Parks and reserves of the south-west Kimberley and north-west Pilbara

Draft joint management plan 2016

Conservation and Parks Commission

Department of Parks and Wildlife

Department of Parks and Wildlife17 Dick Perry AvenueTechnology Park, Western PrecinctKENSINGTON WA 6151

Phone (08) 9219 9000Fax (08) 9334 0498www.dpaw.wa.gov.au

© State of Western Australia 2016

December 2016

ISBN 978-1-921703-77-5 (print)

ISBN 978-1-921703-78-2 (online)

WARNING: This plan may contain names and images of deceased Aboriginal people.

This work is copyright. All traditional and cultural knowledge in this draft joint management plan is the cultural and intellectual property of traditional owners and is published with the consent of the representative Aboriginal Corporation on their behalf. Written consent from Aboriginal Corporations must be obtained for use or reproduction of any such materials. Any unauthorised dealing is a serious breach of customary law and may also breach the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).

All other non-traditional and cultural content in this draft plan may be downloaded, displayed, printed and reproduced in unaltered form for personal use, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act, all other rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

This draft plan was prepared by the Conservation and Parks Commission, the Karajarri Traditional Lands Association, the Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation, and the Wanparta Aboriginal Corporation through the agency of the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Questions regarding this plan should be directed to: Planning Branch Department of Parks and Wildlife 17 Dick Perry Avenue Kensington WA 6151 Locked Bag 104 Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Phone: (08) 9219 9000

The recommended reference for this publication is: Department of Parks and Wildlife 2016, Parks and reserves of the south-west Kimberley and north-west Pilbara draft joint management plan, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth.

Cover photographs:

Top left: Dragon trees over bulrush at Dragon Tree Soak, Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve. Photo – Stephen Reynolds/Environs KimberleyTop right: Saunders Spring, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Jan van de KamBottom right: Kujungurru-Warrarn Nature Reserve looking south from Waru Creek. Photo – Parks and WildlifeBottom left: Salt Creek, Walyarta Conservation Park. Photo – Jan van de KamMain: Greater bilby. Photo – Bert and Babs Wells/Parks and Wildlife

This document is available in alternative formats on request.

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Invitation to commentThis draft joint management plan has been released for a three-month period to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on how the reserves covered by the plan are proposed to be managed over the next ten years.

To ensure your submission is as effective as possible:• be clear and concise• refer your points to the page numbers or specific sections in the plan• say whether you agree or disagree with any or all of the management arrangements – clearly state your reasons, particularly if

you disagree• give sources of information where possible• suggest alternatives for those aspects of the plan with which you disagree.

The draft plan will be reviewed in the light of the submissions, according to the criteria outlined below. A summary of public submissions will be made available along with the final management plan.

The draft plan may be amended if a submission:• provides additional information of direct relevance to management• indicates a change in (or clarifies) government legislation or management policy• proposes strategies that would better achieve management objectives• indicates omissions, inaccuracies or a lack of clarity.

The draft plan may not be amended if a submission:• clearly supports proposals in the plan or makes general or neutral statements• refers to issues beyond the scope of the plan• refers to issues that are already noted within the plan or already considered during its preparation• is one among several widely divergent viewpoints received on the topic but the approach in the plan is still considered the

best option• contributes options that are not feasible (generally due to conflict with legislation or government policy)• is based on unclear or factually incorrect information.

The draft plan can be viewed and submissions made online at:www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/parks/management-plans/draft-plans-open-for-public-comment.

Alternatively, you can write to:Planning BranchDepartment of Parks and WildlifeLocked Bag 104Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983

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SummaryThis draft joint management plan provides direction for the joint management of existing and proposed parks and reserves in the south-west Kimberley and north-west Pilbara regions; a coastal strip of conservation estate comprising nature reserves and conservation parks (Eighty Mile Beach coastal reserves), Walyarta Conservation Park and Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve.

The Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy is a commitment by the State to recognise and conserve significant natural and cultural values of the region and to provide increased opportunities for Aboriginal involvement in land and sea management. A key objective of the strategy is to establish a representative system of jointly managed protected areas (Government of Western Australia 2011).

The creation of new parks and reserves in the south-west Kimberley and north-west Pilbara and the subsequent preparation and implementation of this plan contributes to the delivery of the strategy, and are key features of Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) negotiated with the Karajarri, Nyangumarta and Ngarla people. Each traditional owner group has a special connection with, and responsibility for, the lands and waters within their native title determination areas.

The plan describes the cultural heritage, natural, recreation, tourism, community and resource use values of the planning area and analyses management issues. It identifies objectives, strategies and key performance indicators, to provide a robust framework to protect and manage the area’s values and support adaptive management.

The purpose of the plan is to ensure:• the planning area is managed in an ecologically sustainable and a culturally appropriate manner• management of relevant parts of the planning area is consistent with and complements management of the

Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park• management of relevant parts of the planning area is consistent with Australia’s obligations under the Ramsar

Convention.

Management needs to ensure that access to culturally sensitive and significant areas is appropriate. Access restrictions to a number of cultural sites will be given effect through the implementation of the plan. Traditional owners can continue to enjoy and maintain their customary activities in the planning area. Joint management of new and existing reserves will also result in better integration of traditional knowledge with contemporary science and land practices.

Maintaining the integrity of hydrological systems that provide critical ecosystem services, and maintaining the condition and extent of wetland habitats, are high priorities for management, along with the conservation of threatened species and communities.

Over the next 10 years, visitation is likely to remain focused on existing nodes along the coast and just outside of the planning area, such as Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park and Cape Keraudren. These provide access to the adjacent Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park and offer the best options for managing visitor risk and safety. New cultural ecotourism opportunities may also be investigated.

The key management issues are introduced herbivores (including domestic stock) and inappropriate fire regimes. Walyarta Conservation Park and the Eighty Mile Beach coastal reserves have a long history of pastoralism. Destocking and fencing are important strategies to allow these areas to recover from grazing and to prevent adverse impacts on sensitive sites. Other land uses in the vicinity of the planning area have the potential to affect the hydrology and functioning of significant wetlands. These issues occur at a landscape-scale and, when considered with the fragmented nature of the planning area, it is essential to adopt a cooperative, integrated management approach involving all neighbouring land managers.

Developing an understanding of the key values of the planning area and collecting the relevant baseline data will be a strong focus in the early stages of implementation. It is a priority to increase understanding of the water requirements and regimes that are needed to sustain the groundwater dependent ecosystems of the planning area. It is essential to establish a long-term monitoring program to evaluate management effectiveness and inform adaptive management.

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ContentsInvitation to comment ................................................................................................................1

Summary .........................................................................................................................................2

1 Introduction .........................................................................................................................5

1.1 The reserves and their values .....................................................................................................................................5

Names of the reserves ................................................................................................................................................6

1.2 Management context ....................................................................................................................................................6

Joint management partners ....................................................................................................................................6

Planning and decision making ................................................................................................................................7

Administration ..............................................................................................................................................................7

Legislative and policy framework ..........................................................................................................................7

International conservation agreements ..............................................................................................................8

1.3 Planning area ....................................................................................................................................................................8

Location ...........................................................................................................................................................................8

Tenure and proposed land arrangements .......................................................................................................13

Adjacent lands and off-reserve management ................................................................................................14

Other protected areas .............................................................................................................................................14

1.4 Term of the plan ...........................................................................................................................................................15

2. Vision and strategic goals .............................................................................................. 17

2.1 Vision ................................................................................................................................................................................17

2.2 Strategic goals...............................................................................................................................................................17

3. Connection to country (cultural heritage values) ..................................................... 18

3.1 Dreamtime and traditional law ...............................................................................................................................18

3.2 Traditional knowledge ...............................................................................................................................................16

3.3 Plants, animals and sites of significance ..............................................................................................................19

3.4 Enjoyment of country and customary practices ..............................................................................................20

4. Caring for country (natural values) .............................................................................. 23

4.1 Wetlands of significance ............................................................................................................................................23

4.2 Flora, fauna and ecological communities ...........................................................................................................24

Priority flora .................................................................................................................................................................24

Threatened and other significant fauna ...........................................................................................................24

Ecological communities ..........................................................................................................................................26

4.3 Management issues ....................................................................................................................................................28

Weeds ............................................................................................................................................................................28

Introduced animals...................................................................................................................................................28

Fire ..................................................................................................................................................................................30

Climate change ..........................................................................................................................................................31

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5. People on country (recreation, tourism and community values) ........................... 35

5.1 Planning for visitor use ..............................................................................................................................................35

5.2 Access ...............................................................................................................................................................................36

Access management ................................................................................................................................................36

5.3 Safety ................................................................................................................................................................................37

5.4 Visitor information, education and interpretation ...........................................................................................37

5.5 Commercial operations .............................................................................................................................................37

5.6 Community involvement ..........................................................................................................................................38

6. Using resources from the country (sustainable resource use) ................................ 40

6.1 Pastoralism .....................................................................................................................................................................40

6.2 Water abstraction .........................................................................................................................................................41

6.3 Mineral and petroleum exploration and development .................................................................................41

7. Performance Assessment ............................................................................................... 43

References ................................................................................................................................... 44Appendices .................................................................................................................................. 48

Appendix I: Eighty Mile Beach Ramsar site ................................................................................................................48

Ramsar listing criteria ..............................................................................................................................................49

Critical components and processes ....................................................................................................................50

Limits of acceptable change .................................................................................................................................50

Reporting .....................................................................................................................................................................50

Appendix II: Physical and biological environment .................................................................................................51

Climate ..........................................................................................................................................................................51

Geomorphology and landforms ..........................................................................................................................51

Hydrology ....................................................................................................................................................................52

Flora ...............................................................................................................................................................................53

Fauna .............................................................................................................................................................................54

Appendix III: Guiding principles for fire management in landscapes dominated by spinifex grasslands .............................................................................................................................................................56

Appendix IV: Climate change vulnerability assessment of mound spring communities, Walyarta Conservation Park ...........................................................................................................................................57

MapsMap 1 Overview of the planning area ............................................................................................................................9

Map 2 Eighty Mile Beach coastal reserves .................................................................................................................10

Map 3 Walyarta Conservation Park ...............................................................................................................................11

Map 4 Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve ........................................................................................................................12

TablesTable 1 Reserve names, origins and meanings ...........................................................................................................6

Table 2 Existing tenure of the planning area ............................................................................................................13

Table 3 Tenure of proposed additions to the planning area ...............................................................................13

Table 4 Fauna of conservation significance in the planning area ..................................................................... 25

Table 5 Ramsar listing criteria met by portions of the Ramsar site in the planning area ......................... 49

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1.Introduction1.1ThereservesandtheirvaluesTheexistingandproposedparksandreservesofthesouth-westKimberleyandnorth-westPilbararegions(theplanningarea)includethelandsandwatersoftheKarajarri,NyangumartaandNgarlapeople,whohavecontinuingrightsandresponsibilitiesfortheseareas.Theregion’sgeomorphologyandhydrologygivesrisetoaspectacularandcomplexarrayoflandscapefeaturesandhabitats,fromthecoastaldunesalongEightyMileBeach,tofreshwatermoundspringsandinlandmangrovesthatemergealonganancientriverchannel,tothestrikingredsanddunesandsandplainsoftheGreatSandyDesert.TheplanningareacomprisestheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves(JinmarnkurConservationPark,JinmarnkurKuljaNatureReserve,Kujungurru-WarrarnNatureReserve,Kujungurru-WarrarnConservationPark,unnamed‘Gap’naturereserve,JarrkunpunguNatureReserve,andaproposedunnamednaturereserve),WalyartaConservationParkandKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve.Thekeyvaluesoftheplanningareaaregroupedunderfourheadings.Culturalheritage–thereservesarelivingculturallandscapeswhichincludesacredsites,storiesandsonglinesthatcrossthebroaderregion,linkingplacesandpeople.Manysitesarebelievedtobecreatedandinhabitedbypulany(powerfulmythicalwatersnakes)andmustberespectedandapproachedintherightway.Thesesitesandtheassociatedknowledgeandtraditions,demonstratethelongandongoingconnectiontraditionalownershavewiththisarea.Natural–theplanningareaencompassesarangeofwetlandtypesandpartoftheinternationallysignificantEightyMileBeachRamsarsite.Thereservessupportlargenumbersofwildlife,aswellaspopulationsofthreatenedspecies,andprovidebreedinghabitatforwaterbirds,particularlywhenflooded.Moundspringsandpermanentwatersourcesmaintainuniquevegetationassociationsandhaveimportantrefugiavalueforbiodiversity.Theplanningareacontainsseveralthreatenedandpriorityecologicalcommunities.

