VALUES OF PROPOSED RESERVE AREAS
The State Forests of the BBSB were grouped into 30 geographic units for the purposes of this assessment (see Map 2). A systematic analysis and review was conducted of all available conservation data in the BBSB region to assess the conservation values of each of the groups. The aim of the exercise was to provide an outline of the conservation values of each area. A map of the State Forest groups is provided as Map 1.
An analysis of reserve adequacy has been conducted for each of the State Forest groups identified in the BBSB. This was conducted using ecosystem data from the Joint Vegetation Mapping Project (RACD 2002c).
The dominant ecosystems predicted to occur in each State Forest group were identified and the existing percentage reservation for each ecosystem was assessed across the entire bioregion along with the status according to the existing JANIS criteria. These were used as an interim measure because of the failure by Government to develop western specific conservation criteria for this assessment. The results are provided in Table 1 below and depicted spatially in Map 3.
Despite the use of these inadequate criteria, it still clearly depicts an incredibly poor level of reservation in the region and highlights the irreplaceability of State Forest areas to the achievement of a representative reserve system and prevent serious biodiversity loss in the region.
Table 1. Predicted dominant ecosystems in each State Forest group and the % reservation of each ecosystem.
|
SF Group |
Dominant Ecosystems |
Status |
Percent Reserved |
No. of Threatened Ecosystems |
|
Southern Grassy callitris woodland Goonoo mallee heath Southern ironbark/cypress woodland |
Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable |
0% 1% 0% |
10 |
|
|
Pilliga cypress/bull oak woodland Pilliga West herb/grass woodland |
|
0% 0% |
16 |
|
|
Northern cypress grass/shrub woodland North-eastern shrubby cypress/angophora woodland Pilliga ironbark/bull oak woodland |
1% 2% 1% |
24 |
||
|
Goonoo ironbark heath woodland Goonoo ironbark woodland Southern grassy callitris woodland |
Vulnerable |
0% 0% 0% |
9 |
|
|
Southern grassy callitris woodland Goonoo ironbark heath woodland Southern Ironbark heath woodland Goonoo mallee heath Goonoo ironbark woodland |
Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable |
0% 0% 0% 1% 0% |
13 |
|
|
Pilliga cypress grass/herb woodland Northern Cypress woodland Eastern grassy cypress woodland |
Vulnerable |
1% 0% 1% |
16 |
|
|
Goonoo ironbark heath woodland |
0% |
13 |
||
|
Pilliga cypress grass/herb woodland Pilliga grassy cypress woodland |
Vulnerable |
1% 1% |
11 |
|
|
Goonoo ironbark heath woodland Goonoo ironbark woodland Goonoo mallee heath Southern grassy callitris woodland |
Vulnerable Vulnerable |
0% 0% 1% 0% |
17 |
|
|
Goonoo ironbark heath woodland Goonoo ironbark woodland Southern Ironbark heath woodland |
Vulnerable |
0% 0% 0% |
10 |
|
|
Goonoo ironbark heath woodland Southern ironbark woodland Binnaway cypress woodland |
0% 1% 3% |
13 |
||
|
Eastern shrubby cypress/box woodland North eastern shrubby ironbark/cypress woodlan Eastern grassy cypress woodland |
1% 1% 1% |
20 |
||
|
Pilliga cypress grass/herb woodland Eastern grassy cypress woodland |
Vulnerable |
1% 1% |
25 |
|
|
Pilliga heathy woodland Pilliga heathy woodland Pilliga cypress grass/herb woodland |
Vulnerable |
10% 10% 1% |
18 |
|
|
Pilliga cypress grass/herb woodland Eastern grassy cypress woodland Northern cypress woodland |
Vulnerable |
1% 0% 0% |
22 |
|
|
Goonoo ironbark heath woodland Pilliga cypress grass/herb woodland |
Vulnerable |
0% 1% |
||
|
Pilliga cypress/bull oak woodland Pilliga cypress grass/herb woodland Pilliga ironbark/bull oak woodland Pilliga grassy cypress woodland |
Vulnerable |
0% 1% 1% 1% |
33 |
|
|
Pilliga heathy woodland Pilliga heathy woodland Pilliga ironbark/bull oak woodland Pilliga grassy cypress woodland Pilliga Ironbark woodland |
