Stirlings to Forests Conservation Planning Porongurup Ranges to Mount Lindesay Stirling Range to Mount Lindesay

Gondwana Link Stirlings to Forests Conservation Planning Porongurup Ranges to Mount Lindesay Stirling Range to Mount Lindesay

i Gondwana Link Stirlings to Forests Conservation Planning Porongurup Ranges to Mount Lindesay Stirling Range to Mount Lindesay

Melinda Lyons and Clare Jones

January 2009

Report prepared by Green Skills for the Gillamii Centre, Cranbrook

Project funded by Lotterywest

ii Acknowledgements

Thank you to all participants in workshops, email surveys and those who provided individual feedback throughout the project to assist ecological connectivity in the planning area. Thank you to Megan Jones and Belinda Smith from the Gillamii Centre for additional support and feedback. Thank you also to staff at the Gondwana Link office in Albany.

Sincere thanks to the following Green Skills staff for their involvement in the project: David McNamara, Basil Schur, Clare Jones and Melinda Lyons.

Table of Contents

Introduction...... 5

Background to Landscape Restoration Planning...... 6

Gondwana Link – Forest to Stirling Planning Approach...... 8 Selecting a Method...... 8

...... 9 Planning Process ...... 9 Field Assessment and Stakeholder Consultation...... 9 Bibliography of Current Research ...... 9

Description of the area ...... 10 Porongurup to Mt Lindesay/ Mt Roe Link ...... 10 Stirling to Mt Lindesay/ Mt Roe Link...... 10

Findings ...... 11 Email Survey...... 11 Collaboration Workshop...... 12 Survey and Workshop Summary ...... 12 Threats and Stresses...... 12 Strategies to Address Threats and Stresses ...... 13 What is being done or could be developed?...... 13 3 Existing Projects - Needs Funding...... 13 Existing Project – Unknown Funding Status ...... 14 New Projects to Develop – Need Funding...... 14 Roadside survey of linkage area ...... 15 Porongurup to Mt Lindesay / Mt Roe ...... 15 Stirlings to Mt Lindesay / Mt Roe ...... 15 Research...... 16 Mapping Young and Old Land Units...... 16 Other imperatives of planning for ecological connectivity...... 16 Commercialisation of Native Flora...... 17 Other Afforestation Opportunities...... 17

Recommendations ...... 18 Stakeholder Priorities ...... 18 Roadside Survey...... 18 Research...... 18 Old and Young Land Units ...... 18 Imperatives in regards to fauna ...... 18 Commercialisation of Native Flora...... 19

References...... 20

Maps and Appendices ...... 22 Map 1: 'Old' and 'Young' Landscape Soil Subsystems with possible Corridor Linkages as presented in the Dept of CALM's South Coast Macro Corridor Network Report of January 2006...... 23 Appendix 1: Email Survey Responses...... 24 Appendix 2: Workshop Flyer ...... 26 Appendix 3: Summary of Collaboration Workshop...... 27 Appendix 4: Field Survey Observation Points Porongurup to Mt Lindesay / Mt Roe...... 31 Appendix 5: Field Survey Results Porongurup to Mt Lindesay / Mt Roe...... 32 Appendix 6: Field Survey Observation Points Stirling to Mt Lindesay/ Mt Roe Field Survey...... 36 Appendix 7 : Field Survey Results Stirling to Mt Lindesay/ Mt Roe Field Survey...... 37 Appendix 8: Critical species within connectivity and permeability context – Forest to Stirling’s...... 40

4 Introduction The Gondwana Link Project aims to re-establish a healthy ecological connection between the wet forests of south west Western Australia and the mallee and woodland fringing the Nullarbor Plain. The current focus of the Gondwana Link Program is on rebuilding the ecological resilience in the section between the Stirling and Porongurup National Parks and Mt Lindesay in the Walpole Wilderness Area. The region between the Stirling Range and the southern forests is the only interruption in the link between the “karri forest of the SW corner to the woodlands and mallee bordering the Nullarbor Plain“(Vision Statement, Gondwana Link, homepage). The Gondwana Link West project, funded by Lotterywest through the Gillamii centre, and undertaken by Green Skills Inc. has taken up the challenge of “closing the gap”.

