The Travelling Stock Routes and Reserves (TSR) network in NSW is an extensive network of public land, established for droving sheep and cattle across the countryside.

Unlike surrounding agricultural land, TSRs weren't cleared, so they have a unique range of environmental, cultural, heritage, social and economic values.

TSRs are threatened by:

• Insufficient resources
• Complicated management arrangements
• On-ground pressures such as invasive species and clearing for gas pipelines.

What is the NPA team doing?

TSR near Coonabarabran. Photo: Milton Judd

1) We held a TSR conference in Orange in July 2011, to develop a management framework for shared, sustainable use of TSRs. A working group is being formed to further develop this framework.

• Read more about the outcomes from the NSW Travelling Stock Routes and Reserves Conference (Orange, 2011)

2) NPA and many of our supporters have made submissions to the NSW Government's 2011 review of the authorities that manage TSRs.

• Find out more about the review and NPA's submission

3) With the help of our generous supporters, we are commissioning an assessment of the economic value of ecosystem services provided by TSRs. This is part of our ongoing efforts to put a value on the wider uses of TSRs, incorporating their broader environmental, cultural and social values. This work will help us quantify in economic terms the value of TSRs to policy makers.

4) We have made a submission to the NSW Inquiry into Coal Seam Gas, highlighting the threat posed by coal seam gas activities to natural areas, particularly the TSR network.

• NPA's submission to the CSG Inquiry (549KB PDF)

5) In partnership with the Grass Routes Initiative, we are selling Kangaroo Grass seed packs to raise funds and awareness about the TSR network. Seed packs are available from www.grassroutes.org.au.

Why are TSRs so important?

An Eastern Yellow Robin, one of the many declining woodland bird species that rely on TSRs. Photo: Peter Bray

 

 

 

Today, the TSR network is important to Australians for many reasons:

• Protecting native species from habitat loss and climate change
• Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage and culture
• Grazing and droving, beekeeping
• Tourism
• Recreational activities (e.g. walking, cycling, fishing, birdwatching)

For more information:

• Download the NPA's document, "The TSR network- heritage, habitat and livelihood".
• View presentations and data about  conservation values of TSRs on the Grassy Box Woodlands Conservation Management Network website.