Saving our Species Bush Heritage Australia’s new scientific endeavour in the fight against Australia’s extinction crisis Since 1991, Bush Heritage Australia has applied a proven, practical approach to conserving Australia’s environment and unique plants and animals. Protecting Australia’s natural environment Bush Heritage Australia is a national, not-for-profit conservation organisation Cover: Maree rock wallaby. Photo by Steve committed to halting the decline of Australian biodiversity – the native plants, Parish animals and places that give our country its unique character and heritage. Left: Naree Station, NSW. Photo by Katrina The plight of many of Australia’s native plants and An integral part of our science program is working Blake animals has progressed to the point where they are now with our partners to build skills and conservation Above: Pebble Mound fighting for survival. One in five of Australia’s surviving capacity, through planning, ecological survey and Mouse, Yourka Reserve mammals and 12% of Australia’s birds are now research. This is a two-way process, with knowledge Qld. Photo by Annette threatened with extinction. There remains an estimated exchange and learning moving in both directions. Ruzicka shortfall of 70 million hectares of habitat across Together, we protect biodiversity on a much larger Australia (WWF, 2013) to secure a comprehensive, scale – creating healthier, more resilient ecosystems adequate and representative national reserve system. that benefit people as well as our native species. This alone will not be enough. We also require more effective management in need of protection of the extensive and pervasive threats impacting the viability We use science-based, conservation of native animals, plants and ecosystems. management strategies to: Since 1991, Bush Heritage Australia has applied a • support hundreds of species of birds, proven, practical approach to conserving Australia’s reptiles, fish, amphibians and mammals, environment and unique biodiversity. We carefully thousands of plants, and innumerable select, purchase and manage land of outstanding invertebrates, fungi and bacteria; conservation value in private nature reserves and • protect dozens of threatened ecosystems partner with others to improve conservation and more than 200 species listed as rare outcomes on their land. Together with our partners, or threatened under State or we are responsible for conservation management Commonwealth law; and across nearly 5 million hectares of land and sea. • improve the condition and resilience of Science is vital to our conservation management. Our landscapes by reducing threats such as ecologists work hand-in-hand with land managers to weeds, feral animals and soil erosion, plan and deliver effective conservation management managing fire and other natural for Australia’s species. We use science to inform, disturbance regimes, and reconnecting monitor and adapt our conservation strategies and and restoring habitat. actions, as well as to advance solutions to key conservation problems. 1 Above: Rainbow bee What does Bush Heritage Australia eater. Photo by Glen contribute? Norris The situation for our plants and animals: Top rght: Misty morning Over 100 rare and threatened animal species and more on Yourka Reserve, Australia is one of the world’s 17 than 90 threatened plant species are protected on Bush QLD. Photo by Annette mega-diverse countries with an Heritage Australia reserves and partnership properties. Ruzicka estimated seven per cent of the Right: Measuring a Over 5 million hectares under conservation Planigale at Boolcoomatta world’s species management. Reserve, SA. Photo by Annette Ruzicka The world has lost 50 per cent of its Bush Heritage reserves and partnership Bottom right: Measuring wild animals in the last 40 years properties protect: a leopardwood tree) at Naree Station, NSW. One in five of Australia’s surviving Photo by Craig Allen mammals are now threatened with 20% extinction of all Australian plant species Growth in area managed for conservation 34% Area Total reserve area Total reserve and partnerships area of Australia’s extant (hectares) Land purchases Partnership agreements land mammals 5 000 000 4 000 000 55% of Australia’s bird species 3 000 000 2 000 000 23% of Australia’s reptile species 1 000 000 30% 00 01 04 05 06 07 08 09 03 02 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 91 10 11 12 13 14 15 of all Australia’s 999 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 1 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 Calendar years amphibian species. 