4 the lowland native grassland conservation …...table 4.1: (continued) fragmentation and...

ACT LOWLAND NATIVE GRASSLAND CONSERVATION STRATEGY

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4.1

IntroductionThe Lowland Native Grassland Conservation Strategyis intended to fulfill a number of roles. These are:

� action plans for species and ecologicalcommunities listed as threatened under the NatureConservation Act 1980;

� a multi-species/ecological community strategy fornative grassland conservation;

� a source document on native grassland for ACTand Commonwealth Government agencies withresponsibilities for nature conservation, planningand land management; and

� a source document for community and otherstakeholders with an interest in native grasslandconservation.

As an Action Plan prepared under the NatureConservation Act 1980, the Strategy addresses therequirement in section 23 of the Act, that it ‘shallinclude proposals to ensure, as far as is practicable,the identification, protection and survival of the species,or the ecological community; or proposals to minimisethe effect of any process which threatens any speciesor ecological community’.

The Strategy provides information, strategic directionand performance criteria for a variety of governmentplanning exercises, including:

� Proposals in The Canberra Plan (ACT Government2004c) (Theme ‘Living with the Environment—OurBush Capital), which state that areas of highconservation value will be enhanced and protected.

� Proposals in The Canberra Spatial Plan (ACTGovernment 2004b). An objective of the SpatialPlan (p. 72) is to:

Protect and enhance biodiversity through nature reserves and maintaining connectivitybetween them.

In particular the Spatial Plan notes that

development in the new employment corridor in

Majura, Symonston and Jerrabomberra, including

around the airport, will take into account the

areas of native grassland and habitat for

threatened species that are of significant nature

conservation value.

� Proposals in The Social Plan (ACT Government

2004d): (Priority 7 Respect and protect theenvironment) ‘7.4 Ecological protection and urban

development: The Government will help protect our

threatened species and ecological communities as

part of best practice planning for urban

development’; and

‘7.5 Conservation strategies: The Government will

continue to ensure that key biodiversity assets are

identified, protected and managed through

preparation of conservation strategies for lowland

woodlands (2003), native grasslands (2004) and

aquatic and riverine communities (2005)’.

� Preparation of the Outline Plan for the

Jerrabomberra Valley.

� Preparation of any future land use proposals

including those involving variations to The Territory

Plan and amendments to the National Capital Plan,

the shape and location of urban development and

the use to be made of land surrounding

metropolitan Canberra.

As part of these planning processes, decisions will be

made by the ACT Government as to whether

grasslands will be protected as Public Land (Nature

Reserve), will remain without formal protection in other

tenures under the Territory Plan, but subject to

management requirements, or be modified or

destroyed as pressures for urban expansion are

addressed. This Strategy will be used by all agencies

and others involved in land use planning decisions as

one source of information on the values and

significance of remaining grassland areas. The

4 The Lowland Native GrasslandConservation Strategy


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Strategy also identifies and places in context,

grassland areas on National Land in the ACT which are

managed by Commonwealth agencies. These areas

remain outside of the management arrangements

provided for under the Land (Planning and

Environment) Act 1991 (see s. 1.5.2). Memoranda of

Understanding are in place regarding conservation

planning and management of most of these areas (see

s. 3.4.3 and 3.4.4).

Other natural and cultural values of particular areas ofnative grassland, such as evidence of Aboriginaloccupation, recreational use, aesthetic amenity,educational and special scientific features are normallytaken into consideration during the planning phasebefore specific proposals are developed by governmentagencies. Management of these values is set out inmanagement plans for particular areas or groups ofareas, such as the Canberra Nature Park ManagementPlan (ACT Parks and Conservation Service 1999) (see s.1.7).

Presenting information on these values is beyond thescope of the Strategy. It is recognised that other valuesplaced on native grassland areas by interested expertbodies, community groups and individuals may beimportant in their own right and complement the natureconservation values, thus adding to the overallsignificance of particular areas of grassland. The ACTGovernment takes these values into account through avariety of mechanisms, including environment impactassessment, and public consultation on proposals toamend the Territory Plan, Action Plans such as thisStrategy, and Management Plans for Public Landprepared under the Land (Planning and Environment)Act 1991.

4.2

Vision, Goals, Objectives andActions for the Lowland NativeGrassland Conservation StrategyAs outlined in chapters 2 and 3, detailed surveys,research work and annual monitoring over a ten-yearperiod have enabled the development of a goodunderstanding of the location, extent, floristics andconservation significance of the ACT’s nativegrasslands and their regional context in the SouthernTablelands. Based on this information, a visionstatement, conservation goals and objectives, actionsnecessary to achieve the objectives, and performancecriteria were prepared in draft form for consideration ata public forum in March 2004 (s. 1.6). These havebeen refined, based on comment received at the forumand on the draft Strategy (Table 4.1). The statements inTable 4.1 are grouped into: Information, Protection,Threats, Planning, Management and Community/Landholder Involvement and are set out in a formatsimilar to that adopted by some Australian jurisdictionsfor recovery plans for threatened species. Actionsrelated to particular threatened or uncommon plant andanimal species are included at the end of Table 4.1.

Performance Criteria have been developed as an aid to future reviews of progress in implementing theStrategy. Achievement of targets depends on a numberof factors including budget funding by the ACTGovernment, commitment by landholders, theinvolvement of community groups and other factorsbeyond the control of Environment ACT, which will take a leading role in coordinating the implementationof the Strategy.

Table 4.1: Vision, Goals, Objectives, Actions and Performance Criteria for the ACT LowlandNative Grassland Conservation Strategy

VISION

The Australian Capital Territory makes an outstanding contribution, regionally and nationally, to conservation of natural temperategrassland and grassland flora and fauna.

PROTECTION GOALSGoal (Grassland)

Conserve in perpetuity all remaining core conservation sites and other viable areas of the natural temperate grassland ecologicalcommunity in the ACT.

Goal (Fauna and Flora)

Conserve in perpetuity, viable, wild populations of all native grassland flora and fauna species in the ACT, and support local,regional and national efforts towards conservation of these species.

MANAGEMENT GOAL

Manage and rehabilitate natural temperate grassland and related habitat with appropriate regeneration, restoration, andreinstatement practices across all land.

(Continued)

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Natural Temperate Grasslands

Before European settlement, the temperate grasslands of theACT and region, and their associated flora and fauna, werepart of an extensive band of grasslands in south-easternAustralia. Occurring across broad plains and in low elevationareas subject to cold air drainage, they formed a mosaic withlowland woodland and riparian and wetland communities.These grasslands and associated grassy woodlands were thenatural resource base for the development of the Australianpastoral industry from the early 1800s. Their accessibility andproductivity resulted in their almost complete transformationby the new pastoral economy. In the ACT, the development ofCanberra in the valleys and on the plains during the 20th

century destroyed most of the grassland that remained.

