newsletter of australian wildlife conservancy

a u s t r a l i a n

wildlife matters w i l d l i f e conservancy

DECEMBER 2007

Our Greatest Challenge: Conservation in Northern Australia

 a u s t r a l i a n

w i l d l i f e Building AWC’s capacity saving australia’s conservancy

AWC currently employs approximately 70 staff, of which around 80% are based in the field delivering practical, on ground Pictograph threatened wildlife the awc mission conservation and land management programs. This dedicated team manages 16 sanctuaries around Australia, covering The mission of Australian Wildlife 1.78 million hectares (over 4.4 million acres). Given the recent growth of AWC, one of our highest priorities in the second elcome to the December 2007 edition of Wildlife Matters. This is our Conservancy (AWC) is the effective half of 2007 has been to further build our staff team so that we have the right combination of skills and experience to Wlargest edition ever, reflecting the continued development of AWC and our conservation of all Australian animal manage our existing properties and to meet new challenges. on-ground conservation programs. species and the habitats in which they live. To achieve this mission, our actions are As this edition goes to print, AWC is preparing to complete the acquisition of focused on: Kalamurina. By Christmas, AWC will own and manage 16 sanctuaries covering Dr Tony Fleming: National Operations Manager 1.785 million hectares (4.4 million acres) around Australia. Thank you to all AWC • Establishing a network of sanctuaries Tony Fleming commenced as AWC’s National Operations Manager in November 2007. donors who have generously contributed to the purchase of Kalamurina (see the which protect threatened wildlife For the past 4 years, Tony has been the Chief Executive (Head) of the NSW National update on page 19 of this newsletter). I look forward to reporting on our first and ecosystems: AWC now owns 16 Parks and Wildlife Service. In that capacity, Tony has been responsible for over 700 biological exploration of this vast desert wilderness, which promises to be a sanctuaries covering over 1,785,000 national parks and other reserves, managing more than 1600 staff and an annual stronghold for the nationally threatened Ampurta. hectares (4.4 million acres). budget of around $250 million. Prior to working with the NSW National Parks and AWC is making excellent progress toward the achievement of our mission: the • Implementing practical, on-ground Wildlife Service, Tony was a senior executive with the Federal Environment Department effective conservation of all Australian animal species and the habitats in which conservation programs to protect and an advisor to three Federal Environment Ministers (John Faulkner, Ros Kelly and the wildlife at our sanctuaries: these they live. Graeme Richardson). programs include feral animal control, • 72% of all Australian terrestrial bird species are found on one or more fire management and the translocation As one of the most respected and successful senior managers within the conservation AWC sanctuaries. of endangered species. sector in Australia, Tony will play a vitally important role in nurturing the growth of AWC and the development of its staff. He will oversee the implementation of operations at • Over 65% of all Australian mammal species occur on one or more • Conducting (either alone or in AWC sanctuaries across Australia, ensuring the effective delivery of land management AWC sanctuaries. collaboration with other organisations) programs and the continued development of systems which support our field Mick Blackman and Tony Fleming at Brooklyn G.Kelly These statistics, which include Kalamurina, highlight both the truly national scientific research that will help address activities. scale of AWC operations and the incredible diversity of habitats found on AWC the key threats to our native wildlife. reserves. • Hosting visitor programs at our Tony has a rare combination of experience in relation to both practical land management and policy development. His appointment marks a significant step However, the challenges faced by AWC and other conservation organisations sanctuaries for the purpose of in AWC’s development and, in many respects, a “coming of age” for private sector are greater now than ever before. Feral animals, weeds and altered fire regimes education and promoting awareness of together present a clear and present danger to the survival of many native species the plight of Australia’s wildlife. conservation in Australia. and habitats. To meet these challenges, AWC continues to build its capacity (see Regional Operations Managers page 3). In the last few months, we have recruited some outstanding individuals about awc including Tony Fleming, who commenced as our National Operations Manager AWC operations are organized and managed on a regional basis. The four regions in November. Tony has been the head of the New South Wales National Parks • AWC is an independent, non-profit are: the Kimberley; Queensland and the Northern Territory; South-eastern Australia and Wildlife Service for the last four years. His skills and experience will be organisation based in Perth, Western and South-western Australia. Each region has an Operations Manager, who reports invaluable in helping to shape the development of AWC. Australia. Donations to AWC are tax to Tony Fleming. In recent months, AWC has recruited two outstanding candidates as Regional Operations Managers: As we build our capacity, AWC is set to accept perhaps our greatest challenge deductible. – implementing a major new program in northern Australia. Northern Australia • During 2006/07, 89% of AWC’s Geoff Kelly commenced as AWC’s Regional Operations Manager for Queensland is one of the world’s last great natural areas. However, there is already clear total expenditure was incurred on and the Northern Territory in September 2007. A geologist and marine biologist by evidence that the wildlife of northern Australia is in trouble: mammal populations conservation programs, including land training, Geoff has many years experience in park management in Queensland and have declined significantly, even in iconic places like Kakadu National Park. acquisition. Only 11% was allocated NSW, including two years as Regional Director overseeing the national parks network AWC is poised to make a very significant contribution to the conservation to development (fundraising) and in far north Queensland and Cape York Peninsula. of northern Australia. Guided by a clear strategy to build on our existing administration. Arvid Hogstrom commenced as Regional Operations Manager for the South-western sanctuaries in the north, AWC has secured an opportunity to purchase three Region in December 2007. For the last 18 months, Arvid has worked as the Ranger Cover Photo: The Northern Quoll has declined large, ecologically intact properties in the Kimberley, the Gulf and Cape York. across large areas of northern Australia. It still Co-ordinator at Kowanyama Aboriginal Community on Cape York. Prior to that, Arvid More details on our northern Australian strategy and these three stunning occurs on several AWC sanctuaries including was employed in the Kimberley, the south-west and more recently in the Pilbara during properties are set out in the first half of this newsletter. Brooklyn and Mornington (photo: Lochman a 15 year career with the WA Department of Conservation and Land Management. Arvid Hogstrom T. Gardiner As 2007 draws to a close, I hope you will consider helping AWC implement our Transparencies). The addition of Geoff and Arvid builds upon the very strong operational team that AWC program for northern Australia. We have a narrow window of opportunity to already has in place. In north Queensland, for example, the AWC team includes Peter protect the unique wildlife of places like the Kimberley, the Top End and Cape australian wildlife conservancy Stanton, Peter Hensler and Mick Blackman (supported by Mark Wessels). Mick, Peter York. Your support will make a difference. and Peter have, in combination, more than 70 years experience in park management. PO Box 1897 West Perth 6872 Finally, thank you again to all of our donors, volunteers and other supporters for your Ph: +61 8 9226 0340 help during 2007. I hope Santa is good to you and your families! Merry Christmas. The AWC team www.australianwildlife.org There has been a number of additions to our head office team in 2007, including Geoff Garside, who is our National Finance and Performance Manager. Geoff brings a wealth of financial management experience to AWC, having been employed previously as a senior accountant with Woodside Petroleum. There has also been a number of Atticus Fleming additions to the science and conservation team, including field ecologists such as Chief Executive Ray Lloyd (pictured). Watch out for profiles of all AWC staff members, which will be added to the AWC website in early 2008.   Ray Lloyd AWC’s Greatest Challenge: Conservation in northern Australia

