NRM in Peri-Urban Sydney€¦ · NRM in Peri-urban Sydney The latest is the Maroubra Woodland...
Transcript of NRM in Peri-Urban Sydney€¦ · NRM in Peri-urban Sydney The latest is the Maroubra Woodland...
NRM in Peri-Urban Sydney
Peter Ridgeway
Greater Sydney Local Land
Services
These slides are part of
“Engaging with peri-urban
landholders: a webinar for
councils and networks” held on 2
June 2019
NRM in Peri-urban Sydney
The latest is the MaroubraWoodland snail, listed as
endangered a fortnight ago, only because volunteer Kurtis
Lindsay did the research to make it happen.
© Friends of Malabar Headland
• Sydney is special
• 179 threatened species
• 20 threatened
ecosystems
• Diverse geography &
geology = high
biodiversity
Private Land is where it’s at
• Private Land is important
for biodiversity
• This is a single tree with a
split trunk
– Possibly the oldest living
thing in Sydney?
– On a private property in
Wollondilly (not in a
National Park!)
Private Land is where it’s at
• Regent Honeyeater –
probably the rarest
animal in NSW
• Almost entirely on
private land including
in Sydney
Private Land is where it’s at
• Bankstown Hibbertia
Hibbertia puberula
ssp. Glabrescens –
found only in a single
paddock on private
land in Bankstown
Why small lots matter
• Soil fertility index
– correlation
between lot size
& soil fertility
• You can see
Sydney’s small
farms
Small lots matter
• The last Antechinus population on the entire Cumberland Plain was discovered – not in a large remnant – but living in a single hollow tree on a Golf Course
• Large areas are vital, but habitat resources are also important which can occur on small properties
When we engage landowners…
• Landowners love
biodiversity – but they
rarely get to see it, or
restore it, even on their
own property
• The more we engage
them with it the more
the community join us
doing it
Hills Shire area -
Microbat survey on
private property
…people change the world
• Result = the
creation of the
largest multiple-
property private
land conservation
reserve in the
northwest
…people change the world
• 2018 LLS project -
weed ID training for
volunteers
• One of the
volunteers clearing
lantana sent us a
selfie of an orchid…
… it was the first
population of
endangered
Sydney Plains
Greenhood
orchid found
west of the
Nepean River
Even the least promising…
…can lead to surprising results
The first Koala
in the region
(Mulgoa) in 100
years!
Private land is important
• The Koala was
radiotracked when
released
• In 60km, only went
into NP reserves
twice
– A lot of good land is
on private land
What can we do?
• We need to work with peri-urban landholders
to save biodiversity
• Where possible, visit these landowners on the
land
– Meet them face-to-face
– Talk to them about weed control, pest control,
revegetation or wildlife surveys
– One-one-one or with Landcare