10% 10% 1% 1% 0% |
28 |
||
|
Pilliga West grass/herb cypress woodland Pilliga cypress/box herb woodland Pilliga cypress/bull oak woodland |
Vulnerable |
0% 0% 0% |
22 |
|
|
Western grassy box woodland |
Endangered |
0% |
10 |
|
|
Semi-evergreen Vine Thicket Eastern clay grassland North-east shrubby cypress/angophora woodland Northern grassy cypress woodland |
Endangered Vulnerable
|
0% 0% 2% 0% |
24 |
|
|
Binnaway cypress woodland Southern Pilliga heathy cypress/bloodwood woodland |
|
3% 6% |
4 |
|
|
Pilliga Grassy cypress woodlands Pilliga cypress grass/herb woodland |
Vulnerable |
1% 1% |
9 |
|
|
Binnaway cypress woodland Southern heath woodland Goonoo ironbark heath woodland |
3% 1% 0% |
19 |
||
|
Eastern shrubby cypress box woodland North-east shrubby cypress/angophora woodland North-east shrubby ironbark/cypress woodland |
22% 2% 1% |
15 |
||
|
Coolah Tops grass/herb forest Coolah mixed woodland Coolah Tops herb forest |
28% 2% 5% |
4 |
||
|
North east shrubby ironbark/cypress woodland North-east shrubby cypress/angophora woodland Northern cypress woodland |
1% 2% 0% |
32 |
Balladoran is a group of State Forests near Gilgandra which is known habitat for the vulnerable Brown Treecreeper and declining Brushtail Possum. These are small State Forests in an isolated position in the landscape and Drillwarina is the largest and most diverse of these remnants with a number of vulnerable communities.
Bambi is a group of State Forests near Wee Waa which contains a known koala population. Janewindi lies in an important northern corridor of the Pilliga woodland, while Culgoora is an isolated remnant near the Namoi River.
Bebo is a group of State Forests near Yetman which is a hotspot of major fauna significance. It is known habitat for at least 2 endangered, 9 vulnerable and 12 significant animal species. It is unique in the BBSB and the State of NSW because it includes northern tropical influences in the faunal composition which do not occur elsewhere. This includes 3 animal species, the Zig Zag Gecko, Dunmall’s Snake and Delicate Mouse, for which Bebo is the only known location in NSW. Other northern influences of significance which are present in Bebo are the endangered Black-striped Wallaby and the endangered Squatter Pigeon. It also contains a large population of vulnerable Bush Stone-curlews and is one of only three known localities in NSW of the Hairy-nosed Freetail Bat.
Bebo is also of critical importance for a large number of hollow dependent species including the Barking Owl, Chocolate Wattled Bat, Brushtail Possum, Greater Long-eared Bat, Little Pied Bat, Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat and Zig-zag Gecko.
The area also represents a core refuge area for a number of declining and vulnerable woodland birds including the Painted Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Speckled Warbler and Glossy Black Cockatoo.
Other vulnerable and significant species which occur include the Brush Cuckoo, Wallaroo, Eastern Cave Bat, Litter Skink, Pale-headed Rosella and Satin Flycatcher.
Bebo is dominated by regionally significant ironbark, cypress and Angophora woodlands and twenty-four threatened ecosystems. Bebo is known habitat for two endangered and one rare plant species. The endangered species include Acacia jucunda and Platyzoma microphyllum and the rare Dodonaea macrossanii.
Beni is a group of State Forests near Dubbo which exhibits an extraordinary level of bird diversity for such a small area. It is of absolutely critical importance to woodland birds species with at least 13 significant bird species having been recorded. Eleven of these are considered to be vulnerable, rare or declining and these include the following species: Barking Owl, Brown Treecreeper, Grey-crowned Babbler, Ground Cuckoo-Shrike, Hooded Robin, Masked Owl, Speckled Warbler, Square-tailed Kite, White-browed Babbler, White-fronted Chat and Yellow-throated Miner.