The “Gondwana Link – Forest to Stirling” project area encompasses the area between the Stirling and Porongurup Range National Parks and extends west towards Mt Lindesay and Mt Roe National Parks (now collectively known as the Walpole Wilderness Area) in the southern forests. The area has been broken into three sections with the aim of investigating the potential for establishing ecological connections in each of these regions (Figure One).

Gondwana Link: Stirling Ranges to Southern Forests sub elements ! Stirling to Porongurup Link ! Stirling to Mt Lindesay/ Mt Roe Link (Walpole Wilderness Area) ! Porongurup to Mt Lindesay/ Mt Roe Link (Walpole Wilderness Area)

The project elements included three sets of planning activities, one for each region. A previously compiled report “Gondwana Link Stirlings to Forests Conservation Planning, Section One: Stirling Ranges to Porongurup Ranges” documents planning priorities for the first section. This report documents conservation priorities identified through research and consultation for the remaining two sections – 1. the Stirling to Mt Lindesay/ Mt Roe (Walpole Wilderness Area) link and 2. the Porongurup to Mt Lindesay/ Mt Roe (Walpole Wilderness Area) link.

Figure One: Gondwana Link Forest to Stirlings Project Regions

5 Background to Landscape Restoration Planning "Landscape restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of a landscape that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. It is an intentional activity that initiates or accelerates landscape recovery with respect to its health (functional processes), integrity (species composition and community structure) and sustainability (resistance to disturbance and resilience)." Society for Ecological Restoration International

Visioning of the Gondwana Link concept began in 2002 with the establishment of the Gondwana Link Coordination Unit and the initial purchase of properties as conservation estates and sites of restoration projects. The Gondwana Link vision to reconnect country across south-western Australia, from the karri forest of the south west corner to the woodlands and mallee bordering the Nullarbor plain, aims to restore and maintain ecosystem function and biodiversity.

“The greatest threat facing the remaining ecological wonders of south-western Australia is fragmentation. The era when agricultural clearing destroyed large areas of biodiversity is over, but in the agricultural areas even the largest areas of bush are mere remnants – isolated from each other with species unable to move across ecologically hostile agricultural landscapes, and the key ecological processes shattered.

Two-thirds of the vegetation in south–western Australia has been cleared. Over much of what is now called “the wheat belt” many areas have less than 5-10% of their original bushland left. Yet these landscapes have proved very fragile under farming. It is now recognised that 30-40% of agricultural Western Australia needs replanting to deep rooted trees and shrubs. Otherwise over 6 million hectares will be severely damaged by dryland salinity.

Clearing was the first wave of destruction - fragmentation, salinity and climate change are driving a second wave. But in one part of south-western Australia the basic ecological connectivity that enabled the proliferation of the south-west’s biological magnificence can be at least partially restored, slowing salinity and other degradation at the same time.

The five largest areas of biodiversity left in the entire south-west are along the south coast. One connection remains through to inland Australia, via a massive 6-7 million hectare area of public land saved from the spread of agriculture in the early 1980’s. Reconnecting these critical bushland areas and strengthen the connection with the inland will restore ecological connectivity and, in the cleared areas, restore land that is too fragile to farm. This will create a series of core wilderness areas, stretching over hundreds of kilometres, linked by continuous belts of habitat and surrounded by supportive land uses.” (Gondwana Link, 2008)

6 This vision is reiterated at a federal and state level.

Federal

The Australian governments Caring for our Country initiative has developed a business plan that seeks to achieve an environment that is healthy, better protected, well-managed and resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate.

“Australia’s environment is under increasing pressure from a range of threats including the loss of biodiversity, threats to critical aquatic systems and water quality, and decline in our productive land base. This has led to ongoing loss of species combined with fragmentation of native habitats and a reduced productive capacity. Conserving, protecting and restoring this unique and valuable environment are aims of the Australian Government to ensure that our environment continues to provide the diversity of ecological services that all Australians rely on for the future. “

Caring for our Country aims to achieve this strategic goal by focusing on six national priority areas including: National Reserve System; biodiversity and natural icons; sustainable farm practices; and community skills, knowledge and engagement.