Natural temperate grassland is one of Australia’s mostthreatened ecosystems. In south-eastern Australia, 99.5% ofthe estimated pre-European natural temperate grassland hasbeen destroyed or grossly altered. Some form of degradingdisturbance threatens all grassland remnants, even those inpermanent reserves. Loss of grassland habitat and the

Table 4.1: (Continued)

fragmentation and degradation of the remaining areas hashad a severe impact on plants and animals that are dependenton grasslands. Characteristic species of grasslands such asthe Grassland Earless Dragon and the Striped Legless Lizardnow survive only in small and disconnected populations. Theonce extensive ‘wildflower’ displays provided by species ofinter-tussock forbs are restricted to remnants of relativelyundisturbed grassland.

The ACT Lowland Native Grassland Conservation Strategybuilds on more than ten years of survey, monitoring,research, conservation planning and management in relation to lowland native grasslands in the ACT and region. From a slim knowledge base in 1990, a goodunderstanding has been developed of the remaininggrasslands in the ACT and some of their component species. Some grasslands have been placed in reserves and there are good prospects for conserving other areas. The Strategy provides the strategic context for the ongoingprotection, management and restoration of this uniqueAustralian ecosystem.

NOTE: (i) See end of table for abbreviations and footnotes

(ii) Bracketed items at end of each Action indicate primary responsibility for, or significant participation in the Action

1. Information

Objective Actions Performance Criteria

(a) The location, type and ecologicalcondition of all natural temperategrassland and habitat forthreatened species in the ACT are described and the informationkept current.

(b) A comprehensive database ofnatural temperate grassland andcomponent species in the ACT ismaintained.

(c) ACT data is included in national,state and community databases.

(d) Ecological information is used tounderpin adaptive management.

(a) Undertake monitoring to maintainup to date information on theecological condition of allremaining natural temperategrassland in the ACT (EACT).

(b) Maintain the ACT database forvegetation and grassland species tosupport planning, management andresearch (EACT).

(c) Assess priorities and address gapsin information on native grasslandand grassland species.

(d) Link data collection to national,state (especially NSW) andcommunity databases and toNational Recovery Plans forNatural Temperate Grassland of theSouthern Tablelands, StripedLegless Lizard, Grassland EarlessDragon, Button Wrinklewort,Ginninderra Peppercress (NSW andACT) (EACT, NSW, Cwlth,community).

(e) Assess the implications of researchresults for management.

2005–2007� Location, type and condition assessments

of native grassland remnants completedand are kept up to date.

� Survey and other relevant data entered intoACT vegetation database within 6 monthsof collection.

� Priorities reviewed and data deficienciesaddressed.

� Integrated Nature Conservation Plan*includes up-to-date ecological data onnative grassland and grassland species.

� Data exchange protocols established withother priority database managers andregular exchange takes place.

� Extent to which managementrecommendations arising from researchoutcomes are adopted.

* The Integrated Nature Conservation Plan is thecentral repository for information related tonature conservation in the ACT. Based on aGeographical Information System it shows, forexample, all ACT reserves, distribution ofthreatened species and cological communities,important fauna habitat and locations wheremajor works are planned or being undertaken.

(Continued)

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2. Protection


(a) A comprehensive, adequate andrepresentative (CAR) system ofnatural temperate grassland areas inthe ACT is protected by reservation,or other measures where reservationis not practical or desirable.

(b) All Category 1 native grasslands(Core Conservation Sites) areafforded the highest available level ofprotection, relevant to their tenure.

(c) All Category 2 native grasslands(Complementary Conservation Sites)are afforded appropriate protection,and conservation management isundertaken where compatible usesare permitted on these sites.

(d) Category 3 native grasslands(Landscape and Urban Sites) aremaintained and managed accordingto their values (e.g. as buffers,landscape features and habitat).

(e) Key habitat for threatened grasslandflora and fauna species is protectedincluding where this may involvelower conservation value grasslandareas.

(f) Land development proposalsaffecting natural temperate grasslandand component species are assessedfor their ecological impact and ifproceeded with adverse impacts areminimised to an acceptable level.

(g) The ACT Heritage Places Registerincludes natural temperate grasslandand key habitats for threatenedgrassland species.

(a) Evaluate the extent to whichprotected and other areas managedfor conservation contribute to a CARsystem.

(b) Develop and support appropriateproposals that will protect areasidentified for reservationrepresenting: (i) the geographic andecological extent of naturaltemperate grassland includingrepresentation of all floristicassociations; (ii) key habitat forthreatened, uncommon and declininggrassland species; (iii) importantareas for improving connectivity oracting as buffers for highconservation value grasslands; and(iv) elements that will achieve a CARprotected area system (EACT,community).

(c) Determine the most appropriate formof protection (e.g. through LMAs,MOUs, voluntary agreements) forecologically important off-reserveareas. Include protectionrequirements in agreements andmonitor the effectiveness of theagreements (EACT, ACTPLA, Cwlth).

(d) Ensure land development proposalsare assessed under relevantenvironmental impact and natureconservation legislation.

(e) Work with the ACT Heritage Councilto identify natural temperategrassland and threatened specieshabitat suitable for nomination to theACT Heritage Places Register.Prepare nominations (EACT,ACTPLA, ACT Heritage Council).

2005–2007� CAR principles are satisfied across the

nature conservation estate.� Area of natural temperate grassland

cleared or significantly modified by landdevelopment proposals.

� Extent to which ecological connectivity ismaintained or enhanced.

� Natural temperate grassland andthreatened species habitat identified asbeing essential for the ACT’s reserve andoff-reserve nature conservation system isappropriately protected.

� Natural temperate grassland andthreatened species habitat that qualify forthe ACT Heritage Places Register arelisted.

� Extent to which protection agreements arein place for important off-reserve naturaltemperate grasslands and theeffectiveness of the agreements inprotecting the values of these grasslands.

(a) Substantially reduce or eliminatethreats to natural temperategrassland through appropriateplanning and management actions.

(b) Reduce the impact and occurrence ingrasslands of weeds of concern.

(a) Identify and monitor threats(including urban expansion,fragmentation, overgrazing, weedinvasion, unplanned fire, otherdamaging disturbance) to naturaltemperate grassland and componentspecies (EACT, ACTPLA, Cwlth,community).

(b) Prepare and implement threatabatement responses (EACT,ACTPLA, Cwlth, community).

(c) Monitor effect of threat abatementmeasures (EACT, ACTPLA, Cwlth,community).

(d) Prepare and implement controlprograms for weeds of concern (alllandholders)

2005–2007� Actions to address priority threats to

natural temperate grassland are in placeand being implemented.

