Summary

Box Gum woodland protection, restoration and enhancing connectivity on public and private land.

Project period

2015-16

Project status

Acquitted

Grant funding (ex GST)

Project funding (ex GST)

	Grant	Cash	In-kind	Total
2015-16	$38,553	$16,001	$3,039	$57,599

* excludes GST

Program links

This project contributes to the following MCG programs

• Ecological connectivity

Location

Project description

Molonglo Catchment Group has received funding from the NSW Environmental Trust under the Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation program to conduct woodland conservation and restoration in Jerrabomberra and Environa NSW. 

The Stringybark to Environa Landscape Link for Small Bush Birds Project is part of a strategy to re-establish ecological connectivity between the Molonglo to Murrumbidgee rivers, an area where the native vegetation is otherwise highly fragmented. The target area is identified as containing the least amount of native vegetation cover between Jerrabomberra and Tralee Hills in NSW.

The project protected and restored a significant 19 hectare patch of remnant woodland on private land by excluding livestock and conducting weed control within the woodland patch. Another significant 12 hectare area on Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council reserve land was revegetated to improve linkages between woodland patches. The project increased and improved habitat for small bush birds. 

The project successfully brought together landholders, Conservation Volunteers Australia's Green Army team, Queanbeyan Landcare Group, members of the community and Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council (QPRC). This project has had the flow on effect of igniting interest in the community and led to the expansion of the work (for example, the current large scale woodland revegetation project funded by the 20 million trees program) and seen the engagement of neighbouring properties who wish to do undertake similar conservation activities. The project has also resulted in new Landcare members and a strengthened relationship with Council.

Landcare outputs

Molonglo Catchment Group acknowledges the funding assistance provided through the Australian Government's National Landcare Programme Regional Investment Strategy, various ACT Government environment and heritage programs, and various NSW Government programs.

	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	TOTAL
Revegetation
• Plants		1100
• Hectares		12
Weed management
• Hectares		19
Conservation grazing
• Hectares protected		19
Fencing
• Kilometres		1.9

Endangered species

Name of endangered species and ecological communities

The project expanded and restored box gum grassy woodlands (NSW and Commonwealth critically endangered).  

Multiple threatened woodland birds occur at the site and will benefit from the project. These species are dependent on high quality woodland habitat containing native trees, shrubs, ground cover and fallen timber. The species include 

Scarlet robin (Petroica boodang) - NSW Vulnerable

Hooded robin (Melanodryas cucullata cucullata) - NSW Vulnerable

Diamond firetail (Stagonopleura guttata) - NSW Vulnerable

Gang-gang cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum) - NSW Vulnerable

Glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) - NSW Vulnerable

Pink tailed worm lizard (Aprasia parapulchella - NSW and Commonwealth Vulnerable) occurs in proximity to areas targeted by this project and will benefit from improved habitat condition in the general area.

Add a picture or video if possible.

Project status and outcomes monitoring

The project has been completed however further work to expand on the project's outcomes continues.

The project resulted in the protection and enhancement of 19 hectares of remnant woodland and the revegetation of 12 hectares of land directly adjoining woodlands. Photopoint monitoring has shown initial success in re-establishing native vegetation with revegetation plantings (high survival and growth of plants).

The project has improved ecological connectivity of woodlands and small bird habitat in the Jerrabomberra Environa area. 

After planting, August 2016. 

Two years after planting, June 2018. Good growth of plantings can be seen and planting completed in 2018 to expand on the Stringybark to Environa project can be seen in the middle left.