State

Similarly the Draft Natural Resource Management Plan for Western Australia (2008) has identified six broad priorities to guide NRM efforts and investment by all levels of government, the community and industry:

o Recover and conserve Western Australia’s biodiversity. o Maintain and enhance the condition and beneficial uses of Western Australia’s priority waterways. o Protect Western Australia’s marine and coastal environment. o Ensure sustainable management of Western Australia’s agricultural and other land resources. o Planning and management of urban and peri-urban areas to mitigate adverse social and environmental impacts of rapid population growth. o Improve NRM knowledge, decisions and skills through enhanced information management, resource condition assessment and evaluating outcomes.

Lower Great Southern

The Lower Great Southern Strategy developed by the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure (June 2007) addresses the protection of the environment and biodiversity as the first key point amongst major planning issues within the region. Key planning objectives include

o Conserve and maintain the conservation and biodiversity values of the coastal, marine and estuarine environments

7 o Establish a comprehensive, adequate and representative terrestrial and coastal reserve system o Maintain or improve coverage of native vegetation from existing levels o Protect threatened flora, fauna and ecological communities o Maintain the environmental and water quality of rivers and wetlands and protect valued landscape features and view sheds

The report also goes on to state that

“a more flexible approach to planning is encouraged where environmental benefits such as enhancement and revegetation are achieved. That management of remnants on private land be encouraged and incentives to do so supported and that conservation strategies to encourage management and protection of remnant vegetation on private land be developed. The strategy supports the creation and enhancement of remnant vegetation linkages, through the use of conservation covenants, allowing subdivision for conservation lots, provision of incentives and rewards for the management of existing remnant vegetation and revegetation of freehold land.” (2007, p x) Gondwana Link – Forest to Stirling Planning Approach The intent of this planning project was to re-establish and revitalize the ecological linkages within the Forest to Stirlings section of Gondwana Link. Unlike the “Fitzgerald to Stirling” section of the link, planning has not included the feasibility of land purchase for remnant protection or re-vegetation but rather to engage all stakeholders in active participation to manage, protect and re-vegetate remnants in their jurisdiction. Land within this area is commercially valuable (for rural residences, farming, plantations, etc.) and correspondingly costly; purchase for conservation estates needs to be mindful of the high value of land and the impact on farming/cropable areas in the region. Gondwana Link recognizes the potential for creating a working partnership with community and industry that reflects cross purposes. An adaptive approach to planning can take advantage of opportunities as they arise.

Selecting a Method This plan is one of a series of three microcorridor plans written for the Gondwana Link: Forest to Stirling region. The first plan “Gondwana Link Stirlings to Forests Conservation Planning, Section One: Stirling Ranges to Porongurup Ranges” (Wade 2008) utilised a planning process developed by the Nature Conservancy in the United States. The process is known as the Conservation Area Planning or CAP. It is essentially a spreadsheet that guides a small group of local experts through the process of selecting conservation “targets” and determining the most effective strategies and actions to support the long-term survival of those targets and the wider ecosystems (Figure Two). It is being used to develop and support landscape-scale conservation projects around the globe, including locally within the Fitzgerald to Stirling component of Gondwana Link (see Deegan 2008). The use of the CAP tool is an adaptive and iterative approach, which can handle changing circumstances and imperfect information while responding to opportunities.

8 Further details of this conservation planning method are available at http://www.nature.org/aboutus/howwework/cbd/.

Figure Two: Conservation Planning Process (from Lowe 2003) Landscape Scale Conservation

Planning Process Field Assessment and Stakeholder Consultation

The CAP process was observed during the gathering of stakeholder input into priority conservation targets (systems) and known threats (stresses or sources) for the two focus sections. To complete the CAP process in its entirety further funding and stakeholder consultation shall be required.