� Area of grassland occupied by weeds ofconcern is reduced.

2008–2010� Priority threats to natural temperate

grassland and component species aresubstantially reduced or decreasing.

3. Threats



(Continued)

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(a) The Lowland Native GrasslandConservation Strategy and up-to-date ecological information is themajor basis for assessing planningdecisions impacting on conservationof native grassland and componentspecies.

(b) Government and non-governmentorganisations recognise thebiodiversity conservation values ofnatural temperate grassland andcomponent species and incorporatetheir conservation requirements inplanning, development and landmanagement activities.

(c) Native grassland remnants areassessed for their potential tocontribute to the ACT’s protectedarea system, conserving threatenedspecies and maintaining ecologicalconnectivity across the ACT.

(d) Natural temperate grasslandconservation contributes to targetsestablished in the MurrumbidgeeCatchment Blueprint throughmeeting targets in the ACT NaturalResource Management Plan (ACTNRM Board 2003).

(e) Co-ordinated arrangements for theprotection of native grassland areestablished across the region.

(a) Consult with all government andnon-government parties participatingin ACT and regional planningprocesses to ensure that informationon the conservation significance ofnatural temperate grassland andcomponent species is incorporated:(i) into strategic planning for the ACTand region; (ii) at an early stage intoplanning for urban and otherdevelopment in the ACT; and (iii) intodevelopment control andmanagement plans (EACT, ACTPLA,NSW, Cwlth, community).

(b) Proposals assessed under the Land(Planning and Environment) Act1991 include appropriate informationon natural temperate grassland andtheir component species.

(c) Work with other agencies(development and infrastructure) andlandholders (especially rural lesseesand Commonwealth agencies) to: (i)prevent or minimise furtherfragmentation; (ii) maximiseconnectivity of natural temperategrassland; and (iii) encourageactivities aimed at improving viabilityof natural temperate grasslandremnants (EACT, Cwlth, landholders,community).

(d) Work with NSW agencies to develop, implement and promotemeasures for protection of nativegrassland communities in the region(EACT, NSW).

2005–2007� All ACT planning and urban development

decisions involving natural temperategrassland and habitat for componentspecies are based on the Lowland NativeGrassland Conservation Strategy and up todate ecological information.

� Extent to which protection of naturaltemperate grassland communitiescontribute to regional targets forprotection and connectivity.

� Planning and development proposals inNSW affecting natural temperate grasslandand grassland species have regard to ACTinformation and the regional context.

2008–2010� The majority of ACT native grasslands

under a range of tenures are part of aregional Conservation ManagementNetwork (CMN).

4. Planning


(a) ‘Best practice’ management isapplied to natural temperategrassland in the ACT across all landtenures with particular attention tograssland habitat of threatened,uncommon and declining species.

(b) The ecological condition and habitatquality of the remaining naturaltemperate grassland communities inthe ACT is maintained or improved.

(c) Rural and other private landownersmanage natural temperate grasslandand habitat for threatened species ina way that preserves its naturalvalues.

(a) Have in place management plans(Public Land) or similararrangements (for other tenures) thatreflect commitment to active andeffective conservation of naturaltemperate grassland remnants.

(b) Continue to develop and promote‘best practice’ management ofnatural temperate grassland and itscomponent species (with particularattention to declining and threatenedspecies in the ACT) by:(i) Promoting research into

conservation management ofnatural temperate grasslandincluding the functional role anddynamics of the grassland andkey component species andresearch focused on bestmanagement practice (EACT);

2005–2007� Area of natural temperate grassland with

management plans or similararrangements for ‘active’ conservationmanagement.

� ‘Best practice’ guidelines for naturaltemperate grassland restoration areprepared and regularly updated to takeinto account restoration experience andrelevant research.

� Effectiveness of management actions inprotecting the conservation values of thegrassland areas.

� A register of suitable sites supportsregeneration/restoration* activities andguides priority setting.

5. Management


(Continued)

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* Regeneration means the natural recoveryof natural integrity following disturbanceor degradation.

Restoration means returning existinghabitats to a known past state or to anapproximation of the natural condition byrepairing degradation, by removingintroduced species or by reinstatement.

Reinstatement means to introduce to aplace one or more species or elements ofhabitat or geodiversity that are known tohave existed there naturally at a previoustime, but that can no longer be found atthat place (Australian HeritageCommission 2002).

(ii) Identifying and prioritisingactivities and sites forregeneration and restoration* ofnatural temperate grassland(EACT);

(iii) Developing and applying an‘adaptive management’ approachlinking research and monitoringto management (EACT);

(iv) Monitoring the effectiveness ofmanagement actions applied aspart of ‘best practice’;

(v) Providing up to date ‘bestpractice’ management guidelinesfor managers of all land tenuresand community groups to applywhen undertaking naturaltemperate grasslandrestoration* activities (EACT,Cwlth, landholders, community);

(vi) Taking into account the knownconservation requirements ofcomponent flora and faunaspecies (in particular, decliningand threatened species) inmanagement of naturaltemperate grassland (EACT,Cwlth, landholders, community).

(c) Liaise with Commonwealth agenciesresponsible for managing NationalLand containing natural temperategrassland and habitat for threatenedspecies, and keep the MOUs withthose agencies under review (EACT, Cwlth).

� Area of natural temperate grasslandsubject to restoration/regenerationmanagement.

� Extent and nature of liaison withCommonwealth agencies, andeffectiveness of MOUs in protectingnatural temperate grassland andassociated species on National Land.

2008–2010� Research and monitoring are continuing

and the results used to inform managersof measures to improve ecologicalcondition and habitat qualities.

(a) Landholders, community groups andothers are actively involved in nativegrassland conservation.

(b) Native grassland sites, theirmanagers and the community arelinked together in a ConservationManagement Network.

(a) Encourage the involvement oflandholders, community groups andothers in the protection andmanagement of native grasslands(EACT).

(b) Facilitate information and skillsexchange between stakeholdersaimed at achieving best practicemanagement of native grasslands(EACT, NSW, Cwlth, landholders,community).

(c) Encourage the formation of an ACTand NSW regional ConservationManagement Network (CMN) fornatural temperate grassland, buildingupon the existing NSW CMNs (EACT,NSW, landholders, community).

2005–2007� A Conservation Management Network

(CMN) of sites with links to NSW CMNs isestablished.

� Number and type of opportunities formanagers of natural temperate grasslandsites to exchange information about ‘bestpractice’ management.

� Availability and take-up of agreements andincentives to conserve natural temperategrassland and undertake ‘best practice’management.

� Number and type of opportunities forcommunity groups to participate ingrassland conservation and restorationactivities.

