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Gibraltar Nature ReservePlan of Management
GIBRALTAR NATURE RESERVE
PLAN OF MANAGEMENT
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Part of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water
May 2010
This plan of management was adopted by the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment on 18
th May 2010.
Acknowledgments The NPWS acknowledges that this reserve is in the traditional country of the Ngarrabul people. This plan of management is based on a draft plan prepared by the staff of the Tenterfield Area of the Northern Tablelands Region of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), part of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. Cover photograph: Gibraltar Nature Reserve from Mole River Road. Further information For additional information or enquiries on any aspect of the plan, contact the NPWS Tenterfield Area, 10 Miles Street, Tenterfield NSW 2372 or by phone on (02) 6736 4298. © Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (NSW) 2010: Use permitted with appropriate acknowledgment. ISBN 978 1 74232 798 3
DECCW 2010/491
FOREWORD
Gibraltar Nature Reserve is situated on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales approximately 35 kilometres west of Tenterfield and covers an area of 160 hectares. Gibraltar Nature Reserve conserves poorly reserved vegetation communities, one threatened plant, nine regionally uncommon plant species and one new record for the Northern Tablelands. It also provides habitat for five vulnerable animals and is of value as part of a conservation corridor. The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 requires that a plan of management be prepared for each nature reserve. A plan of management is a legal document that outlines how an area will be managed in the years ahead. A draft plan of management for Gibraltar Nature Reserve was placed on public exhibition from 20
th March until 29
th June 2009. The submissions received were
carefully considered before adopting this plan. The plan contains a number of actions to achieve the State Plan priority to “Protect our native vegetation, biodiversity, land, rivers and coastal waterways” including regeneration of native vegetation in disturbed areas to reduce erosion and sedimentation of streams, implementation of recovery plans and priority actions for threatened species, and control of weeds and pest animals. This plan of management establishes the scheme of operations for Gibraltar Nature Reserve. In accordance with section 73B of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, this plan of management is hereby adopted.
Frank Sartor MP Minister for Climate Change and the Environment
1
1. GIBRALTAR NATURE RESERVE
This plan of management applies to the land reserved as Gibraltar Nature Reserve (herein referred to as the “reserve”) (see Map 1). The reserve is located on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales approximately 35 kilometres west of Tenterfield. It covers an area of 160 hectares south of the Bruxner Highway, and is within the Moombahlene Local Aboriginal Land Council area, Tenterfield Local Government Area, Border Rivers/Gwydir Catchment Management Authority area, and New England Livestock Health and Pest Authority area. The reserve was formerly Crown land with grazing leases and was gazetted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) on the 17
th December 1999. The
reserve protects poorly reserved vegetation communities, threatened flora and the conservation corridor value of the area (NPWS 1993). The Regional Forest Agreement for North East NSW (RFA) provided for major additions to the reserve system, including the establishment of Gibraltar Nature Reserve. The reserve lies in the Nandewar Bioregion, which is under represented in the reserve system. It supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna with many species at the limit of their distributions. The reserve is also part of a disjunct corridor of reserved land from Donnybrook State Forest and Donnybrook Nature Reserve in the north to Torrington State Conservation Area in the south. Much of the adjoining private land supports small-scale sheep and cattle grazing enterprises.
2. MANAGEMENT CONTEXT
2.1. Legislative and Policy Framework The management of nature reserves in New South Wales (NSW) is in the context of a legislative and policy framework, primarily the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) and Regulations, the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) and the policies of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Other legislation, international agreements and charters may also apply to management of the area. In particular, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act) may require the assessment and mitigation of environmental impacts of works proposed in this plan. The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) also applies in relation to actions that may impact on matters of National Environmental Significance, such as threatened species and endangered ecological communities listed under that Act. A plan of management is a statutory document under the NPW Act. Once the Minister has adopted the plan, no operations may be undertaken within Gibraltar Nature Reserve except in accordance with this plan. The plan will also apply to any future additions to the reserve. Where management strategies or works are proposed for the reserve or any additions that are not consistent with this plan, an amendment to the plan or a new plan will be prepared and exhibited for public comment.
2
2.2. Management Purposes and Principles Nature reserves are reserved under the NPW Act to protect and conserve areas containing outstanding, unique or representative ecosystems, species, communities or natural phenomena. Under the Act (section 30J), nature reserves are managed to:
• conserve biodiversity, maintain ecosystem functions, and protect geological and geomorphological features and natural phenomena;
• conserve places, objects, features and landscapes of cultural value;
• promote public appreciation, enjoyment and understanding of the reserve’s natural and cultural values; and
• provide for appropriate research and monitoring. Nature reserves differ from national parks in that they do not have the provision of recreation as a management principle.