Assessment and consultation included the following three stages:

1. Roadside assessment of linkage area

2. Stakeholder survey

3. Collaboration Workshop

Bibliography of Current Research

Analysis of past reports was conducted. Relevant reports within the region were identified and recommendations noted and incorporated into the microcorridor plans. A comprehensive bibliography of relevant documents which was begun in 2006 was also updated (Green Skills, 2008).

During the consultation process the report “Landscape Planning for Gondwana Link: A report on the implications of mapping ‘old’ and ‘young’ landscape units for conservation restoration planning in the Gondwana Link – Stirling to Forest Region” was compiled (Schur, 2008). This report is an analysis of soil type and how that relates to resilience of remnant vegetation, a theory developed by Professor Steve Hopper, the current Director Kew Botanical Gardens, UK.

9 The report findings helped to clarify the type and extent of landscape restoration and connectivity within the study area.

Other research documents that have been beneficial in the development of the report include “The Upper Hay Catchment Plan” (WICC, 2007), “The Middle Oyster harbour Catchment Plan” (Master and Broadhurst, 2007), “The Western Australian South Coast Macro Corridor Network” (Wilkins et al. 2006), “Imperatives of planning for ecological connectivity and permeability between the Stirling Range and Porongurup, Mt Lindesay and Mt Roe National Parks for the Gondwana Link WildCountry Project” (Bradshaw, 2006), The Lower Great Southern Strategy (WAPC, 2007), The Natural Resource Management Plan for Western Australia (Department of Agriculture and Food, 2008), and “Southern Prospects 2004-2009: the South Coast Strategy for Natural Resource Management” (SCRIPT, 2005). Description of the area

Porongurup to Mt Lindesay/ Mt Roe Link The Porongurup to Mt Lindesay region lies predominantly within the Upper Catchment of the Hay River with a small area (including the Porongurup Range) on the eastern side of the Hay Catchment lying within the Middle Oyster Harbour Catchment Area (Figure One). The region is characterised by extreme variation in rainfall, geology, soils, vegetation and correspondingly, land use practices. Annual rainfall varies from 800mm in the south to 450mm in the north. The soils in the Upper Hay Catchment range from loamy duplex soils to sand plain duplex soils. The Porongurup Range is characterized by yellow duplex soils to sands and gravel. The vegetation systems change from the tall karri forests on the foot slopes of the Porongurup Ranges to Mallee within 10km.

The Upper Hay has 10,000ha of native vegetation, 8,000ha of blue gum plantations and 27,000ha of cleared agricultural land (WICC, 2007). Most of the clearing in this region took place in the 1950’s, clearing controls within the Denmark River catchment were imposed in 1978 (Mayer et al, 2005). The main commercial enterprise is mixed farming which varies in scale and implementation. Viticulture, timber plantations, agro-forestry (pines and hardwood species) are growing industries. Perennial grazing systems have been experimented with but although there is a lot of interest amongst farmers, implementation is minimal at present. Catchment plans for the areas have been developed by the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee (WICC) and the Oyster Harbour Catchment Group (OHCG). The primary focus of the plans is sustainable agricultural production and the major threats posed by rising water tables and salinity. The plan does not focus on ecological management, as this is not the first priority of the group. There has been little strategic planning for nature conservation in the Upper Kalgan Catchment.

Stirling to Mt Lindesay/ Mt Roe Link The Kent River catchment is located in the south west corner of Western Australia where there is high agricultural development potential. It has a mean annual rainfall of 550mm to 900 mm. 10 The Upper Kent River Catchment is within an area of around 1135kmsq (from stream gauging station 604001 located 12km south of Rocky Gully to the northern catchment boundary which meets the Gordon and Pallinup River Catchments.

The geomorphology is of low to moderate relief, including a gently undulating plateau with outcropping hills and bauxitic soils overlying granitic rock. Based on landform and soil classifications, 44% of dissected plateau of rolling country with yellow mottled soils and some gravels, 27% is swampy flats, drainage lines and lake depressions with leached soils and podzolic soils, 23% is lateritic plateau in uplands with sands and ironstone gravels over mottled clays and 6% is incised valleys with moderate slopes having yellow podzolic soils and red earths (Salama et al, 1997).