6. Community/landholder involvement


5. Management (continued)


(Continued)

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INFORMATION (Survey, Monitoring, Research)� Maintain alertness to the possible presence of threatened or uncommon grassland

species when undertaking surveys in appropriate habitat (EACT).� Maintain a database of known occurrences and abundance of threatened and

uncommon grassland species to enable analysis of changes in distribution andabundance (EACT).

� Maintain a watching brief on ACT populations of threatened and uncommongrassland species and evaluate their conservation status in a regional context(EACT).

� Review research by the CSIRO directed towards understanding how geneticvariations influence the viability of small populations, for its potential to be appliedto the conservation management of threatened and uncommon species in the ACT (EACT).

PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT� Protect threatened and uncommon grassland species through the provisions of the

Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991, The Territory Plan, Memoranda ofUnderstanding and other management agreements (EACT, Commonwealth and otherland managers).

� Seek to ensure known populations of threatened and uncommon grassland speciesare protected from inadvertent damaging actions (e.g. by advising landowners andmanagers of their presence) (EACT, LMA).

� Prepare management guidelines for threatened and uncommon grassland species ifrequired (EACT).

� Manage sites, and provide advice to other landowners and managers, to maintainoptimum habitat (where known) for threatened and uncommon grassland species(EACT).

� Consider nomination for ACT listing if uncommon grassland species show evidenceof local decline in extent and abundance (EACT).

REGIONAL AND NATIONAL COOPERATION� Maintain links with, and participate in, regional and national recovery efforts for

threatened grassland species to ensure that conservation actions are coordinatedwith regional and national programs (EACT).

� Liaise with interstate agencies involved in protection and management of threatenedand uncommon grassland species with the aim of increasing knowledge of theirbiology, and habitat and conservation requirements (EACT).

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND EDUCATION� Encourage the community to assist in the conservation of native grasslands and

their component species, and provide community education materials (EACT).

2005–2007� Grassland flora is a key component of

grassland monitoring programs.� Conservation status of grassland flora is

kept under review.� Environmental impact assessment of

native grassland sites includes threatenedand uncommon species.

� Relevant genetic research is applied to themanagement of threatened anduncommon grassland plants.

� The extent and type of protection forhabitat supporting threatened anduncommon grassland plants.

� Management guidelines have beenprepared for threatened and uncommongrassland plants (as required).

� The extent of community involvement inthe protection and management of threatened and uncommon grasslandplants

7. Threatened or Uncommon Plants (see s. 2.2.2 and Parts 1–6 of this table for more detail)

(Button Wrinklewort, Ginninderra Peppercress and any other threatened or uncommon grassland plant)

Actions Performance Criteria

(d) Investigate opportunities forvoluntary agreements, and incentivesfor land managers to conservenatural temperate grassland andcomponent species (EACT,landholders).

(e) Raise community awareness throughcommunity liaison and publiceducation, with the aim of fosteringprotection of native grasslands.

6. Community/landholder involvement (continued)


(Continued)

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INFORMATION (Survey, Monitoring, Research)� Maintain alertness to the possible presence of threatened or uncommon grassland

species when undertaking surveys in appropriate habitat (EACT).� Maintain a database of known occurrences and abundance of threatened and

uncommon grassland species to assist in detecting changes in distribution andabundance (EACT).

� Maintain a watching brief on ACT populations of threatened and uncommongrassland species and evaluate their conservation status in a regional context(EACT).

� Facilitate and encourage research that will provide information on status ofthreatened and uncommon grassland species and management requirements(EACT).

PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT� Seek to ensure known populations of threatened and uncommon grassland species

are protected from inadvertent damaging actions (e.g. by advising landowners andmanagers of their presence) (EACT, LMA).

� Prepare management guidelines for threatened and uncommon grassland specieswhere necessary (EACT).

� Manage sites, and provide advice to other landowners and managers, to maintainoptimum habitat (where known) for threatened and uncommon grassland species (EACT).

� Consider nomination for ACT listing if uncommon grassland species showevidence of local decline in extent and abundance (EACT).

REGIONAL AND NATIONAL COOPERATION� Maintain links with, and participate in, regional and national recovery efforts for

threatened grassland species to ensure that conservation actions are coordinatedwith regional and national programs (EACT).

� Liaise with interstate agencies involved in protection and management ofthreatened and uncommon grassland species with the aim of increasingknowledge of their biology, and habitat and conservation requirements (EACT).

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND EDUCATION� Encourage the community to assist in the conservation of native grasslands and

their component species, and provide community education materials (EACT).

2005–2007� Grassland fauna are a key component of

grassland monitoring programs.� Conservation status of grassland fauna is

kept under review.� Environmental impact assessment of

native grassland sites includes threatened species.

� Best Practice Guidelines includeinformation relevant to management of grassland animals.

8. Threatened and Uncommon Animals(see s. 2.3.6 and 2.3.7 and Parts 1–6 of this table for more detail)

(Striped Legless Lizard, Grassland Earless Dragon, Golden Sun Moth, Perunga Grasshopper and any other threatened or uncommon grassland animal)

Actions Performance Criteria

ABBREVIATIONS:

EACT Environment ACT

NSW Relevant NSW government agencies primarily the Department of Environment and Conservation

Cwlth Commonwealth agencies responsible for managing National Land in the ACT (Department of Defence,National Capital Authority, CSIRO)

ACTPLA ACT Planning and Land Authority

LMA Land Management Agreement (for rural leases in the ACT)

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

CMN Conservation Management Network



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4.3

Policy Guidelines for LowlandNative Grassland Conservation in the ACT

4.3.1 A Comprehensive, Adequate andRepresentative Reserve System

ACT Government policies for conservation of thediversity of ecological communities in the Territory areset out in documents such as The Territory Plan, TheCanberra Spatial Plan, The ACT Nature ConservationStrategy (ACT Government 1998c), and specifically fornatural temperate grassland, Action Plan No. 1 (ACTGovernment 1997a). Statements in these documentspoint towards a system of protection for the ACT thatplaces its natural environments within a regionalcontext and reflects national priorities. The latter arecontained in several inter-governmental agreements:Australian Guidelines for Establishing the NationalReserve System (Commonwealth of Australia, 1999), a National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’sBiological Diversity (Commonwealth of Australia 1996)and related documentation.

A key objective of this Strategy is the establishment of a comprehensive, adequate and representativesystem of protection of grassland in reserves or byother measures where reservation is not practicable or desirable (Table 4.1). This recognises that in theACT, high conservation value grasslands and areasforming a core of critical habitat occur on National Land and unless the status of the land changes, these areas are unavailable for incorporation into theACT reserve system.