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Gibraltar
Nature Reserve
Reedy Creek R
d
Sile
nt G
rove Rd
Mole R
iver Rd
#Boundary
Sugarloaf
� Boundary Creek Falls
Mole River
Boundary Creek
�
Bruxner High way
Ne
w E
ng
land
Hig
hw
ay
Gibraltar Nature Reserve
Torrington SCA
Washpool NP
Bluff River NR
Bald Rock NPBasket Swamp NP
Donnybrook NR
Currys Gap SCA
Mount Mackenzie NR
TENTERFIELD
Legend
Gate - non NPWS
Rivers / Creeks
The Planning Area
Other NPWS Estate
State Forest
Management Trail
! ! ! ! Private Property Trail
Sealed Road - off park
Unsealed Road - off park
�
0 1 2 3 Kilometres
4
3. VALUES OF THE RESERVE
The location, landforms and plant and animal communities of an area have determined how it has been used and valued. Both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people place values on natural areas, including aesthetic, social, spiritual and recreational values. These values may be attached to the landscape as a whole or to individual components, for example to plant and animal species used by Aboriginal people. This plan of management aims to conserve both natural and cultural values. For reasons of clarity and document usefulness, natural heritage, cultural heritage, threats and on-going use are dealt with individually, but their inter-relationships are recognised. While Aboriginal use of the area is believed to have been widespread, the rugged terrain of the reserve has limited the non-Aboriginal use of the reserve. The vegetation communities and diverse range of plant and animal species in the reserve are important in a region where widespread clearing of native vegetation has resulted in biodiversity loss and habitat fragmentation. 3.1. Landform, Geology and Soils The landscape of Gibraltar Nature Reserve encapsulates a steep northwest facing slope that varies in altitude from 440 metres above sea level at Boundary Creek to 700 metres at a plateau in the southwest of the reserve. The reserve is situated in the upper Mole River sub-catchment. The ephemeral Boundary Creek dissects the reserve and includes the Boundary Creek waterfall, which is over 30 metres high. Boundary Creek flows north to Mole River which eventually flows to the Dumaresq River forming the Queensland/NSW border. The reserve lies on the Bodonga Beds, which are sedimentary rocks of early-Permian age. Soils are moderately infertile and susceptible to erosion when grass cover is removed. 3.2. Native Plants A detailed vegetation survey of the reserve recorded 112 species (Hunter, 2002). These include nine regionally uncommon species and one new record for the Northern Tablelands (refer to Table 1). The threatened plant Ooline (Cadellia pentastylis), a spreading tree, has been recorded in the reserve and it is possible that the threatened Gibraltar Rock Apple (Angophora exul) may also occur within the reserve. A report of the endangered vine, Climbing Caustic (Euphorbia sarcostemmoides), which is rare on the New England Tablelands and North West Slopes, has also been made for this reserve, but remains unconfirmed.
5
Table 1. Threatened and significant plant species recorded in the reserve
Common name Scientific name Status
Reedgrass Arundinella nepalensis Regionally uncommon
Austrodanthonia moniticola Regionally uncommon
Slender Bamboo Grass Austrostipa verticillata Regionally uncommon
Tarvine Boerhavia dominii Regionally uncommon
Ooline Cadellia pentastylis Vulnerable*#
Yellow Burr-daisy Calotis lappulacea Regionally uncommon
Sticky Cassinia Cassinia uncata Regionally uncommon
Tiger Orchid Cymbidium canaliculatum Regionally uncommon
Cotton Panic Grass Digitaria brownii Regionally uncommon
Narrow Leaf Holland Daisy Vittadinia muelleri Regionally uncommon
Basket Grass Oplismenus aemulus New record for the Tablelands
* Status under TSC Act # Status under the EPBC Act
Hunter (2000) describes three native vegetation communities within the reserve, whilst a fourth community, Alectryon Rusty Fig Mock Olive Dry Rainforest, was recorded from the reserve by the Nandewar Western Regional Assessment surveys (DEC, 2004) (refer to Table 2). The dominant community is silver-leaved ironbark - white box woodlands on steeper slopes (80% of the reserve), with smaller areas of box - red gum grassy woodlands and apple - cabbage gum woodlands on the lower, more fertile areas (Hunter, 2002). Along the northern and eastern boundaries of the reserve, land clearing has encroached upon the reserve. Over 20 hectares were cleared when the reserve was Crown land and this land remains in a highly modified condition. Box-gum grassy woodland is listed as an Endangered Ecological Community under the TSC Act and the EPBC Act.
