greening Australia, The Wilderness government agencies and sets out a practical Society, Department of Environment and Natural framework to enhance partnerships between Resources (DENR) and Eyre Peninsula Natural ENGOs and NRM Boards. Resources Management Board. WildEyre aims to protect the complex and unique habitat areas of western Eyre Peninsula through collaborative landscape scale conservation planning and action.

COLLABORATING.. South East Wetland Condition Assessment project. We are working to develop a wetland condition assessment method in collaboration with DENR, the South East NRM Board, and the Department of Water, and with the valued assistance of Australian Water Environments (who are contracted to work on the project). The assessment method will focus on measuring vegetation change in relation to the impacts of changed water regime, as well as management practices such as grazing, and will Minister for Environment and Conservation Paul Caica, centre, with support regional reporting and decision making.. representatives of nine SA environmental groups and the NRM Councill

BUSHLAND CONDITION MONITORING

The Bushland Condition sites have been established NCSSA is also working with Monitoring project provides across the state using this Eyre Peninsula (EP) NRM Board training and resources to allow methodology. We provided to compile and report on over community and professionals training workshops to 21 85 BCM sites in the region, and to score and monitor the people in the Adelaide Mount to develop similar monitoring condition of native vegetation. Lofty Ranges (AMLR) Region. strategies to those developed for N&Y and SAMDB. The aim is COLLABORATING... Field observations are made on We worked with SA Murray to fill the gaps in coverage and ten condition indicators that Darling Basin (SAMDB) Natural vegetation types, with are scored regularly. These Resource Management Board particular reference to indicators are measurable and to develop a protocol for vegetation types identified as dynamic attributes of bushland. ongoing BCM monitoring, based important as climate change on compilation, reporting and They demonstrate how the refugia. analysis of over 340 monitoring bushland is changing, the sites in the Board’s area. To supplement the existing 31 magnitude of changes, and coastal BCM sites, we have whether the condition or health For the Northern and Yorke worked with the AMLR NRM of the bushland is improving, (N&Y) NRM Board we provided Board to identify 36 new sites deteriorating or remaining a compilation and summary over the range of coastal stable. The resultant suite of report on all monitoring sites in vegetation types. To be observations is then compared the region. We carried out a established in 2011-12, these to a set of Vegetation pilot project for a standard will result in a comprehensive Community-specific Condition methodology to measure network for long -t er m Benchmarks developed for average native vegetation monitoring and reporting on each region by NCSSA. condition in a defined management targets identified subregion. in the NRM Management Plan In the last year 155 additional for the coastal zone. COLLABORATING... P a g e 6 NCSSA ANNUAL REPORT 2010- 11

THREATENED PLANT ACTION GROUP

(TPAG)

During 2010-11 TPAG We continue to develop continued with threatened effective working flora recovery and partnerships with stewardship work throughout landholders, South Australia's fragmented environment agencies agricultural regions for around and other community 60 threatened plant species groups. and six threatened ecological communities. Our productive working bees and field days Implemented recovery actions produce excellent results included: abatement of from actions undertaken serious weed threats; fencing to regenerate and to protect habitat; pest restore threatened flora. Blue Top Sun-orchid Thelymitra cyanapicata. control; revegetation; plant TPAG continue to make a Photo by T. Jury population monitoring; flora real and tangible VOLUNTEERING... surveys; stakeholder liaison; contribution toward improving and public education. the in-situ conservation Thanks to our partners and prospects for some South supporters including NCSSA, Over 2000 hours of on Australia's most threatened DENR and Regional NRM ground work by more than 50 flora. Boards, Adelaide Botanic volunteers contributed to Gardens, , SA recovering species Our thanks go to Tim Jury for Water, Forestry SA, District populations and improving his great work as Program Councils, the Australian Plant the condition of their critical Coordinator, and to all of the Society, and numerous habitat at around 50 sites. volunteers willing to get their private landholders. hands dirty.

VICTORIA PARK BIOLOGICAL SURVEY

In November 2010, with the further development of sports standard Biological Survey of help of many volunteers, we fields by the Council. South Australia methodology)

undertook a survey of and also undertook a VOLUNTEERING... remnant vegetation in Victoria W e e s t a b l i s h e d t w o vegetation survey sites (using systematic survey to estimate Park, in an area destined for the density of native plants across the area.

Plant specimens from this area have now been lodged with the SA Herbarium. Twelve native plant species were recorded, including nine native grasses.

During the survey we saw a quail in a tall patch of native grasses.

Thanks to Andrew Allanson and Annie Bond for survey coordination and all of the VOLUNTEERING... volunteers who assisted.

Adelaide parklands survey site. Photo: A. Bond NCSSA ANNUAL REPORT 2010 - 11 P a g e 7

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS

Our general meetings are held bi-monthly and are open to NCSSA members and the general public.

The meetings usually involve an update of current issues that we are working on, and any general business of the organisation, followed by a talk from a guest speaker invited to discuss an environmental topic of current interest.

Over the past year we EDUCATING.... have run several of our meetings in partnership Minda Dunes ~ coastal biodiversity at risk. Photo by J Tyndall with the Biology Society of South Australia (BSSA). These meetings have been Coastal development and its Genetic structure and gene w e l l - attended and implications for biodiversity. flow in the social lizard interesting. Thanks to the Talks by Claire Lock, Egernia stokesii (gidgee team from BSSA and Sara Australian Coastal Society (SA skink) by Sarah Pearson, Boulton (now ) and our Branch), and Maggie Hine, Honours student, Flinders Activities sub-committee City of Onkaparinga University

for organising these How Parliament Fails on Interactions between global meetings. ‐ Biodiversity Mark Parnell and local‐scale stressors:

MLC, Greens Member of the consequences for marine Talk topics over the 2010- Legislative Council South assemblages of rocky 11 year were: Australia temperate coasts by Laura

Falkenberg, PhD candidate, Rabbits on the rebound: Mapping/modelling the dire consequences for distribution of invasive weed, University of Adelaide

Buffel Grass (Cenchrus EDUCATING.... biodiversity by Dr Ron We would like to express our Sinclair, Senior Research ciliaris) by Victoria Marshall, appreciation to all those who Officer, NRM Biosecurity PhD candidate, The University spoke at the above meetings. Unit, Biosecurity SA of Adelaide

W HAT IS HAPPENING TO THE WOODLAND BIRDS OF THE M OUNT L OFTY R ANGES ?

With funding support from DENR, we This study is about measuring and published a information pamphlet in 2011 understanding the changes happening in this which summarises the Mount Lofty Ranges landscape. But it is also about using this Woodland Bird Monitoring Program. knowledge to protect and restore the region’s natural habitats. It draws together some of the results

EDUCATING.... obtained to date from eleven years of This pamphlet has been distributed to all monitoring. One change observed over this major environmental resource centres in the time is that large generalist birds are State, and to participating landholders. It is becoming more common, while many smaller available from the NCSSA office. birds are becoming less common.

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