Linda and Roger's Bunhybee Grasslands Web-Site

Bunhybee Action Plan


This is a page within Roger and Linda's Bunhybee Grasslands Web-Site.

Bunhybee Grasslands is a 49 hectare / 120 acre conservation property 35km south of Braidwood, in southern N.S.W.

You can follow through the internal links, or you may find it easier to use the Site-Map.


This page contains our plans for managing the conservation values inherent in the property, commencing with exchange on 28 November 2008 and settlement on 22 December 2008. It draws on NCT's Plan of Management (hereafter MP), Baine (2007), various publications, conversations with a variety of people, and our own research, interpolation and (increasingly) experience.


Overview


Grassland Conservation

The purpose of the whole exercise is to 'conserve', 'protect' and 'enhance' the grasslands on the property. The keyword is 'diversity', with 161 species identified during the scientific assessment phase, and about 50 flowering plants photographed on 4 visits through spring 2008 (late August to November).

To 'conserve' doesn't mean to 'preserve', as a museum or a taxidermist does. It's inevitable that the property will change (particularly given the likelihood of 'global warming'), but change is to be under the influence of local and regional factors rather than 'foreign' influences. By 'foreign' is meant not only 'un-Australian', but also 'non-regional'.

The property is categorised as 'Natural Temperate Grassland' (NTG), which is recognised nationally as an 'Endangered Ecological Community' (EEC). Only about 800 ha of reasonablt-quality NTG is currently protected in the region, the largest remnant being 194 ha (but mostly somewhat different from this patch), and the largest in a single protected reserve being 25 ha (45km west at Turralo NR).

There are several somewhat different communities and ecologies in the 47 protected hectares. To our amateur eyes, the following simplification seems reasonable as a starting-point:

This section identifies a couple of activities that appear to us to be relevant and necessary.

~ Monitoring

In order to take actions to conserve the property, we need to be informed. To achieve that, we need baseline observations, and subsequent observations that are regular, and sufficiently frequent. The Management Plan provides some of the baseline observations, but more are needed.

The monitoring also needs to be systematic and comprehensive. We have in mind to establish a pattern whereby we can be sure to see all aspects of the property with a minimum of effort (so that it's practicable for us to maintain the schedule) but also with a minimum of harm.

~ Photographic Record

The Management Plan specifies a small number of locations in which a photographic record is to be developed (and how to do it).

~ Grazing

The Management Plan prefers that grazing continue to be used, in a limited manner, on the grounds that that is what's been done for many years, and appears to be why the property is still as it is (MP pp. 12-19). Agistment is only to be done in autumn (February to May) and definitely not in spring (September to November). The ongoing drought since 2001 (see the rainfall information) suggests the need for caution.

~ Selective Low-Intensity Burning

The Management Plan is silent on this possibility, but we need to consider the possibility of managing areas that contain lush grass through controlled burning. The ongoing drought since 2001 (see the rainfall information) suggests the need for caution.

~ Mulching

The Management Plan is silent on this possibility, but we need to consider the possibility of managing areas that contain lush grass through a 'cut and scatter' approach – as distinct from merely 'slashing', which tends to leave the cuttings unevenly spread over the ground. The ongoing drought since 2001 (see the rainfall information) suggests the need for caution.

~ Seed Collection

The Management Plan requires that any seeding or planting use local materials, and envisages that seeds may be collected (MP pp. 25-26).


Vulnerability Management

A 'vulnerability' is something that's inherent to the property, and is susceptible to foreign influences, with the result that there's a likelihood of harm arising. A techniques to address a vulnerability is referred to as a 'safeguard'.

This section identifies a number of vulnerabilities that need to be carefully considered.

[Right now, it's just a stub, to be filled in later]

~ Moist Areas

TEXT - dam and waterlines

~ Erosion Areas

TEXT - several in upper water-lines

~ Disturbed Areas

TEXT - areas above the dams from which soil was removed, but especially pig-damage

~ The Home Track

TEXT - natural water-flow, erosion, weed entry-point


Threat Management

A 'threat' is something that's external to the property, and is likely to cause harm, particularly if it impinges on a vulnerability. The term 'safeguard' is also used to refer to techniques to address threats.

This section identifies a number of threats that need to be carefully considered.

~ Weed Control Plan

This is a very large and ongoing facet of out management of the property. See:

~ Feral Animal Control Plan

See MP (pp. 28-29 and p. 51 – DPI brochure not provided).

Feral pigs have done a considerable amount of surface damage during the last 6 months.

Information is needed from NCT about any work that has been done, and is currently being done, as per the statement on MP (p. 26). We understand that Dianne Izzard was laying pig-baits, or was arranging for someone else to do so.

~ Visiting Shoes and Vehicles

TEXT - a parking area inside the entrance?

~ Construction

TEXT

~ Services

TEXT - electricity, telecomms

~ Occupation

TEXT – runoff, foreign plantings, effluent


Support Organisations

In managing the property, we'll be drawing on input from a remarkably large number of organisations, including:

Other groups of potential relevance include:


References

NCT (2008) 'Plan of Management for Bunhybee Grasslands' undated c. June 2008 (50 pp.)

Baines G. (2007) 'Assessment of Conservation Values of Lot 164 The Gully Road, & Lot 2 Jerrabatgulla Road, Braidwood' undated c. June 2007 (5 pp.)


This is a page within the Bunhybee Grasslands Web-Site, home-page here, and site-map here

Contact: Linda or Roger

Created: 6 December 2008; Last Amended: 14 August 2011