orthern Australia is increasingly identified as one of the The threats to Nmost important areas on the planet for the conservation northern Australia of wild animals and their habitats. However, just as Australians The outstanding conservation feature of northern Australia is that its landscapes begin to fully appreciate its global significance, so we recognise are, at this stage, relatively intact. There that the environmental values of northern Australia are under has been little broadscale vegetation clearance and most river systems and serious threat. catchments have low levels of disturbance. Compared to southern Australia, the north AWC is well positioned to play a leading The significance of enjoys a high level of natural integrity. role in the conservation of northern northern Australia However, there are already strong Australia’s wildlife. For several months indications that the biodiversity of northern AWC’s northern Australian program is we have been developing a strategy for Australia is in trouble. The impacts of focused on the top third of the continent. enhancing our involvement in northern altered fire regimes, grazing, weeds and AWC co-ordinates fire management across the central Kimberley fire project area Field research at Mornington Jo Heathcote It is an area dominated by tropical Australia. In the paragraphs below, AWC feral animals are increasingly evident, savanna woodlands, while also featuring Chief Executive, Atticus Fleming, reports with whole groups of animals and plants rainforest, wetlands, heathlands and some • At Mornington, AWC actively protects • Second, by working closely with other Australia in a manner that respects on how AWC plans to contribute to the in decline (such as seed-eating birds and of Australia’s most pristine rivers. This rich viable populations of several threatened landholders and stakeholders, AWC the special position and knowledge, and the conservation of the largest and most intact fire-sensitive plants). It is clear that action array of habitats supports a diversity of and declining species which are can play an important catalytic and rights and responsibilities, of indigenous tropical savanna remaining on Earth. is required if the biodiversity of northern wildlife, including many endemic species. restricted to northern Australia: for support role in the development of Australia, and the ecological processes communities. (A more detailed description of the values example, the Gouldian Finch, the that sustain it, are to be maintained. regional initiatives that help sustain AWC will also implement our strategy of northern Australia is included on pages Northern Quoll and the Antilopine “Northern Australia stands out as ecological processes at an even in a manner that complements the 8-9 of this newsletter.) Wallaroo. The property also contains a one of the few very large natural AWC’s role in conserving larger scale. work being undertaken by the range of To put the savannas of northern Australia suite of northern Australian ecosystems areas remaining on Earth: alongside northern Australia Based on this experience, we have other organisations and stakeholders in a global context, almost 70% of the including riparian communities, dry such global treasures as the Amazon developed a general model for AWC’s working across northern Australia. These rainforests, the boreal conifer forests world’s tropical savannas have now been AWC already owns four properties which rainforest pockets and a variety of involvement in northern Australia (see box include government agencies, research of Alaska, and the polar wilderness of cleared. By far the largest remaining area are strategically located across northern savanna woodland types. of tropical savanna in relatively good Australia. Our record at Mornington Wildlife below). organisations such as the universities Antarctica.” • AWC has established a field research condition lies in northern Australia: in fact, Sanctuary, in the central Kimberley, best AWC understands that a large and the Tropical Savanna CRC, The Nature of Northern Australia centre at Mornington, the only centre northern Australia accounts for 25% of the demonstrates the contribution that AWC proportion of northern Australia is owned pastoralists, mining companies and other (Woinarski et al, 2007) of its kind in north-western Australia, world’s remaining intact tropical savanna can make to the conservation of northern and managed by indigenous communities non-government organisations. Given (Woinarski et al, 2007). which provides a base for research Australia: and that indigenous people retain the success to date of our business and addressing the key threats to operational model, AWC is well placed to biodiversity in northern Australia: for strong connections to the entire make a significant contribution to the overall example, research on the impacts of landscape. AWC is committed to grazing and the effect of fire on seed- conducting its activities in northern conservation effort in northern Australia. eating birds. The knowledge generated by these projects is shared with other land managers. More information on The model for AWC involvement in northern Australia AWC’s science program in northern Australia is on pages 16-17. 1. In each key region in the north, AWC will acquire at least one property which has • Significantly, by working with our high conservation values, including the presence of species and ecosystems that neighbours and other landholders, are threatened and declining across northern Australia. AWC has developed a new, regional 2. AWC will implement practical land management programs informed by rigorous approach to fire management in science at each of these properties, protecting and restoring ecosystems and the central Kimberley. AWC now plays a critical role in delivering fire wildlife populations. management across a landscape 3. Each property will provide a base for field research activity which promotes of more than 3 million hectares achievement of AWC’s overall northern Australian research strategy. The aims of (see map). this research strategy will be to enhance our understanding of ecological processes Our experience at Mornington has in northern Australia and to help identify more effective land management demonstrated that AWC’s contribution to tools for dealing with key issues such as fire, feral animals and the impacts conservation can occur at two levels. of grazing. • First, AWC can directly protect viable 4. AWC will work collaboratively with neighbours, indigenous communities and other populations of threatened species and ecosystems by acquiring and stakeholders in the regions in which we are based. Where appropriate, AWC actively managing large properties in will participate in the design and delivery of regional initiatives, such as the fire northern Australia. management program in the Kimberley.

 The rugged sandstone gorges at Mornington contain important refugial habitat ©Ecopix  Conservation in northern Australia (cont.)

A network of AWC properties values and that can operate as a base for A narrow window of opportunity across northern Australia any broader contribution we are able to make within those regions. “Land is a scarce, limited resource. As described above, our model for AWC Following an extensive search, we have It will continue to be very valuable, involvement in northern Australia is to spent several months negotiating the particularly substantial areas in acquire and actively manage at least one acquisition of three exceptional properties: the NT and Gulf Country, where I high conservation value property in each • Piccaninny Plains, located on Cape region, and to use that property as a “base” think we will see a lot of agricultural Current AWC sanctuaries York Peninsula. for our involvement in regional initiatives. development.” • Pungalina, located in the Gulf. Proposed acquisitions Don Mackay, Chief Executive, For the purposes of our strategy, we • Marion Downs, located adjacent to Australian Agricultural Company have divided northern Australia into five Mornington in the Kimberley. broad regions: (quoted in Outback, Dec/Jan 2008). AWC has now secured an opportunity scheme (MIS) companies and • The Kimberley; to purchase all three properties. It is clear that there is a very narrow other corporate investors such as This will provide AWC with a base on • The Top End (including Arnhem Land); window of opportunity within which Macquarie Bank (its Macquarie Cape York Peninsula and in the Gulf, and • The Gulf; to acquire large, ecologically intact Pastoral Services Fund aims to raise will allow us to build on our operations in properties in northern Australia. There • Cape York Peninsula; and the Kimberley. $1 billion to invest in the pastoral are several reasons why this window is industry). Land prices will soon be All three properties have extraordinary • Einasleigh Uplands/Wet Tropics. rapidly closing. conservation values, representative of the prohibitive for AWC. As illustrated in the attached map, AWC regions in which they are located. Each • The price of land in northern • Many properties in northern Australia already owns properties in the Kimberley property is home to a diversity of northern Australia is increasing dramatically. are being developed to increase their (Mornington), in the Top End (Wongalara) Australian wildlife, including several For example, pastoral station carrying capacity – ie, to increase the and in the Einasleigh Uplands/Wet Tropics threatened species, as well as a stunning prices in the Northern Territory have (Brooklyn and Mt Zero-Taravale). However, number of cattle that can be grazed. array of ecosystems such as wetlands, increased at an average of more than to date, we have had no presence on Cape Grazing at appropriate stocking rates, rainforest, sandstone escarpments and 25% per annum for the last 6 years. York Peninsula or in the Gulf. and with appropriate management, plateaus, tropical grasslands and a variety Several factors suggest this trend can be compatible with conservation. As such, a priority for AWC has been to of savanna woodlands. Detailed property © will continue including increased The Ningbing Pseudantechinus is restricted to north-western Australia Lochman Transparencies identify properties on Cape York Peninsula profiles are included on pages 10-13. However, in general, as properties are investment by managed investment and in the Gulf that have high conservation developed to accommodate higher stocking rates, their conservation values are diminished. This process of We need your help development is steadily reducing the Given the narrow window of Never before has a private (non-profit) number of ecologically intact properties opportunity to acquire large, organization put together a proposal at in northern Australia. ecologically intact properties in this scale. northern Australia, AWC has taken • Other threats to biodiversity are also If we are successful in raising the immediate steps to secure Pungalina, taking an increasing toll. For example, a required funds, AWC expects to complete Piccaninny Plains and Marion Downs. suite of small to medium sized mammal If we are successful, the acquisition the acquisition of all 3 properties by mid- species has largely disappeared from of these three ecologically significant 2008. The combined cost of acquisition for extensive parts of northern Australia. It properties, all located in key regions, will all three properties is more than $12 million. will soon be too late to turn back this be a significant boost for conservation In addition, we will need to raise several tide of biodiversity loss in key areas. in northern Australia. million dollars for long-term management of these properties and to assist in building For these reasons, AWC believes that, • In total, more than 630,000 hectares AWC’s organisational capacity. within 5 years, there will be very few, if any, (over 1.5 million acres) will be added to the protected area estate. Active • The Federal Government has indicated opportunities to acquire large, ecologically land management by AWC will it will support the acquisition of intact properties in northern Australia. ensure many threatened species Pungalina and Marion Downs. At that stage, AWC’s strategy is likely to and ecological communities are • However, we will need your support to have evolved to place greater emphasis protected. complete the acquisition of the three on working with other landholders across • AWC will be in a position to properties and to provide for their the landscape, as we currently do in the implement an integrated program management as part of our northern central Kimberley. However, the success that contributes to the conservation Australian program. of any strategy for engagement with of northern Australia, one of the Please make a donation to our northern landholders will depend on having a base world’s most significant remaining natural areas. Australian campaign. By helping to in the relevant region – in other words, AWC acquire Pungalina, Marion Downs and believes it is necessary to demonstrate the • The acquisition of Marion Downs, Piccaninny Plains and Pungalina, Piccaninny Plains, you will be helping in ability to own and manage a property within all within approximately 6 months, a very tangible way to protect globally a region in order to maximize the level of will represent an historic moment significant areas like Cape York, the Gulf engagement with other landholders in for private conservation in Australia. and the Kimberley. that region.  Stunning wetlands are a feature of Piccaninny Plains on Cape York Peninsula ©Ecopix  Northern Australia: A natural treasure under threat