Beni is also important for the following hollow-dependent bats and mammals: Chocolate Wattled Bat, Brushtail Possum, Ringtail Possum, and Squirrel Glider. Beni is dominated by Blue-leaved and Narrow-leaved Ironbark, and White and Black Cypress Pine.
Biddon is a group of State Forests near Gilgandra which contains a high density of oldgrowth forests. It contains 13 significant fauna species from a wide diversity of mammal groups and including birds, reptiles, mammals and bats. The most notable species include the Brown Treecreeper, Grey-crowned Babbler, Common Brushtail Possum, Koala, Red-chested Button Quail, Speckled Warbler and Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat.
Biddon is known habitat for the State and Nationally vulnerable plant species Rulingia procumbens and contains a large population of the vulnerable plant Philotheca ericifolia.
Biddon is a diverse State Forest, with many vulnerable plant communities including Ironbark, Heathy woodland and Mallee heath.
Black Jack is a group of State Forests near Gunnedah that is most notable for the large populations of Koala and Brushtail Possums which it contains although it also exhibits high levels of diversity. It contains a number of interesting and unusual sitings such as the two reptiles; Barred-side Skink and Carpet Python. It is also valuable for birds with records of Black-chinned Honeyeater, Speckled Warbler, Square-tailed Kite, Brown Treecreeper and Grey-crowned Babbler. Other significant species include the Litter Skink and Little Pied Bat.
Cobbora is a group of State Forests near Dunedoo that contains important populations for the vulnerable Barking Owl and Glossy Black Cockatoo and the significant Chocolate Wattled Bat. It contains interesting reptilian fauna with records of the Southern Rainbow Skink, Barred-side Skink and Bouganville Skink. (mallee fowl)
Other significant species known from the area include the Common Ringtail Possum, Spotted Quail Thrush and White-browed Babbler.
Cobbora is known habitat for the State and Nationally significant Goodenia macbarronii and Zieria ingramii.
Doona is a group of State Forests near Werris Creek which is known habitat for the Koala and Brown Treecreeper.
Gilgandra is a group of State Forests near the twon of the same name, which contains a very high diversity of significant species across the range of fauna groups, with 16 different significant fauna recorded from the area to date. It is particularly important in the BBSB to the conservation of the Spotted Quail Thrush, Masked Owl and Chestnut-rumped Heathwren.
Other interesting species which occur there include the vulnerable Diamond Firetail and the Crucifix Frog. There is a diverse array of woodland bird species across the range of groups with 9 significant species including both Grey-crowned and White-browed Babblers and the Glossy Black Cockatoo. Arboreal mammals are also present with Common Ringtail and Common Brushtail Possums both recorded from the area, along with the Greater Long-eared Bat.
Gilgandra is known habitat for the State and Nationally vulnerable plant species Philotheca ericifolia.
Goonoo is a State Forest near Dubbo that is the second largest remnant of vegetation in the bioregion and forms one of the cores of the reserve proposal. It is one of the most diverse fauna hotspots in the BBSB and is critical to the survival of 38 rare or threatened fauna species. It is the core area within the entire region for the conservation of the endangered Mallee Fowl, the rare Ground Cuckoo-shrike, Gilberts Whistler, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren and Spotted Quail-Thrush and the vulnerable Glossy Black Cockatoo and one of only two known populations of Eastern Pygmy Possum on public land in the region. Goonoo is a regional stronghold of the vulnerable Greater Long-eared Bat (Ellis & Turbill, 2002).
Goonoo is especially critical to 18 other significant woodland bird species including the Barking Owl, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Blue Bonnet, Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail, Fork-tailed Swift, Grey-crowned Babbler, Painted Honeyeater, Regent Honeyeater, Singing Honeyeater, Speckled Warbler, Spotted Bowerbird, Square-tailed Kite, Turquoise Parrot, White-browed Babbler, White-fronted Chat, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater and Yellow-throated Miner.
Other significant fauna species include the Brown Toadlet, Bougainville’s Skink, Chocolate Wattled Bat, Common Brushtail Possum, Common Ringtail Possum, Greater Long-eared Bat, Koala, Litter Skink, Little Pied Bat and Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat.