The origin of the comprehensive, adequate andrepresentative (CAR) principles for reservations forbiodiversity conservation was in the Nationally AgreedCriteria for the Establishment of a Comprehensive,Adequate and Representative Reserve System forForests in Australia (JANIS 1997) produced to meet acommitment in the National Forest Policy Statement(NFPS) (Commonwealth of Australia 1992) for theestablishment of a national forest reserve system.While the CAR criteria were initially developed in thecontext of conserving forest ecosystems, the principlesare generic in nature and can be applied generally toestablishment of a CAR reserve system, together withother protection measures, for conservation ofbiodiversity (ACT Government 2004a).

Socio-economic considerations may precludeprotection of all currently unprotected occurrences inthe ACT of natural temperate grassland and grassland

habitat for threatened species. However, advantagecan be taken of some urban planning opportunities andprimary land uses compatible with conservation tomodify land use proposals that would otherwise resultin loss of small areas of grassland. The fragmentednature of much of the remaining unprotected naturaltemperate grassland points to off-reserve conservationmeasures as a supplementary option to pursue. Theguidelines for the National Reserve System program(Commonwealth of Australia 1999) call for decisionmaking processes to integrate long-term and short-term environmental, economic, social and equityconsiderations; and endorse the principle of ‘least cost’,where an optimal reserve configuration can beestablished with the minimum economic and social costto the community.

The following definitions apply to the comprehensive,adequate and representative reserve system principles:

Comprehensiveness—sampling the full range ofcommunities/ecosystems. In the ACT this would includethe full range of the five floristic associations identifiedfor ACT natural temperate grassland (see s. 2.1.4).

� Comprehensiveness should be addressed in abiogeographical context (i.e. using IBRA regions(Thackway and Cresswell, 1995; EnvironmentAustralia 2000)) and at an appropriate scale. Fornatural temperate grassland, the appropriateregional scale is the ‘Southern Tablelands’ asdefined in Environment ACT (2003).

� All remaining occurrences of endangeredecosystems should be reserved or protected byother means as far as is practicable.

An endangered ecosystem is one where itsdistribution has contracted to less that 10% of itsformer range, or the total area has contracted toless than 10% of its former area, or where 90% ofits area is in small patches which are subject tothreatening processes and unlikely to persist.

Flexibility in the application of reserve criteria is neededto ensure that the reserve system delivers optimalnature conservation outcomes as well as acceptablesocial and economic outcomes. Reserve design criteriashould, therefore, be considered as guidelines ratherthan mandatory targets. For example, the effort toachieve reservation of all occurrences of anendangered community may reach a point ofdiminishing return and nature conservation objectivesmay be more efficiently and effectively achievedthrough other strategies. If socio-economic impacts aresuch that trade-offs are required to meet all criteria forreserve design, optimisation of biodiversity protectionshould take precedence.


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Adequacy—the maintenance of ecological viability andintegrity of populations, species and communities. Anadequate protected area system will replicateecologically viable natural temperate grasslandcommunities, species and populations.

� Extent and replication of samples of populations,species and communities in the reserve systemacross their range such that their viability isensured, particularly as a safeguard againstcatastrophic events (e.g. the 2003 ACT bushfires).Two key principles are: (a) the greater the extentreserved, the more likely that the ecologicalfunctioning and species composition of anecosystem will be maintained; (b) ecosystems arerepresented within the protected area network atmore than one site.

Decline in range and area of the community (reservedor otherwise) and fragmentation of the remnants areimportant reasons why natural temperate grasslandand associated species are threatened with extinction.It follows that adequacy is a limiting factor in the ACT’scontribution to a bio-regionally adequate reservesystem. A systematic approach is called for tocompensate, involving reservation where possible andan increased emphasis on off-reserve conservationmeasures such as protection of habitat links, specialprotection measures for occurrences on private landand sympathetic management of adjacent land.

Representativeness—sample areas included in thereserve system or other protected areas shouldreasonably reflect the biological diversity of thecommunities.

� Consider the range of species that comprise thecommunity, especially those that depend onreservation for protection. The objective is tomaximise their viability in a region throughadequate reservation, not reserve every ecosystemin which they have been recorded. Consider therange of floristic and structural mixes that are foundin the community.

In the ACT there is scope for greater representation ofnatural temperate grassland and habitat for threatenedgrassland species in the reserve system, with strongcomplementary measures for off-reserve occurrences.The ACT reserve system should sample naturaltemperate grassland as a component of the regionalecosystem. Representative coverage of regionalecosystems can only be satisfied at a bioregional scale.

In the context of this Strategy, the terms‘comprehensive’, ‘adequate’ and ‘representative’ needto be described in ways relevant to the level and scaleof decision-making by government and other

stakeholders in the ACT. Planning and conservationissues outlined in Chapter 3 have been reviewed andreference made to the scope of explanations for theterms included in the National Reserve Systemguidelines to derive the following elements for anassessment of the ACT’s contribution to a CAR reserve system:

A ‘comprehensive’ protected area system willcontain the full range of natural temperategrassland types in the ACT including:

� natural temperate grassland across the full range ofaltitude, soil types, and aspect;

� all five floristic associations; and

� areas where natural temperate grasslandintergrades with Yellow Box–Red Gum GrassyWoodland.

An ‘adequate’ reserve system will include areas ofnatural temperate grassland that retain viableecological communities and populations of theircomponent species including:

� large areas of natural temperate grasslandpreferably with small perimeter/area ratios;

� replicated samples of each of the natural temperategrassland floristic associations; and

� natural temperate grassland areas that are wellconnected to other native grassland or other nativeecological communities to ensure ecologicalprocesses are maintained to the greatest possible extent.

A ‘representative’ protected area system thatencompasses the diversity of species and habitats including:

� threatened and uncommon grassland plants andanimals;

� the geographic range of species.

These elements have been assessed in terms of thedegree to which they are demonstrated or included inthe five grassland complexes (s. 3.6). Theseassessments, together with a summary of the prioritytasks necessary to achieve an improved CAR reservesystem for the ACT are outlined in Table 4.2.

The extent to which the priority tasks are addressedwill be a measure of the contribution made by the ACTnature reserve system and off-reserve measures inachieving the Vision and Goals identified for thisStrategy. A strong, representative reserve system willbe complemented by off-reserve conservationmeasures. The latter should be aimed at improvingecological connectivity, providing opportunities forrestoration and regeneration of grasslands, and


91

conserving habitat for those species that range widelyacross the landscape either in migratory movements, inresponse to climatic conditions or because homeranges are larger than the protected areas system. Forthis to be successful managers of land that providesconnectivity must first recognise that maintainingand/or enhancing connectivity should be a part of theirmanagement practices.

4.3.2 Other Policy Guidelines forLowland Native GrasslandConservation in the ACT

In addition to guidelines for a comprehensive, adequateand representative protected area system, policyframeworks for the upper Murrumbidgee Rivercatchment as part of the Murray–Darling Basin arerelevant to nature conservation in the ACT region.