orthern Australia stretches in a 3,000 kilometre arc across the crown of our continent, levels dropped. These intermittent fire sensitive vegetation, have disappeared geographical “handshakes” have from large areas. Many species are covering an area of over 1.5 million square kilometres. It encompasses a stunning array of ©Hans and Judy Beste/Lochman N bequeathed a rich ecological legacy, now listed as threatened with extinction. Eclectus Parrots Transparencies habitats and wildlife – rainforests, mangroves, heathlands, paperbark swamps, pristine rivers merging two evolutionary lineages, These trends are perplexing because Australian and New Guinean, and the savannas appear superficially intact. and seasonal floodplains are all embedded in a blanket of grassy woodlands and forests. producing a vibrant creole, where However, changes in land management brilliant red, blue and green Eclectus over the past 200 years are having subtle Regular monsoons dominate the climate in shallow seas up to 1.8 billion years season the usual distinction between Parrots screech exotically next to our but pervasive effects on the landscape. of northern Australia and drive the cycles of ago. This ancient landscape is home land and water seems to disappear, familiar dusky grey and pink Galahs. growth and reproduction; in the long hot dry to rock specialists like Monjon (a small fresh water mingles with salt and the Cattle grazing began in the rangelands seasons the savannas shimmer in a golden rock-wallaby) and Kimberley Rockrats, resultant enormous wetland provides • AWC’s focus in the Einasleigh Uplands of Queensland in the 1850s, extended soporific haze, and life retracts to the as well as many species found nowhere a temporary home to staggering and adjacent Wet Tropics is on the westwards and reached the Kimberley by shrinking waterholes. Trees lose their leaves else in the world, including Black aggregations of waders. This low-lying western slopes of the coastal ranges. the early 1900s. It is now the major land-use and birds skulk in the remaining shade. As Grasswrens, Rough-scaled Pythons and relatively homogenous region has A wide range of rainfall and soil types in northern Australia (68% of the total area), the heat builds near the end of the year, and of course the bulbous Kimberley been a reasonable barrier to migration makes this an ecologically diverse with over 90% of some grassland types spectacular lightning storms rip open the Boabs whose closest relatives live in between the biota of Cape York region, home to threatened ecosystems grazed by cattle. Over time, trampling and sky. When the rains finally break, wetlands Madagascar and Africa. Peninsula and that further west. such as wet sclerophyll forests. grazing by cattle (and donkeys, horses, and creeks are flushed and recharged, the buffalo and pigs) reduce the diversity of • The Top End is dominated by • Cape York Peninsula is the most brown landscape turns green as plants The wildlife of the grass and shrub layers so that annual undulating expanses of woodlands ecologically diverse of the four regions, explode in luxuriant growth and animals northern Australia and unpalatable grasses proliferate to and grasslands, coastal floodplains with an astonishing mix of rainforests, the detriment of perennial and palatable Buffalo © disperse and breed abundantly. and wetlands, and the stone country The ecosystems of northern Australia Ecopix woodlands, wetlands, and heathlands. grasses. Recruitment bottlenecks of Northern Australia divides naturally into of Arnhem Land. harbour extraordinary species richness: Moreover, the Peninsula has been saplings eventually cause the tree layer to the following major regions. two thirds of all bird species known from the • The broad, flat plains of the Gulf repeatedly connected to New Guinea thin out. Grazing also reduces seed yields as some weed species and, paradoxically, mainland occur within northern Australia, • In the Kimberley, cobalt skies frame fan out between the Top End and via the Torres Strait landbridge in grasses and thus affects any animals the loss of the grassy understorey. In as well as over one third of its mammal and the red sandstones that were laid down Cape York Peninsula. During the wet during arid, cooler periods when sea that rely on grass seed for food. Finally, other areas, including the Kimberley, reptile species, and three quarters of its fish grazing results in more bare ground and the contemporary pattern is one of species. Invertebrates are so numerous soil loss, and thus more erosion. uncontrolled, relatively massive, thorough that most species are yet to be described; and frequent fires. The net effect is that Cats prey upon mammals, reptiles and for example there are approximately 1,500 the landscape is being homogenised, with birds. In the arid regions of Australia they species of ant in northern Australia, but the concomitant effects on wildlife. taxonomy has been resolved for only one have contributed to the extinction of many Weeds are another serious threat to quarter of them. small to medium sized mammal species. Their impacts on fauna in northern Australia biodiversity in northern Australia. When Many of the species found in northern are less well understood, but it seems likely they replace native vegetation they change Australia are endemic, which means they that changes in fire patterns (resulting in the whole fabric of an ecosystem, and can are found nowhere else. Some are less cover) and the persecution of Dingoes interact strongly with important processes widespread throughout the north, like (leading to an increase in cat numbers) are like fire. the Frill-necked Lizard, the Antilopine amplifying their deadly effects. This suite of environmental insults - fire, Wallaroo, and the Purple-crowned Fairy- feral animals and weeds - is only just wren. However, most endemic species One of the most significant factors beginning to take its toll. If we act now, are found in the isolated rainforests and underpinning broad-scale biodiversity we can provide a secure future for the rocky escarpments that punctuate the losses has been a change in fire patterns, wildlife and habitats of northern Australia. savanna matrix. For example, White and particularly over the past 30 years. However, if we do not take action, the wave Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeons, Rock- In some areas (eg, the Gulf region) grazing of extinctions that has already overwhelmed haunting Possums, Nabarlek and Short- has reduced fire frequencies because it southern and central Australia will also eared Rock-wallabies live in the fractured removes fuel (grass); this has led to chronic engulf the north. sandstone outcrops of Arnhem Land and woody thickening of native acacias, as well the Kimberley. The rainforests and gallery forests of Cape York Peninsula boast animals like the Palm Cockatoo, Magnificent Riflebird and the Spotted Cuscus. An impending biodiversity crisis Northern Australia is relatively intact compared with most regions of Australia. Less than 3% of the total land area has been cleared, and it remains rabbit and fox free. However, there are growing signs of an approaching biodiversity crisis. Key guilds of animals, especially seed-eating birds, small to medium-sized mammals and  The Archer River is the boundary between Piccaninny Plains and Mungkan Kandju National Park (Cape York Peninsula) ©Ecopix A valley of Boabs at Marion Downs (Kimberley) ©Ecopix  Piccaninny Plains Piccaninny Plains

the property and its immediate surrounds. For example, one rainforest type has its entire distribution on Piccaninny Plains, Summary of significance while another rainforest type is found only on Piccaninny Plains and the adjoining Size: 172,000 ha national park. Other rare ecosystems on Bioregion: Cape York Peninsula the property include several vine thicket Species present: Piccaninny Plains supports an estimated: types, Bauhinia woodlands and Ghost Gum-Poplar Gum woodlands. • 900 plant species Piccaninny Plains contains long sections • 24 frog species of significant rivers. The Wenlock River, • 55 reptile species which boasts the greatest number of • 250 bird species fish species of any Australian river, flows • 50 mammal species through the property for a distance of 20 kilometres. The Archer River runs along Threatened species: Piccaninny Plains supports at least 18 fauna species 52 kilometres of the southern boundary, listed as threatened, including the Red Goshawk, and divides Piccaninny from Mungkan Buff-breasted Button-quail and Spotted Cuscus. Kandju National Park. The Archer has one Ecosystems: At least 39 ecosystems, based on Queensland of the highest annual discharges and one government vegetation maps. Several of these of the least disturbed catchments of any ecosystems are not protected in existing national parks Queensland river. and/or are listed as threatened. Several important tributaries of the Management priorities: Management priorities include: establishment of Archer, such as Piccaninny and Scrubby infrastructure; control of feral horses and pigs; Creeks, meander across Piccaninny from preventing the establishment of weeds; fire north-east to south-west until they merge management and biological surveys and monitoring. with the Archer floodplain. During floods, A lagoon on the Wenlock River ©Ecopix the Archer spreads up to 7 kilometres either side of the main channel, creating a magnificent tapestry of ephemeral swamps Piccaninny’s complex mosaic of iccaninny Plains sits in the centre of northern Cape York and large permanent or semi-permanent woodlands and grasslands is decidedly waterholes, billabongs, and swamp forests. PPeninsula, an area of unsurpassed biological thrill. The Australian in origin, dominated by iconic This drainage forms the most significant antipodean species such as eucalypts, region has experienced repeated episodes of floral and faunal floodplain in the bioregion, and supports acacias and kangaroos. In contrast, the critical ‘corridors’ of rainforest habitat along interchange with New Guinea across the Torres Strait land gallery forests and scrubs that thread its banks that link the east and west coasts their way across the property have a bridge, which was exposed in cooler glacial periods when the of Cape York Peninsula. sea levels were lower. Piccaninny Plains captures a superb strong New Guinean flavour, supporting charismatic species such as the Palm The proposed acquisition of Piccaninny representation of this eclectic evolutionary blend. Cockatoo and the Spotted Cuscus. The Plains forms part of AWC’s northern juxtaposition of ancient Australian and New Australia program. Please make a tax Guinean wildlife explains why Piccaninny deductible donation to AWC to assist Plains supports a high number of species with the acquisition and management of (over 400 vertebrates and 900 plants) Piccaninny Plains, Pungalina and Marion including many species found nowhere Downs (see following pages). else in Australia, like the Yellow-billed Kingfisher, the Trumpet Manucode and the Magnificent Riflebird. The most striking feature of Piccaninny Plains is its tropical grasslands – the property contains some of the most significant remaining grassland areas in the high rainfall (1600 mm +) belt of northern Australia. Elsewhere across northern Australia, these grasslands have been heavily utilized for grazing. These grasslands alone make the acquisition of Piccaninny Plains one of the highest priorities for conservation in northern Australia. Piccaninny Plains also contains several ecosystems that are unique to