Goonoo is a major hotspot for plant diversity in the region and contains 7 rare or threatened plant species. It provides the best stronghold in the BBSB for the State and Nationally endangered Zieria ingramii, and the State and Nationally vulnerable plant species Rulingia procumbens, Philotheca ericifolia, and Homoranthus darwinoides.
Other significant plant species which are known to occur there are the endangered Indigofera efoliata, the vulnerable plant Goodenia macbarronni, and the rare Pseudanthus divaricatissimus and Grevillea arenaria ssp canescens.
Gulgong is a group of State Forests near the town of the same name that is known habitat for 8 significant fauna species. This includes mammals such as the Brushtail and Ringtail Possums and the Wallaroo and woodland bird species such as the Brown Treecreeper, Glossy Black Cockatoo, Speckled Warbler and White-browed Babbler.
Kaputar is a group of State Forests near Narrabri which is known habitat for 12 significant fauna species. It is particularly important for the Crested Shrike-tit, Brushtail Possum, the Litter Skink and the Yellow-bellied Sheath-tail Bat. Other notable species include the Chocolate Wattled Bat, Common Koel, Large Pied Bat and Squirrel Glider and one of the most western cave roosts and foraging areas of the Large Bentwing Bat.
Kaputar is known habitat for three endangered plant species, including Geijera paniculata, Tylophora linearis, and Pomaderris queenslandica. It also contains one vulnerable species Cadellia pentastylis, and two rare species Leionema viridis and Prostanthera cruciflora.
Kelvin is a group of State Forests near Gunnedah which is known habitat for 20 significant fauna species. This is an extremely high level of diversity for such a small area and reflects the overlap of coastal and inland species. Kelvin is particularly important for the Brown Treecreeper, the Brushtail Possum and the Wallaroo.
Kelvin exhibits coastal influences in the fauna with the presence of species such as Crimson Rosella, Common Koel, Brush Cuckoo and Crested Shrike-tit. Inland influences are represented by species such as the Speckled Warbler, Grey-crowned Babbler and Turquoise Parrot. The two owls, Barking and Masked, are both present and other notable species include the Litter Skink, Bougainville’s Skink, Koala, Little Pied Bat and Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat.
Kelvin is known habitat for the Nationally vulnerable plant species Homopholis belsonii.
Kerringle is a group of State Forests near Mullaley that is known habitat for 12 significant fauna species. It is important to the conservation in the BBSB of hollow dependent species such as the Barking Owl, Brushtail Possum and Ringtail Possum. It is also an important area for Koala.
Kerringle is known habitat for the endangered Black-striped Wallaby and for the rare Masked Woodswallow as well as 4 other declining woodland bird species.
Kerringle is known habitat for the endangered plant species Polygala linariifolia.
The Killarney group of State Forests near Narrabri encompasses some of the most diverse forests in the region and is an exceptionally important area for the conservation of 28 significant fauna species.
It is one of only two major strongholds in the entire BBS region for three vulnerable species: the Masked Owl, Painted Honeyeater and Pale-headed Snake. It has a very large Koala population and is also a major stronghold for the Brushtail Possum.
It is also incredibly valuable bird habitat with known presence for 16 significant bird species including the Hooded Robin, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Barking Owl, Spotted Bowerbird, Pale-headed Rosella, Turquoise Parrot, Yellow-throated Miner, Common Koel and the suite of declining woodland species containing Speckled Warbler, Grey-crowned Babbler, White-browed Babbler and Brown Treecreeper.
Other species of note include Bougainville’s Skink, Chocolate Wattled Bat, Common Wallaroo, Greater Long-eared Bat, Squirrel Glider and Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat.
Leard is a group of State Forests near Boggabri that encompasses an extremely diverse and unique area. It is one of only three known occurrences on public land of the Feathertail Glider in the BBSB and is one of only three core areas for the vulnerable Diamond Firetail.
It contains interesting herpetofauna with records of various significant species including the Carpet Python, Bougainville’s Skink, Litter Skink, Red-throated Skink and the frog Cyclorana verrucosa.
It is also an incredibly important area for bird, bat and mammal species with notable species including the vulnerable Black-chinned Honeyeater, Brown Treecreeper, Crested Shrike-tit, Grey-crowned Babbler, Masked Owl, Speckled Warbler, Turquoise Parrot, White-browed Babbler and the Wallaroo.