Upper Kent Catchment was one of the river catchments marked as a future water supply resource in the late 1970’s when clearing bans were introduced. Later it became a “Focus Catchment” for the National Dryland Salinity Program (1994 to 1998) and subsequently a “Water Resource Recovery Catchment”. Through these projects, properties in the area have received significant funds for salinity management works including protection of remnant vegetation. The area is also known for its prospects for commercial tree plantations and agroforestry using local and imported species.

Conserved wetlands within the Cranbrook Shire are an important feature. This is evident within the National Land and Water Resource Audit (NLWRA) which noted 338ha wetlands within the shire. The wetland chain in the Unicup suite which falls in the Upper Kent Catchment has been identified as regionally significant with many numerous small wetlands being of rare type and condition. The diversity of the wetland systems (from fresh ephemeral sedge wetlands to naturally saline) means that they support a range of biota (Bradshaw, 2006). Forested catchments are known to export little salt and often accumulate especially in lower rainfall areas. Historical evidence notes that streams near Cranbrook (around 550mm mean annual rainfall) were fresh before clearing (Bleazby, 1917 in Mayer, 2005). Measures of the relationship of salinity to climatic dryness indicate that catchments over 30% cleared are likely to have a stream salinity average higher than 1000mg/L TDS. Almost 46% of the Upper Kent River Catchment was cleared by 1965 and a further 19% was cleared by 1978 (Mayer et al, 2005). Salinity is now a major issue within the region. Elevated salinities have already caused substantial changes to the biological communities of aquatic ecosystems. Up to one third of wetland and river invertebrate species, many plant species and a substantial proportion of waterbird fauna are predicted to disappear from Wheatbelt systems due to salinity (Halse et al, 2003). Findings

Email Survey An email survey was sent to a broad cross section of stakeholders (botanists, ecologists, university, industry and NRM agency staff, interested landholders and community organisations) that had an interest in the total study area. A total of 12 out of a possible 60 surveys were received. Respondents highlighted a variety of ecological systems, particular flora and fauna

11 that were of priority due to their conservation value (see Appendix 1: Email Survey Responses). Survey results were analysed and incorporated into an overall summary (see below).

Collaboration Workshop 20 participants attended a collaboration workshop to discuss and refine survey results. Keith Bradby (Gondwana Link) and Melinda Lyons (Green Skills) presented on the aims of the Gondwana Link project and detailed the work to date in the Forests to Stirling’s study area. Melinda Lyons then facilitated a workshop were attendees were broken into three groups and presented with a series of questions in relation to 1.Conservation Priorities in the study area, 2.known Stresses and Threats in the area, and 3. Potential Conservation Strategies. The groups were then asked to identify projects or programs that related to the identified priorities as well as to conceive what programs were needed. Finally stakeholders gave a summary of their tables results for all three points and all attendees were encouraged to write their name beside current or potential programs in which they would like to be involved (see Appendix 2: Workshop Flyer and Appendix 3: Summary of Collaboration Workshop).

Survey and Workshop Summary Threats and Stresses

The threats or stresses to systems and/or species in order of frequency were:

o fire regimes

o dieback

o landscapes with altered hydrology and salinity

o climate change

o invasive species

o weed management

o land clearing, and

o fluctuating access to funding.

Other areas of stress listed were:

o apathy/ignorance

o the affect of humans (both landholders and the general public) on the environment

o vehicle access

o project management

o biodiversity resources

o the capacity of service providers

12 o trend to peri-urban development, and

o lack of local government commitment.

Strategies to Address Threats and Stresses

Groups and individuals were asked to list strategies to address these problems. They can be summarized into the following areas:

o education

o bush protection and regeneration

o research

o invasive species management

o collaboration between the agencies and individuals involved

o establishment of direct benefits for humans arising from conservation, and

o establish macrocorridors and planning.

Specific strategies, which were suggested included:

o fencing

o alternative fuel strategies

o further clearing bans, and

o the use of plantations to reduce salinity.