© 10 Savanna grasslands Ecopix Australian Bustards ©Ecopix Rainforest and vine thickets meander through tropical grasslands ©Ecopix 11 Pungalina Marion Downs Pungalina Marion Downs

ungalina is perched on the edge of a rugged Proterozoic sandstone plateau, overlooking arion Downs is the most isolated property in the Pthe floodplains that fringe the Gulf of Capentaria. The property is impressively carved by the Minterior of the Kimberley. Covering 2,650 square drainage of the Calvert River, which collects the annual monsoon rains into a network of gorges kilometres, Marion Downs hugs the northern boundary before dropping down off the plateau and speeding north to the sea. of Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary. Managed together for conservation, these two properties will protect a The Calvert River is lined Borroloola Delta and also the with tall Paperbarks, River Red Gulf Snapping Turtle) that are staggering 5,770 square kilometres (1,425,000 acres) of the Summary of significance Gums and an understorey of found only in a very localised central Kimberley. Pandanus and Freshwater area surrounding the property. Size: 195,000 ha Mangroves. The sandstone In general, the Gulf Bioregion: Gulf Coastal Bioregion The central Kimberley encompasses It is a topographically and eco- walls of the gorges are Region has experienced a the lower half of the Kimberley basin, an logically diverse property. Along the Species present: Pungalina supports an estimated: etched by gullies with thick greater degree of pastoral ancient landscape created initially by eastern boundary the Hann River (the fire sensitive vegetation. The intensification than other areas • 500 plant species heavy marine sedimentation 2 billion years major artery of the Fitzroy) squeezes river is rich in aquatic fauna, of the Northern Territory and • 20 frog species ago. The southern part of the bioregion and tumbles its way through Moll Gorge and includes the nationally the Kimberley. This includes • 75 reptile species is dominated by the spectacular King as it dissects the Phillips Range. This Common Planigale S.Murphy endangered Gulf Snapping heavier grazing pressure, a Leopold Ranges, a series of parallel ridges range is a complicated jumble of steep Turtle. Such is the importance • 170 bird species more dramatic change in fire formed when tectonic movement buckled ridges peppered with prehistoric cycads of the Calvert that the Northern • 35 mammal species patterns (with both conspiring these earliest sandstone layers into folded and fan palms, gullies that shield pockets of Swamp Bloodwoods, Paperbarks, Territory government lists it as ripples. North of these ranges, massive to cause woody thickening) Threatened species: Pungalina supports at least 13 of fire-sensitive rainforest vegetation, and Pandanus that support cacophonies a ‘Biodiversity Site of National mesas, the remnants of vast sedimentary and weed encroachment. fauna species listed as threatened, plateaus covered with sandstone heath of birds and frogs. Conservation Significance’. plains that were first deposited and then Pungalina is a stark exception including the Freshwater Sawfish communities, and interconnected valleys eroded away over millennia, stand like Marion Downs protects many threatened Pungalina is blanketed in to this general pattern, with a and Australian Bustard. of gentler savannas. a wide variety of savanna history of low stocking rates, giant guardians over the rolling savannas. ecosystems and species (see summary Ecosystems: At least 14 vegetation types, East and north of the Phillips Range, box). Its acquisition is crucial because, woodlands, wetlands, riparian few weeds, very small Marion Downs occupies a pivotal based on NT vegetation mapping. skeletal soils on undulating sandstone when combined with Mornington, it will strips and vine thickets. populations of feral animal position in this landscape. It straddles 5 communities are recognized as ridges support spinifex, heathy shrubs, significantly enhance the viability of These communities support species (eg, no buffalo or foxes) threatened. the watersheds of two of the mightiest a rich assemblage of wildlife and no woody thickening. It Kimberley rivers – the north flowing Durack and Silver-leaved Bloodwoods. The populations of threatened species such Management Management priorities include: including threatened species thus provides an important and the southeast flowing Fitzroy – which ridges frame sandy-bottomed broad as Gouldian Finches and Northern Quolls priorities: establishment of infrastructure; such as the Freshwater refuge area, as well as being in gather the monsoon floods from across the valleys dotted generously with Boabs and it will improve AWC’s ability to manage control of weeds; fire management; Sawfish, the Red Goshawk a prime position in the centre savannas before etching their way through and Cabbage Gums. These valleys are major landscape-scale threatening biological surveys and monitoring; and the Australian Bustard. of the Gulf for facilitating the the ancient sandstone ranges that fringe punctuated by mound springs, perennially processes (like fire and grazing). and control of pigs. Pungalina is also likely to implementation of regional the Kimberley basin. wet soaks surrounded by dense stands contain three species of reptiles conservation programs. (the Carpentarian Ctenotus, the Summary of significance Size: 265,000 ha Bioregion: Central Kimberley Species present: Marion Downs supports an estimated: • 700 plant species • 20 frog species • 75 reptile species • 180 bird species • 30 mammal species Threatened species: Marion Downs supports at least 9 fauna species listed as threatened, including the Northern Quoll, Gouldian Finch and Rock Ringtail Possum. Ecosystems: At least 18 different savanna types (of which 16 are not included in any national parks), as well as 7 nationally threatened ecosystems such as sandstone heaths and monsoon rainforest pockets. Management Management priorities include: establish- priorities: ment of infrastructure; control of feral donkeys; control of weeds such as Calotropis spp; fire management and biological surveys and monitoring. 12 The Calvert River on Pungalina Sandstone escarpment on the edge of the Phillips Range, Marion Downs ©Ecopix 13 Wildlife Profiles: Four of northern Australia’s iconic species

range within Australia. The principal threat carve a drumstick from a small branch and In recent decades their numbers have to this species is a reduction in the extent thump out a tune on the wall of their nest declined in many areas due to changes of its fire sensitive habitat from hot fires late hollow. This is an extraordinary example of in fire patterns, competition from feral in the dry season. tool use in a bird. cats, and most recently, the invasion of The Spotted Cuscus is also found in New The population of Palm Cockatoos on poisonous cane toads. Guinea, and is one of a suite of species Cape York Peninsula is threatened by They have a fascinating mating system. that colonised the rainforests of northern changes in fire patterns that destroy the Northern Quolls become sexually mature Cape York Peninsula by emigrating across hollow old stumps that the birds need at one year of age. Females den in hollows the Torres Strait land bridge when the sea for nesting. Since their breeding rate is and rock crevices, and raise their litter of up levels were lower than they are today. The so slow, even a small reduction in their to eight young in the second half of the year. resultant faunal mixing is what makes reproductive success represents a grave Males provide no parental care. However, Cape York Peninsula such a biodiversity risk to the survival of the species. during the mating season (around June hotspot. Pungalina is located within the remaining stronghold for the or July) they expend enormous amounts Spectacled Hare Wallaby ©Lochman Transparencies Spectacled Hare Wallaby of energy fighting with other males and Palm Cockatoo (Lagorchestes conspicillatus) securing matings with as many females as (Probosciger aterrimus) to the Pilbara and Kimberley in Western threatened by hot, extensive and frequent they can. This Herculean effort, bankrolled Family: Macropodidae Australia, with a subspecies on Barrow fires that destroy big old grass hummocks with a diet of elevated testosterone rather Family: Cacatuidae (Cockatoos) (Kangaroos and Wallabies) Island off the north west coast. However, and rob the wallabies of shelter. Heavy than the traditional fuel of food, leaves Class: Aves Class: Mammalia populations have declined sharply in grazing exacerbates the impact of fires. them so exhausted that their hair falls out Palm Cockatoos are one of Australia’s Slightly bigger than a European Hare the past 20 years or so, especially in the Predation by cats is another serious and they develop skin ulcers: indeed, most magnificent birds, with their dusky and with a bright orange patch of fur southern part of their range, and they are threat. most males die soon after. This means that at the end of the year the Northern Quoll blue-black plumage, rakish head crest and surrounding each eye, the distinctive now only patchily distributed. population is almost wholly made up of flushed blood-red cheeks. They are found Spectacled Hare Wallaby is aptly named. Spectacled Hare Wallabies are one of a Northern Quoll mature females and their young. in New Guinea and some outlying islands They live in open woodlands, shrublands group of small native wallabies that have (Dasyurus hallacutus) as well as northern Cape York Peninsula, and hummock grasslands, sheltering under fared poorly since European settlement. Quolls appear more likely to survive Family: Dasyuridae (Dasyurids) where the complex juxtaposition of vegetation or in burrows during the day The Central Hare Wallaby and the Eastern the onslaught of cane toads where their Class: Mammalia rainforest with savannah woodland allows and searching for herbs, grass and fruits Hare Wallaby are both extinct and the populations are dense before the invasion. them to reach their highest densities. at night. Spectacled Hare Wallabies have Rufous Hare Wallaby or Mala is highly The attractive and lively appearance of The rocky escarpments of the gorges and Palm Cockatoos use their massive bills such efficient kidneys that they do not need endangered, surviving only on islands and Northern Quolls belies their pugnacious gullies of Marion Downs are a perfect to crack open the hard protective cases of to drink. They rely on water metabolised in two fenced feral-free enclosures on the character. Small carnivores with large home for Northern Quolls and are likely Spotted Cuscus occur in gallery ©Hans & Judy Beste stomachs, they readily tackle prey (smaller to support large numbers of this spunky forests at Piccaninny Plains ©Lochman Transparencies rainforest fruits, before delicately picking from their food, supplemented by the odd mainland (including one at Scotia Wildlife the seed out with their tongues. dew drop on early morning foliage. Sanctuary). mammals, reptiles and invertebrates) over predator. Active management to reduce a quarter of their size. They live in a variety the frequency and size of fires will also be They nest in upright hollow stumps, Spectacled Hare Wallabies were Pungalina sits in the heart of the of habitats, preferring rocky areas near important. usually in woodlands close to rainforest. remaining stronghold for the Spectacled Spotted Cuscus once widely distributed across the lower water, and used to be found across most Palm Cockatoos are slow breeders, laying Hare Wallaby, and their protection will be (Spilocusus maculatus) latitudes of northern Australia from eastern of northern Australia. a single egg every 1-2 years. Most of their Queensland, through the Northern Territory a management priority for AWC. They are Family: Phalangeridae breeding attempts fail when (Brushtail Possums, the egg or chick is taken Cuscuses and Scaly-tailed Possum) by predators (eg, goannas, Class: Mammalia pythons). However, their slow reproductive rate is balanced Using sharply clawed feet with opposable by a long life expectancy of first digits and their strongly prehensile up to 80 years. tails to grip branches, the Spotted Cuscus Palm Cockatoos maintain clambers methodically through the treetops several nest trees at any time, of rainforest, gallery forest and adjoining and since each represents tall open woodlands of northern Cape considerable investment, York Peninsula. They are common in these they also defend them habitats on Piccaninny Plains. with dramatic displays. At Spotted Cucus can often be seen Piccaninny Plains, you can slumped drowsily in the fork of a tree watch male Palm Cockatoos during the daytime, but at night they are visiting their nest trees every much more active and vocal - fighting morning and afternoon, males make an almighty racket of hissing filling the humid tropical air growls. They are known to eat the fruits, with resounding whistles, flowers and leaves of rainforest trees, but screeches and loud yawns as their well-developed canines suggest they they pirouette like ballerinas are carnivorous when opportunity presents. around the rim of their nest The Spotted Cuscus has a very restricted hollows. They will sometimes