Table 2. Vegetation communities recorded in the reserve
Communities Dominant Tree Species
Alectryon Rusty Fig Mock Olive Dry
Rainforest
Wild Quince (Alectryon subcinereus), Rusty Fig (Ficus
rubiginosa), Notelaea microcarpa var microcarpa,
Alectryon subdentatus
Apple - Cabbage Gum Woodlands# Rough-barked apple (Angophora floribunda) and
cabbage gum (Eucalyptus amplifolia subsp. sessiliflora)
Box - Gum Grassy Woodlands *
Fuzzy box (E. conica), Blakely’s red gum (E. blakelyi),
Tenterfield woollybutt (E. banksii) and yellow box (E.
melliodora)
Silver-leaved Ironbark - White Box
Woodlands #
Silver-leaved ironbark (E. melanophloia) and white box
(E. albens) * Listed as Endangered Ecological Community under TSC Act and EPBC Act. # Inadequately reserved (Hunter 2002)
Under the TSC Act, a Threatened Species Priorities Action Statement has been prepared which identifies actions and strategies to promote the recovery of threatened plant species, populations and ecological communities. Priority actions and recovery plans will be used to guide management of threatened species in the reserve. These
6
include protection from disturbance and control of goats in areas containing Climbing Caustic and potential areas of Gibraltar Rock Apple, and avoidance of frequent fires for Climbing Caustic. 3.3. Native Animals A fauna survey was conducted in Gibraltar Nature Reserve in 2003 (Spark, in prep). Five amphibians, four reptiles, 29 birds and six mammals were recorded. Of these, five species are listed as Vulnerable under the TSC Act and one is also listed under the EPBC Act (see Table 3).
Table 3: Threatened fauna in the Gibraltar Nature Reserve
Common Name Scientific Name Legal Status
Border Thick-tailed Gecko Underwoodisaurus sphyrurus Vulnerable*#
Eastern Cave Bat Vespadelus troughtoni Vulnerable*
Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis
temporalis
Vulnerable*
Speckled Warbler Pyrrholaemus sericornis
sagittatus
Vulnerable*
Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella Vulnerable*
* Status under TSC Act # Denotes species nationally threatened under the EPBC Act.
The Comprehensive Regional Assessment (CRA) process also predicted that a number of other threatened species were likely to occur in the reserve including barking owl (Ninox connivens), regent honeyeater (Xanthomyza phrygia), brown treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus victoriae), square-tailed kite (Lophoictinia isura), diamond firetail
(Stagonopleura guttata), hooded robin (Melanodryas cucullata), squirrel glider
(Petaurus norfolcensis), eastern bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis),
and greater long-eared bat (south eastern form) (Nyctophilus timoriensis) (NPWS, 1999). The Threatened Species Priorities Action Statement also identifies actions and strategies to promote the recovery of threatened fauna species and populations. Priority actions and recovery plans will be used to guide management of threatened species in the reserve (refer to Section 5).
3.4. Aboriginal Heritage Aboriginal communities have an association with and connection to the land. The land and water within a landscape are central to Aboriginal spirituality and contribute to Aboriginal identity. Aboriginal communities associate natural resources with the use and enjoyment of foods and medicines, caring for the land, passing on cultural knowledge, kinship systems and strengthening social bonds. Aboriginal heritage and connection to nature are inseparable from each other and need to be managed in an integrated manner across the landscape.
7
The reserve lies within the Moombahlene Local Aboriginal Land Council area and the Ngarrabul language group. Gibraltar Nature Reserve is further along the Mole Tableland escarpment to the west of Rock of Gibraltar, land owned by the local Aboriginal people. No detailed surveys for cultural heritage sites have been conducted in the reserve. However, within a 20 kilometre radius of the reserve an art site, a burial site and over twenty artefact scatters have been recorded including within the Torrington State Conservation Area to the south (also on the Mole Tableland) (English 1998). NPWS maintains regular contact with the Moombahlene Local Aboriginal Land Council and any sites identified in the future will be recorded and maintained appropriately in association with this group. 3.5. Historic Heritage The reserve was formerly Crown land and was known by locals as the ‘prickly pear lease’. There are no existing European cultural heritage structures within the reserve except the boundary fence. According to Hunter (2002), extensive clearing in the Northern Tablelands began in the 1860s after the introduction of the Robertson Selection Acts. By 1890 approximately 10% of the Northern Tablelands had been ringbarked or cleared. Pasture improvement with a range of exotic species commenced in the 1920s, and by the 1970s 19% of the region was sown to improved pastures (Benson and Ashby, 2000). Gibraltar Nature Reserve, along with other reserves in the Tenterfield Area including Bluff River Nature Reserve, Mount MacKenzie Nature Reserve and Currys Gap State Conservation Area (all formerly reserved Crown land with grazing leases), was identified for conservation under the Regional Forest Agreements. Hunter (2002) notes that grazing permits existed over many of these reserves while Crown land, however, there is little evidence in Gibraltar Nature Reserve of this past use except for the clearing along the northern and eastern boundaries. 3.6. Recreation Values There are no recreational facilities or public vehicle trails in the reserve. Low-key self-reliant activities such as bushwalking, photography and bird watching are permissible within the reserve, however, access to the reserve is through private property. Public access requires the permission of the relevant private landholders and for this reason visitation to this reserve by members of the public is generally not promoted.