What is being done or could be developed?

A list of existing and future projects was collected to identify complimentary programs, gaps and to facilitate collaboration between all involved parties.

Existing Projects - Needs Funding

o Carnaby's Cockatoo

o Community bushcare groups

o Community organizations

o Land for Wildlife

o Macrocorridor

o Project Dieback

o Yowie - Hands on for Habitat

13 o South Coast threatened species pilot landscape recovery

o Green Skills obesa project

Existing Project – Unknown Funding Status

o Western shield work

o Recovery plans for threatened species (DEC)

o Plantation companies work on remnant vegetation

o Native seed bank (Greening Australia)

o Bird Atlas monitoring

o Catchment weed programmes (WICC & OHCG)

o DEC/NRM fire project

o Forest Stewardship Council accreditation

o Kendenup Bush Management Group

o Existing Project with Funding

o Middle Oyster Harbour Strategic Catchment Project

o Native perennials project

o Porongurup Weed project

o Strategic tree farming project

o Twins Creeks Reserve

o Fencing watercourses

o Commercial afforestation (government & private) projects New Projects to Develop – Need Funding

o Carbon dioxide Australia - maximise ecological benefits & integrate with maintaining community

o Community wildflower surveys - establish long term monitoring plots on private remnants

o Establish commercial value of conservation

o Information dissemination to community

o Promotion of sustainable agriculture debate

o Private reserves e.g. Caladenia Hill, Mandurup Retreat 14 o Weed eradication programme

o Continuation of Strategic Catchment Project

o Gondwana Link - Ranges link

o Gondwana Link - property purchase for conservation Roadside survey of linkage area The roadside assessments within the linkage area were conducted by accomplished in field ecologist David McNamara (Green Skills), with field assistance from Clare Jones, Melinda Lyons (Green Skills) and Margaret Pieroni (local amateur botanist).

The survey was conducted by vehicle through the study regions. A series of 36 observation points were recorded in relation to observed remnant vegetation and potential corridor linkage locations for the Porongurup to Mt Lindesay / Mt Roe link and 16 observations points were noted for the Stirlings to Mt Lindesay / Mt Roe link (see Appendix 4, 5, 6, and 7 for Field Survey Observation Points and Field Survey Results).

Porongurup to Mt Lindesay / Mt Roe

Observations identified a number of potential linkages points between the Porongurup Range and the Walpole Wilderness Area including linkages from Mt Barrow to the Porongurup Range, directly west of the Porongurup Range to Mt Barker lookout, and also potential linkages between plantations and land remnants between the Albany Highway and the Denbarker Rd. Linkages along roadside reserves and along watercourses and uncleared valleys and peaks within the study area were noted as being of particular interest.

A series of vegetation types were observed including Yate, Blackbutt, Jarrah and Marri woodlands, and Jarrah and Banksia scrublands. Plantations dominate the vegetation type between the Albany highway and Denbarker Rd and are worthy of investigation as potential linkages due to the habitat cover they provide and the potential remnant restoration and rehabilitation possibilities, which can be promoted to leasees and landholders.

Stirlings to Mt Lindesay / Mt Roe

Initially observations along Frankland Cranbrook Road highlight the scattered and isolated nature of remnants between Albany Highway and Stockyard Rd Road. Stands of remnants that occur however are generally in good to very good condition with a good mix of structure. Revegetation and fencing work is evident along creek lines. Observation point 1, 3 and 6 are remnants that would be good sites for fauna surveys and suggested sites for the reintroduction and protection of fauna as they are in very good condition and are all reserves.

Observation points 7 to 9 are in an area where the “The Western Australian South Coast Macro Corridor Network” report highlights potential linkages. Field surveys support the development of linkages through this area with a predominance of young soil type around the wetlands and the remnants in good condition. Remnants observed around Lake Poorrarecup and Tuckers Rd are in good to very good condition. Further to the east at Lake Nunijup there appears to be

15 vegetation change in the lake’s associated woodlands with loss of marri, perhaps due to salinity. This woodland could thus alter to more salt tolerant Eucalyptus rutus.