14 Palm Cockatoos nest on Piccaninny Plains ©D.Parer & E. Parer - Cook Marion Downs and Mornington are home to the Northern Quoll ©Lochman Transparencies 15 Developing a research strategy for northern Australia

hile northern Australia appears structurally intact, there is unequivocal evidence that its The role of Dingoes and cats Wwildlife is declining and we may be on the verge of a biodiversity crisis. For example, the Feral cats are rapacious predators of native fauna and have caused or small to medium sized mammal fauna of northern Australia is collapsing across pastoral lands, contributed to the decline of many small to Aboriginal lands and also in iconic conservation areas like Kakadu National Park, where recent medium-sized mammal species throughout most of Australia. Unfortunately, there are surveys show that small mammal abundance is about 30 times lower than it was 15 years ago. currently no effective control measures for What is causing these declines? How projects that address key issues such as small mammals has significantly increased feral cats in northern Australia. should we design conservation and land fire ecology, the impacts of grazing and in each of the four habitat types over the However, there is now some evidence that management strategies in order to halt and other factors affecting the maintenance of three years since stock were removed. Dingoes may regulate cat populations, both reverse the loss of biodiversity? To answer healthy ecosystems. Examples of three key This indicates that grazing can have a by killing them and through competition. these critical questions we desperately issues and a relevant project for each are serious impact on some groups of fauna Although Dingoes are also predatory, their need applied research that will improve our set out below. (see graph). diet is less red-blooded (they will happily stoop to invertebrates and fruit) and so their understanding of the threats to biodiversity This study urgently needs to be replicated Grazing: how does it affect impact on small mammals does not match in northern Australia, that will be relevant in other regions across northern Australia the cat’s. However, Dingoes are persecuted to land managers, and that will help to biodiversity? so that we can begin to understand heavily throughout much of Australia; by AWC’s science program monitors threatened species such as the Purple-crowned Fairy-wren D. Adams improve the sustainability of land use in the Grazing is ubiquitous in northern Australia which ecosystems are most vulnerable to removing our ‘top predator’ we may be north. because even national parks contain grazing (and thus need special protection) inadvertently causing an increase in cat populations of donkeys, buffalo and horses and which are relatively resilient (and AWC is already implementing a research numbers and so consigning smaller native as well as cattle. There are, therefore, no may be carefully managed for pastoral program for northern Australia. Together animals to their feline doom. opportunities for comparing large areas of with various partners (such as CSIRO, production). never-grazed with grazed land. However, In some situations, baiting may also universities and government agencies), as AWC fences and destocks sections of The effect of fire on have unexpected, negative effects for projects are underway at Mornington, our properties, we have a unique chance savanna health pastoralists. Dingo packs have strong Wongalara, Brooklyn and Mt Zero-Taravale. social structures where only the dominant to document at a landscape scale the Fires differ enormously in terms of their The Mornington WildlifeLink Research female breeds each year. If the dominant recovery of biodiversity following the extent, their intensity and their frequency. Centre has been critical to the development female is killed (eg, from baiting), multiple removal of large herbivores. We do this by Species react to variation in any one of these of our program. Now, the proposed subordinate females are able to breed at the establishing permanent survey sites across factors in entirely different ways, which acquisition of Pungalina, Piccaninny same time, leading to a short term increase key habitats. Between-year variability is makes understanding the effects of fire on Plains and Marion Downs promises to in the number of Dingoes in the pack. controlled by installing sites in sections of biodiversity very difficult. However, fire is elevate AWC’s research program to yet Baiting can also allow sub-adult Dingoes the property that still carry stock. such a dominant process in the landscape another level. Having a chain of properties to ‘invade’ the baited area. Sub-adults are This project is most advanced at of north Australia that it is essential we less experienced hunters and less effective spanning the north will allow AWC to carry Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary, where the understand these complexities, and AWC at hunting large, highly mobile animals like out ambitious, landscape-scale research abundance (and species diversity) of has a number of projects addressing key kangaroos. They are, therefore, more likely questions in fire ecology. to switch to easier prey such as calves. One project is examining the role of fire AWC has already begun pilot work at two in the decline of seed eating birds, such of our existing sanctuaries (Wongalara and as the Gouldian Finch. AWC is testing how Mornington), where we are examining how Mammal captures in four different habitats on Mornington have increased after removal of cattle different fire management practices affect baiting for Dingoes (some of our neighbours the health and population persistence of bait and are happy for us to carry out part seed-eating birds. The results show there of our research on their properties) affects are two ‘stressful’ periods in the year for the numbers and diet of both Dingoes and seed-eaters – the change from the dry to cats, and how this affects small mammal the wet season (around December) and populations. We are also investigating the start of the breeding season (February/ how Dingoes shape the movement and March). The stress during these periods behaviour of cats by attaching radio-collars is exacerbated when fires are frequent to individuals of both species living in the (see graph) because the key grass species same area. This research will be extended that seed-eaters require from December to to Marion Downs, Pungalina and Piccaninny March never get the chance to set seed, Plains, properties with different suites of and so the birds starve. ecosystems and different histories of Dingo This research, along with the results of baiting, which will significantly improve other projects already underway, is refining our ability to interpret and generalize the our understanding of how fire affects results. wildlife, and thus our ability to manage fire This research is significant not only for the benefit of biodiversity. because it is directed towards the management of a known threat (cats), but because it represents a focus on restoring The health of Gouldian Finches drops more markedly in areas with large frequent and maintaining healthy function in tropical fires and higher stocking rates ecosystems. 16 A Dingo on Mornington P. Rothlisberg 17 Kathleen Hunt: A bequest to protect Australia’s wildlife Kalamurina update

t 102, Kathleen Hunt is probably AWC’s longest-living Kathleen with AWC Development Executive Shauna Chadlowe A supporter. While Kathleen says her eyes may not be as sharp as they once were, we know her spirit of adventure burns as brightly as ever.

