The Lockyer Watershed Management Association (LWMA) Inc. - Lockyer Landcare Group and The University of Queensland present: Biodiversity Conservation “From Vision to Reality” Proceedings of the 2000 South-East Queensland Biodiversity Recovery Conference The University of Queensland Gatton Campus 21-26 October 2000 Edited by Bruce Boyes, Conference Convenor Published by the Lockyer Watershed Management Association (LWMA) Inc. - Lockyer Landcare Group, PO Box 61, Forest Hill, Q, 4342. © Bruce Boyes (editor) 2001. © (authored contributions): Adrian Caneris, Mike Gregory, Dr. Luke Leung, Dr. Grant Wardell-Johnson, Dr. David Pullar, Robin Thwaites, Greg Siepen, Graeme Burkett, Rick Galbraith, Professor Hugh Possingham, Ann Peterson, Bruce Boyes, Keryn Hyslop, Wendy Drury, Arnold Rieck, Ian Smith, Brenda & David Parsons, Steve Fox, David Rounsevell, Peter Sparshott, Alison Goodland, Bruce Lord, Stacey McLean, Dr. Coral Rowston, Penny Watson, Russell Turkington, Andrew Davidson, Craig Middleton, Henk Hagedoorn, Alan Brimblecombe, Dr. Julia Playford. Publication data Boyes B.R. (ed) (2001). Biodiversity Conservation “From Vision to Reality”. Proceedings of the 2000 South- East Queensland Biodiversity Recovery Conference. Lockyer Watershed Management Association (LWMA) Inc. - Lockyer Landcare Group, Forest Hill. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from Bruce Boyes, PO Box 35, Crows Nest, Q, 4355, or, in the case of authored contributions, from the stated author or authors. Disclaimer The Lockyer Watershed Management Association (LWMA) Inc. - Lockyer Landcare Group, The University of Queensland and Bruce Boyes disclaim all liability for any error, loss or consequence which may arise from the use of this publication. Statements made in this publication do not necessarily reflect the policies of the Lockyer Watershed Management Association (LWMA) Inc. - Lockyer Landcare Group, The University of Queensland or any other organisation, group, association, government agency, or individual. Cover picture Splendid boronia (Boronia splendida) with satin blue butterflies (Nesolycaena albosericea), original artwork by Ian Smith. Small populations of the rare and recently described ‘splendid boronia’ have been found in parts of the southern Lockyer Catchment. Now the search is on to try and locate the beautiful satin blue butterfly, a threatened species that is dependent on boronias. The Turkington family, landholders at Greenmount in the southern Lockyer, have recently fenced off an important threatened species habitat area that includes populations of ‘splendid boronia’ - see Russell Turkington’s paper Achieving Land for Conservation: The Effect on Landholders in these proceedings. The artist Ian Smith has had a varied career as RAAF Hercules pilot, tractor salesman and dentist, becoming an environmental professional after completing Masters Degrees in Botany and Environmental Management at the University of New England and Griffith University. This followed a long interest in conservation in which, among other activities, Ian was a founding member of the Boondall Wetlands Management Committee. He is currently researching the ecology of Bunya Pine between appointments as a Principal Biodiversity Planner at the Environmental Protection Agency and Coordinator of the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve (see Ian’s paper Juggling-balancing Tourism and Biodiversity in a Small, Valuable Reserve - Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve in these proceedings). His botanic art provides the relaxation to stop him going completely crazy. Ian completed Introductory and Advanced courses in Botanic Art with internationally known Brisbane artist Margaret Saul. He has exhibited at joint botanical art exhibitions at the Queensland Herbarium, Mt. Coot-tha Botanic Gardens in 1998 and 1999; the Burpengary Creek Environment Centre in 1999; and Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve in 2000-2001. He is also the illustrator and joint author of Common Birds of Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. Although using a traditional botanic art style, as an ecologist Ian likes to incorporate the birds and insects that depend upon the plants. He works in watercolour, gouache and pencil. Contents Introduction............................................................................1 Taking Biodiversity Conservation “From Vision to Reality” Bruce Boyes, Conference Convenor................................................................................. 3 Setting the Scene.....................................................................7 Keynote Presentation South-East Queensland Biodiversity: “Now we see it. Our Children won’t...” Adrian Caneris, President, Wildlife Preservation Society Queensland........................... 