WalyartaConservationPark.Photo–ChrisNutt/ParksandWildlife

Recreation,tourismandcommunity–EightyMileBeachMarineParkisadjacenttotheplanningarea,andaccessiblelocationsalongthecoastwillbethefocusforvisitation.Theyprovideopportunitiesfornature-basedtourismandrecreationfortravellersbetweenthePilbaraandtheKimberley.Traditionalownershaveexpressedinterestindevelopingnewculturalecotourismventures.Resourceuse–theexistingandpotentialactivitiesassociatedwiththeplanningareaarepastoralism,abstractionofgroundwaterandresourceexplorationanddevelopment.

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NamesofthereservesTheKarajarri,NyangumartaandNgarlapeoplehavechosenthenamesofthereservesoftheplanningarea.Theoriginandmeaningofthenamesarelistedbelow.Table1Reservenames,originsandmeanings

Reservename Originandmeaning

KurrijiPaYajula Apukarrikarra(Dreaming)siteforKarajarripeople.Containstwojila(permanentwatersources),namelyKurrijiandYajula.

WalyartaNyangumartaplacenameassociatedwiththesaltandfreshwatermarshlandsthatstretchfromthedeserttothecoast.WalyartaisacommonnamefortheareausedbyboththeNyangumartaandtheKarajarripeople.

JinmarnkurKarajarriplacenamefortheareaknownasCapeMissiessy,thenorthernpointofEightyMileBeach.KarajarripeoplevisitedJinmarnkurtouseafishtrapcalledkunjunkuandoftencaughtpirala(whiskeredsalmon).

JinmarnkurKulja Jinmarnkur(jin-marn-goor)isthetraditionalKarajarriplacenamefortheareaknownasCapeMissiessy.Kuljameans‘south’inKarajarrilanguage.

KujungurruWarrarn Nyangumartaplacenamemeaning‘countryaroundtheoceanorseaaroundthecountry’.

Jarrkunpungu

NgarlaplacenameforSolitaryIsland.TheoriginforJarrkunpunguisaDreamingstory:Marnmulkura,anAncestralBeing(anoctopus)attemptedtostealafirestickfromthepeople.WhenMarnmulkurawasdescendingintotheocean,Winti-Wintithenankeenkestrelinterceptedhimandsnatchedthefirestickfromhim.Marnmulkurainstantlyturnedtostone,becomingSolitaryIsland(J.BrownSnrpers.comm.2016).

1.2ManagementcontextJointmanagementpartnersThelandsandwatersoftheplanningareaarehighlysignificanttothecultureandheritageoftheKarajarri,NyangumartaandNgarlapeople,whoarethedeterminednativetitleholdersovertheplanningarea.TheNyangumartaandKarajarripeoplealsohaveasharednativetitledeterminationwithintheplanningarea,andtheStateGovernmenthasrecentlynegotiatedanIndigenousLandUseAgreement(ILUA)withtheNyangumarta–KarajarriAboriginalCorporation(NKAC)forthisparticulardeterminationarea.JointmanagementwillprovidetheopportunityfortheDepartmentofParksandWildlife(ParksandWildlife)toworkinpartnershipwiththearea’straditionalowners,toachievetheobjectivessetoutinthisplan.Eachtraditionalownergrouphasjointmanagementresponsibilityforthereserves(orpartsofthereserves)locatedwithintheirnativetitledeterminationareas(seeTable2).TheCEOofParksandWildlifewilljointlymanagetherelevantpartsoftheplanningareawiththeKarajarriTraditionalLandsAssociation(KTLA),theNyangumartaWarrarnAboriginalCorporation(NWAC)andtheWanpartaAboriginalCorporation(WAC)peopleinaccordancewithJointManagementAgreements(JMAs)pursuanttosection56AoftheConservationandLandManagementAct1984(CALMAct).JointmanagementwillformallycommenceuponexecutionoftheJMAs(tobeattachedtothefinaljointmanagementplanandsignedassoonaspracticablefollowingitsapproval).

KarajarriculturaladvisorsReneHopigaandCeliaBennett.Photo–TomdeSouza

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PlanninganddecisionmakingTheJMAswillestablishJointManagementBodies(JMBs)tooverseemanagementoftheplanningareainaccordancewiththeagreementsandtheCALMAct.TheJMBswillmakemanagementdecisions,providestrategicinputintohowmanagementstrategiesareimplemented,andstrategicallymonitortheimplementationoftheplan.

AdministrationUndertheguidanceoftheJMBs,theWestKimberleyDistrictofParksandWildlifewillberesponsibleforcoordinatingtheoperationalmanagementoftheplanningarea.TheregionalofficeinKununurraandanumberofotherspecialistbrancheswillprovidesupport,directionandassistance.Itmaybebeneficialforalljointmanagementpartnerstocometogetheronanannualbasistoshareexperiences,celebrateachievementsandparticipateinoperationalplanning.

NgarlaandNyangumartarangersAugustineBadal,JeffreyBrown,NathanHunterandStephenBrown.Traditionalownerrangerswillplayanimportantroleinimplementingthisplan.Photo–MiechaBradshaw/ParksandWildlife

LegislativeandpolicyframeworkAvarietyofActs,Regulations,policiesandagreementsapplyto,orhaverelevanceto,thisplanandtheplanningarea.TheKarajarri,NyangumartaandNgarlapeopleholdnativetitlerightsandinterestsovertheplanningarea.TheserightsandinterestsarerecognisedbythecommonlawofAustraliaandprotectedthroughtheNativeTitleAct1993(Cth).ThisisdiscussedfurtherinthesectionConnectiontocountry.TheplanningareawillbemanagedinaccordancewiththeCALMAct,whichprovidesfortheprotectionofnativefloraandfaunaandAboriginalcultureandheritageonlandsandwatersvestedintheConservationandParksCommission,andtheWildlifeConservationAct1950(WildlifeConservationAct),whichprovidesspecificprotectionfornativefloraandfaunawithintheState.TheAustralianGovernment’sEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999(EPBCAct)relatestotheprotectionofnationallylistedspeciesandecologicalcommunities,heritage(includingRamsarwetlands)andmigratoryspeciesprotectedunderinternationalagreements.TheEPBCActalsoestablishesaframeworkformanagingRamsarsites,intheformoftheAustralianRamsarmanagementprinciples.NumerousParksandWildlifepoliciesarealsorelevanttothisplan.

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InternationalconservationagreementsTheConventiononWetlands(knownastheRamsarConvention)isaninternationaltreatyconcernedwiththeconservationandwiseuseofwetlands.WalyartaConservationParkandtheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesprotectportionsoftheEightyMileBeachRamsarsite1,whichwaslistedasawetlandofinternationalimportanceinJune1990(seeAppendixI).UndertheConvention,ContractingPartiesacceptanumberofresponsibilities,includingacommitmenttopreventchangestotheecologicalcharacteroflistedwetlands.TheEcologicalCharacterDescriptionoftheEightyMileBeachRamsarSite(HaleandButcher2009)isanimportantguidingdocumentfortheplanningarea.InadditiontotheRamsarConvention,AustraliaisasignatorytobilateralagreementswithChina(China–AustraliaMigratoryBirdAgreement),Japan(Japan–AustraliaMigratoryBirdAgreement)andtheRepublicofKorea(RepublicofKorea–AustraliaMigratoryBirdAgreement)toprovideacollaborativeframeworkfortheprotectionofhabitatsofmigratorybirdswithintheEastAsian–AustralasianFlyway.AnumberofspecieslistedintheseagreementsoccurintheplanningareaandsomearealsolistedundertheConventionontheConservationofMigratorySpeciesofWildAnimals(BonnConvention).

1.3PlanningareaLocationTheplanningarea(Map1)islocatedinnorth-westernAustraliaapproximately1700kmfromPerthandfallswithinboththeShireofEastPilbaraandShireofBroome.Coveringanareaof7,061ha,theEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves(Map2)runparalleltotheEightyMileBeachMarineParkstretchingalmost220kmfromCapeMissiessyinthenorthtoCootenbrandCreekinthesouth.UndertheclassificationschemeprovidedintheInterimBiogeographicRegionalisationofAustralia(IBRA7),theEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesarelocatedwithintheDampierland(Pindanlandsubregion)bioregion.WalyartaConservationPark(Map3)isonthewesternedgeoftheGreatSandyDesertandcoversanareaof231,358ha.Itextendseast-westforapproximately95km.ItislocatedatthejunctionoftheDampierland(Pindanlandsubregion)andGreatSandyDesert(McLartysubregion)bioregions,however,thelattercontainsthemainbodyofthereserve.KurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve(Map4)islocatedafurther140kmtotheeast-north-east,coveringanareaof17,729ha.ItissituatedcompletelywithintheGreatSandyDesertbioregion(McLartysubregion).

EightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandadjacentmarinepark.Photo–ParksandWildlife

1TherestoftheRamsarsiteislargelycoveredbyEightyMileBeachMarineParkandmanagedinaccordancewiththeCALMAct,withsmallerareasalsooccurringonunallocatedCrownlandandpastoralleaseonsurroundinglands.