Kathleen experienced the rugged, Kathleen has made a generous bequest untouched splendour of Australia’s most to AWC. Kathleen understands that AWC remote corners long before many of us is committed to delivering practical on- were even aware they existed. Place a ground land management, so her bequest map in front of her and you’ll soon discover will make a difference where it really counts there are few places on this vast continent – in the field. she hasn’t explored. Bequests are an important source of Ampurta ©M Watson The Warburton River on Kalamurina ©Ecopix Born in England in 1905, Kathleen support for AWC. We are extremely grateful immigrated to Australia with her family in to Kathleen, and to all our ‘bequestors’, for 1913. Since then she has experienced some their generosity. Please visit our website n 21 December, AWC will formally complete the acquisition vital contribution to our campaign by of the most defining moments in Australia’s (www.australianwildlife.org) or contact matching a number of donations to history. However, it has been her encounters Shauna in our Sydney office, or Debbie in Oof Kalamurina, creating the largest non-government nature AWC under The Thomas Challenge. with the beauty of this continent, especially Perth, if you would like more information reserve in the world. • Optus, who matched a large number its unique wildlife, which has really ignited about making a bequest. Your bequest, just of donations made by its customers her passion – and her concern. Determined like Kathleen’s, will create a more secure It will be a stunning Christmas present for supports a wealth of desert mammals, and suppliers. to help save Australia’s threatened wildlife, future for Australia’s wildlife. the threatened wildlife of central Australia, birds and reptiles. Perhaps the most protecting a diversity of habitats ranging significant of these animals is the Ampurta, from vast dunefields and desert woodlands an endangered mammal with its stronghold At the time of printing this newsletter, AWC and shrublands through to rich vegetation centred on Kalamurina. AWC will carry out has raised the funds required to complete Mornington flicks the switch to solar communities along the Warburton and a baseline survey in 2008 which is sure the acquisition of Kalamurina but is still Macumbah Rivers and Kallakoopah to reveal many other previously hidden several hundred thousand dollars short of ornington is now operating primarily on solar power! the decision to go solar was inspired by Creek. biological treasures. Over time, we will our target for long-term management. It is a range of practical factors as well as vitally important that AWC raise additional Kalamurina covers 667,000 hectares measure the recovery of species such MThanks to the generous support of AWC donors, funds to underwrite the implementation our desire to reduce greenhouse gas (nearly 1.7 million acres), connecting Lake as the Ampurta as AWC’s on-ground the construction of a solar facility at Mornington has been of practical, on-ground management into emissions. Prior to the establishment of Eyre National Park (to the south) with the management improves habitat quality the future. Please help AWC by making a the solar facility, all power at Mornington Simpson Desert Regional Reserve (to the and reduces the effect of competition and completed and solar power came “on line” in early December. donation in support of Kalamurina, or by was provided by a generator which ran for north). By connecting these reserves, the predation by feral animals. introducing AWC to a friend who is willing The system consists of 192 solar panels charging or when the load demand is up to 16 hours per day. This intermittent acquisition of Kalamurina will create a Thank you to all of our supporters who to support AWC’s Kalamurina project. with regulators, three battery strings (90 greater that the inverter capacity. and often fluctuating power shortened the single protected area in central Australia have made it possible for AWC to complete The management priorities for AWC batteries in total) and an inverter. It is a life of electrical goods like fridges and that is larger than the entire state of the acquisition of Kalamurina. A special The hybrid system, together with an include: hybrid system, with the solar component energy conservation program, will reduce was also affecting assets like computers Tasmania. The regional significance of the thank you is extended to: property is further demonstrated by its role • Appointment of experienced, practical supplemented by a diesel generator when carbon emissions at Mornington by more and laboratory equipment used in our • The Australian Government, which has staff as Sanctuary Managers. required: in other words, when the batteries in hosting the confluence of three of central than 60 tonnes a year, and will lessen our research program. In addition, AWC needs provided generous support of $895,000 Australia’s most important rivers: the • Rationalisation and, as necessary, are running low and require additional reliance on diesel considerably. However, 24 hour power to support activities at our under the Maintaining Australia’s Macumbah River and Kallakoopah Creek restoration of infrastructure. research centre, including the storage of Biodiversity Hotspots Program. converge with the Warburton River on • The removal of cattle, which is vitally genetic samples (which must be kept cold Kalamurina, before flowing into Lake Eyre. • The Thomas Foundation and The at all times). important for the conservation and The diversity of Kalamurina’s habitats Nature Conservancy, who made a regeneration of riparian ecosystems, Energy conservation will play a key particularly along the Warburton and role in our adjustment to solar power Macumbah Rivers and Kallakoopah – we have changed light fittings to energy Creek. efficient types and taken other such • Culling and removal of camels. (AWC measures, and the use of energy intensive has already participated in a regional appliances will now be restricted to peak program which resulted in the culling sunlight hours. “Flicking the switch” to of over 130 camels on Kalamurina.) solar was an important moment for the • The control of foxes and rabbits. team at Mornington, and all of us at AWC. • Developing and implementing a Thank you to all of our supporters who strategy for the management of have helped make it possible! visitors (large numbers of people now visit the Simpson Desert region every year on 4WD expeditions).

Map courtesy of 18 Installing the solar panels at Mornington Energy Applications Australian Geographic 19 Optus and AWC: A new partnership to tackle Australia’s extinction crisis Saving the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby

WC and Optus have launched an innovative, new partnership which will help save some of here are 15 species of rock-wallaby in Australia, of which AAustralia’s most endangered species. As part of this exciting new initiative, called “Building Tat least 6 are found on AWC sanctuaries. The Yellow-footed Better Homes for Australia’s Wildlife”, Optus will provide generous funding to assist with a Rock-wallaby is one of the loveliest, with an attractive mix of white, number of key AWC projects. AWC and Optus will also work together to raise public awareness grey, black, orange and yellow patches, tail rings and stripes. of wildlife conservation issues, taking advantage of Optus’ special position as one of Australia’s The southeast subspecies of Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby lives in leading integrated telecommunications companies. rocky areas of the Flinders Ranges (including AWC’s Buckaringa

The partnership represents an important AWC has, to date, never invited significant • Optus and AWC will work together to Wildlife Sanctuary), with a small number of isolated colonies in milestone for AWC – Optus is our first support from major corporations. Even in help raise public awareness of western NSW. A second subspecies occurs in Queensland. major corporate sponsor. More generally, the long-term, AWC does not anticipate Australia’s threatened wildlife through it is also a significant step forward in the that corporate donations will ever exceed innovative communication strategies Unfortunately, their good looks have With assistance from a group of dedicated development of corporate support for approximately 15% of our total income. linked to the Optus website and proved a handicap for the Yellow-footed volunteers, AWC is implementing a suite wildlife conservation in Australia. To date, However, AWC does believe that a small the Optus customer network. For Rock-wallaby. Following their discovery by of management actions to secure the only a very small proportion of corporate number of strategic corporate partnerships example, Optus has established John Eyre in 1840, European settlers soon Buckaringa population: giving has been directed toward saving can play an important role in helping us an interactive, educational website began harvesting them for their stunning Australia’s endangered wildlife. Optus is • More than 1,000 feral goats have been achieve our mission. We are pleased that dedicated to the conservation of the pelts, which were shipped by the hundreds setting an example that we hope other culled, and 23 kilometres of goat-proof our first such partnership is with Optus. Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby – see from Adelaide to London. corporations in Australia will soon follow. fence is being constructed to limit future www.optus.com.au/wildlife - which The benefits to AWC from the Optus The lucrative trade continued into incursions. The Optus partnership as a partnership are significant: has already attracted thousands of hits! the 1950s, long after they were formally • Rabbits and foxes are being controlled • Optus people have elected to include model for corporate support • Optus will provide direct financial protected in South Australia in 1912, and through a regular culling program. support for AWC operations, targeting AWC in their workplace giving program, precipitated a population decline. AWC operations are funded almost meaning that Optus staff will be directly • Habitat rehabilitation has included several key “on ground” projects. Although their rocky home provides exclusively by donations from individuals supporting AWC’s operations around restoring natural water flows, waterholes (including family foundations). The Federal The first project to benefit will be the shelter from hot summer days and the Australia. and springs in Buckaringa and Middle conservation of Yellow-footed Rock- talons of hungry eagles, these rock Government provides important support for Gorges, securing additional resources Dr Joss Bentley with a Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby wallabies at Buckaringa Wildlife • Optus will provide advice and support in some property acquisitions, but it does not outcrops are inadequate protection from for the rock-wallaby population. generally provide support for operations Sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges relation to AWC’s use of communication more agile introduced predators (cats and These actions are essential to help (such as the management of properties (South Australia) – see opposite page and information technology. foxes). for more details. protect the Buckaringa Yellow-footed Rock- after acquisition). The benefits to Optus are also significant Nimble goats also compete with rock- wallabies, but there is still much to learn about as it places Optus at the front line in our wallabies for cave space, as well as their ecology and conservation needs. efforts to save Australia’s wildlife. It means exerting a serious toll (along with rabbits Optus staff and customers can make a and sheep) on the rock-wallaby’s favoured In August this year, AWC began a major very tangible contribution to conservation, grasses and shrubs. research project to address this knowledge and the commitment of Optus to the Since settlement, over one third of gap. The project involves mapping the environment is realized where it really counts the known populations of Yellow-footed location and describing the composition – in the field. In addition, through dedicated Rock-wallabies have disappeared, and of every colony on the sanctuary, as well sanctuary visits, it means that Optus staff the typical size of remaining colonies has as examining their habitat use, dispersal and customers can experience “first hand” plummeted from around 100 individuals patterns and identifying the factors that limit the programs that are being supported. to less than 20. As a result, the species is their survival. The AWC - Optus relationship is more listed as threatened with extinction. The research relies on sophisticated than just another sponsorship – it is a Buckaringa Wildlife Sanctuary covers technology such as fitting collars with GPS true partnership that promises to deliver more than 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) of units (which record the location of individuals benefits for both organizations and, most spectacular cliffs and gorges in the southern almost continually), as well as advanced importantly, which will help save some of Flinders Ranges. Here, AWC protects molecular genetic techniques to identify the Australia’s most endangered wildlife. one of the largest remaining populations relationships between individuals within and of Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies. among colonies.