8
4. THREATS TO RESERVE VALUES
4.1. Pest Species
The feral goat (Capra hircus) is the most significant introduced species threatening the reserve’s natural values. Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are also present within the reserve, however the soil is generally unsuitable for the construction of warrens. Prickly pear (Opuntia stricta) is the only identified weed within the reserve (Hunter 2002). The control requirements under the NSW Noxious Weeds Act 1993 for this weed, state that ‘the growth and spread of the plant must be controlled according to the measures specified in a management plan published by the local control authority and the plant may not be sold, propagated or knowingly distributed’. The control of all pest species within the reserve will be undertaken in accordance with the Northern Tablelands Regional Pest Management Strategy (NPWS, 2007). This Strategy identifies appropriate control mechanisms and management strategies for all pest species throughout the Region. In particular, it identifies aerial shooting and ground trapping as the most effective means of goat control for a reserve such as this. Livestock from adjacent lands occasionally stray into parts of the reserve where fencing is inadequate or absent. Although not bound by legislation to provide for fencing of NPWS estate, the NPWS recognises that cooperative boundary fencing may enhance conservation values and resolve management problems within reserves. 4.2. Fire Management No fires have been recorded in Gibraltar Nature Reserve since its gazettal in 1999, and there are no fire history records for the reserve prior to this date. The primary fire management objectives of the NPWS are to protect life and property and community assets from the adverse impacts of fire, whilst managing fire regimes to maintain and protect biodiversity and cultural heritage. Fire is a natural feature of many environments and is essential for the survival of some plant communities. However, inappropriate fire regimes can lead to loss of particular plant and animal species and communities, and high frequency fires have been listed as a key threatening process under the TSC Act. A separate (map-based) fire management strategy has been prepared for the reserve (NPWS 2006). The fire management strategy outlines the recent fire history of the reserve (in this case no history is known), key assets within and adjoining the reserve including sites of natural and cultural value, fire management zones which may include asset protection zones, and fire control advantages such as management trails and water supply points. Hazard reduction programs, ecological burning proposals and fire trail works are submitted annually to the Bush Fire Management Committee.
9
Listed in the table below are suggested fire thresholds for the three ecological community types found in the reserve.
Table 4. Fire Interval Guidelines for Ecological Communities
Vegetation Community Fire Threshold
Apple Cabbage Gum Woodlands Minimum 5 – Maximum 40 years
Box-red Gum Grassy Woodlands Minimum 5 – Maximum 40 years
Silver leaved Ironbark – Whitebox Woodlands Minimum 5 – Maximum 40 years
Source: adapted from Bradstock et al. 1995, Keith 1996.
The endangered vine, Climbing Caustic (Euphorbia sarcostemmoides), is vulnerable to fire (Hunter, 2002). Many fauna species are also threatened by fire, particularly from too frequent, intense or extensive fires. Loss of habitat resources, such as stags, fallen logs and trees with hollows, also affect the ability of fauna populations to recolonise a burnt area and the continuing viability of populations (RACAC, 1996). Fire within Gibraltar Nature Reserve is most likely to start from lightning strike. Steep terrain and poor access complicate fire management and constrain vehicle-based fire control. Fire management therefore focuses on the planning area boundaries and requires the cooperation of neighbours. 4.3. Isolation and fragmentation Clearing of vegetation within the bioregion has resulted in a high loss of biodiversity and fragmentation of habitat. Long term conservation of biodiversity depends upon the protection, enhancement and connection of remaining habitat across the landscape, involving vegetation remnants on both public and private lands. Nearby vegetated areas consolidate the habitat values of the reserve and provide ecological corridors to other surrounding forested areas. The reserve forms an integral component of both the east-west and north-south corridors on the Northern Tablelands. Forested properties adjacent to the reserve are of high conservation value for their connectivity to other reserved land, enabling them to function as wildlife corridors. Maintaining the integrity of the remaining habitat within the reserve and, where possible, linking this to adjacent areas of bushland to facilitate wildlife corridors is important in ensuring long term viability of the reserve’s biological values. 4.4. Climate Change Climate change has been listed as a key threatening process under the TSC Act. Projections of future changes in climate for NSW include higher temperatures, increasing sea levels and water temperatures, elevated CO2, more intense but possibly reduced annual average rainfall, increased temperature extremes and higher evaporation. These changes are likely to lead to greater intensity, duration and frequency of fires, more severe droughts and increased regional flooding.
10
The National Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan 2004-2007 points out that “Climate change is expected to increase the risk of invasion by alien organisms, including pests, weeds and diseases from neighbouring territories. Climate change may also favour some established alien and native organisms that are currently restricted, causing them to become invasive.” Climate change may significantly affect biodiversity by changing population size and distribution of species, modifying species composition, and altering the geographical extent of habitats and ecosystems. The potential impact of climate change is difficult to assess since it depends on the compounding effects of other pressures, particularly barriers to migration and pressure from weeds and feral animals. Species most at risk are those unable to migrate or adapt, particularly those with small population sizes or with slow growth rates. Programs to reduce pressures arising from such threats will help reduce the severity of the effects of climate change. It has been suggested that the greatest detrimental impact will be on the cover and diversity of woody species. The warm to cool temperate sclerophyll forests and woodlands typical of the planning area will see an increased fire risk resulting from more droughts with a decline in shrub species and potentially an increase in invasive grasses (Bradstock, 2007). Adjusting NPWS management of the environment, through programs to reduce the pressures arising from other threats such as habitat fragmentation, invasive pest species, bushfires, pollution and urban expansion, will help reduce the severity of the effects of climate change. For this reason NPWS will continue with existing pest and weed management programs to increase the ability of native flora and fauna to cope with future climatic disturbances.