Observation points along Stockyard Rd again found remnants in good to very good condition on private property. Mallee heath and sedgelands suggest good habitat for the long term development of a mallee fowl habitat connected to linkage work in this area.

Research Mapping Young and Old Land Units

Professor Steve Hoppers theories on the relationship between old and young landscapes concluded that ecological restoration of flora is best applied to ‘young’ land units while a more in situ protective approach is best adopted for remnant vegetation in ‘old’ land units (often containing specialised flora with limited geographical distribution) (Schur, 2008). Young land units are described as “Young, Often Disturbed, Fertile Landscapes – YODFILs) while old land units are described as “Old Climactically Buffered and Infertile Landscapes – OCBILs).

The mapping of young and old land units in the Gondwana Link – Forest to Stirling region was then overlapped onto the macro corridor links developed by the 2006 Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) report “The Western Australian South Coast Macro Corridor Network – a bioregional strategy for nature conservation” (Wilkins et al). Overlapping illustrated the areas within the macro corridor paths which are a high priority for restoration and protection (OCBIL remnant vegetation types ) and those areas that would be priority for development of further corridor linkages due to the nature of the adaptability of the remnant vegetation type (within YODFILs).

Interestingly on average, 71% of land along the macro corridor paths (Gondwana Link – Forest to Stirling region) is old with 31% remnant vegetation cover, while 29% of the land along the macro corridor paths is young with 17% remnant vegetation cover (see Map 1).

The conclusions of the mapping report can only be referred to in reference to planning for flora conservation. Fauna conservation - the strengthening of gene pools, migratory paths and availability of wide ranging food sources - requires a much broader approach than old and young land units so the conclusions of the mapping report must be contemplated within a wider conservation perspective.

Other imperatives of planning for ecological connectivity

Seven connectivity phenomenons which need to be considered when attempting to plan for broadscale landscape restoration and protection have been cited by Bradshaw in her 2006 report. They include:

1. Kinds and degree of disturbance at local and regional scale (fire, vegetation clearing, grazing, feral animals, weed invasion, built structures i.e. roads and dams) 2. Ability to disperse and relocate with climate change 3. Rainfall variations affecting water flow and groundwater i.e. vegetation cover influence on infiltration and evaporation 4. Coastal zone fluxes (nutrient impact on lower catchment i.e. aquatic fauna and flora life in estuaries) 16 5. Critical species interactions (see Appendix 8: Critical species within connectivity and permeability context – Forest to Stirlings) 6. Long distance biological movement (i.e. 30 – 60 % woodland open forest birds are non- residents) 7. Evolutionary processes need to operate

The most highly interactive species within the context of permeability as listed by Soule et al (2004) are: Fauna surveys, studies of dispersal and migration routes, and concentrated reintroduction programs alongside feral animal control programs. o Mycophagous (fungivorous) mammals o Honeyeaters o Water birds o Frugivores, granivores, insectivores o Pollinators, seed and fungal spore dispersers Commercialisation of Native Flora

Research areas such as “Commercialisation of Native Flora” (Woodall et al, 2008) are of particular importance to the aims of landscape connectivity. This type of research is assisting in the establishment of other commercial opportunities for landholders in the Forest to Stirling’s section of Gondwana Link that may also serve an ecological function by providing habitat and food sources for native fauna. New industry development is critical in the drier areas of southern Western Australia (350-600mm) and these areas desperately need a range of ecologically sustainable industries to address or adapt to declining rainfall, salinity and population decline and biodiversity loss (Woodall et al, 2008). Local native plants whose trials suggest the most potential as a commercial crop include Melaleuca atroviridis (brush fencing), Casuarina obesa (timber), Eucalyptus occidentalis, Santalum spicatum (perfume, timber), Platysace deflexa (food tuber), and Ipomoea calobra (food tuber). There are also other bushtucker foods that may have commercial benefits as well as enhancement of cultural connections for aboriginal landholders. Such crops could be interplanted into understoreys of remnants. Such crops however may prove to be labour intensive. Past papers looking into the viability of bushtucker crops include a series of papers by Green Skills “Investigating Potential Bush Products in the Great Southern Western Australia” (2009). Other Afforestation Opportunities