Targets of the Integrated Catchment ManagementPolicy for terrestrial biodiversity in the Murray–DarlingBasin are: maintaining key ecological processes;maintaining or re-establishing viable populations ofnative species and the integrity of ecologicalcommunities (especially vegetation); and controllingthreats to biodiversity (MDBC, 2001). The ACT is aparticipant in the Murray–Darling Basin initiative, and isinvolved in a number of programs of relevance to theACT, such as the sustainable rivers audit.

At the sub-regional level, the Murrumbidgee Catchment Blueprint (Murrumbidgee CatchmentManagement Board 2003) has been prepared to satisfylegislative requirements in the NSW CatchmentManagement Act 1989 and in response toarrangements under the National Action Plan forSalinity and Water Quality (COAG 2000). Although theMurrumbidgee Catchment Blueprint is inclusive of theACT at the broader catchment level, the ACT has aseparately identified component that reflects the ACT’sdifferent governmental arrangements, land tenuresystem, and urban focus. ACT aspects are dealt with inthe ACT Natural Resource Management Plan (ACTNRM Board 2003)

The ACT targets, actions and activities have beenprepared through a process of community andgovernment consultation. They provide direction forfuture natural resource management investment and will enable the ACT to assign funding to addressissues of concern to the Territory as well as toparticipate in projects spanning more than onecatchment. However, each jurisdiction needs to dealwith natural resource management within its own policy and planning framework.

For the Murrumbidgee Catchment as a whole, a targetof the Blueprint (p. 32) is to manage for biodiversity

conservation a minimum of 30% of the area of each ofthe remaining native vegetation communities of theMurrumbidgee Catchment by 2012. The proposed ACTcontribution to the catchment target is to manage forbiodiversity conservation a minimum of 30% of the pre-European extent of each vegetation community in theACT (ACT NRM Board 2003, p. 15). The NaturalResource Management Plan notes that this may notalways be feasible, as is the case with naturaltemperate grassland where only about 5% of theestimated original area of 20 000 ha remains in amoderate to good condition (see s. 3.3).

ACT management targets in the ACT Natural ResourceManagement Plan relevant to the natural temperategrassland conservation are:

� by 2006, have in place biodiversity targets thatenable on-going assessment and protection ofbiodiversity values;

� all protected areas of the ACT managed for theconservation of ecosystems and ecologicalprocesses 100% of the time;

� by 2005, all significant remnant vegetation on ruralland in the ACT is managed to maintain andenhance its biodiversity values;

� by 2005, have in place targets for urbanbiodiversity; and

� by 2006 incorporate urban biodiversity targets intointegrated urban ecological function targets.

4.4

The State of Protection ofNatural Temperate Grassland andOther Grassy Habitats in the ACTAs outlined previously (see ss. 2.1.3, 2.1.7, 3.3), mostof the original extent of natural temperate grassland inthe ACT and region has been cleared since Europeansettlement for pastoral and agricultural use and for thedevelopment of Canberra as the National Capital. Inthis context, all remaining areas of the ecologicalcommunity in the ACT warrant serious consideration fortheir conservation potential, either in the case of coreconservation areas (s. 3.5.1) as part of the ACT’snature conservation estate or as a secondary land usein areas where statutory protection is not practicable.

In addition to protection of habitat as nature reserves,opportunities also need to be sought to improve theecological condition of the more degraded areas, tosupplement core sites with buffers (particularly wherethe core area is small) and to ensure that their potentialrole as habitat for threatened flora and fauna is


92

considered. Such restoration work can make animportant contribution to conservation, even in placeswhere the habitat no longer qualifies as naturaltemperate grassland endangered ecological community

Recognition of natural temperate grassland and theneed to conserve it has only developed recently (overthe last 15 years) as public policy. The fragmentsremaining of this once extensive ecological communityand the few areas protected for nature conservationreflect this lack of recognition. However, the ACT isnow in a good position to conserve the last remainingviable examples of grassland and threatened specieshabitat (some of which are relatively large in area) aspart of the ACT’s nature conservation estate. Thechallenge will be to manage these areas to improvetheir ecological condition and to enhance the habitat ofthreatened species so that populations increase tolevels where their viability may be more certain.

The remaining 991 ha of natural temperate grasslandin the ACT is about 5% of the estimated pre-Europeanextent in the ACT of 20 000 ha. If the more highlymodified areas containing areas of native pasture andexotic grasslands and associated threatened speciesare included (Tables 2.1, 3.2–3.8), the remaining area totals about 2172 ha or about 10% of the pre-European extent.

In the region defined by Fallding (2002), which includesthe ACT (see s. 1.1), about 9% of the pre-1750 area ofgrassland in various conditions remains, only a portionof which would now qualify as the natural temperategrassland endangered ecological community. For theSouthern Tablelands as a whole, less than 3% remains.Virtually all these grasslands are threatened in someway, even in reserves, especially by weed invasion.

An important precursor to sound conservation planning(including protection) is knowledge of the resource. Theneed for grassland surveys in the ACT was recognizedin the early 1990s, and with support initially fromCommonwealth funding, comprehensive surveys werecarried out between 1991 and 1996. These formed thebasis for the Action Plan for natural temperategrassland (ACT Government 1997a) (see s. 3.1).Survey of ACT grasslands is now largely complete, interms of the flora and vertebrate fauna.

As elsewhere, there is limited knowledge of grasslandinvertebrates (see s. 2.3.3), although quite extensiveinvertebrate studies have been undertaken in the ACT,which is far better surveyed for invertebrates than mostof the southern tablelands grassland ecosystems. Lackof knowledge of invertebrates is related to complexityof sampling, enormous diversity and large, short-termfluctuations due to climate, management and other

disturbance factors. Recent surveys have shownimprovements in the condition of some of thegrasslands (e.g. Crace Nature Reserve), as well asnew or extended populations of some threatenedspecies (e.g. in the Majura Valley, see s. 3.6.1).

Sites where natural temperate grassland and othergrassy habitat for threatened species now remains areshown in Figures 2.3–2.7 as at 1 March 2004, and asummary for each geographic area is in Table 4.2. Thesummary information allows an assessment to bemade of the state of grassland conservation across theACT and to identify priorities for conservation action.

Significant conclusions for the ACT include:

(a) About 991 ha of natural temperate grassland(partially or moderately modified) are now left in acondition that meets the definition of thisendangered ecological community. This representsabout 5% of the estimated original area in the ACT.

(b) An additional 542 ha of highly modified and exoticgrassy vegetation is closely associated with thesites containing the endangered ecologicalcommunity. Another 639 ha of grasslands areknown habitat for threatened species.