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5.
MA
NA
GE
ME
NT
ST
RA
TE
GIE
S A
ND
AC
TIO
NS
Cu
rre
nt
Sit
ua
tio
n
De
sir
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Ou
tco
me
s
Ma
na
ge
me
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Str
ate
gie
s /
Ac
tio
ns
P
rio
rity
5
.1.
So
il a
nd
Wa
ter
Co
ns
erv
ati
on
S
oil
in th
e re
se
rve
is
su
sce
ptib
le to
e
rosio
n
du
e to
th
e ste
ep
ne
ss o
f te
rra
in a
nd
la
ck o
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ge
tatio
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ove
r in
dis
turb
ed
are
as.
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il e
rosio
n is
min
imis
ed
. W
ate
r qu
alit
y a
nd
h
ea
lth
of
rese
rve
str
ea
ms is im
pro
ve
d.
5.1
.1
Un
de
rta
ke
all
wo
rks,
su
ch
as f
ire
m
an
age
me
nt,
in
a m
an
ne
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at
min
imis
es
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ter
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llutio
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5
.1.2
C
on
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ue
to
su
pp
ort
th
e B
ord
er
Riv
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/Gw
yd
ir
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tch
me
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in
an
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pro
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ter
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alit
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hm
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t.
5.1
.3
Pro
mo
te t
he
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ge
ne
ratio
n o
f n
ative
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ge
tatio
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in d
istu
rbe
d a
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s t
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ed
uce
ero
sio
n a
nd
se
dim
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tatio
n o
f str
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ms.
Hig
h
Me
diu
m
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w
5
.2.
Na
tive
Pla
nts
an
d A
nim
als
T
he
re
se
rve
co
nta
ins
fou
r ve
ge
tatio
n
co
mm
un
itie
s.
On
e o
f th
ese
co
mm
un
itie
s i
s a
n
En
da
nge
red
Eco
logic
al
Co
mm
un
ity u
nd
er
the
T
SC
Act.
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he
th
rea
ten
ed
p
lan
t O
olin
e
(Ca
de
llia
p
en
tasty
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ha
s b
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n t
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Ap
ple
(A
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(Eu
ph
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ma
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tive
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om
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are
as
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5.2
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Co
ntr
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ral go
ats
to
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row
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g
thre
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(P
AS
Actio
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(re
fer
to S
ectio
n
5.4
).
5.2
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Co
nd
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furt
he
r flo
ra s
urv
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o c
on
firm
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pre
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of
the
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da
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up
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rbia
sa
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ste
mm
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sp
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s in
th
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ese
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.
Hig
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w
12
Cu
rre
nt
Sit
ua
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De
sir
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Ou
tco
me
s
Ma
na
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me
nt
Str
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s /
Ac
tio
ns
P
rio
rity
14
% o
f th
e r
ese
rve
is in
a d
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d s
tate
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m
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p
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be
twe
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co
mm
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bita
ts.
5.2
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Allo
w n
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ral re
ve
ge
tatio
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f cle
are
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s,
mo
nito
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ucce
ssio
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nd
un
de
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re
ha
bili
tatio
n w
ork
s if
requ
ire
d.
5.2
.4
Imp
lem
en
t re
leva
nt
str
ate
gie
s in
th
e P
rio
ritie
s
Actio
n S
tate
me
nt
an
d r
eco
ve
ry p
lan
s f
or
thre
ate
ne
d s
pe
cie
s.
5
.2.5
W
ork
with
ne
igh
bo
urs
, lo
ca
l L
an
dca
re g
rou
ps
an
d v
ege
tatio
n m
an
age
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nt
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mm
itte
es t
o
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co
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tio
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f re
mn
an
t n
ative
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rve
.
Lo
w
Me
diu
m
Lo
w
5
.3.
Ab
ori
gin
al
an
d H
isto
ric
He
rita
ge
T
he
re
se
rve
o
ccu
rs
with
th
e
Mo
om
ba
hle
ne
L
oca
l A
bo
rigin
al L
an
d C
ou
ncil
(LA
LC
) a
rea
. N
o
Ab
origin
al
or
no
n-A
bo
rigin
al
cu
ltu
ral
he
rita
ge
site
s h
ave
be
en
id
en
tifie
d w
ith
in t
he
re
se
rve
.
Ab
origin
al a
nd
h
isto
ric f
ea
ture
s a
nd
va
lue
s a
re id
en
tifie
d
an
d p
rote
cte
d.