This bold initiative, the first project to benefit from AWC’s partnership with Optus, is another example of AWC’s focus on delivering practical land management, based on rigorous field- based science. To explore a new educational website featuring L to R: Atticus Fleming (AWC Chief Executive), the Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies of Buckaringa, log on to Kevin Bush (Sydney Wildlife World Chief Executive) Michael Smith (Optus Group Marketing Manager, Consumer) www.optus.com.au/wildlife. Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby ©Lochman Transparencies at Buckaringa

20 21 Mt Zero-Taravale: Ecosystem mapping and management

property’s significance can be assessed in several different ways. A common approach is Regionally, these tall eucalypt communities are disappearing because Ato measure the number of mammal, bird and plant species that are present. For example, a reduction in the frequency or intensity Brooklyn Wildlife Sanctuary contains over 90 mammal species, which is more than Kakadu National of fires has allowed rainforest species to penetrate into the wet eucalypt forests, Park. Another key measure is the number of ecosystems that occur on the property. Of course, it smothering the grass layer and preventing is not just the number of ecosystems that is important: it is also relevant to consider the health of germination of eucalypts. Ultimately, the the ecosystems and whether any of the ecosystems are of special significance for conservation result is a few lonely old eucalypts towering above a dense, expanding rainforest. because, for example, they are listed as threatened. AWC’s priority at Mt Zero-Taravale is to protect and restore the wet sclerophyll Identifying the ecosystems on a property, transferred to digital format to produce the 1:25,000, it is probably the most detailed ecosystems by preventing the process and mapping their spatial distribution, is ecosystem map (watch out for an article in ecosystem map for any large protected of rainforest invasion. This management also critical for designing land management the next edition of Wildlife Matters which area in Queensland. decision is predicated upon the fact that and conservation programs. It informs key explains this fascinating process in more The Mt Zero-Taravale ecosystem map rainforest in north Queensland is extensive management decisions, such as where detail). highlights that AWC is the custodian and relatively secure, whereas wet and when to burn and where to focus feral Mapping ecosystems at of some of north Queensland’s most sclerophyll forests and their unique fauna animal control so as to protect the most important remaining wet sclerophyll forest, cover a much smaller area and are under vulnerable habitats. Mt Zero-Taravale where Flooded Gums, Red Stringybarks immediate threat. Although the states and territories have This mapping process has recently and Turpentines tower above a beautiful Detailed mapping has been the first step independently produced ecosystem maps been conducted at Mt Zero-Taravale, grassy understorey and support a unique in AWC’s strategy – as well as describing for their jurisdictions, these maps are often which covers 60,000 hectares of rainforest, assemblage of plants and animals. These the extent of the wet sclerophyll forests, the too coarse-scale to be practical for land wet sclerophyll and eucalypt woodland majestic forests are found on a narrow mapping has classified areas into different AWC is the custodian of some of north Queensland’s most important remaining wet sclerophyll forest ©Ecopix managers. Moreover, they vary considerably near Paluma in north Queensland. band of deep soil and high rainfall along stages of rainforest invasion. Different fire in scale, accuracy, and even the definition Peter Stanton’s mapping revealed an the western fringe of North Queensland’s management regimes in these areas are of an ecosystem unit, making any national extraordinary diversity of ecosystems tropical rainforests. Expansion to the being trialled, coupled with monitoring but the community is dominated by Our management goal is to protect analysis of ecosystem distribution, status – 68 vegetation types have been identified west of this narrow band is impossible as programs to measure resultant changes mammals that are common in the these less common species which rely and trends impractical. the geology is unsuitable and the rainfall which, when further subdivided by geology, in the extent of rainforest invasion, general rainforests elsewhere on Mt Zero-Taravale, upon uninvaded wet sclerophyll. To do gives a total of more than 200 ecosystems. inadequate. To the east, wet sclerophyll such as the Fawn-footed Melomys and To address this problem, AWC is floristics, and fauna. Some of this work this, we must identify strategies that will The production of this ecosystem map is an forests are under constant attack by the Giant White-tailed Rat. In contrast, developing its own ecosystem classification is part of a larger regional project led by effectively halt rainforest encroachment. system which will ensure a standardised extraordinary achievement – at a scale of encroaching rainforest. Paul Williams of the Queensland Parks and uninvaded wet sclerophyll forest supports Importantly, our approach at Mt Zero- measure of the number, area and health Wildlife Service (QPWS). specialised mammals found in few other habitats, including the Swamp Rat. Other Taravale is designed not only to maintain of ecosystems on each of our sanctuaries. This extract from the Mt Zero-Taravale ecosystem map demonstrates its level of detail and A survey in October this year illustrated significant residents of the wet sclerophyll the wet sclerophyll on AWC land but Central to the AWC system is our definition the diversity of ecosystems. The highlighted ecosystem (in purple) is a wet sclerophyll how faunal assemblages change as forests include the endangered Northern of “ecosystem” which requires a hierarchical forest type on granite, with one of the dominant canopy species being Eucalyptus grandis also, as a result of our collaboration with rainforest invades. Wet sclerophyll forests Bettong and (at Brooklyn) the Yellow- description incorporating: (Flooded Gum). QPWS, to promote the conservation of wet with extensive rainforest invasion support bellied Glider, neither of which survives in sclerophyll throughout the region. • The bioregion in which the ecosystem a higher overall abundance of mammals, rainforest areas. occurs. • The geology on which it occurs. • Details of vegetation structure and floristics: this involves describing the This graph shows the total three dominant species in each of the number of animals caught on Mt canopy, mid and ground layers, as well Zero-Taravale in October 2007 in as identifying the dominant ecological wet sclerophyll forests with three levels of rainforest invasion. layer. The process of producing AWC’s Note that some species can only survive in wet sclerophyll forests ecosystem maps begins with a detailed with no rainforest invasion. examination of aerial photographs (which allows a much greater level of discrimination and precision than standard satellite imagery). Peter Stanton, one of AWC’s land management team in north Queensland, is acknowledged as Australia’s leading expert in the interpretation of aerial photographs for this purpose. Once Peter has analysed the aerial photographs, systematic and extensive ground-truthing is undertaken to match the patterns on the photographs Fawn-footed Melomys on Mt Zero Taravale ©R. Jensen to ecosystems on the ground. This data is

22 23 Wongalara Wildlife Sanctuary Chestnut Dunnart discovered at Brooklyn

he many AWC supporters who helped acquire Wongalara will be delighted to learn of our SIRO scientists have made a remarkable discovery at Tprogress in delivering effective, on-ground land management at this spectacular property on the CBrooklyn, locating a population of the little-known Chestnut edge of Arnhem Land. Chris Whatley, Wongalara’s inaugural sanctuary manager, took up residence Dunnart. Listed as rare under Queensland legislation, the with his family in July and immediately embarked on a program of feral animal removal, weed control discovery of the Chestnut Dunnart population caused great and fire management. excitement because it extends the animal’s known range by