2 Bush Heritage Australia Science Program Our Vision Bush Heritage collaborates with leading researchers in applied ecological research and the community to advance the field of biological conservation and find solutions to natural resource management problems. Our Approach Bush Heritage uses science to: (i) inform decision making using existing knowledge; (ii) generate new knowledge through research and modelling; and (iii) design biological surveys and ecological monitoring. This Science Plan is our blueprint to increase capacity and collaboration across all three areas of our science program. Informing investment decisions Science informs our conservation strategies and management actions. By collating and analysing existing information and models, we will identify the sites, species, ecosystems and landscapes most in need of protection and conservation actions. Our on- ground management activities (such as fire management, feral animal and weed control) will continue to be informed by scientific knowledge, experience and evidence. 3 Above: Dr Jim Radford Research at Boolcoomatta Reserve, SA. Photo by Research across a range of ecological and The Bush Heritage Science Peter Morris. environmental management disciplines is required Plan includes: Below: Biological survey to find solutions to conservation problems and at Naree Station, NSW. increase our foundational knowledge of landscapes, 55 active conservation research Photo by Katrina Blake ecosystems and species. This plan includes strategies projects. and actions to double Bush Heritage’s research capacity through partnership and collaboration Involves 50 scientists. with scientists and students from a wide range of From 15 universities. universities and other organisations. Actions to double our science Survey and monitoring capacity by 2025 through We will continue to use scientific principles to design collaborative research, science and implement our biological survey, ecological fellowships and citizen science. monitoring and mapping programs. Baseline knowledge of the species and communities present on our Support for young scientists with properties is essential if we are to manage them new post-graduate scholarships, effectively. Monitoring is critical to the evaluation and internships and placements. review of our conservation management actions. As our property portfolio grows, we will increasingly look to Growth to support 120 collaborative citizen scientists and collaborative programs (e.g. Bush research projects by 2025 aimed Blitz) to collect data and generate new knowledge. at halting biodiversity loss. Communication and knowledge exchange is the final step in the process. Our findings will be shared with our partners, supporters, the scientific community and the general public. 4 Flagship research themes Bush Heritage will collaborate with national leaders in ecology and environmental management to increase our science capacity and address knowledge gaps. We are committed to supporting students and young scientists through scholarships and incentives. Traditional knowledge and “two-way learning” will become an increasingly important part of our science program in our work with Aboriginal partners across the country. This ten-year Science Plan aims to build sustainable research partnerships in each state and territory and double the number of collaborative research projects we undertake by 2025. Our research will be focused on six flagship research themes, each pivotal to our work, and which address key biodiversity conservation issues in Australia. Above: Dragon at Chingarrup partnership, WA. Photo by Annette Ruzicka Right: Horace Rocky, edler of the Umpila people and Bush Heritage Chief Executive Gerard O’Neill on Cape York, Umpila partnership, Qld. Photo by Emma Ignjic Bottom right: team of Umpila rangers, Bush Heriatge staff and scientists at the Umpila rocky lake survey, Cape York. Photo: Emma Ignjic 5 Bush Heritage Australia’s reserve and partnership Darwin Warddeken network and Priority Cape York Arnhem Land Balkanu Landscapes Wunambal Gaambera Kimberley Fan Palm Waanyi Garawa Bunuba Gulf Plains Yourka Research theme 1: Einasleigh Uplands Landscape connectivity Mitchell Grass Downs Mulligan Edgbaston Cravens Peak Ethabuka Goonderoo Reedy Creek Birriliburu Carnarvon Brigalow Brisbane Hamelin Station Bulloo Eurardy Currumbin Mid-west WA Rangelands SA Arid Rangelands Naree Valley Gunduwa Lesueur-Eneabba Arid Recovery Paroo Warrego Charles Darwin Planting native vegetation to reconnect the Fitz Bon Bon Northern Woodlands Sterling. Photo by Jessica Wyld Photography Monjebup, South Endeavour Perth Monjebup North & Monjebup Creek Boolcoomatta Mawonga Station Gondwana Link Canberra Kojonup Sydney Research theme 2: Yarrabee Beringa Scottsdale Chingarrup ‘Nameless’ Sylvan Threatened species Adelaide Tarcutta Hills Chereninup Creek Nardoo Hills Burrin Burrin Brogo John Riverina Goldfields Kosciuszko 2 Coast Colahan Griffin Melbourne Research theme 3: Habitat refugia Liffey South Esk Pine Valley