Rangeland Monitoring and Biodiversity Data

Daryl Green

Daryl.green@bigpond.com

Mob: 0427952033

Background • Designed and implemented the NSW Rangeland Assessment Program

(RAP) - 1988

• National Rangeland Monitoring Program – 1990

• National Land and Water Resources Audit – Rangeland Monitoring Committee - 1998

• Rangelands - Tracking Changes, 2001

• Australian Collaborative Rangelands Information System

• Rangelands –Taking the Pulse, 2008

Issues

• Scale – area, size of species, populations.

• Time – to measure, long term and repeat times

• Stratification of landscapes

• ‘Boom & Bust’ of rangelands

• Support – long term?

Landscape Monitoring Mapping & Remote Sensing

Surveillance Monitoring Field – Councils, LHPA,

Landholders, Bird Watchers, RAP etc

Targeted Monitoring Field – expert

DETAIL RAPIDITY

SPATIAL EXTENT

Integration – analysis & modelling

Integration - research

Monitoring Framework – after Eyre et.al 2011

What makes up biodiversity?

• Plants species and vegetation communities

• Bird species

• Vertebrate animals

• Reptiles

• Insects

• Soil biodiversity

• Micro-organisms

Pressures on Biodiversity

• Grazing Management

• Feral predators

• Invasive species (competition)

• Fire regimes

• Climate variability (change)

• Habitat changes (clearing/structure/species)

• Refugia modification

Grazing Management

Feral Pests

Invasive Weeds – Habitat change

Habitat Changes

Habitat Changes

Cuttaburra Wetlands - Refugia

Plant species and Vegetation Communities

• Species lists (Landholders & RAP)

• Remote monitoring (satellites)

• Vegetation structure and production (RAP +)

• Grazing management systems - biomass (Industry & CMAs)

• Invasive plant species (Councils & RAP)

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1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

No

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HRED Plant Diversity: Natives and Annuals

Exotic plants

Native plants

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AV

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AV

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FR

EQ

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Y W

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YEAR

FREQUENCY OF JUVENILE WOODY PLANTS

ANNUAL RAINFALL

AVE % FREQENCYSEEDLING JUVENILES

AVE % FREQUENCYWOODY JUVENILES

Native Vegetation Communities Nelia Shrubland - EEC

Threatened Species Lancewood - Acacia petraea

Native Species – Natural & Cultural values

Bird Species

• Birds Australia surveys

• Local Bird Watchers

• Migratory birds (International, National & local)

• Predator numbers (LHPA, roo shooters etc.)

• Landholder observations

• Habitat management

Bird Breeding Habitats

Bird Watching - Records

Native Species and Feral Predators

Vertebrate Mammals

• Monitoring programs (kangaroo counts, Yellow footed rock wallaby)

• Fauna surveys (scale issues – time & space)

• Regional surveys (Cobar Peneplain Biodiversity Survey)

• Predator monitoring (LHPA – fox, pigs etc)

• Habitat evaluation

• Landholder observation (under utilised?)

Fauna Site Surveys

Natural Values –Peery Lake & Mound Spring

Feral Pests – predator and destroying habitat

Reptiles

• Reptile Surveys

• Habitat evaluation

• Local enthusiasts?

Pit Traps – reptiles and small mammals

AND

Insects ????? Soil Biodiversity ????? Micro-organisms ?????

Landscape Monitoring Mapping & Remote Sensing

Surveillance Monitoring Field – Landholders, Councils, LHPA, Bird Watchers, CMAs,

RAP etc

Targeted Monitoring Field – expert

DETAIL RAPIDITY

SPATIAL EXTENT

Integration – analysis & modelling

Integration - research

Monitoring Framework – after Eyre et.al 2011

Monitoring at the Local Level

• Determine the objectives!!! – reporting, evaluation, records

• Use what is already available – other sources

• Keep it simple and robust – consistency (Photos!)

• Time scale – at multiple levels (purpose)

• Be committed

• Organise and keep good records

• Share Information – communicate development and outputs

• Use the results in decision making!!

Information

• National - Australian Collaborative Rangelands Information System – Gary Bastin – CSIRO, Alice Springs.

• State Agencies – Office of Environment & Heritage, DPI etc

• Local – LHPAs, Councils, CMAs –Catchment Condition Reports & Monitoring, RAP?

• Community – ACF, WWF, Bird Watcher groups, Naturalist groups.

Reference papers.

• Bastin, G.N. and the ACRIS MC (2008) ‘Rangelands 2008 – Taking the Pulse’ (National Land and Water Resources Audit, Canberra)

• Eyre, T.J., Fisher, A., Hunt, L.P. & Walsh F., (2011) Measure it to better manage it: a biodiversity monitoring framework for the Australian Rangelands.

• NLWRA (2001). ‘Rangelands – Tracking Changes. Australian Collaborative Rangelands Information System’. (National Land and Water Resources Audit: Canberra

Australian Rangelands Initiative

• Rangeland NRM Alliance – 14 regional bodies

• Multiple partnerships – CSIRO, State Agencies, NFF, ACF, CRCs, BOM etc

• Long term (15 year) programs for rangelands

• Coordinate rangeland funding – CfOC, Corridors, Biodiversity program etc

• Groundcover – Biodiversity - Cultural Heritage - Ecosystem Services – Monitoring - Awareness