Momo is known habitat for the Brushtail and Ringtail Possums.
The Pilliga forest and woodland communities form the largest wooded ecosystem in Australia’s temperate woodlands. They are exceptionally important as a refuge area for woodland fauna, and support extremely species-rich fauna communities. Covering over 400,000 ha, these forests have been divided into three groups for the purposes of describing conservation values.
Central Pilliga is a group of State Forests near Baradine which is exceptionally faunally diverse and provides important and predominantly core strongholds in the BBSB for the Koala, the endemic Pilliga Mouse, the endangered Black-striped Wallaby and Regent Honeyeater, vulnerable Diamond Firetail and Hooded Robin, and rare Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Greater Long-eared Bat, Red-chested Button Quail and Masked Woodswallow.
It also provides habitat for an additional 39 threatened and significant fauna species including mostly isolated records for the following species; Masked Owl, Square-tailed Kite, Spotted-tailed Quoll, White-backed Swallow, White-fronted Chat, Whites Skink, Spotted Quail Thrush, Plum-headed Finch, Mulga Parrot, Malleefowl, Little Woodswallow, Little Pied Bat, Gilberts Whistler and many more.
Other significant species which have been recorded quite often in the area include the Common Brushtail and Ringtail Possums, the Crested Shrike-tit, Brown Treecreeper, Glossy Black Cockatoo, White-browed Babbler, Grey-crowned Babbler, Speckled Warbler, Turquoise Parrot and Yellow-throated Miner.
Central Pilliga is known habitat for the endangered plant Polygala linariifolia, and for two vulnerable plants Philotheca ericifolia and Goodenia macbarronii. It also contains an additional two rare species, Persoonia cuspidifera and the orchid Diuris tricolor.
Pilliga East, also near Baradine, is an area of Aboriginal cultural heritage significance. It is similar faunally to Pilliga Central with very high levels of diversity and it too provides a stronghold for species such as the Pilliga Mouse, Diamond Firetail, Koala, Black-striped Wallaby, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Glossy Black Cockatoo, Hooded Robin and Koala.
However, it is rendered distinct by the provision of core habitat for many species which have not been recorded, or recorded only infrequently in Central Pilliga, including the Bush Stone Curlew, Malleefowl, Eastern Pygmy Possum, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Large Pied Bat, Rufous Bettong, Southern Whiteface and Squirrel Glider.
Other species of note in East Pilliga include one of only two known localities in the BBSB for the Lined Earless Dragon. Other significant species of interest include the Little Woodswallow, Australasian Bittern, Brown Toadlet, Common Brushtail and Ringtail Possums, Crested Shrike-tit, Glossy Black Cockatoo, Sloane’s Toadlet, Spotted Quail Thrush, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Water Rat and Cyclorana verrucosa.
East Pilliga is the major hotspot of significant plant species diversity in the BBSB. It contains known habitat for a total of 11 significant plant species. This includes 4 endangered species: Lepidium monoplocoides, Monotaxis macrophylla, Polygala linariifolia, and Cyperus conicus.
The four vulnerable species which are known to occur in East Pilliga include Bertya sp. Cobar-Coolabah, Goodenia macbarronnii, Philotheca ericifolia, and Ruliginia procumbens. The additional three rare species known from the area include Persoonia cuspidifera, Pseudanthus divaricatissimus and the orchid Diuris tricolor.
Pilliga West is a group of State Forests near Gwabegar which is also an exceptionally diverse area for fauna and it provides core habitat for a range of species which are not present or less abundant in Central and Eastern Pilliga and which exhibit a stronger semi-arid influence. Species for which Pilliga West is a stronghold in the BBSB include the Barking Owl, Blue Bonnet, Masked Owl, Grey-crowned Babbler, Koala, Greater Long-eared Bat, Pale-headed Snake, Spotted Bowerbird, Squirrel Glider, Hooded Robin, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Red-capped Robin and White-browed Babbler.