Ab
origin
al p
eo
ple
are
in
vo
lve
d in
m
an
age
me
nt
of
the
A
bo
rigin
al cu
ltu
ral
va
lue
s in
th
e r
ese
rve
. U
nd
ers
tan
din
g o
f th
e
cu
ltu
ral va
lue
s o
f th
e
rese
rve
is im
pro
ve
d.
5.3
.1
Co
nsu
lt a
nd
in
vo
lve
th
e M
oo
mb
ah
len
e L
AL
C
an
d o
the
r re
leva
nt
Ab
origin
al co
mm
un
ity
org
an
isa
tio
ns in
th
e id
en
tifica
tio
n a
nd
m
an
age
me
nt
of
Ab
origin
al site
s,
pla
ce
s a
nd
va
lue
s,
inclu
din
g in
terp
reta
tio
n o
f p
lace
s o
r va
lue
s.
5.3
.2
En
co
ura
ge
fu
rth
er
rese
arc
h in
to t
he
Ab
origin
al
he
rita
ge
va
lue
s o
f th
e r
ese
rve
in
co
nsu
lta
tio
n
with
th
e M
oo
mb
ah
len
e L
AL
C a
nd
Eld
ers
. 5
.3.3
E
nco
ura
ge
re
se
arc
h in
to t
he
his
tory
of
the
re
se
rve
. 5
.3.4
P
rece
de
all
gro
un
d d
istu
rba
nce
wo
rk b
y a
ch
eck f
or
cu
ltu
ral fe
atu
res.
Me
diu
m
Me
diu
m
Lo
w
Hig
h
13
Cu
rre
nt
Sit
ua
tio
n
De
sir
ed
Ou
tco
me
s
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Str
ate
gie
s /
Ac
tio
ns
P
rio
rity
5
.4.
Intr
od
uc
ed
Pla
nts
an
d A
nim
als
T
he
N
PW
S
No
rth
ern
T
ab
lela
nd
s
Re
gio
na
l P
est
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Str
ate
gy (
NP
WS
20
07
) h
as
be
en
d
eve
lop
ed
fo
r th
e R
egio
n a
s a
w
ho
le.
Th
is
str
ate
gy
ide
ntifie
s
pe
st
po
pu
latio
ns,
prio
ritie
s
for
co
ntr
ol
an
d
su
gge
ste
d
co
ntr
ol
me
tho
ds.
T
he
sp
ecie
s o
f m
ost
co
nce
rn to
th
e re
se
rve
a
re f
era
l go
ats
. P
rickly
pe
ar
als
o o
ccu
rs w
ith
in
the
re
se
rve
. S
tra
y
sto
ck
fro
m
ne
igh
bo
urin
g
pa
sto
ral
pro
pe
rtie
s fr
equ
en
tly e
nte
r th
e re
se
rve
s a
nd
m
ay
als
o
imp
act
on
n
atu
ral
va
lue
s
of
the
re
se
rve
. A
pp
rop
ria
te
fen
cin
g
is
imp
ort
an
t to
m
inim
ise
th
is.
Intr
od
uce
d p
lan
ts a
nd
a
nim
als
are
co
ntr
olle
d a
nd
wh
ere
p
ossib
le e
limin
ate
d.
P
est
co
ntr
ol
pro
gra
ms a
re
un
de
rta
ke
n in
co
nsu
lta
tio
n w
ith
n
eig
hb
ou
rs.
D
istr
ibu
tio
n o
f in
tro
du
ce
d p
lan
ts
do
es n
ot
exp
an
d
be
yo
nd
th
e c
urr
en
t e
xte
nt.
5.4
.1
Co
ntr
ol, a
nd
wh
ere
po
ssib
le e
rad
ica
te,
intr
od
uce
d s
pe
cie
s in
acco
rda
nce
with
th
e
No
rth
ern
Ta
ble
lan
ds R
egio
na
l P
est
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Str
ate
gy.
In p
art
icu
lar,
co
nd
uct
regu
lar
sh
oo
tin
g t
o r
ed
uce
th
rea
ts p
ose
d b
y
go
ats
on
An
go
ph
ora
exu
l (P
AS
Actio
n)
an
d
oth
er
thre
ate
ne
d f
lora
an
d c
on
tin
ue
th
e
bio
logic
al co
ntr
ol o
f p
rickly
pe
ar.
5
.4.2
U
nd
ert
ake
in
tegra
ted
pe
st
co
ntr
ol p
rogra
ms
with
th
e L
ive
sto
ck H
ea
lth
an
d P
est
Au
tho
rity
, L
an
dca
re,
Te
nte
rfie
ld S
hire
Co
un
cil,
Fo
rests
N
SW
an
d n
eig
hb
ou
rs.
5
.4.3
U
nd
ert
ake
a s
urv
ey o
f th
e r
ese
rve
to
ma
p
we
ed
an
d p
est
an
ima
l d
istr
ibu
tio
n.
