New study finds wildlife wonderland in little known WA woodlands

A new study conducted by The Wilderness Society has shown that the native woodlands between Hyden and Norseman in the south of Western Australia, are among the most significant habitats for wildlife in southern Australia.

This region is part of the Great Western Woodlands, a huge area of intact native woodland and heathland east of the Western Australian wheatbelt.

The wildlife study carried out late last year found that the woodlands in the Honman Ridge – Bremer Range district east of Hyden, support an exceptional diversity of native mammals, birds and reptiles.

“We were very excited by what we found. This extraordinary area is undoubtedly the largest and most intact eucalypt woodland left in southern Australia” said Ms. Susie Duncan, the Wilderness Society ecologist who led the survey.

“Woodlands like this used to occur throughout what is now the WA Wheatbelt and through a huge area of eastern Australia. But after a century of landclearing, only in the Great Western Woodlands can you find such an intact area of good quality native woodland and all the species that live there.”

“During our survey we found 101 species of mammals, birds and reptiles, 19 of which are recognised as threatened. We also found to be abundant many species that are now declining in the over-cleared and salinity affected lands in the Wheatbelt, e.g. Yellow-plumed and Purple-gaped Honeyeaters.”

However, the future of these woodlands is not entirely secure. Mining exploration, mining, weeds and inappropriate fire regimes all pose threats to the wildlife of the region.

Ms Duncan commented “During the study it was observed that mining exploration had resulted in a maze of old and new tracks and gridlines, and cleared drill sites. This has removed habitat and killed wildlife that has entered unplugged drilling holes and water sumps. Exploration traffic was also responsible for a number of roadkills in the short period of our survey, including a Carpet Python which is listed as ‘Specially Protected’ in WA.

“We have reiterated long-standing calls for the Honman Ridge – Bremer Range district to be protected in a conservation reserve. We also recommend that mining exploration activities conform to rigorous exploration codes which minimise vegetation destruction and prevent weed establishment” said Ms Duncan.

In addition, the authors recommended that both weed management and fire management plans be prepared, to ensure good ecological management of the broader region.

“In the Kalgoorlie region, Western Australia is fortunate to have such a huge area of woodland and heathland where the ecology is undisturbed and the original wildlife is still abundant. This stands out when compared with the rest of southern Australia. We have a great opportunity to do good management in this region to ensure that this wonderful diversity is maintained into the future” Ms Duncan finished.

VERTEBRATE FAUNA
OF THE HONMAN RIDGE-BREMER RANGE DISTRICT,
GREAT WESTERN WOODLANDS,
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Thorny devil

Executive Summary

Complete report (493 kb pdf)

This study assesses the significance of the Honman Ridge-Bremer Range district for native wildlife. We also make an initial assessment of the large-scale ecological processes and connections that are essential to the maintenance of these species in the study area. Threats to the fauna of the district are outlined, and brief recommendations are made on requirements for maintaining and protecting the fauna in the study area.

The study forms part of broader work by The Wilderness Society documenting the natural values of the Great Western Woodlands and the natural processes that maintain those values. This contributes toward the Gondwana Link vision which aims for the long-term protection and restoration of country in south-western Australia, from Kalgoorlie to the Karri forests. The Honman Ridge-Bremer Range district is of particular concern as it lies in an active mining area.

The study area lies in the south-west of the Great Western Woodlands region. This region is the largest and most intact block of temperate eucalypt woodland remaining in Australia. On a continental scale it is the largest area of intact temperate habitat of any type remaining in Australia. Internationally the Great Western Woodlands almost certainly retain the largest temperate heathlands and woodlands remaining on Earth. It has been globally recognised as contributing toward a biodiversity hotspot for its exceptional richness of endemic plants and the degree to which they are under threat.

As part of this study a field survey was conducted in mid November 2005. Standard methods for surveying vertebrate groups were used.

The fauna of the study area was found to be diverse with 26 reptile, 63 bird and 12 mammal species being detected during this brief survey, or recorded recently by others. Of these species, we judged nineteen to be of conservation significance. This number includes species that are relatively abundant in the study area but which are declining or threatened in remnants of temperate woodlands elsewhere in Australia.

Ecological processes in the study area appeared to be highly intact. This includes maintenance of top order predators (Dingoes/Dogs), keystone species such as fruit dispersing Emus, and large populations of mobile nectarivores. The intact nature of the ecological processes is likely to arise from the highly intact character of the study area. The Great Western Woodlands have had relatively little clearing, and to date, few invasive weeds.

The fauna conservation value of the Honman Ridge-Bremer Range district is significant in two respects. First, viewed in isolation, the study area maintains populations of a range of fauna species of inherent conservation value. Second, the study area, as part of the larger Great Western Woodlands, retains most or all of its key ecological processes and connections. These processes support the long-term maintenance of the natural communities, including fauna, in the study area.

Mining exploration, mining, weeds, and inappropriate fire regimes pose immediate threats to the fauna of the study area. These threats are interrelated, since the amount of human traffic and disturbance directly influences the risk of weed invasion and the extent and frequency of burning.

Our recommendations for the long-term maintenance of the fauna of the study area are that:

The Honman Ridge-Bremer Range study area be considered for protection in a conservation reserve. This was also the recommendation of a previous review of the flora of the area.

An ecological fire management plan based on the best available science be prepared for the study area, as part of the broader Great Western Woodlands, and be actively implemented.

A weed management plan for the Great Western Woodlands be prepared. This should give high priority to quarantine measures such as compulsory wash-down facilities for all vehicles and include a well resourced ‘rapid response’ program to identify new weeds becoming established in the region and to eradicate them before they become widespread.

Any Dingo control programs in the study area be terminated. For the broader Great Western Woodlands, an appropriate policy should be established that maintains stable Dingo populations in the region as a whole while protecting the interests of farmers in adjacent wheatbelt lands.

Mining exploration activities conform to rigorous exploration codes which minimise vegetation destruction and prevent weed establishment in all areas.

VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE HONMAN RIDGE-BREMER RANGE DISTRICT, GREAT WESTERN WOODLANDS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. Complete report (493 kb pdf)