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U W

AR

RA

RN

NAT

UR

E R

ESER

VER

523

63

¯010

2030

405

kmSc

ale

Highwatermark

Map 2 Eighty Mile Beach coastal reserves

11

Map 3 Walyarta Conservation Park

Karajarri People

Nyangum

arta-KarajarriO

verlap Proceeding

Nyangum

arta People

GREAT

NORTHERN

HIGHWAY

121°55'

121°55'

121°44'

121°44'

121°33'

121°33'

121°22'

121°22'

121°11'

121°11'

-19°37'

-19°37'

-19°48'

-19°48'

-19°59'

-19°59'

LegendReserve boundary

Conservation park

Proposed additionProposed conservation parkPriority ecological com

munity

!Threatened ecological com

munities

Nationally im

portant wetlands

Native Title determ

ined areas

Ram

sar siteLake

!W

ater pointW

atercourseSealed road (2W

D)

Unsealed road (2W

D)

Unsealed road (4W

D)

Map 3 W

alyarta Conservation Park

Eil Eil

Spring

Saunders Spring

Coolgardie

Well

Boulder Bore

Cardong B

iddySpring

TopSpring

Baramith

Spring

Bedaromal

Well

SaltC

reek

Grant

Spring

MelaleucaSpring

Fern Spring

Riverbend

Spring

Sporobilus Spring

LinearSpring

R 52383

R 52387

PRO

POSED

CO

NSER

VATION

PAR

K

Scale

05

1015

202.5

km

¯

Lake Walyarta

EastLake

12

Map 4 Kurriji Pa Yajula Nature Reserve

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Kara

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123°

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13

Appendices TenureandproposedlandarrangementsKurrijiPaYajula(formerlyDragonTreeSoak)NatureReservewasfirstgazettedinMarch1979withanareaof14,182ha.Anadditional3,547hawereaddedtothereserveinDecember1994.WalyartaConservationParkandtheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserveslistedinTable2arenewadditionstotheconservationreservesystem,gazettedon1September2016.Largeportionsofthesereserveswereheldunderpastoralleaseuntil30June2015,afterwhichtheywereexcisedasaresultoflongstandingarrangementswiththerespectivepastorallessees.Table2Existingtenureoftheplanningarea

Reservename Tenure Class Reserve

numberArea(ha)

Traditionalowners Vested

KurrijiPaYajula

Naturereserve

A 35918 17,729 Karajarri JointlywithConservationandParksCommissionandKTLA

Walyarta Conservationpark

Unclassified 52383 24,731 Karajarri JointlywithConservationandParksCommissionandKTLA

52387 206,627 Nyangumarta JointlywithConservationandParksCommissionandNWAC

EightyMileBeachcoastalreserves(fromnorthtosouth)Jinmarnkur Conservation

parkUnclassified 52367 268 Karajarri JointlywithConservationand

ParksCommissionandKTLAJinmarnkurKulja

Naturereserve*

A 52364 1,727

KujungurruWarrarn

Naturereserve*

A 52363 2,555 Nyangumarta JointlywithConservationandParksCommissionandNWAC

KujungurruWarrarn

Conservationpark

Unclassified 52362 1,139

Unnamed‘Gap’

Naturereserve*

A 52366 44 Undetermined ConservationandParksCommission

Jarrkunpungu Naturereserve*

A 52365 1,372 Ngarla JointlywithConservationandParksCommissionandWAC

*Toadepthlimitof200m.OncetheILUAforthesharedNyangumarta–Karajarrideterminationareaisregistered,theproposedportionofWalyartaConservationParkandtheproposedunnamednaturereservecanbeformallycreated(Table3).Table3Tenureofproposedadditionstotheplanningarea

Reservename Tenure Class Traditionalowners Vested

Walyarta Conservationpark Unclassified Nyangumarta–Karajarri JointlywithConservationandParks

CommissionandNKAC

Unnamed Naturereserve* A Nyangumarta–Karajarri JointlywithConservationandParks

CommissionandNKAC*Proposedtoadepthlimitof200m.NativetitlerightsexistoveralltenureintheplanningareaexceptthesouthernportionofKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReservewherenativetitlehasbeendeterminedtobeextinguished.Theunnamed‘Gap’naturereserveislocatedbetweentheNyangumartaandNgarladeterminationareasandissubjecttonativetitleapplicationsfrombothofthesetraditionalownergroups.ItissolelyvestedwiththeConservationandParksCommissionuntilthenativetitleapplicationsaboveareresolved.

14

Adjacentlandsandoff-reservemanagementKeyvaluesandmanagementissuesoccur,andareinfluencedbylanduseactivities,beyondtheboundaryoftheplanningarea.ThehighperimetertoarearatiooftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesmakethemparticularlyvulnerable.Theplanningareaisborderedbypastoralleases,unallocatedCrownlandandEightyMileBeachMarinePark(seeMap1).Aroadreserve,theDeGreyStockRouteandsomesmallerreservesofvaryingpurposealsooccurinthevicinity.SomeminingtenementsandpetroleumexplorationpermitsexistalongtheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves(seeUsingresourcesfromcountry),andEightyMileBeachCaravanPark,Reserve39135atCapeKeraudren(CapeKeraudrenCoastalReserve)andPardooStationareimportantrecreationalnodeswithcaravanandcampingfacilitiesavailable(seePeopleoncountry).Effectivemanagementcannotbeachievedinisolation,butmustbeintegratedwithmanagementacrossthebroaderlandscape.ParksandWildlifeanditsjointmanagementpartnerswillneedtoworkcollaborativelywithadjacentlandmanagers(e.g.shiresofBroomeandEastPilbara,pastoralists2andcaravanparkowners)tomaintainanappropriatelevelofaccessandensurecross-boundaryissuessuchasweeds,feralanimals,fireandwaterabstractionareconsideredandaddressed.Thesemanagementissuesarefurtherdiscussedintherelevantsectionsofthisplan.Lessonsfromotherregionalworksprograms(e.g.NorthKimberleyLandscapeConservationInitiative)mayalsobeapplicable.Severalgovernmentagencieshaveresponsibilityfor,andprovideadviceon,landscape-scalemanagementissuessuchasdeclaredpestanimalsandplants(DepartmentofAgricultureandFood),waterresourceuse(DepartmentofWater)andfiremanagement(DepartmentofFireandEmergencyServices).AcloseworkingrelationshipmustalsobemaintainedwiththeCommonwealthDepartmentoftheEnvironmentwithregardtomanagementofkeyvaluesrelevanttotheEPBCAct,includingtheEightyMileBeachRamsarsite.Whereotherlandsareidentifiedashavingconservationsignificance,assupportingthelistingcriteriafortheRamsarConvention,orashavingthepotentialtostrengthenecologicalconnectivity(e.g.coastalplainsadjacenttoEightyMileBeach),theymaybeconsideredforadditiontotheconservationreservesystemortheRamsarsite.

OtherprotectedareasSeveralotherprotectedareasarerelevanttothemanagementoftheplanningarea.EightyMileBeachMarineParkabutstheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves.ItwasgazettedinJanuary2013andcoversanareaofapproximately200,000ha,includingalloftheStatewaterswithintheEightyMileBeachmeso-scalebioregionandasmallportionofthePilbaraNearshoremeso-scalebioregion.ThemarineparkisaClassAreservejointlymanagedwiththeKarajarri,NyangumartaandNgarlatraditionalowners.EightyMileBeachMarineParkManagementPlanNo.802014-2024outlinesthevaluesandmanagementarrangementsforthemarinepark(ParksandWildlife2014).In2014,theKarajarripeopledeclaredanIndigenousProtectedArea(IPA)across24,797km2(morethan2.4millionha)ofKarajarricountry.ItincludesKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserveandtheKarajarriportionofWalyartaConservationPark.Thepirra(inlanddesertarea)oftheIPAisanIUCNCategoryVIprotectedarea,withtheprimaryobjectivesofnatureconservationandsustainableresourceuse.TheKarajarritraditionalownerswouldliketoincreasetheareaoftheirIPAtoincludeseacountryadjacenttoandnorthoftheplanningarea.KarajarriHealthyCountryPlan2013-2023setsoutthelong-termconservationtargetsandmanagementstrategies(KTLA2014).TheNyangumartatraditionalownersdeclaredtheNyangumartaWarranIPAin2015across28,675km2(morethan2.8millionha)oftheircountry.TheIPAislistedasIUCNCategoryVIandincludestheNyangumartaportionofWalyartaConservationPark,KujungurruWarrarnNatureReserve,KujungurruWarrarnConservationParkandEightyMileBeachMarinePark(NyangumartaPart).NyangumartaWarrarnIndigenousProtectedAreaPlanofManagement2015-2020providesstrategicdirectionformanagementoftheIPA(NWACandYMAC2015).Whilethevariousreservesacrossthelandscapehavebeenplannedandestablishedindependentlyofeachother,theresultisamosaicofprotectedareasextendingfromtheGreatSandyDeserttothecoastalwatersofEightyMileBeach.

2Forexample,overmanyyearsthelesseeofAnnaPlainspastoralstationworkedwithParksandWildlifeanditspredecessorstomanageacoastalstripoftheirpastoralleasefortheprotectionofmigratoryshorebirds.TheareaisnowpartoftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves.

Adjacentlandsandoff-reservemanagementKeyvaluesandmanagementissuesoccur,andareinfluencedbylanduseactivities,beyondtheboundaryoftheplanningarea.ThehighperimetertoarearatiooftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesmakethemparticularlyvulnerable.Theplanningareaisborderedbypastoralleases,unallocatedCrownlandandEightyMileBeachMarinePark(seeMap1).Aroadreserve,theDeGreyStockRouteandsomesmallerreservesofvaryingpurposealsooccurinthevicinity.SomeminingtenementsandpetroleumexplorationpermitsexistalongtheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves(seeUsingresourcesfromcountry),andEightyMileBeachCaravanPark,Reserve39135atCapeKeraudren(CapeKeraudrenCoastalReserve)andPardooStationareimportantrecreationalnodeswithcaravanandcampingfacilitiesavailable(seePeopleoncountry).Effectivemanagementcannotbeachievedinisolation,butmustbeintegratedwithmanagementacrossthebroaderlandscape.ParksandWildlifeanditsjointmanagementpartnerswillneedtoworkcollaborativelywithadjacentlandmanagers(e.g.shiresofBroomeandEastPilbara,pastoralists2andcaravanparkowners)tomaintainanappropriatelevelofaccessandensurecross-boundaryissuessuchasweeds,feralanimals,fireandwaterabstractionareconsideredandaddressed.Thesemanagementissuesarefurtherdiscussedintherelevantsectionsofthisplan.Lessonsfromotherregionalworksprograms(e.g.NorthKimberleyLandscapeConservationInitiative)mayalsobeapplicable.Severalgovernmentagencieshaveresponsibilityfor,andprovideadviceon,landscape-scalemanagementissuessuchasdeclaredpestanimalsandplants(DepartmentofAgricultureandFood),waterresourceuse(DepartmentofWater)andfiremanagement(DepartmentofFireandEmergencyServices).AcloseworkingrelationshipmustalsobemaintainedwiththeCommonwealthDepartmentoftheEnvironmentwithregardtomanagementofkeyvaluesrelevanttotheEPBCAct,includingtheEightyMileBeachRamsarsite.Whereotherlandsareidentifiedashavingconservationsignificance,assupportingthelistingcriteriafortheRamsarConvention,orashavingthepotentialtostrengthenecologicalconnectivity(e.g.coastalplainsadjacenttoEightyMileBeach),theymaybeconsideredforadditiontotheconservationreservesystemortheRamsarsite.

