Improving Condition and Connectivity of Native Vegetation in Duck Creek buffering the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area: O’Reilly’s

(not documented)

National Park Pty Ltd

Australian Government (National Landcare Program 2013-18)

(not documented)

On-ground work

(none)

Australian Government (National Landcare Program 2013-18)

(not documented)

(not documented)

3 December 2013

20 June 2014

The Gondwana World Heritage Area (WHA) forms part of the Great Eastern Ranges (GER) and borders the SEQ region to the south and south-west. The lack of connectivity to lowland habitats compromises the resilience of the WHA, particularly in the face of predicted climate change impacts, and reduces ecosystem functionality. The WHA and adjacent areas also provide habitat for a number of EPBC listed species and communities.

With funding from the Australian Government, SEQ Catchments is working with community groups and private and public landholders and community groups to take on-ground action to restore and enhance native vegetation, improve wildlife habitats, increase connectivity and resilience, and restore ecosystem function.

This project contributes to the above overall program goals through supporting the landholder to undertake more ecological sustainable land management by reducing threats caused by weeds. The property adjoins the WHA and draft habitat mapping indicates several EPBC listed species may inhabit the property, which contains remnant vegetation comprising several ‘of concern’ Regional Ecosystems (RE), e.g. RE 12.8.16 (narrow-leaved ironbark and forest red gum woodland) and RE 12.8.4 (hoop pine rainforest).

This project will improve connectivity and enhance the condition of native vegetation through the following activities: strategic weed control, primarily targeting lantana to encourage natural regeneration and improve habitat values over 10ha terrestrial vegetation.

The landholder is committed to monitoring and the maintenance of project outcomes including:

• establishing four standard photo-points and taking ‘before and after’ photographs to monitor changes in habitat condition and natural regeneration over time
• ongoing selective weed control and sustainable management practices to maintain ecological values of the native vegetation communities.

This project will:

• improve biodiversity in the Gondwana World Heritage Area by improving the condition of native habitat on adjacent land through weed control
• carry out 10ha weed control (lantana).

(not documented)

SEQC2103