Pilliga West also includes a very large number of significant species which are very poorly recorded elsewhere in the region including the Feathertail Glider, Crucifix Frog, Buff-banded Rail, Crimson Chat, Gilbert’s Whistler, Ground Cuckoo-shrike, Masked Woodswallow, Painted Honeyeater, Plum-headed Finch, Red-chested Button Quail, Ctenotus strauchii and White-backed Swallow. This unusual array of species makes it especially unique and faunally distinct.
Other fauna species of conservation significance include the Mallee Fowl, Brushtail Possum, Speckled Warbler and many more.
The results of the Western Regional Assessment fauna modelling and analysis also highlight the major significance and distinctiveness of the West Pilliga area.
The Terry Hie Hie group of forests which occurs near the town of the same name, is one of the most faunally diverse groups in the region with at least 33 significant species recorded. This is particularly diverse given the relatively small area which they encompass.
The group contains an interesting reptile fauna with a record of the endangered Three-clawed Worm-skink, the vulnerable Border Thick-tailed Gecko and the rare Lined Earless Dragon along with the significant Bougainville’s Skink and Litter Skink.
It is particularly important to a significant number of hollow-dependent species including the Feathertail Glider, Brushtail and Ringtail Possums, Squirrel Glider, Masked Owl and Barking Owl.
Malleefowl have been recorded there in the past but they are now believed to be locally extinct.
Some of the other notable species which occur there include the Painted Honeyeater, Hooded Robin, Crested Shrike-tit, Common Koel, Wallaroo, Spotted Bowerbird, Pale-headed Rosella.
Tinkrameanah near Tambar Springs contains high numbers of Brushtail and Ringtail Possum. Tinkrameanah contains the rare plant Persoonia cuspidifera and exhibits very high densities of grass trees many hundreds of years old and a newly discovered unnamed Correa ssp.
Trinkey near Tambar Springs is particularly important because it contains known habitat for the endangered Bush Stone-curlew. It also contains known habitat for a range of other significant species such as the Ringtail and Brushtail Possums, Glossy Black Cockatoo, Koala, Speckled Warbler, Brown Treecreeper and Little Pied Bat.
Trinkey contains the rare geebung Persoonia cuspidifera and the vulnerable plant Rulingia procumbens.
The Tuckland group contains known habitat for the endangered and declining Mallee Fowl although there is no information available on the current status of the population.
Tuckland is known habitat for the rare wattle Acacia ausfeldii.
The Warialda group of State Forests which occur near the town of the same name are known habitat for 11 significant species with the most notable being a group of hollow dependent species including the Brushtail and Ringtail Possums, Barking Owl, Masked Owl and Squirrel Glider, and 3 vulnerable and declining woodland birds.
Warialda is known habitat for the endangered plant Geijera paniculata and the rare geebung Persoonia terminalis ssp. recurva.
Warung is near Coolah and exhibits a high level of fauna diversity with 15 significant species known to occur and it is faunally distinct in the subregion. It contains two skinks on the edge of their range, the Red-throated Skink and Hemiergis decresiensis.
Warung is a core area for the Ringtail Possum and it also contains known habitat for a large number of other hollow dependent species including the Powerful, Masked Owl, Spotted-tailed Quoll, and Chocolate Wattled Bat. It is a stronghold for the Spotted Quail-thrush.
The Yallaroi group of forests near Warialda is extremely diverse faunally with more than 25 significant species known from the area. It is one of the major strongholds in the BBSB for the Masked Owl, Little Pied Bat and the Brushtail Possum.
It is also known habitat for the three declining finches including the endangered Black-throated Finch, the Diamond Firetail and the Plum-headed Finch. It displays temperate, semi-arid and northern influences in the bird fauna with significant species present including the Crested Shrike-tit, Common Koel and Brush Cuckoo, Pale-headed Rosella, Turquoise Parrot, Speckled Warbler and White-backed Swallow, Yellow-throated Miner, Grey-crowned Babbler, Brown Treecreeper and Glossy Black Cockatoo.
It is also known habitat for the Squirrel Glider, Chocolate Wattled Bat, Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat and Common Wallaroo.
Yallaroi is known habitat for the State and Nationally endangered plant Astrotricha roddii and the rare daisy Olearia gravis.