OtherprotectedareasSeveralotherprotectedareasarerelevanttothemanagementoftheplanningarea.EightyMileBeachMarineParkabutstheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves.ItwasgazettedinJanuary2013andcoversanareaofapproximately200,000ha,includingalloftheStatewaterswithintheEightyMileBeachmeso-scalebioregionandasmallportionofthePilbaraNearshoremeso-scalebioregion.ThemarineparkisaClassAreservejointlymanagedwiththeKarajarri,NyangumartaandNgarlatraditionalowners.EightyMileBeachMarineParkManagementPlanNo.802014-2024outlinesthevaluesandmanagementarrangementsforthemarinepark(ParksandWildlife2014).In2014,theKarajarripeopledeclaredanIndigenousProtectedArea(IPA)across24,797km2(morethan2.4millionha)ofKarajarricountry.ItincludesKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserveandtheKarajarriportionofWalyartaConservationPark.Thepirra(inlanddesertarea)oftheIPAisanIUCNCategoryVIprotectedarea,withtheprimaryobjectivesofnatureconservationandsustainableresourceuse.TheKarajarritraditionalownerswouldliketoincreasetheareaoftheirIPAtoincludeseacountryadjacenttoandnorthoftheplanningarea.KarajarriHealthyCountryPlan2013-2023setsoutthelong-termconservationtargetsandmanagementstrategies(KTLA2014).TheNyangumartatraditionalownersdeclaredtheNyangumartaWarranIPAin2015across28,675km2(morethan2.8millionha)oftheircountry.TheIPAislistedasIUCNCategoryVIandincludestheNyangumartaportionofWalyartaConservationPark,KujungurruWarrarnNatureReserve,KujungurruWarrarnConservationParkandEightyMileBeachMarinePark(NyangumartaPart).NyangumartaWarrarnIndigenousProtectedAreaPlanofManagement2015-2020providesstrategicdirectionformanagementoftheIPA(NWACandYMAC2015).Whilethevariousreservesacrossthelandscapehavebeenplannedandestablishedindependentlyofeachother,theresultisamosaicofprotectedareasextendingfromtheGreatSandyDeserttothecoastalwatersofEightyMileBeach.

2Forexample,overmanyyearsthelesseeofAnnaPlainspastoralstationworkedwithParksandWildlifeanditspredecessorstomanageacoastalstripoftheirpastoralleasefortheprotectionofmigratoryshorebirds.TheareaisnowpartoftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves.

15

KarajarrieldersPhilipWildridgeandJoeEdgaratJinmarnkur(CapeMissiessy).Landsnorth-eastofthispointarepartofFrazierDownspastoralleaseandmanagedastheKarajarriIPAwhilecoastalwaterstothewestarepartofEightyMileBeachMarinePark.Photo–MattFossey/ParksandWildlife

1.4TermoftheplanThefinaljointmanagementplanwillguidemanagementoftheplanningareafor10years.Iftheplanisnotreviewedandreplacedbytheendofthe10-yearperiod,itwillremaininforceuntilanewplanisapproved.AmendmentstotheplanmaybemadeinaccordancewiththeCALMActandtheILUAsrelevanttotheplanningarea.Summaryofmanagementdirectionsforjointmanagement,legislativeandpolicyframework,tenurearrangementsandadjacentlands

Keypointsandconsiderations

• TheplanningareaandproposedadditionscompriseanumberofnaturereservesandconservationparkscollectivelyreferredtoastheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves;theWalyartaConservationPark;andtheKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve.

• TheCEOofParksandWildlifewilljointlymanagetherelevantpartsoftheplanningareawiththeKarajarri,NyangumartaandNgarlatraditionalownersandwillformalisethisarrangementundertheCALMActthroughsection56AJMAs.

• TheStatehasrecentlynegotiatedanILUAwiththeNyangumarta–Karajarrinativetitleholdersforthesharednativetitledeterminationarea.

• TheJMAswillestablishJMBstooverseemanagementoftheplanningareainaccordancewiththeagreementsandtheCALMAct.

• OperationalmanagementwillbecoordinatedbytheWestKimberleyDistrictofParksandWildlife.• Largeportionsoftheplanningareawereheldunderpastoralleaseuntil30June2015.• Alandscape-scalemanagementapproachisneededfortheplanningarea,involvingadjacentlandmanagers,other

agenciesandthewidercommunity.TheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesinparticularhaveaveryhighperimetertoarearatiowhichmakesmanagementchallengingandwillrequireacoordinatedapproachfromneighbouringlandmanagers.

• AvarietyofActs,Regulations,policies,agreements(e.g.RamsarConvention,migratorybirdagreements,ILUAsandJMAs)andmanagementdocumentsapplyto,orhaverelevanceto,thisplanandtheplanningarea.

16

Managementobjectives Strategies

1. Formallyprotectallpartsoftheplanningareathroughreservationwithintwoyearsofthereleaseofthisplan.

2. Maintaincloseworkingrelationshipsandregularandopencommunicationwithtraditionalowners.

3. Promoteeffectivecoordinatedcross-boundarymanagementoflandscape-scaleinfluences.

4. Ensurelegislativerequirementsandothercommitmentsaremetduringplanimplementation.

ContinuetoprogressreservationoftheproposedadditionsasoutlinedinTable3.ConductatleasttwomeetingsayearwitheachJMB.ProvideopportunitiesfortrainingandmentoringtraditionalownerrangersandcontinuetoprovideequitablesupporttotheKarajarriRangergrouponafee-for-servicebasis.Developandimplementamonitoringandevaluationframeworktoassessjointmanagementeffectivenessoftheplanningarea(i.e.howjointmanagementarrangementsworkforParksandWildlifeandtraditionalownersandwhetherthearrangementsthemselvesarefunctioningeffectively).Facilitatethetransferofinformationfromresearchandmonitoringtothejointmanagementpartners(e.g.throughresearchlicenceorotherapprovalconditions).Liaisewith,andprovideadviceandsupportto,relevantagencies,stakeholdersandneighbouringlandholderswithmanagementandmonitoringresponsibilities(e.g.DepartmentofAgricultureandFood,DepartmentofWater,ShireofBroomeandpastoralists)acrosstheplanningareaandonsurroundinglands,includingportionsoftheEightyMileBeachRamsarsitethatoccuroutsidetheformalconservationreservesystem.Ensurethatresearchandmonitoringintheplanningareaisintegratedwiththatbeingundertakeninadjacentprotectedareas.Adheretoand/ormaintainconsistencywithrelevantlegislativeandotherkeydocumentsasoutlinedabove.

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2.Visionandstrategicgoals2.1 Vision

2.2 StrategicgoalsAsetofstrategicgoalshasbeendevelopedfortheplanningareathatprovidesalinkbetweenthevisionstatementandthedesiredoutcomesexpressedthroughtheobjectivesidentifiedinthisplan.Thestrategicgoalsareto:• upholdandrespectthecultureandtraditionalknowledgeoftheKarajarri,NyangumartaandNgarlatraditional

owners• protectandconservethevalueofthelandtothecultureandheritageofAboriginalpeople• provideforsustainabletraditionalandcustomaryAboriginaluseandenjoyment• conserveandrestorewetlandsofinternationalandnationalsignificance• conservebiodiversityandmaintainecosystemprocessesandfunction• increaseunderstandingoftheculturalheritage,naturalvalues,andmanagementissuestosupportadaptive

management• provideforrecreation,tourismandresourceusethatiscompatiblewithandrespectfultothearea’sculturalheritage

andnaturalvalues.

“Thelivingculturallandscapes,significantwetlands,anduniqueplantandanimalcommunitiesoftheplanningareaareprotectedandlookedafterforfuturegenerations,jointlywiththeKarajarri,NyangumartaandNgarlatraditionalownersandwithneighbouringlandmanagersandthewidercommunity.”

Spinifexsandplainandmelaleucathicket,WalyartaConservationPark.Photo–JanvandeKam

KarajarritraditionalownersatElizabethSoak,KurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve.Photo–IlsePickerd/EnvironsKimberley

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3.Connectiontocountry(culturalheritagevalues)ProtectingandconservingthevalueofthelandtothecultureandheritageofAboriginalpeopleisapriorityforalljointmanagementpartnersoftheplanningarea,aswellasanobjectiveundersection56(2)oftheCALMAct.

3.1 DreamtimeandtraditionallawThetraditionalownersoftheplanningareabelievethelandscape,itsfeaturesandallformsoflifewerecreatedbysupernaturalAncestralBeingsduringtheDreamtime(PukarrikarraorPukarrikarrajangka).TheseAncestralBeingsalsocreatedthesocialandculturalnormsanddifferentregionallanguagesandinscribedthecountrywithmeaning(KTLA2014;NWACandYMAC2015).Traditionallawisasetofrulesthatguidesthearea’straditionalownersinallaspectsoftheirlife.Thephysicalenvironment,plantsandanimalshavebeeninseparablefromtraditionallaw,culture,languageandknowledgesinceCreationTimeandthisisintegraltothemaintenanceandprotectionofcountry.Undertraditionallaw,theKarajarri,NyangumartaandNgarlapeoplehaveabindingresponsibilitytocareforcountryandkeepculturestrong.Countryisthesourceofspirit,cultureandlanguageandiswherespiritsreturnwhentheydie.

3.2 TraditionalknowledgeTraditionalowners,especiallytheelders,collectivelyholdanextensivebodyofculturalandecologicalknowledgethathasbeendevelopedovermillennia.Inaccordancewithtraditionallaw,theyareresponsibleandobligedtotransferknowledgetotheyoungergeneration.Thisistypicallyundertakenwhilespendingtimeoncountrycamping,tellingstories,performingsonganddance,participatinginceremoniesandrituals,makingspears,fishing,hunting,learningaboutbushtuckerandnaturalmedicine,andgenerallythrougheverydaylife(KTLA2014;NWACandYMAC2015).Traditionalecologicalknowledgeisunderpinnedbyseasonalcalendarsandthelifecyclesofindividualspecies,aswellasadeepspiritualattachmenttocountry(Willing2014).

Traditionalownersareincreasinglyconcernedaboutthedifficultiesinbeingabletopassontheirtraditionalknowledgebecauseoflimitedopportunitiestospendtimeoncountryduetodistance,costs,accessandhealthconditions;theyoungergenerationbeingdistractedbymoderninfluencesandbecominglessinterestedinlearningabouttheirowncultureandheritage;andelderspassingawaybeforealltheirknowledgecanbepassedon(NWACandYMAC2015).TheKarajarripeopleareparticularlykeentousemoderntechnologytodocument,andmakeavailableasappropriate,traditionalknowledge,includinglanguage,toensurethelongevityoftheircultureandheritage(KTLA2014).Managementofthisvaluewillfocusongainingabetterunderstandingoftraditionalknowledgeapplicabletotheplanningarea,andinvestigatingopportunitiesforintegrationwithcontemporaryconservationscienceandmanagement.Previouscollaborativeresearchprojectsintheplanningareahavebenefitedbothscientistsandtraditionalownergroups(e.g.Yu2000andSemeniukResearchGroup2000).Successfulintegrationrequiresanunderstandingandappreciationthattraditionalknowledgeispartofacomplementaryworldviewwithitsassociatedvalues,institutionsandmanagementsystems.