Chris has extensive experience as a • Aerial surveys have been carried out of Australia’s key conservation issues – the several hundred kilometres. land manager in the Northern Territory, for feral animals. interaction between predators (Dingoes This species is known previously only from specimens from New Guinea in 1973, including many years working for the • Almost 200 kilometres of tracks have and feral cats) and how this impacts on Bushfires Council, and is an outstanding been repaired and upgraded. native fauna. Since May 2007, AWC’s team from the tip of Cape York (500 kilometres though a subsequent review of Australian addition to AWC’s team of remote area of ecologists has carried out: • Floodgates and fences have been away) and Blackbraes National Park, museum specimens by Dr Steve Van Dyck land managers. repaired to control stock movement. • Over 4000 trap-nights for small located 400 kilometres west of Townsville. (Queensland Museum), confirmed that Key activities in the past six months mammals and reptiles. Other infrastructure and equipment The discovery at Brooklyn is therefore animals collected by A. S. Meek in 1889 The Chestnut Dunnart (Sminthopsis archeri) Eric Vanderduys have included: has been repaired, including buildings • 144 bird surveys. a stunning range extension, confirming and D. Thomson (1933) from Cape York Chestnut Dunnart E. Vandervuys • 350 kilometres of fuel reduction damaged by the wet season floods in • 48 vegetation surveys, with 150 plant the significance of the property as a Peninsula were the same species. firebreaks were created using aerial early 2007. specimens collected for the field “biodiversity hotspot”. incendiary techniques. Our team of northern Australian herbarium. Like others of its genus the Chestnut Stop Press • Weed infestations have been identified ecologists have established monitoring • 480 kilometres of track surveys Three dunnarts were caught during Dunnart is a small, aggressive carnivore, The fourth major survey at the and weed removal has commenced, programs to measure the outcomes of (8 x 60 kilometre surveys), designed feeding on insects and small vertebrates, permanent monitoring sites on Brooklyn including a 50-hectare infestation of this land management, and have started the long-term monitoring program that to estimate the density of cats often of equal size to itself. Due to the lack of was completed during November gamba grass, a highly invasive weed. a long-term research project targeting one has been established at Brooklyn to and Dingoes. captures and its rarity, its biology is poorly 2007 (see Wildlife Matters June 2007 examine the recovery of flora and fauna for more detail on this project). In an known, although New Guinean specimens following new fire management and the intense effort over 10 days, the team are known to breed from July-October. The removal of stock. This work is carried out carried out over 6,000 trap-nights, 400 species appears to have a wide habitat bird surveys and 100 active searches. Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary collaboratively between AWC, CSIRO tolerance, since other populations have As well as collecting a considerable In August 2007, Danae Moore and Josef Schofield commenced as sanctuary (Alex Kutt and Eric Vanderduys) and the been found in tall eucalypt woodlands as amount of data on the abundance of many species, the team recorded 12 managers of Newhaven. It is a big job for two people: Newhaven covers an area Queensland Herbarium (Jeanette Kemp). well as heathlands, and at altitudes ranging species for the first time in the survey of more than 2,600 square kilometres of central Australia, making it the third largest The dunnarts were captured in Poplar from sea-level to 1,000 metres. non-government nature reserve in the country. Fortunately, Danae and Josef are well program (these species had been Gum and Mt Molloy Box open woodland The discovery of the Chestnut Dunnart previously observed opportunistically), prepared for the task, having lived and worked for several years in central Australia. with a Kangaroo Grass ground cover on on Brooklyn, which harbours extraordinary and a thirteenth species that was new They have excellent bush skills, demonstrated in recent years during several long to the sanctuary list - the eastern spiny the alluvial flats of the Mitchell River. levels of biodiversity, reinforces the expeditions through desert country. Danae has also worked with local indigenous tailed gecko (Strophurus williamsi). importance of this sanctuary as a refuge communities (through the Central Land Council) on wildlife and resource management- The Chestnut Dunnart is an elusive and Brooklyn lies at the very northern edge of related projects. rarely seen animal. It was initially described for many of Australia’s threatened animals. its distribution. Since starting at Newhaven, Josef and Danae have made immediate progress: • With guidance from local ecologist, Peter Latz, prescribed burns were undertaken in August 2007 to protect old growth spinifex and old growth acacia. • 52 kilometres of fire breaks have been installed/repaired in preparation for prescribed burning when the weather cools. • Pumps and tanks are being repaired at a small number of bores so that water can be available when required for fire management, whilst remaining inaccessible at any other time (free water attracts populations of feral animals, including camels, foxes and cats). • The camel culling program has continued, with over 350 camels now removed. • Large areas of buffel and couch grass have been cleared from around the campground and homestead area. • Visitor facilities are being improved, with composting toilets to be installed soon. Several members of Birds Australia (BA), our partners at Newhaven, have already volunteered as rangers for 2008. It promises to be a busy year on the Sanctuary, with a major biological survey taking place in April, so the assistance of BA volunteers will be invaluable.

Newhaven Manager Danae Moore inspects re-growth on the batwing coral tree, a native 24 species favoured by camels J. Schofield Brooklyn’s extraordinary biodiversity makes this sanctuary an important refuge for many threatened species ©Ecopix 25 Prestigious ARC grant to Karakamia: support research at Scotia A stronghold for the Woylie

he Australian Research Council (ARC) has awarded a major Tgrant to support research at Scotia investigating the role of native digging mammals in soil and ecosystem function. This research will help answer critical questions such as whether the reintroduction of native mammals is crucial to the restoration of semi-arid woodlands.

In the past two centuries, the arid and the restoration of endangered mammals semi-arid regions of Australia have lost throughout the landscape (ie, without Woylie (Brush-tailed Bettong) their complement of small to medium- fences). A key part of this process is to sized mammals, mainly as a result of enhance our understanding of the role with associated changes in fire patterns), predation by introduced foxes and cats, that small-medium sized mammals play fire affects the soil surface more evenly Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary Woldondorp with feral herbivores like rabbits playing an in maintaining landscape health. This is and the nutrient and moisture rich pockets important interactive role. The losses were an important question because the loss of old excavations are absent (affecting so numerous that Australia has the worst of species can set in train a sequence germination rates and seedling survival). At Karakamia, predation by feral animals is record of mammal extinctions in modern of powerful secondary effects with far- fter many years of decline in the southwest of Western AWC has now joined forces with the not a factor because the sanctuary is free of times. reaching consequences. University of New South Wales and the AAustralia, the Woylie (or Brush-tailed Bettong) was making foxes and cats. The fieldwork at Karakamia At Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary, AWC has Many of the mammals lost from the NSW Department of Natural Resources a heartening recovery following the introduction of broadscale is therefore focused on measuring responded to this ecological catastrophe Australian mainland were diggers in a ground-breaking project to better fox control by the Department of Environment and Conservation resources (abundance of subterranean in two ways. The first priority, implemented – they excavated burrows for shelter and understand the effect of these native fungi), identifying any possible disease over the past 4 years, has been to secure fossicked industriously for underground diggers on landscape processes. Scotia (DEC) in the mid 1990s. entities (AWC and DEC staff and Murdoch populations of the most highly endangered food like fungi and tubers. Some species provides a unique opportunity to investigate Since 2001, however, trapping rates different stages of decline. Our goal is to University students have been diligently species within a large (4,000 hectares, are extraordinarily proficient earth movers this question – the Bilbies and Woylies at have fallen by up to 90% in many areas. disentangle the relative contributions to plucking ticks and lice and taking blood growing to over 12,000 hectares) feral – for example, a single Woylie turns over 5 Scotia are frenetic diggers, constructing AWC’s Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary has the Woylie decline from predation, lack of samples from trapped Woylies) and predator-free fenced area. Without this tonnes of soil every year. Prior to European pits and depressions that intercept been an exception to this pattern, where resources, disease, climate change and quantifying climatic variables and the level of protection, some species would settlement, there were millions of Woylies water and trap organic matter, creating Woylie numbers have continued to rise in human interference. impact of human disturbance. struggle to persist on the mainland. The across mainland Australia – that is a lot nutrient rich hotspots in an otherwise arid the face of this regional collapse. Across the region, the program When completed, this collaborative Mala is a prime example – the last mainland of soil being moved every year! Losing landscape. It is a landscape where the In order to understand why Woylie involves regular monitoring of population project will help guide future strategies for population (in the Tanami Desert) was this guild of gardening mammals means clock has been turned back to the era of numbers are falling across the region, demographics, radio-tracking of the conservation of the Woylie across the wiped out in the early 1990s by a single the soil surface of inland Australia has digging mammals. Now, with support from DEC, AWC, Murdoch University and individuals for survival/mortality, disease south-west. In the meantime, Karakamia fox, and the species survives now only on changed from being heavily pitted and the ARC, 4 PHD students and 4 Honours Perth Zoo are undertaking a collaborative screening, dietary analysis and sand plot continues to offer a safe haven for this small islands and two fenced areas on the porous to one that is smooth and relatively students will work at Scotia to investigate project comparing several populations at monitoring for presence of feral predators. iconic species. mainland, one of which is at Scotia. non-porous. This change has probably how these mammals affect different With the first priority – saving species affected a suite of processes, for example aspects of soil process and function, and from immediate extinction – well in-hand, water and nutrients run off quickly instead the implications for landscape health. of penetrating the soil, litter decomposition AWC is now moving onto the second phase Watch out for updates on this work in future the SEQ Fire and Biodiversity Consortium is slower (allowing more fuel to accumulate which involves laying the groundwork for editions of Wildlife Matters. Curramore: Accelerating the removal of lantana under the leadership of Mr Cuong Tran at new approach to lantana eradication has opened up previously Griffith University. AWC is making good progress toward our long-term aim of Ainaccessible parts of Curramore Sanctuary, accelerating eradicating lantana and rehabilitating progress toward our long-term goal of the weed’s total eradication habitat at Curramore. Moreover, this work should catalyse similar projects elsewhere and the subsequent rehabilitation of important habitat. and lead to broader scale restoration of the remnant wet sclerophyll forests of south- Lantana is listed as a Weed of National and clearing of several kilometres of old east Queensland. Significance, and is a serious threat to logging roads. Meanwhile, volunteer the biodiversity values of subtropical wet Jennifer Dobinson’s persistent hand- forests of south-east Queensland. Lantana weeding has made significant inroads in chokes out the understorey, preventing the the north-eastern part of the sanctuary, recruitment of native plants and reducing resulting in several hectares of forest being plant diversity, leading to associated reclaimed from dense lantana infestation. changes in the faunal community. At Two years ago a prescribed burn in Curramore, sanctuary manager Laurie long unburnt grassy forest on the eastern Capill, and newly-appointed assistants side of the sanctuary proved to be another Klaus Runde and Peter Moore, have effective tool for killing lantana. To monitor employed a gas-powered back-pack the regeneration of native species, as well sprayer that has led to a dramatic increase as associated changes in fauna, a co- in the rate of progress, and the discovery operative project has been established with

26 Niki Huang collecting data on the behaviour of burrowing mammals Organic matter accumulates in diggings Laurie Capill in action 27 we urgently need your help yes, I want to help save the wildlife of northern Australia

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