‘Pilbara Corridors Project’ Evaluation of the Fortescue River Catchment Corridor Project March 2018 pilbaracorridors.com.au In 2012, the Pilbara Corridors was established as a collaborative partnership between Rangelands NRM, Greening Australia and the WA Department of Parks and Wildlife (now the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions). This report documents the objectives and activities of the Pilbara Corridors partnership as it has operated in the specific Fortescue River Catchment Corridor Project, and an evaluation of the outputs and outcomes of those activities relevant to the objectives of the project. The report is presented by Rangelands NRM, one of the Pilbara Corridors partners. Contact Rangelands NRM Suite 1, 125 Melville Parade Como WA 6152 T: (08) 9468 8250 E: [email protected] W: www.rangelandswa.com.au Cover image: Bill Cotchings 1 Evaluation of the Fortescue River Catchment Corridor Project Contents EVALUATION OF THE FORTESCUE RIVER CATCHMENT CORRIDOR PROJECT ..................................................... 1 CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 TABLES .................................................................................................................................................................. 2 FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................................ 2 ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................ 4 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 7 ABOUT PILBARA CORRIDORS .............................................................................................................................. 7 Background .................................................................................................................................................... 7 The Pilbara Corridors Partnership .................................................................................................................. 9 Objectives in the Fortescue River Catchment Corridor Project .................................................................... 10 Activities in the Fortescue River Catchment ................................................................................................. 10 EVALUATION METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................................... 12 Program Logic .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Focus for the evaluation ............................................................................................................................... 13 Evaluation questions and answers ............................................................................................................... 13 Reporting ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 THE FORTESCUE RIVER CATCHMENT ................................................................................................................ 15 The Fortescue River Catchment ................................................................................................................... 15 Climate ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Land Tenure and Management .................................................................................................................... 17 Biological assets ........................................................................................................................................... 19 FORTESCUE RIVER CATCHMENT CORRIDOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES .................................................................... 20 A CONSERVATION ACTION PLANNING .................................................................................................................. 20 Reviewing baseline data .............................................................................................................................. 20 Further research requirements .................................................................................................................... 21 Activities undertaken by Pilbara Corridors ................................................................................................... 22 Key outcomes from the conservation action planning activities in the Fortescue River Catchment ............ 24 Evaluation of the immediate result of conservation action planning .......................................................... 24 B WEED MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................................... 26 Targeted weeds in the Fortescue River Catchment ...................................................................................... 26 Weed management projects in the Fortescue River Catchment .................................................................. 27 Evaluation of the immediate results of the weed management effort ........................................................ 30 C FERAL ANIMAL CONTROL ................................................................................................................................ 31 History .......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Pilbara Corridors activities in the Fortescue River Catchment ..................................................................... 31 Evaluation of the immediate results of the feral herbivore control effort ................................................... 35 D FIRE MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................................................................... 36 Fire in the Pilbara ......................................................................................................................................... 36 Background .................................................................................................................................................. 36 Fire management activities in the Fortescue River Catchment .................................................................... 37 Evaluation of the immediate results of the fire management activities ...................................................... 44 E LAND USE AND MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 46 Background .................................................................................................................................................. 46 Land use and management activities undertaken in the Fortescue River Catchment ................................. 46 March 2018 2 Case Study 4: Bonney Downs ESRM and follow up works ............................................................................ 52 Evaluation of the immediate results of land use and management activities ............................................. 54 SUMMARY EVALUATION .................................................................................................................................. 55 Impact .......................................................................................................................................................... 55 Effectiveness ................................................................................................................................................ 55 Appropriateness ........................................................................................................................................... 56 Efficiency ...................................................................................................................................................... 56 FUTURE ............................................................................................................................................................. 57 RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 58 Tables Table 1: Evaluation questions .............................................................................................................. 13 Table 2: Summary of project monitoring methods .............................................................................. 14 Table 3: Sources of spatial and point source biophysical data for the Pilbara .................................... 20 Table 4: Existing Vegetation Monitoring Programs within the Pilbara Bioregion ............................... 21 Table 5: Summary of major threats, based on ratings developed during