Karajarritraditionalowners,KurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve.Beingoncountryisthebestplaceforoldpeopletopassontraditionalknowledgetotheyoungergeneration.Photo–IlsePickerd/EnvironsKimberley

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3.3 Plants,animalsandsitesofsignificancePlantsandanimalshavesustainedAboriginalpeoplelivingoncountryformanyyears,providingthemwithfood,waterandmedicine.Elkin(1933)notedthatmanyplantsandanimalsaretotemsfortheKarajarripeople;specialceremoniesareperformed,“expressingdesireforthespiritsoftotemicspeciestogoforthandincrease”.Inaddition,knowingwhenplantsandanimalsareinseasonisanimportantpartofmaintaininggoodhealthandprovidesguidanceforsafetraveloverlandforlongperiodsoftime(KTLA2014).Establishingsustainableharveststrategiesforfavouredanimals,bushfoodsandmedicinesoncountryisnecessarytoensurethattheseresourcesmaintainahealthyconditionandpersistintothefutureingoodnumbers(KTLA2014).Appropriatefireregimes(‘right-wayfire’)arealsoakeyfactorintheirsuccessfulconservation.Theemu(Dromaiusnovaehollandiae)andtheAustralianbustardorbushturkey(Ardeotisaustralis)aretwospeciesthatareculturallyimportanttothearea’straditionalownersbut,basedonanecdotalevidence,maybeindeclinelocally.ThepathwaysofAncestralBeingstraversetheplanningareaandtheirtangibleformispresentinsacredsites.Asoutlinedabove,traditionalownersareresponsibleforandobligedtoprotect,preserveandmanagesitesandobjectsofsignificanceassociatedwiththeircountry.SevenAboriginalsiteswithintheplanningareaarerecordedontheDepartmentofAboriginalAffairs’RegisterofAboriginalSites,althoughthisprobablyonlyrepresentsasmallproportionoftheactualsitesthatoccurthere.Theseincludewatersourcesaswellasceremonial,mythological,andmen’sandwomen’ssites.KurrijiPaYajulawasalsonotedbyYu(2000)asanimportantplaceforKarajarripeopletoexchangetradingparcelsandobjectswiththenearbyMartupeopleandestablishfriendshipsandalliances,whichsometimesledtomarriages.Moregenerally,permanentandseasonal/temporarywatersources,especiallythewetlandsoftheplanningarea,holdgreatculturalandspiritualsignificance.Waterplaysakeyroleinculturalpracticesandstories,aswellasbeingusedbytraditionalownersforsurvivalastheytraversedcountryfollowingtheseasonalavailabilityofresourcesandinmoderntimeswhenjustspendingtimeoncountry(KTLA2014;Yu2000).Manyofthesesitesalsohavespiritualvalue,havingbeencreatedandinhabitedbypulany,snakebeingsorserpentswiththepowerstoproducerain,regenerateordamagecountryandtakepeople’slives(Yu2000).Acknowledgingandrespectingtheorigin,typeandhydrologicalintegrityofthesewatersourcesensuresthehealthofthengurrara(country)andallformsoflife,aswellasvisitorsafety,ismaintained.

Box1:Pulany

BoththeKarajarriandNyangumartapeopleregardpulanyaspowerfulbeingswhoaretoberespectedandapproachedinprescribedways.Theybelievethatpulanycanexhibithumanemotions,suchasanger,whichcanbemanifestedasviolentstorms,withlightningandwildwinds,andcyclones.

Thepresenceofpulanyatspringsisoftenindicatedbypanyjinreeds,whichgrowinthespringsandaresaidtobethewhiskersofthepulany.Itisconsidereddangerous,particularlyforchildren,toswimnearareaswherethepanyjingrow.Becauseoftheunpredictabilityofthepulany,traditionalownersnevercampintheimmediatevicinityofpermanentwatersources.

(Yu2000;NyangumartaPeoplepers.comm.2012)

Nyangumartaelderwithbushturkey.Thisisaculturallyimportantspeciesthatmaybenefitfromsustainableharveststrategiesandtargets.Photo–ChrisNutt/ParksandWildlife

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Nyangumartatraditionalowners,WalyartaConservationPark.Photo–MattFossey/ParksandWildlife

Thereisastrongconnectiontotheadjacentcoastalpastoralstations,associatedwithlong-termemploymentdatingbacktothe1920s,birthplace,ceremonialareasandburialsites,thelatterofwhicharehighlyvulnerabletodisturbance(NWACandYMAC2015).Mostburialsitesareunfencedandtraditionalownerswouldliketofencethemtostopdamagebycattle.Aconsiderableproportionoftheplanningareawaspreviouslypartofthesepastoralleasesandmaycontainsomeofthesesignificantsites(e.g.burialsiteslocatedincoastaldunes).AllAboriginalsites,registeredorotherwise,areprotectedundertheAboriginalHeritageAct1972.Dependingontheculturalsensitivity,thesesitescanbevulnerabletoavarietyofmanagementissues(e.g.weeds,introducedanimals,inappropriatevisitationanddevelopment)thatarediscussedinmoredetailintherelevantsectionsofthisplan.Inmanycases,maintainingconfidentialityandrestrictingaccesstopeoplewhohavespecialculturalauthorityinculturallysensitiveareaswillbeimperativetoretainingsiteintegrity.Provisionsforspecialaccessrestrictionshavebeenincorporatedintothisplanaccordingly.

3.4 EnjoymentofcountryandcustomarypracticesAlthoughthemajorityofthetraditionalownersoftheplanningarealiveintownsandcommunitiessuchasPortHedland,BroomeandBidyadanga,familiesandindividualsretainclosepersonalconnections(social,spiritualandcultural)withtheircountry.Forexample,anumberofyirrau(anecdotalsongscomposedandsungforpleasure)illustratetheconnectiontheNgarlapeoplehavewiththeircoastalterritory(BrownandGeytenbeek2003).Thereisastrongdesiretocontinuelivingoncountryfromtimetotime,learningaboutandenjoyingimportantplacesandutilisingtheresourcesoftheland.Therefore,theabilitytoaccesspartsoftheplanningareaforcustomarypracticesiscrucial.ProvisionsoftheCALMActenabletraditionalownerstoaccesscountryforcustomarypurposes,suchaspreparingandconsumingfood,preparingorusingmedicine,andengaginginartistic,ceremonialorothercustomaryactivities.Thiswillassisttraditionalownersoftheplanningareatocontinuethesetraditions,transferknowledgetoyoungergenerationsandprotectandconservethesevalues.FurtherinformationisavailableintheGuidetoAboriginalcustomaryactivitiesonParksandWildlife-managedlandsandwaters(ParksandWildlife2014a).Asmuchoftheplanningareaisdifficulttoaccess,providinganappropriatelevelofvehicleaccesstositeswheretraditionalownerscancontinuetoundertakeculturalactivitiesandresponsibilitiesisthemainrequirementforthemanagementofthisvalue.InparticulartheKarajarripeoplehaveexpressedtheneedforimprovedaccesstoKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve,asittakesseveraldaysbyvehicletoreachthereservefromtheGreatNorthernHighway(Reynoldsetal.2015).

KarajarritraditionalownersfishingatSaltCreek,WalyartaConservationPark.Photo–MattFossey/ParksandWildlife

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Appendices Summaryofmanagementdirectionsforculturalheritagevalues

Keypointsandconsiderations

• Undertraditionallaw,traditionalownershaveabindingresponsibilitytocareforcountryandkeeptheirculturestrong.

• Beingoncountryisthebestplacefortraditionalownerstoengagewiththeircultureandforelderstopassonknowledgeofcountrytoyoungergenerations.

• Establishingsomesustainableharveststrategieswillensurethatfavouredfoodanimalsandbushfoodsareavailableinhealthynumbers.

• Watersources,especiallythewetlandsoftheplanningarea,holdgreatculturalandspiritualsignificancetotraditionalowners.Manysitesarebelievedtobecreatedandinhabitedbypulany(mythicalwatersnakes)andmustberespectedandapproachedintherightway.

• Localpastoralstationsfeaturestronglyinthememoriesofmanytraditionalownersandareanimportantpartoftheirheritageandcontemporaryidentity.

• Accesstocertainculturallysensitiveareasmayberestrictedtopeoplewhohavespecialculturalauthority.• Traditionalownerscancontinuetoenjoyandmaintaintheircustomarypracticesintheplanningarea.• Traditionalownersareconcernedaboutdifficultiesinaccessingpartsoftheplanningareaandthuscarryingout

customaryactivitiesandpassingonknowledgeofcountry.

Managementobjectives Strategies

1. Recognise,protectandconservetheplanningareaasbeingpartoflivingculturallandscapes.

2. Supportretentionoftraditionalknowledgeanditsintegrationintomanagementoperations,researchprojectsandmonitoring.

3. Supporttraditionalownerstocarryouttheirrolesandresponsibilitiesasprotectorsandmanagersoftheircountryandculture.

4. Recogniseandsupporttherightsoftraditionalownerstocontinuecustomarypracticesintheplanningarea.

5. Monitorchangesofthekeyculturalheritagevaluesoftheplanningarea,toprovideabasistoassess,adaptandimprovemanagement.

Implementstrategiesinthisplantomaintainorimprovethehealthofcountry.Developasharedunderstandingandappreciationoftheculturalsignificanceoftheplanningareatotraditionalownergroups(e.g.throughculturalheritagemappingoncountryorothermeansasappropriate).Supportthecollationandrecordingoftraditionalknowledgefromseniortraditionalownersandothersources,andencourageitsuptakeformanagementoftheplanningarea.DevelopandobserveJMB-approvedprocessesandprotocolsforundertakingmanagementactivitiesand/orintegratingtraditionalknowledgewithcontemporaryscienceandmanagement(e.g.‘right-wayfire’toprotectimportantsitesandspeciesandpromotehabitatdiversity).Supporton-countrytripsbyyoungerandoldergenerationsoftraditionalownerstotheplanningareatomaintainpermanentwatersourcesandkeeppulanyalive,ensureknowledge,storiesandsongsaboutcountryarepassedon,andtoundertakeothercustomaryactivities.Liaisewithtraditionalownerstodeterminewhichsitesofhighculturalsensitivitymayrequirespecialaccessrestrictionsandimplementasappropriate.Ensureculturalandheritageplacesareprotectedandmaintained,inparticularhighlysignificantandsensitivesitesatimmediaterisk(e.g.fencingofburialsites).Inpartnershipwitheachtraditionalownergroup,identifyculturallyimportantspecies(e.g.availabilityandabundanceofbushmedicines,fruitsandfavouredfoodanimals)anddevelopandapplysustainableharveststrategiesandmanagementtargets. Assessfactorsthatmayinhibittherightsoftraditionalownerstoenjoycountryandmaintaintheircustomarypractices,andexplore/implementmanagementinterventionstoaddressissuesasnecessary.Ensurethattraditionalownershaveaprimaryandactiveroleincommunicationabouttheircultureandheritage.Monitortheconditionofculturallysignificantsitesandspeciesintheplanningareatodeterminewhetherthesearebeingadequatelyprotectedandmaintained.