The Strategic Tree Planting (STF), a program developed by the Forest Products Commission (FPC), is designed to provide farmers and investors with tree farming options that are suited to local conditions and farming systems. A key objective of the STF is to target NRM priorities while building wood resources to support sustainable new rural industries (FPC, 2009). Carbon Neutral, a not for profit organisation, that works closely with Men of the Trees in WA has begun consultations in the region to enable farmers the opportunity to earn an income from tree planted for carbon sequestration (Carbon Neutral, 2009). 17 Recommendations

Stakeholder Priorities In broad terms ecosystems in general were identified as the priority as well as areas of remnant vegetation. It was recognized that habitats in good condition and of strategic importance be identified as the highest priority within such remnant vegetation. The linking of these areas by corridors is vital as biodiversity is being lost due to fragmentation. Other priorities include: salt affected lands and road verges. Topics of concern that were prioritised included fire susceptible (non-resprouting) species, the effect of spring burning on flora and fauna, weed management, land use, soil disturbance, the need for pragmatic solutions, threatened species and the reintroduction of native species.

Roadside Survey There are potential linkages along fencelines. It is recommended that a target width of 20metre corridors be encouraged to enable health of understorey, shading and more resilience of remnant to edge affect encroachment of weeds, nutrients and grazing.

Catchment groups to do further liaison with local landholders in respect to remnant protection and corridor development.

There are many plantation companies and wineries in this area which may have areas of remnants or potential revegetation sites that would assist corridor development.

Concentrating on overland connections between tributaries and creeklines will assist connection between the Porongurup Range and Walpole Wilderness Area. Analysis of old and young land units and viable connections between such waterways will assist targeted contact and interest development by catchment groups with applicable landholders.

Research Old and Young Land Units

Localised protection and buffering of remnant vegetation within predominantly localised flora of old infertile soil types while a continued and expanded focus on waterway fencing and wetland conservation remain the focus on fertile soil types along streams, rivers and wetlands.

Old and young land units overlain with the CALM macro corridor paths highlights that suggested linkages between Porongurup to Mt Lindesay region are predominantly along OCBIL remnants. The land unit mapping along with the on ground field surveys however highlights that corridor linkages could be successful following waterways and around wetlands, especially following an almost direct westerly path from the Porongurup Range to join the Hay River.

Imperatives in regards to fauna

Fauna surveys, studies of dispersal and migration routes, and concentrated reintroduction programs alongside feral animal control programs in regard to most highly interactive species of fauna (as listed by Soule et al (2004) and Bradshaw (2006)).

18 Commercialisation of Native Flora

The perennial native flora offers commercial opportunities, with many species having the potential to become economically viable oil, food, timber, flower or extractive industries. Landholder liaison and industry development to continue to be pursued.

19 References Bradshaw, 2006, “Imperatives of planning for ecological connectivity and permeability between the Stirling Range and Porongurup, Mt Lindesay and Mt Roe National Parks for the Gondwana Link WildCountry Project”, Green Skills, Denmark ,Western Australia

Carbon Neutral, 2009, http://www.carbonneutral.com.au/ ,[last accessed 1/2/09]

Commonwealth of Australia, 2008, Caring for our Country – Business Plan 2009-2010, at www.nrm.gov.au/business-plan/index.html [last accessed 28/12/08]

Deegan P., 2008, Fitz-Stirling Functional Landscape Plan. Information Pamphlet produced by Gondwana Link

Department of Agriculture and Food, June 2008, Draft Natural Resource Management Plan for Western Australia, Perth Western Australia

Forest Products Commission (FPC), 2009, http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au/ , [last accessed 1/2/09]

Gondwana Link, 2008, Our Vision, at http://www.gondwanalink.org [last accessed 4/12/08]

Green Skills, 2008, Gondwana Link West Bibliographic Database, Denmark, Western Australia

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