5.4
.4
En
ter
into
bo
un
da
ry f
en
cin
g a
gre
em
en
ts w
ith
n
eig
hb
ou
rs w
he
re a
pp
rop
ria
te t
o e
xclu
de
sto
ck
fro
m e
nte
rin
g t
he
re
se
rve
, in
acco
rda
nce
with
th
e N
PW
S B
ou
nd
ary
Fe
ncin
g P
olic
y.
Hig
h
Me
diu
m
Lo
w
Lo
w
5.5
. F
ire
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
U
np
lan
ne
d f
ire
is a
ma
jor
thre
at
to b
iod
ive
rsity
in t
he
re
se
rve
. T
he
th
rea
ten
ed
vin
e,
Eu
ph
orb
ia
sa
rco
ste
mm
oid
es,
is p
art
icu
larly v
uln
era
ble
to
fire
an
d f
au
na
sp
ecie
s a
re a
lso
th
rea
ten
ed
by
Life
, p
rop
ert
y a
nd
n
atu
ral a
nd
cu
ltu
ral
va
lue
s a
re p
rote
cte
d
fro
m f
ire
.
5.5
.1
Imp
lem
en
t th
e G
ibra
lta
r N
atu
re R
ese
rve
Fire
M
an
age
me
nt
Str
ate
gy (
refe
r to
Se
ctio
n 4
.2).
Hig
h
14
Cu
rre
nt
Sit
ua
tio
n
De
sir
ed
Ou
tco
me
s
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Str
ate
gie
s /
Ac
tio
ns
P
rio
rity
loss o
f h
ab
ita
t re
so
urc
es.
A
Re
se
rve
F
ire
M
an
age
me
nt
Str
ate
gy
ha
s
be
en
pre
pa
red
fo
r th
e r
ese
rve
. T
he
re is
lim
ite
d a
cce
ss t
o t
he
re
se
rve
wh
ich
m
ake
s f
ire
ma
na
ge
me
nt
difficu
lt.
Co
op
era
tive
fire
m
an
age
me
nt
with
n
eig
hb
ou
rs
an
d
oth
er
fire
a
uth
oritie
s
is
inte
gra
l to
e
ffe
ctive
fire
m
an
age
me
nt
in t
he
pla
nn
ing a
rea
.
Fire
fre
qu
en
cie
s a
re
ap
pro
pria
te f
or
co
nse
rva
tio
n o
f n
ative
pla
nt
an
d
an
ima
l co
mm
un
itie
s.
A
co
op
era
tive
a
pp
roa
ch
is
de
ve
lop
ed
fo
r fire
m
an
age
me
nt
with
n
eig
hb
ou
rs a
nd
oth
er
fire
au
tho
ritie
s.
5.5
.2
Pa
rtic
ipa
te in
th
e N
ort
he
rn N
ew
En
gla
nd
Bu
sh
F
ire
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Co
mm
itte
e.
Ma
inta
in
co
op
era
tive
arr
an
ge
me
nts
with
Ru
ral F
ire
S
erv
ice
briga
de
s a
nd
fire
co
ntr
ol o
ffic
ers
, o
the
r fire
au
tho
ritie
s a
nd
su
rro
un
din
g la
nd
ow
ne
rs in
re
ga
rd t
o f
ue
l m
an
age
me
nt
an
d f
ire
su
pp
ressio
n.
5
.5.3
M
an
age
th
e n
atu
re r
ese
rve
to
pro
tect
bio
div
ers
ity in
acco
rda
nce
with
th
e id
en
tifie
d
fire
in
terv
al gu
ide
line
s f
or
ve
ge
tatio
n
co
mm
un
itie
s.
Me
diu
m
Hig
h
5
.6.
Re
cre
ati
on
al
Op
po
rtu
nit
ies
T
he
re a
re n
o p
ub
lic r
oa
ds,
vis
ito
r fa
cili
tie
s o
r in
terp
retive
sig
ns
loca
ted
in
th
e
rese
rve
.
Acce
ss r
equ
ire
s p
erm
issio
n f
rom
ne
igh
bo
urin
g
lan
dh
old
ers
.
Vis
ito
r u
se
is
ap
pro
pria
te a
nd
e
co
logic
ally
su
sta
ina
ble
. V
isito
r u
se
e
nco
ura
ge
s
ap
pre
cia
tio
n o
f th
e
rese
rve
’s v
alu
es.
5.6
.1
On
ly p
erm
it lo
w-k
ey s
elf-r
elia
nt
activitie
s s
uch
a
s b
ush
wa
lkin
g,
ph
oto
gra
ph
y a
nd
bird
w
atc
hin
g in
th
e r
ese
rve
.
5.6
.2
No
vis
ito
r fa
cili
tie
s o
r p
ub
lic v
eh
icle
acce
ss w
ill
be
pro
vid
ed
or
pe
rmitte
d.
Hig
h
Hig
h
15
Cu
rre
nt
Sit
ua
tio
n
De
sir
ed
Ou
tco
me
s
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Str
ate
gie
s /
Ac
tio
ns
P
rio
rity
5
.7.