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KEYPERFORMANCEINDICATORS(KPIs)

Performancemeasures Targets Reportingrequirements

Leveloftraditionalownersatisfactionthattraditionalknowledgeisbeingconsultedandadoptedintomanagement.

Traditionalownersaresatisfiedthattraditionalknowledgeisbeingconsultedandadoptedasappropriateintomanagementoftheplanningarea.

Annually.

Conditionofsignificantculturalandheritageplaces.

• Allsitesandareaswithculturalandgenderaccessrestrictionsarecommunicatedandobserved.

• Nonewsignsofphysicaldisturbancetospecifiedsitesandareaswithinthreeyearsofthereleaseoftheplan.

Annually.

Conditionofculturallyimportantspecies.

Tobedevelopedby/witheachtraditionalownergroup. Annually.

Leveloftraditionalownersatisfactionthattheyhavebeenabletocontinuecustomarypracticesandremaincustodiansofcountryandculture.

Traditionalownersaresatisfiedthattheyareabletoaccesstheplanningareaforthepurposesofcarryingoutcustomarypractices,transferringknowledgetoyoungergenerationsandenjoyingcountry.

Annually.

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4.Caringforcountry(naturalvalues)Theplanningareahassignificantecologicalandcultural(seeConnectiontocountry)values.Thisplanfocusesonmanagementofspeciesandcommunities,howeveramoregeneraldescriptionofthenaturalenvironmentoftheplanningareahasbeenincludedinAppendixII.

4.1 WetlandsofsignificanceTheplanningareacontainswetlandlandscapefeaturesrecognisednationallyandinternationallyfortheirgeomorphicandhydrologicalvalues.Theseinturnsupportuniqueplantandanimalcommunities,andsustainarangeofecosystemservices(DepartmentofEnvironment,Water,HeritageandtheArts2009).Thewetlandsoftheplanningareaarelargelyaresultofgeomorphologyandhydrologicalinteractions(formoreinformation,refertoAppendixII).TheentireareaispartofalargepalaeodrainagesystemcalledtheWallalPaleoriver,withthewetlandsofWalyartaConservationParkandthecoastalplainspreviouslybeingashallowmarinesystem,andprobablypartofanestuary.WalyartaConservationParkprincipallycomprisestheMandoraMarshwetlandcomplex,whichincludesanumberofsalineandfreshwaterwetlandtypes,suchasintermittentsalinelakesandmarshes(LakeWalyartaandEastLake),permanentsalinestreams(SaltCreek),freshwaterspringsandfreshwaterpeatlands.Itisunusualforsalineandfreshwaterwetlandtypestooccurincloseproximitytooneanother.Manyofthewetlandsinthereservearesustainedbygroundwater.TheraisedpeatbogandmoundspringofEilEilSpringisthemostdevelopedintheregion,andisconsideredauniquegeomorphicformationwetlandecosystem(DepartmentoftheEnvironment2016).

SaundersSpringwithcentral,raisedmoundofpeat,WalyartaConservationPark.Photo–JanvandeKam

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KurrijiPaYajulaNatureReservecomprisestwopermanentmoundsprings(DragonTreeSoakandthesmallerElizabethSoak).ThesoaksandpeatlandsaresmallinsizebutareregardedasoaseswithintheGreatSandyDesert.LikethespringsofMandoraMarsh,theyarebelievedtobegroundwaterdependent.InadditiontobeingpartoftheinternationallysignificantEightyMileBeachRamsarwetlandsite(seeAppendixI),theMandoraMarshcomplexislistedontheDirectoryofImportantWetlandsinAustraliaasitisagoodexampleofawetlandtypeoccurringwithinabiogeographicregioninAustralia(criterion1);isimportantasthehabitatforanimaltaxaatavulnerablestageintheirlifecycles,orprovidesarefugewhenadverseconditionsprevail(criterion3)andisofoutstandinghistoricalorculturalsignificance(criterion6)(EnvironmentAustralia2001).DragonTreeSoakisalsorecognisedasbeingnationallyimportantbymeetingcriteria1and6(EnvironmentAustralia2001).Thewetlandsoftheplanningareaareimportantresearchsites,withthemoundspringsandgreymangrove(Avicenniamarina)communityofSaltCreekbeingofconsiderablescientificinterest.Animprovedunderstandingofsurfacewaterandgroundwaterrechargeandflowsisessentialtotheirconservationandmanagement.

4.2 Flora,faunaandecologicalcommunitiesPriorityfloraAtthetimeofpublication,twoPriority1specieswererecordedintheplanningarea:• Atriplexeremitis,arecentlydescribedsaltbushspecieswhichoccursontussockgrassland(Cranfield2008).

Recordsexistfromtwolocations,includingonefrominsidetheplanningarea.• Nicotianaheterantha,ashort-livedannualorperennialherboftenassociatedwithmelaleucathickets

onblackclayandseasonallywetflats.NinePriority3specieshavealsobeenrecorded:Acaciaglaucocaesia,Fimbristylissieberiana,Fuirenaincrassate,Gymnantheracunninghamii,Indigoferaammobia,Pterocaulonxenicum,Solanumoligandrum,TerminaliakumpajaandLawrenciasp.AnnaPlains(N.T.Burbidge1433).

ThreatenedandothersignificantfaunaLimitedfaunaresearchhasbeenconductedintheplanningareaandsurveyeffortstodatehavemainlyfocusedontheMandoraMarshwetlandcomplexinWalyartaConservationPark.Thisprovidesimportanthabitatforwaterbirds,particularlywheninundatedextensively.Duringlargefloodsin1999and2000,thesitesupportedaround480,000and490,000waterbirdsrespectively(Halseetal.2005),althoughtheareasurveyedincludedlandoutsidetheboundariesofthereserveandtheRamsarsite.Suchfloodeventsarealsosignificantinsupportingwaterbirdbreeding,withspeciesutilisingdifferenthabitatswithinthecomplex(HaleandButcher2009).MandoraMarshsupportsarelativelyrichaquaticinvertebratefauna,whichStoreyetal.(2011)attributedtothedifferenttypesofpermanentwetlandswithintheonelocation.Thesystemlikelyhasdiversegroundwaterfauna(stygofauna)communitiesthatarelocallytoregionallyendemic,butthesehavebeenpoorlysurveyedtodate.Alocallyendemicfishspecies(anundescribedgoby)hasbeenrecordedfromSaltCreek(HaleandButcher2009;Storeyetal.2011).

White-wingedblackterns,WalyartaConservationPark.Whenflooded,thelakesofthereservesupporthugenumbersofwaterbirds.Photo–JanvandeKam

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AnumberoffaunaspeciesoccurringorpossiblyoccurringintheplanningareaarespeciallyprotectedundertheWildlifeConservationActorlistedundertheEPBCAct(Table4).TheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesalsoprovidesomeofthesespecieswithasignificantbufferfromexternalinfluencesordisturbanceandisakeyreasonfortheirreservation.

ViewofKujungurru-WarrarnNatureReservelookingsouthfromWaruCreek.TheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesbufferthevaluesoftheadjacentmarinepark.Photo–ParksandWildlife

Table4Faunaofconservationsignificanceintheplanningarea

Species WildlifeConservationAct EPBCAct IUCNRedList

Flatbackturtle(Natatordepressus) Vulnerable Vulnerable,Marine,Migratory Datadeficient

Greaterbilby(Macrotislagotis) Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable

Australianpaintedsnipe(Rostratulabenghalensissubsp.australis)

Endangered Endangered,Marine Endangered

Bar-tailedgodwit(Limosalapponicasubsp.menzbieri)

Vulnerable,Migratory Marine,Migratory Leastconcern

Curlewsandpiper(Calidrisferruginea) Vulnerable,Migratory CriticallyEndangered,Marine,

Migratory Leastconcern

Greatersandplover(Charadriusleschenaultiisubsp.leschenaultii)

Vulnerable,Migratory Marine,Migratory Leastconcern

Greyfalcon(Falcohypoleucos) Vulnerable Notlisted Vulnerable

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FlatbackturtlesareendemictonorthernAustraliaandnestintheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves,withpeaknestingfromNovembertoDecemberandpeakhatchingfromJanuarytoMarch.ResearchindicatesthattheflatbackpopulationatEightyMileBeachmaybedifferentgeneticallytopopulationsfurtherwestinthePilbaraandnorthalongtheKimberleycoast(Pittard2010).Existingandpotentialmanagementissuesinthecoastalreservesincludehabitatdegradation,disturbancefromhumaninteractionandactivities,anddisturbanceorpredationbyferalanimals.Turtlesarerecognisedasakeyvalueoftheadjacentmarineparkandtheirmanagementandmonitoringisdealtwithinthemarineparkplan.Thegreaterbilbyhasbeenrecordedinanumberoflocationsacrosstheplanningareaandwillbeafocusformanagementandmonitoringoverthelifeoftheplan.Itoccursonrecentlyburntsandplains,interdunecorridors,hummockgrasslandsandattheedgesofsaltlakeswheresamphiresormelaleucasdominate(Pavey2006).Thespeciesishighlymobileandcanhavelargeforagingranges.AnindividualwasrecordedbyremotecamerainthenorthofMandoraMarshcomplexona2015surveyandsecondarysigns(tracks,scats,diggingsandburrows)werenotedonthesamesurveyandenroutetoDragonTreeSoakaspartofanexpeditionin2014.Predation,habitatdegradationbyintroducedherbivores,andunsuitablefireregimesareconsideredtobethemajorthreatstothespeciesintheplanningarea.Anationalrecoveryplanforthegreaterbilby(Pavey2006)providesaframeworktoguidetheconservationofthisspecies,whileagreaterbilbyinterimconservationplan(Bradleyetal.2015)waspreparedin2015.InadditiontothemigratorybirdslistedinTable4,atleast15othermigratorybirdspecieshavebeenrecordedatMandoraMarsh,allofwhicharelistedunderSchedule5oftheWildlifeConservationActandarethesubjectofinternationalagreements.ThepresenceofeightmigratoryspeciesduringasurveyinSeptember2015demonstratesthatthecomplexcontinuestoprovideimportanthabitatformigratorybirdsevenwhennotinflood(JackettandGraff2015).AsakeystagingareawithintheEast–AsianAustralasianFlyway,manymoremigratorybirdspeciesvisitEightyMileBeacheachyear.Theshorebirdsthatfeedonthebeach(androostinthecoastalreservesathightide)areakeyvalueofthemarineparkandtheirmanagementisprimarilydealtwithinthemarineparkplanandotherkeydocumentssuchastheWildlifeConservationPlanforMigratoryShorebirds(CommonwealthofAustralia2015).IntertidalhabitatlossintheYellowSeathreatensthelongtermprospectsofseveralmigratoryspecies(Piersmaetal.2016).TwoPriority4species,thekakarratulornorthernmarsupialmole(Notoryctescaurinus)andprincessparrot(Polytelisalexandrae),havealsobeenrecordedintheplanningarea.

