GUNBOWER FOREST KEY ASSET PROTECTION PROJECT

PROTECTING THE BEST Migratory Bird Agreement). It is KEY ACTIONS ACHIEVED: an important breeding ground for a The Gunbower Forest Ramsar site number of birds, including Yellow-billed • Over 5 km fencing which will includes Gunbower Forest, associated Spoonbill, Nankeen Night Heron, Royal protect vegetation from grazing water bodies and Gunbower Creek. The Spoonbill, Intermediate Egret, Great pressures. site is located on the Egret and Australian White Ibis. floodplain between Torrumbarry and • 14.6 ha of revegetation, in north-western . including planting of endangered species such as the The Gunbower Forest site covers 19,900 Winged Peppercress. ha dominated by River Red Gum open • 6 ha of rabbit management forest and woodland. works to reduce grazing

NATIONAL IMPORTANCE pressures • Reducing the impact of foxes on Gunbower Forest is the second largest our freshwater turtle River Red Gum Forest on Earth. During Great Egret, Gunbower Forest populations with 1,354 ha of fox flood periods, the forest becomes a management works. breeding, feeding and resting ground for large colonial waterbird species. PROJECT OBJECTIVES • 1,600 ha of weed removal including Blackberry, Willow The Forest includes many rare wetland The purpose of the project is to improve the overall condition of the ecological and Pale Yellow Water Lily. habitat types, and supports a range of • nationally significant species. More than character and maintain the extent of the Have ran many successful 210 species of indigenous flora and 143 Federal and State listed threatened flora events with over 380 species of indigenous fauna have been and fauna species within the defined participants, including bird recorded within the site. Three flora biodiversity hotspots of the Gunbower workshops, catch a carp day and Forest. species and two fauna species present in welcoming the waders.

the forest are considered to be nationally The project also aims to minimise the risk •

S Worked with Turtles Australia threatened under the Commonwealth’s of reinfestation of pest plants with some Environment Protection and Biodiversity and the University of Western ongoing management of weeds along Sydney to trial a number of Conservation Act (1999). major tributaries and tracks in the forest aversion methods to decrease In 2010, Gunbower National Park was the numbers of turtle nests created; this reserve occupies about half being raided. of the public land, with most of the

bushland upstream of Cohuna within the

National Park. However there is still a large area of State Forest available for logging at the lower end of the forest

close to Barham/Koondrook.

ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES

The Gunbower Forest is also a wetland of

international significance and listed as GUNBOWER RAMSAR WETLAND

part of the Ramsar Convention, the

JAMBA (Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Before and after treatment of Broom at McLure’s Bend, Gunbower Forest Agreement) and the CAMBA (China-

FACT SHEET KEY ASSET PROTECTION PROJECT

SOCIAL & ECONOMICAL • Myriophyllum porcatum - annual VALUES aquatic herb of ephemeral wetlands “The Forest with its many wetlands, • Lepidium monoplocoides - annual creeks and forest resources provides herb of riparian woodland excellent recreation opportunities, • Senecio behrianus - extensively and is popular for fishing and rhizomatous perennial of winter- camping. The convoluted course of wet soil the Murray River and Gunbower Enhancing threatened species Creek provides many fishing spots. populations within the Gunbower Forest Wildlife, particularly waterfowl are will provide opportunity for each species plentiful.” to re-colonise higher quality habitat than where they are currently found and land Fox predated turtle egg found in Gunbower Forest. management activities will ensure viable populations are protected into the CULTURAL HERITAGE future.

The Gunbower Forest Ramsar site contains a cultural landscape that reflects PROJECT FUNDING both Aboriginal and European activities. The Gunbower Forest contains many Funding for this project is provided sites of cultural significance to the through the Australian Government’s Aboriginal people. National Landcare Programme until 2018.

There have been over 142 archaeological Participants during a bird watching event. sites of significance identified in the forest. Sites identified include scarred trees, mounds and shell middens. OUR VALUED PARTNERS PROJECT ACTIVITIES This project is undertaken in partnership On ground activities are planned to RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF with The Department of Environment address critical issues/threats that are NATIONALLY THREATENED Land Water and Planning (DELWP), Parks impacting on the ecological character of WETLAND FLORA Victoria, Goulburn-Murray Water the Gunbower Forest Ramsar site. (GMW), The Gunbower Island As part of this project, a dedicated field Community Reference Group and the officer will work to enhance the survival Gannawarra Shire Council. THREATS AND IMPACTS of three nationally threatened species by establishing viable populations in Regulation of the Murray River since suitable habitat within the Gunbower 1934 has reduced the frequency, Forest. These species are recognised as intensity and duration of flooding in threatened due to their small population Gunbower Forest, which has implications sizes and the significant reduction of for River Red Gum and other species wetland habitats through draining, and whose survival is flood dependent. more recently the extended drought Timber harvesting and silvicultural conditions across south east Australia. practices have altered the age structure of Red Gum stands and may have reduced the number of nest hollows available to wildlife. Critical threats to biodiversity exist at the site, including: weeds, pest animal damage and stock grazing. In particular, FOR MORE INFORMATION the site is subject to rabbit and fox p: (03) 5448 7124 infestation, Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) and other invasive w: www.nccma.vic.gov.au plants which threaten the ecological Winged Peppercress (Lipidium Project contact: Adrian Martins character of the forest and wetlands. monoplocoides).