Cli
ma
te C
ha
ng
e
Clim
ate
ch
an
ge
h
as
be
en
lis
ted
a
s
a
ke
y
thre
ate
nin
g u
nd
er
the
TS
C A
ct.
Th
e im
pa
cts
of
clim
ate
ch
an
ge
on
n
atu
ral syste
ms a
re
min
imis
ed
.
5.7
.1
Co
ntin
ue
exis
tin
g f
ire
, p
est
an
d w
ee
d
ma
na
ge
me
nt
pro
gra
ms t
o in
cre
ase
th
e a
bili
ty
of
na
tive
flo
ra a
nd
fa
un
a t
o c
op
e w
ith
fu
ture
d
istu
rba
nce
s,
inclu
din
g c
lima
te c
ha
nge
.
Hig
h
5
.8.
Ma
na
ge
me
nt
Op
era
tio
ns
an
d
Oth
er
Us
es
N
o
ma
na
ge
me
nt
tra
ils
occu
r in
G
ibra
lta
r N
atu
re
Re
se
rve
. A
cce
ss
to
this
re
se
rve
is
ga
ine
d t
hro
ugh
priva
te p
rop
ert
y.
No
ne
w u
se
s o
r in
fra
str
uctu
re a
re
de
ve
lop
ed
with
in t
he
re
se
rve
.
5.8
.1
Ne
go
tia
te a
‘righ
t o
f ca
rria
ge
wa
y’ fo
rma
l a
gre
em
en
t o
r e
ase
me
nt
with
re
leva
nt
ne
igh
bo
urs
re
ga
rdin
g t
he
use
an
d
ma
inte
na
nce
of
the
priva
te t
rail
use
d f
or
NP
WS
acce
ss a
nd
fire
ma
na
ge
me
nt
pu
rpo
se
s.
Hig
h
Hig
h p
rio
rity
activitie
s a
re t
ho
se
im
pe
rative
to
ach
ieve
me
nt
of
the
ob
jective
s a
nd
de
sire
d o
utc
om
es.
Th
ey m
ust
be
un
de
rta
ke
n i
n t
he
n
ea
r fu
ture
to
avo
id s
ign
ific
an
t d
ete
rio
ratio
n in
na
tura
l, c
ultu
ral o
r m
an
age
me
nt
reso
urc
es.
Me
diu
m p
rio
rity
activitie
s a
re t
ho
se
th
at
are
ne
ce
ssa
ry t
o a
ch
ieve
th
e o
bje
ctive
s a
nd
de
sire
d o
utc
om
es b
ut
are
no
t u
rge
nt.
Lo
w p
rio
rity
activitie
s a
re d
esira
ble
to
ach
ieve
ma
na
ge
me
nt
ob
jective
s a
nd
de
sire
d o
utc
om
es b
ut
ca
n w
ait u
ntil
reso
urc
es b
eco
me
a
va
ilab
le.
16
6. REFERENCES
Benson, J.S. & Ashby, E. (2000). Vegetation of the Guyra 1:100 000 Map Sheet.
Cunninghamia 3:679-788.
Bradstock, R. (2007). ‘Fire and Climate Change in Australia – Is Gondwana a Goner?’. Conference proceedings “Bushfire in a heating world” 31/5/2007 -1/06/07 Sydney, Australia. Sponsored by New South Wales Nature Conservation Council.
Department of Environment and Conservation (2004). Nandewar Biodiversity Surrogates: Vegetation. Report for the Resource and Conservation Assessment Council (RACAC), NSW Western Regional Assessments, coordinated by NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, Project no. NAND06. Department of Environment and Conservation, Coffs Harbour.
English, A. (1998) Archaeological Survey for Aboriginal Sites, Torrington State Recreation Area. Northern New South Wales, Cultural Heritage Services Division, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Hunter, J.T. (2002) Vegetation and Floristics of the Tenterfield Nature Reserves: Bluff River, Bolivia Hill, Curry’s Gap, Gibraltar and Mt McKenzie. A report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Northern Tablelands Region.
Keith (2002). Fire Interval Guidelines for Broad Vegetation Types. Document produced for NPWS.
NPWS (1993) Rock of Gibraltar Investigation Report, A report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Northern Tablelands Region.
NPWS (1999) Modelling Areas Of Habitat Significance For Vertebrate Fauna And Vascular Flora In North East NSW: A project undertaken as part of the NSW Comprehensive Regional Assessments, A report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
NPWS (2006) Northern Tablelands Region Gibraltar NR Fire Management Strategy. Department of Environment and Climate Change.
NPWS (2007) Pest Management Strategy Northern Tablelands Region. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.
Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (2004). National Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan 2004–2007. Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra, ACT.
RACAC (1996) Regional Report of Upper North East New South Wales: Volume 4, Biodiversity Attributes. A report initiated by the Natural Resources Audit Council. Resource and Conservation Assessment Council.
Spark, P. (in prep) Vertebrate Fauna Survey of Gibraltar Nature Reserve and Surrounds, A report to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Northern Tablelands Region.