EcologicalcommunitiesMuchoftheplanningareaismappedashummock(spinifex)grasslandwithhabitatsandspeciescommonlyassociatedwitharid,desertlandscapes(Beardetal.2013).Thewaterregime,however,isregardedasthesinglebiggestdeterminantoftheecologyofthereserves.Permanentwatersourceshavesignificantconservationvalueasrefugesfromthesurroundingdrylandscapeandmakeanimportantcontributiontotheregionaldiversityoffloraandfauna.ThecoexistenceofsalineandfreshwaterwetlandsinWalyartaConservationParkgivesrisetounusualvegetationassociations,withplantsabletotoleratesalineconditionsgrowinginproximitytospeciesreliantonfreshwater.

Thegreaterbilbyisathreatenedspeciesthatoccursatanumberoflocationsacrosstheplanningarea.Managementofintroducedherbivores,feralcatsandfireregimeswillhelpitssurvivalinthereserves.Photo–DamianKellyPhotography

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TheinlandgreymangrovecommunityofSaltCreekisuniqueandrepresentsoneofonlytwosuchcommunitiesinAustralia.Locatedmorethan50kmfromthecoast,ithasbeensuggestedthatthisisarelictfromatimewhensealevelswerehigherandthesitewaspartofanestuary(WillingandHandasyde1999).ThesoaksofKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReservealsohaverelictpopulationsoffloranotfoundelsewhereintheGreatSandyDesert.Theplanningareacontainsthefollowingthreatenedecologicalcommunities(TECs)andpriorityecologicalcommunities:

• AssemblagesoftheorganicspringsandmoundspringsoftheMandoraMarsharea–state-listedTEC,classifiedasEndangered.Theecologicalcommunityisonlyknownfrom16occurrences,coveringatotalareaofabout52ha.

• AssemblagesofDragonTreeSoakorganicmoundspring–state-listedTEC,classifiedasEndangered.Thecommunityisknownfromonlyoneoccurrencecoveringapproximately7,940ha.

• Inlandmangrove(A.marina)communityofSaltCreek–Priority1(poorlyknown)ecologicalcommunity.Knownfromonlyoneoccurrencecoveringapproximately47ha.

DragontreesoverbulrushatDragonTreeSoak,KurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve.Photo–StephenReynolds/EnvironsKimberley

InlandmangrovesofSaltCreek,WalyartaConservationPark.Photo–MattFossey/ParksandWildlife

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4.3 ManagementissuesWeeds,introducedanimalsandinappropriatefireregimesalldirectlythreatenthekeyvaluesofthereserves.Thefragmentednatureoftheplanningareaandsurroundinglandusesincreasethevulnerabilityofthereservestothesemanagementissues,aswellasclimatechange.Relationshipsbetweentheseissuesareextremelycomplex,makingthemdifficulttoaddressinisolation.

WeedsRemotenesshelpstoprotecttheplanningareafromweedimpactstoanextent,thoughtheyhavestillenteredandspreadviapedestrianandvehicleaccess,introducedherbivoresandpastoralism,particularlywithinEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandWalyartaConservationPark.Traditionalwaterresourcesarealsoatriskfromweedsdrawingonthewatersourceandrestrictingaccessfortraditionalowners(KTLA2014).Introducedperennialgrassessuchasbuffelgrass(Cenchrusciliaris)andbirdwoodgrass(Cenchrussetiger)havebeenactivelyspreadinthepastthroughpastoralismandreplacedmanyofthenativegrassspeciesofthecoastaldunesandthewetlandsofWalyartaConservationPark(seeUsingresourcesfromcountry).DuringflorasurveysinthewestofWalyartaConservationParkin2015,anumberofweedspecieswererecorded,includingkapokbush(Aervajavanica),speedyweed(Flaveriatrinervia),Panamaberry(Muntingiacalabura),couchgrass(Cynodondactylon),whorledpigeongrass(Setariaverticillata)andcarpetweed(Phylanodiflora)(Markey2016).Otherpotentiallyseriousweedsthatmayoccurintheplanningareaincludeindigo(Indigoferaoblongifolia),parkinsonia(Parkinsoniaaculleata),stinkingpassionflower(Passiflorafoetida)andStylosanthesspecies(especiallyS.hamata)(G.Keigherypers.comm.2015).Formostweeds,controlisexpensive.Preventingtheirintroductionandspreadisamorecosteffectiveoption.Whereweedspeciesaredetectedintheplanningarea,thecontrolofsmallmanageableoutbreaksisapriority.Buffelgrassappearstobewellestablishedacrosspartsoftheplanningareaandmaybedifficulttocontainanderadicate.Creationofthereservesshouldlimitstockmovements,thoughitisnotunderstoodhowtherecoverypotentialofthelandscapeisaffectedbythedensityordurationofbuffelcolonisation.Post-fireweedcontrolcanbeasignificantissueandfurtherinformationisrequiredtounderstandweedinvasivenessafterfire.Itshouldbenotedthatweedscanbebeneficialfordunestabilisationandreducingerosionintheabsenceofnativevegetation.Insuchinstances,weedsshouldonlyberemovedaspartofanintegratedweedmanagementprogramthatincludesrestorationofthesitewithnativespecies.

IntroducedanimalsFeralcamels(Camelusdromedarius)anddonkeys(Equusasinus)occurintheplanningarea,causinghabitatdegradationthroughtrampling,grazingandrubbingofvegetation,compactionanderosionofsoil,andsedimentationandeutrophicationofwatersources(Done1999).Bothspeciesthreatenbiodiversityandculturalheritagevalues,thoughcamelsareregardedasahigherpriorityformanagement.InWalyartaConservationPark,camelsmainlyoccuraroundspringsintheeasternpartofthesite,althoughtheextentofdamagecausedbythemhasnotbeenconfirmed.Between2009-13,anationalferalcamelmanagementprojectwascarriedout,whichfocusedonmanagingtheimpactsofcamelsonnominatedenvironmentalsitesincludingMandoraMarsh(NintiOneLimited2013).CameldamagetoDragonTreeSoakwasreportedfromsitevisitsduringthe1990sandfromatripin2014(Spurr1996;Reynoldsetal.2015).Theimpactsfromcamelsanddonkeyswouldvaryfromyeartoyear,basedonseasonalconditions(NintiOneLimited2013).Heavy-dutyexclusionfencinghaspreviouslybeensuggestedasamethodformanagingtheimpactsofcamelsanddonkeysonselectedwatersources.Disadvantagesincludethecostanddifficultyoftransportingfencingmaterials,riskofdamagetothefencingandongoingmaintenanceneeds.Aerialcullingisregardedasamoreappropriatemeansofcontrolintheplanningarea,wherecamelsareattheedgeoftheirdistributioninthenorthernGreatSandyDesertanddensitiesarestillrelativelylow.ResearchandpreviouscontroleffortssuggestthatusingaJudasanimalcontroltechnique(i.e.whereselectedfemalesarefittedwithradiocollars)canbeeffectiveinenhancinghelicoptershootingprogramsindesertcountry(e.g.Spenceretal.2015).

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AgroupofferalcamelsinKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve.Camelsthreatenthenaturalandculturalvaluesoftheplanningarea.Photo–IlsePickerd/EnvironsKimberley

Feralcats(Feliscatus),foxes(Vulpesvulpes)andwilddogs(Canislupusfamiliaris)havebeenobservedthroughouttheplanningareaandthewiderregion.Theypreyonnativefaunaanddisruptwaterbirdbreeding(DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation2009).Predationbycatsandfoxes,combinedwithchangedfireregimes,hasdrivenmammaldeclinesandlocalextinctionsinmanypartsofthecountry(Woinarskietal.2015).ParksandWildlifehasdevelopedanoperationalplanfortheeffectivecontrolofintroducedpredatorsintheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandtheadjacentmarinepark(T.Sonnemanpers.comm.2014).Itisproposedthatintroducedpredatorswillbecontrolledatsufficientlylowlevelsthroughregularstrategicbaitingwith1080,andbytrappingandshootingwherenecessary.Eradicationisnotpossibleasreinvasionfromadjacentlandwardareaswithnocontrolwillalwaysoccur.ParksandWildlifeisalsoinvestinginlandscape-scaleferalcatbaitingindifferentpartsoftheStateandthetrialofanewhybridbaitintheKimberley.Ifsuccessful,itmaybeappliedintheplanningareaoverthelifeoftheplan.Canetoads(Rhinellamarinus)havenotyetreachedtheplanningarea,butitislikelythattheycouldspreadintofreshwatersystemsofWalyartaConservationPark.Whiletheyhavethepotentialtoreducepopulationsofawiderangeofnativespeciesthroughpoisoning,predationandcompetition,thelong-termimpactsofcanetoadsarepoorlyunderstood(e.g.Shine2010).Managementprioritiesfortheplanningareaincludepreparingforthearrivalofcanetoadsandminimisingthechanceofnewcanetoadpopulationsestablishingaheadofthefrontline(ParksandWildlife2014b).Formanagementissuesfromdomesticlivestock,seethesectionUsingresourcesfromcountry.

Feralcatcapturedonremotecameraatanactivebilbyburrow,WalyartaConservationPark.Photo–ParksandWildlife

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FireFireisanimportantnaturalcomponentofecosystemfunctionandisoneofanumberoffactorsthatinfluencesbiodiversityandecosystemcondition.Culturalburningisasustainablemeansoflookingaftercountryandculturalheritagevalues,whilecarbonabatementandsequestrationprojectsmaypresentfutureeconomicopportunitiesfortraditionalowners.Traditionally,Aboriginalpeoplemovedseasonallythroughoutthelandscapeandlitsmall,patchyfiresforhunting,regeneratingfoodandmedicinalplantsor‘cleaningupcountry’.Inrecentdecadesthesefirepatternshavebeenreplacedbylarge,hotanduncontrolledbushfires(‘wrong-wayfire’)occurringinthemid-latedryseason.WithintheKimberley,theincreasedintensityandfrequencyoffireshaveledtochangesinvegetationstructureandcomposition,soilerosionanddeclineinfaunapopulations,particularlysmallfaunawithlimitedhomeranges(Carwardineetal.2011;GovernmentofWA2011).Fireintheplanningareaandsurroundinglandswilltypicallyspreadoverlargeareasofgrassland,particularlyaftercyclonicrainfalleventsthatstimulatethegrowthofspinifexandannualgrasses(DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation2008).Ignitionisusuallycausedbydrylightningstorms.Littlehasbeendocumentedabouttheimpactsoffireintheplanningarea,althoughitislikelythatlarge,hotfireswouldadverselyaffectkeyvegetationcommunitiesandhabitats,speciesdiversity,traditionalfoodresourcesandotherculturalheritage(KTLA2014).Inverygeneralterms,fire-sensitivespeciesandecosystemsaremosttypicallyassociatedwiththelessflammablepartsofthelandscapethatarenotregularlyexposedtofire,suchasmoisterareas(e.g.central,peatyareasofpermanentmoundsprings)andthosewithdiscontinuousvegetation.SaundersSpringinWalyartaConservationParkhaslongbeenisolatedfromfireduetothenon-flammablenatureofthesurroundingvegetationandthedampconditionsthatprevail(DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation2009).Thepeatsoilsofthemoundspringcommunitiesgiverisetoparticularfiremanagementconsiderationsastheycanbeseriouslydamagedordestroyedbyfiresthatsmoulderforlongperiods.Addingfiretothelandscapebyprescribedburningdecreasestheextentandfrequencyofunmanagedbushfiresandcancreateamosaicofreducedfuellevelsaswellasareasofoldervegetation.Thismosaicpatternrepresentshabitatdiversityatalandscapescale,withpatchesofunburntvegetationprovidingrefugesfornativefauna.Avarietyofpost-firerecovery(seral)statesplayaroleinbiodiversityconservationindesertlandscapes(Haydonetal.2000),withspeciessuchasthegreaterbilbylikelytobenefitfromimprovedhabitatfavourability.Giventhelargefuelloadsandlimitedvehicleaccess,aerialburningmaybeanappropriateapproachforconductingprescribedburnsinpartsoftheplanningarea(e.g.KurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve).Monitoringofpost-firesurvivalandrecruitmentsuccessisalsonecessarytodetermineifecologicalcommunitiesarebenefitingfromprescribedburns.IncollaborationwiththeNyangumartatraditionalowners,researchersfromLaTrobeUniversityareestablishingstudyareasintheNyangumartaWarrarnIPAtoassesstheecologicaleffectsoftraditionalfireregimesandidentifyregimesconducivetomaintainingculturalbeliefs,practicesandvalues(S.Leonardpers.comm.2016).Theirfindingswillbeapplicabletofiremanagementplanningforthereserves.