(c) By deduction about 19 000ha of former naturaltemperate grassland have been destroyed orsubstantially changed during the development ofCanberra or as a result of other land uses. Thisrepresents about 95% of the original area.

(d) In the regional context, the remaining area ofnatural temperate grassland endangeredecological community in the ACT (991 ha)represents approximately 1% of the original area(estimate 83 000 ha) and about 6% of what is leftin 2000 (estimate 15 500 ha) (regional data fromFallding 2002 and Environment ACT 2003). By anymeasure this is a very small amount of a onceextensive native grassland community.

(e) About 799 ha (37%) of the remaining naturaltemperate grassland and other grassland habitat(2172 ha) are protected within Public Land (NatureReserve) areas. Another 531 ha (24%) aremanaged under MOUs with Commonwealth orother agencies.

(f) Significant areas of natural temperate grasslandand other grassy habitat are not protected(Category 1: 258 ha and Category 2: 447 ha).Almost all this land is in the Majura andJerrabomberra valleys.

(g) Another 136 ha are in small fragments that havebeen assessed as Category 3 or Landscape andUrban fragments. Almost all of this land is locatedin the Belconnen area.


93

Tab

le 4

.2:

Su

mm

ary

of

Lo

wla

nd

Na

tive

Gra

ssla

nd

Da

ta S

ho

win

g A

rea

s R

em

ain

ing

Un

de

r V

ari

ou

s C

ate

go

rie

s o

f L

an

d U

se,

Pre

sen

ce

of

Th

rea

ten

ed

Sp

ec

ies

an

d C

on

serv

ati

on

Pla

nn

ing

Iss

ue

s

Area

Area

of

Area

of

Tota

l are

apr

otec

ted

inAr

ea n

ot fo

rmal

ly p

rote

cted

Natu

ral

othe

rgr

assl

and

Publ

ic L

and

Area

in e

ach

Cons

erva

tion

Cate

gory

Thre

aten

ed S

peci

es p

rese

ntIs

sues

for i

dent

ifyin

g pr

iorit

y ta

sks

Tem

pera

ture

gras

syan

d gr

assy

(Nat

ure

man

aged

(s 3

.5)—

incl

udes

are

a m

anag

edin

nat

ive

gras

slan

d an

dfo

r con

serv

atio

n of

gra

ssla

nds

All a

reas

in h

ecta

res

Gras

slan

dha

bita

tha

bita

tRe

serv

e)un

der M

OUby

CUP

P*ot

her s

uita

ble

habi

tat

and

thre

aten

ed g

rass

land

spe

cies

(a)

(b)

(c)

(% o

f (c)

)(%

of (

c))

12

3

Tota

l for

ACT

991

639

2172

799

(37%

)53

1 (2

4%)

258

447

136

(542

)

Gung

ahlin

179

041

039

2 (9

6%)

0 (0

%)

017

.50.

8 Go

lden

Sun

Mot

hKe

y ha

bita

ts id

entif

ied

and

prot

ecte

d.(2

31)

(*0.

3)Pe

rung

a Gr

assh

oppe

rRe

solv

e pl

anni

ng a

roun

d M

itche

ll.St

riped

Leg

less

Liza

rd

Prio

rity

to m

anag

e to

impr

ove

Butto

n W

rinkl

ewor

t co

nditi

on.

Maj

ura

209

289

641

0 (0

%)

138

(22%

)34

815

50

Gras

slan

d Ea

rless

No

thre

aten

ed s

peci

es o

r nat

ural

(1

44)

Drag

on S

tripe

d te

mpe

rate

gra

ssla

nd fo

rmal

lyLe

gles

s Li

zard

pr

otec

ted.

Gold

en S

un M

oth

Prio

rity

to p

rote

ct a

nd m

anag

ePe

rung

a Gr

assh

oppe

r to

impr

ove

cond

ition

.Ro

ad a

nd a

irpor

t dev

elop

men

ts

a th

reat

.

Jerr

abom

berr

a26

735

069

732

5 (4

7%)

220

(32%

)42

110

0.3

Gras

slan

d Ea

rless

Dra

gon

Prio

rity

to m

anag

e to

impr

ove

(80)

Strip

ed L

egle

ss L

izard

co

nditi

on.

Gold

en S

un M

oth

Peru

nga

Gras

shop

per

Belc

onne

n30

00

388

82 (2

7%)

139

(36%

)8

71

87Go

lden

Sun

Mot

h La

rges

t Gol

den

Sun

Mot

h(8

8)(*

18.6

)Pe

rung

a Gr

assh

oppe

rha

bita

t in

the

regi

on a

prio

rity

Ginn

inde

rra

Pepp

ercr

ess

for p

rote

ctio

n.St

riped

Leg

less

Liza

rd

Canb

erra

City

and

360

370

(0%

)26

(70%

)1.

28.

60.

2Go

lden

Sun

Mot

h M

ost s

ites

are

vuln

erab

le to

Tugg

eran

ong

(1)

(*1.

2)(*

6.2)

(*0.

2)Bu

tton

Wrin

klew

ort

negl

ect a

nd la

ck re

cogn

ition

as a

sset

s.Fu

rther

frag

men

tatio

n an

d w

eed

inva

sion

thre

aten

sur

viva

l in

the

long

term

.

Note

s:(a

)In

clud

es N

atur

al T

empe

rate

Gra

ssla

nd a

nd, i

n br

acke

ts, a

rea

of c

lose

ly a

ssoc

iate

d na

tive

past

ure

(BSR

5) a

nd e

xotic

gra

ssla

nd(b

)Ot

her g

rass

land

hab

itat (

BSR

5) c

onta

inin

g th

reat

ened

spe

cies

(c)

Tota

l, al

l gra

ssla

nd a

nd g

rass

y ha

bita

t typ

es ((

a) +

(b))

CUPP

: Can

berr

a Ur

ban

Park

s an

d Pl

aces


94

(h) The largest area of unprotected native grasslandand threatened species habitat is in the MajuraValley. There has been significant recentimprovement in protection in the JerrabomberraValley. About 150 ha remain unprotected in boththe Jerrabomberra Valley and Belconnen areasrespectively. The remaining native grassland andthreatened species habitat in these three areas arethe planning and/or management responsibility ofeither the ACT or Commonwealth Governments, orof a private landholder (Canberra InternationalAirport and rural lessees).

(i) Almost all natural temperate grassland and othergrassland habitats in the Gungahlin area (96%), ahigh proportion in Jerrabomberra (79%) (followingthe recent establishment of reserves), and much ofthis habitat in the Belconnen (58%) and CanberraCity (66%) areas have protection by virtue of eithertheir status as nature reserves or as land subjectto MOUs with Commonwealth agencies.