9 Keynote Presentation Biodiversity in Queensland: Emerging Issues and Community Involvement Mike Gregory, Queensland Coordinator, Threatened Species Network ....................... 12 Science and Research - Foundations for the Right Outcomes .................................21 Keynote Presentation Wildlife Conservation in the Lockyer Catchment Dr. Luke Leung, School of Animal Studies, The University of Queensland................... 23 Ecological Survey, GIS, and Decision Support Systems to Identify Sources of Unsustainability: The Helidon Hills Proposal Dr. Grant Wardell-Johnson, Dr. David Pullar and Robin Thwaites, The University of Queensland........................................................................................ 25 Creating Effective Partnerships..........................................31 Keynote Presentation Community and Science: Partners for Success Greg L. Siepen, School of Natural & Rural Systems Management, The University of Queensland........................................................................................ 33 The Human Factor in Biodiversity Conservation Graeme Burkett, landholder........................................................................................... 38 What Do You Do When You Can’t Give $72,000 Away? Rick Galbraith, Sustainable Management of the Helidon Hills Project........................ 40 Regional Biodiversity Planning...........................................45 Keynote Presentation Regional Biodiversity Management Planning: Four Fundamental Principles Professor Hugh P. Possingham, Centre for Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland........................................................................................ 47 South East Queensland’s Regional Nature Conservation Strategy: Working Together to Conserve Biodiversity Ann Peterson, Queensland Environmental Protection Agency...................................... 53 New Multi-species, Local and Regional Approaches to Recovery Planning......................................59 Keynote Presentation Multi-species Local Recovery Planning: Benefits and Impediments Bruce Boyes, Lockyer Catchment Biodiversity Recovery Project.................................. 61 World Wide Fund For Nature South-East Queensland Rainforest Recovery Keryn Hyslop, World Wide Fund For Nature ................................................................ 68 Addressing Reptile Biodiversity Decline in the Southern Brigalow Belt Using a Multi-species, Bioregional Approach to Recovery Planning Wendy Drury, World Wide Fund For Nature ................................................................ 70 Community Biodiversity Conservation - Challenges, Success Stories and Good Ideas......................77 Establishment of the Rosewood Scrub Arboretum Arnold Rieck, Society for Growing Australian Plants (Ipswich Branch) ...................... 79 Juggling-balancing Tourism and Biodiversity in a Small, Valuable Reserve - Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Ian Smith, Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve.................................................................. 81 Re-discovering Plants Used by Aboriginal People Brenda & David Parsons, landholders.......................................................................... 85 Lockyer Roadside Conservation Project Steve Fox, Lockyer Catchment Centre ........................................................................... 91 Woodland Birds of Queensland Project David Rounsevell & Peter Sparshott, Birds Australia................................................... 92 Conservation of Darling Downs Remnant Native Grasslands Alison Goodland, World Wide Fund For Nature........................................................... 95 Greenhide Rainforest Remnant Bruce Lord, Brisbane Valley - Kilcoy Landcare Group ................................................ 97 Tools for Securing Successful Outcomes............................99 Conserving Threatened Species and Ecosystems: A Local Government Approach Stacey McLean, Brisbane City Council........................................................................ 101 Biodiversity Monitoring: The Why’s and How’s Dr. Coral Rowston, Bushland Management & Consulting Services ........................... 107 The South-East Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Project Penny Watson, Logan City Council ............................................................................. 113 Achieving Land for Conservation: The Effect on Landholders Russell Turkington, landholder.................................................................................... 118 Be Part of the Sequence - Consort With the Consortium: A Community-based Funding Initiative Andrew Davidson, Lockyer Catchment Centre ...........................................................