4.4.1 Actions to Improve Conservationof Lowland Native Grassland inthe ACT

Significant early actions to improve grasslandconservation in the ACT were:

� developing and implementing (from 1993) theRecovery plan for lowland native grasslands in theACT (Wildlife Research Unit 1991) (see s. 3.1); and

� protecting about 400 ha of natural temperategrassland and other grassland habitat in theGungahlin grassland reserves (Mulangarri, Crace,Gungaderra) (1995).

Since the first Action Plans for natural temperategrassland and component threatened species wereadopted, beginning in 1997, there have been severalGovernment decisions implementing some of thepriority actions identified in these plans. These are:

� Removing about 82 ha of natural temperategrassland, including some Wet Themeda grasslandfrom the Dunlop residential estate and adding it toDunlop Nature Reserve (1997).

� Establishing Memoranda of Understanding withCommonwealth managers of National Land (see s. 3.4.3).

� Announcing (22 July 2004) protection in naturereserves of over 300 hectares of natural temperategrassland and other grassy habitat for threatenedspecies (Grassland Earless Dragon) in theJerrabomberra Valley.

In 2003–04 the ACT Planning and Land Authority, LandDevelopment Authority and Environment ACT initiated

work on an Outline Plan for the Jerrabomberra Valley.This ‘Southern Broadacre Planning Study’ is acomprehensive land use study of the JerrabomberraValley that will provide the framework and land usepolicies for this part of the ACT. The study hasidentified the need to establish new nature reserves toprotect native grassland and habitat for the GrasslandEarless Dragon. The study is expected to form thebasis of a draft Variation to the Territory Plan (DVP)that will formally set out proposed land uses, includingnature conservation.

Funding to establish the new reserves was included inthe ACT Government’s 2004–05 Budget. It will ensureprotection of two core grassland sites and other keyhabitat for the endangered Grassland Earless Dragon.Parts of the foreshadowed reserves will join YellowBox–Red Gum Grassy Woodland that are to beprotected following an announcement in May 2003, aswell as other grassland habitat at the QueanbeyanNature Reserve (Letchworth) in NSW.

Notwithstanding the progress made to date, and untilannounced new reserves are formalised through aVariation to the Territory Plan, there is no part of theACT that provides certain, long-term protection forthree of the ACT’s threatened species. These are theGrassland Earless Dragon, the Golden Sun Moth, andthe Ginninderra Peppercress. Although work is inprogress to rectify this situation for both theJerrabomberra valley and at Lawson, long-termsecurity for these species will not be assured untildetailed planning is completed and management oftheir habitat is directed towards their conservationrather than being an adjunct to the primary land use.Implementation of protection and conservationmanagement is the top priority.

4.4.2 Priority Tasks to ImproveConservation of Lowland NativeGrassland and ComponentThreatened Species in the ACT

Priority tasks to improve the protection status oflowland native grassland (including the naturaltemperate grassland endangered ecologicalcommunity), and the several plant and animal speciesthat are regarded as grassland species are set out inTable 4.2. Making the decisions to implement any ofthese tasks is the responsibility of the ACT Governmentthrough its land planning and management actions. Insummary the priority tasks are:

� Completing planning studies of those parts of theACT where the long-term land use has yet to bedefined, including identifying those areas that arebest used as nature reserves.


95

The key areas for these studies are theJerrabomberra and Majura Valleys and atSymonston. The ‘Southern Broadacre PlanningStudy’ has identified indicative boundaries forprotection of grassland habitat for threatenedspecies in the Jerrabomberra valley. This is in thecontext of competing demands for land capable ofsupporting alternative uses for an expanding city.

The Canberra Spatial Plan provides the strategicdirections for the development of Canberra, whichinclude protection in nature reserves of key natureconservation assets and threatened species. It alsoidentifies the need for further investigations to beundertaken (to identify potential land for industrialand related employment purposes) in the corridoralong the Monaro Highway in Jerrabomberra,Symonston and Majura.

� Protecting all grasslands assessed as being thecore conservation areas (Category 1 sites), eitheras part of the ACT’s nature conservation estate orthrough equivalent, secure management.

� Including in the protected area system, grasslandhabitat for threatened species not yet adequatelyprotected:

— Grassland Earless Dragon in the Jerrabomberraand Majura valleys;

— Golden Sun Moth at Lawson; and

— Ginninderra Peppercress at Lawson.

� Providing for improved habitat connectivity forwildlife movement between grasslands andwoodlands or other adjacent habitats. Thiscomplements the same connectivity considerationincluded in the ACT Lowland WoodlandConservation Strategy (ACT Government 2004a).Important examples for grassland are between:

— Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve and CampbellPark paddocks (MA04);

— woodland and grassland at the Training Area inthe Majura valley (MA01);

— woodland and grassland in the Jerrabomberravalley (JE02);

— Aranda Bushland and natural temperategrassland at Caswell Drive (BE10); and

— adjacent native grassland areas on either side of the ACT and NSW border at Queanbeyan(Mikes Hill (JE04), Woods Lane (JE06) (ACT))and Queanbeyan Nature Reserve (Letchworth)(NSW).

� Reviewing management of native grassland areasin ACT nature reserves to ensure ecologicalcondition is improved. A priority is managing

invasive weeds such as Chilean Needlegrass andAfrican Lovegrass.

� Assessing grasslands and threatened specieshabitats for their potential for listing on the ACTHeritage Places Register.

� Establishing mechanisms to assist in theapplication of best practice management(Conservation Management Networks, voluntarymanagement agreements, guidelines) to facilitate conservation outcomes on reserve and off-reserve land.

Implementation of these priority actions depends upona variety of government administrative processes.Briefly these are:

� Preparing recommendations from the Conservatorof Flora and Fauna to the ACT Planning and LandAuthority (ACTPLA) for those areas that should beprotected, by including them in the ACT natureconservation estate.

� Including grassland conservation priorities in theprinciples and policies applied by ACTPLA whenundertaking detailed planning for urbandevelopment (e.g. for Jerrabomberra valley,Lawson and East Gungahlin).

� Concluding agreements between the Conservatorof Flora and Fauna and landholders, such asMemoranda of Understanding and LandManagement Agreements (for rural leases).

� Implementing best practice management ingrasslands managed by Environment ACT,including nature reserves, as well as in areas thatare agisted and areas managed by other Territoryagencies (Canberra Urban Parks and Places) andCommonwealth agencies (Department of Defence,National Capital Authority).

� Applying this Strategy and the information that itprovides to future planning proposals for the ACT.

� Establishing Conservation Management Networksand investigating voluntary managementagreements.

� Promoting cross border cooperation between ACTand NSW government agencies and otherstakeholders so that coordinated conservationplanning and management activities maximise theopportunities to achieve regional targets forbiodiversity conservation.

4 the lowland native grassland conservation …...table 4.1: (continued) fragmentation and...

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