KarajarrirangerBraedonTaylorundertakingfuelreductionburning.Photo–EwanNoakes

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Theinteractionoffirewithflammableweedspeciessuchasbuffelgrassremainsacomplicatingfactorforfiremanagementinpartsoftheplanningarea.Firemayenhanceweedinvasion,whichinturncanleadtomorefrequentorintensefiresorsuppresstheregenerationofnativespecies.Nonetheless,prescribedfire,whencoolandpatchyandappliedtoareasadjoiningbuffelinfestations,maymaintainnativegrassswardsandprovidesomecompetitiontolimittheexpansionofbuffelgrass(DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation2008a).Wherebuffelgrassisinterspersedwithnativegrasses,careshouldbetakenwithprescribedfiretominimisethepotentialforsuchfireeventstofacilitatethespreadorintensificationofbuffelinfestations.Forlargepartsoftheplanningareadominatedbyspinifex,fireplanningandmanagementisalsoguidedby16managementprinciplesbasedonexistingknowledgeoffirebehaviourandeffects(seeAppendixIII).

ClimatechangeClimatechangeaddsanoverarchingpressuretotheplanningareaandthebroaderregion.Itinteractswithexistingstressors,leadingtocomplexandunpredictableoutcomes(Steffenetal.2009).Hennessyetal.(2006)predictedthatby20303theclimateofnorth-westernAustraliawillbeslightlywarmer,withasmalldecreaseinannualrainfall.However,projectionsindicatethathighnaturalrainfallvariabilitywillcontinueandmaymasktrendsinaveragerainfall(Davis2014).Morefrequentandseveredroughtsareexpected,aswellasincreasesinextremeweatherevents.PotentiallythiscouldresultinlongerdryphasesoftheephemeralwetlandsofWalyartaConservationPark,thoughthismaybeoffsetbytheincreasedincidenceand/orextentoffloodingfollowingcyclonicrainfall(HaleandButcher2009).Prolongeddroughtwillresultindepletionofshalloweraquifers,whichcontributetosustainingthefreshwatermoundspringsoftheplanningarea.ArapidclimatechangevulnerabilityassessmentforthemoundspringsofMandoraMarsh,basedontheframeworkbyGitayetal.(2011),isprovidedinAppendixIV.Somemoundspringcommunitiesprimarilydependondeepergroundwatersoarelessvulnerabletothedirectimpactsofclimatechange,astheaquifersarenotsustainedbylocalcontemporaryrainfall.Thesegroundwatersystemscanbeconsideredlessvulnerabletothermalandhydrologicalchangeoverthelifeofthisplan.Anincreaseinthefrequencyandintensityofcycloneswillincreasethevulnerabilityoftheinlandmangrovesandmelaleucaanddragontree(Sesbaniaformosa)communitiestowinddamage,andmayaffecttheirabilitytorecoverbetweendisturbanceevents.ThedunesoftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesareparticularlyvulnerabletoerosionfromsevereweatherifvegetationcoverisreduced.Fortraditionalowners,climatechangemayalsoaffectseasonalpatternsinresourceavailability,renderingsometraditionalknowledgeinaccurate(KTLA2014).Managementmustaimtoincreasetheresilienceandresistanceofspeciesandecosystems,anddecreasetheirvulnerabilitytoachangingclimate.Uncertaintyaboutappropriateresponsestotheeffectsofclimatechangemeansthatprotectingcriticalhabitatsintheplanningarea(e.g.wetlands)andmanagingotherissues(e.g.weeds,introducedanimals,fireandphysicaldisturbance)arelikelytobeamongthebestoptionstoconservebiodiversityintheimmediatefuture.Suchapproachesaresometimesreferredtoas‘no-regret’or‘low-regret’strategiesastheyaddressshort-termconservationchallengesundercurrentconditions,andprovidelargebenefitsunderarangeoffutureclimatescenarios(Grossetal.2016).Furtherresearchwillbeimportantinbetterunderstandingclimatechangeimpactsataspeciesandcommunitylevel,andmanagementshouldbeadaptedonthebasisofthesefindings.

3Relativeto1990.

ParksandWildliferesearchscientiststakeasedimentcorefromamoundspringinWalyartaConservationPark.Underachangingclimate,theresponsesofdifferentspringswillvary,withthosemorereliantonshallowaquiferdischargelikelytoshowmorerapidchanges.Photo–ValEnglish/ParksandWildlife

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Summaryofmanagementdirectionsfornaturalvalues

Keypointsandconsiderations

• Theplanningareaincludesanumberofinternationally,nationallyandregionallysignificantwetlandsthatsupportunusualandrelictvegetationcommunitiesandhaveimportantrefugiavalue.Manyofthesearegroundwaterdependent,thoughthehydrologicalregimesrequirefurtherinvestigation.

• Severalfaunaspeciesofconservationinteresthavebeenrecordedintheplanningarea,includingthegreaterbilby,flatbackturtleandotherslistedunderinternationalagreements.RecordsoflargenumbersofwaterbirdsareassociatedwithfloodinginWalyartaConservationPark,thoughtheseeventsareinfrequent.

• TheplanningareacontainstwoTECsandaPriority1ecologicalcommunity.• Thefragmentednatureoftheplanningareaandsurroundinglandusesincreasethevulnerabilityofthereserves

toweeds,introducedanimals,‘wrong-wayfire’andclimatechange.Managementeffortsmustconsiderinteractionsbetweentheseissues,notingtheymayproducesynergisticeffects.

• AnumberofweedspeciesoccurintheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandWalyartaConservationParkandbuffelgrassiswidespread.Weedscanstabilisedunesintheabsenceofnativevegetationandshouldonlyberemovedaspartofanintegratedweedmanagementprogramthatincludesrestorationwithnativespecies.

• Controlofcamels,donkeys,catsandfoxesisneededacrosstheplanningarea.Camels,inparticular,threatentheintegrityoffreshwaterspringsandsoaks.Canetoadsmayreachthereservesoverthelifeofthisplan.

• Firemanagementwillrequireimplementationofstrategicburningandinputoftraditionalknowledge.Thepeatsoilsofthemoundspringcommunitiesandbuffelgrassinfestationshavespecificfiremanagementconsiderations.

• Protectingclimaterefugiasuchasthemoundspringsandreducingtheimpactofexistingstressorsareimportantclimatechangeadaptationapproaches.

• Researchshouldbeastrongfocusintheearlyyearsofimplementation.Fornewadditionstotheplanningarea,collectionofbaselinedataisneededtoallowtheconditionofvaluestobemonitoredoverandbeyondthelifeoftheplan.

• Additional,specificmonitoringandreportingrequirementsapplytoMandoraMarshandtheprimarycoastaldunesduetotheirdesignationasaRamsarwetland(seeAppendixI).

Managementobjectives Strategies

1. Sustainthehydrologicalregimesoftheplanningarea,withaparticularfocusongroundwaterdependentcommunitiesandspecies.

2. Conservenativeflora,faunaandecologicalcommunitiesoftheplanningarea,withpriorityonthegreaterbilbyandthoseassociatedwithsignificantwetlands.

3. Sustainorrestoreecosystemprocessesandfunctionintheplanningareabyaddressingkeymanagementissuesofintroducedherbivoresand‘wrong-wayfire’andtheimpactsofresourceuse(alsoseeUsingresourcesfromcountry).

Developandimplementacollaborativeandcost-effectiveresearchandmonitoringprogramthat:• mapsthelocationofallgroundwater-dependentwetlandsinWalyarta

ConservationPark• improvesunderstandingofthehydrologicalregimesandecologicalwater

requirements,inparticular,thedependenceofspringsandlakesonepisodicfloodingand/orgroundwaterfromdifferentaquifers

• characterisesthestygofaunaoftheplanningarea• establishesbaselinesforkeyspeciesandcommunities,including

vegetationboundaryandconditionmapping• addressesknowledgegapsforvaluesandthreatsforwhichperformance

measureshavebeenidentified,includingrisksandvulnerabilitiesassociatedwithclimatechange

• enableslimitsofacceptablechangeandoperationallimitstobesetforcriticalcomponentsandprocessesoftheMandoraMarshportionoftheEightyMileBeachRamsarsite

• establishesandmaintainspost-firemonitoringsites• evaluatestheconservationstatusoftheinlandmangrovecommunityof

SaltCreek• examinestheresponseofterrestrialvertebratefaunatodestockinginthe

WalyartaConservationPark(seeUsingresourcesfromcountry)• utilisesremotesensingtechnologies(e.g.formonitoringvegetationcover

andextentofsurfacewater)wherefeasible.

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Managementobjectives Strategies

4. MaintainorimprovetheecologicalcharacteroftheEightyMileBeachRamsarsite(includingMandoraMarshinWalyartaConservationParkandtheareasprotectedbytheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves).

5. Obtainanunderstandingofthekeynaturalvaluesoftheplanningareaandthefactorsaffectingthosevaluesthroughbaselineresearch,mappingandaddressingkeyknowledgegaps.

6. Monitorchangesinthekeynaturalvaluesoftheplanningarea,includingcriticalcomponentsandprocessesoftheEightyMileBeachRamsarsite,toprovideabasistoassess,adaptandimprovemanagement.

Ensurethatweedandferalanimalmanagementfortheplanningareaisconsideredandincorporatedintoaregionalmanagementprogramthat:• assessesandprioritisesthreatspresentedbyweedsandferalanimals(i.e.

newoccurrencesarelikelytobeahigherprioritythanthosethatareestablished)

• identifieskeyvalues(e.g.importantsprings,faunanestingandroostingsites)thataremostvulnerabletotheimpactsofweedsandferalanimalsandprioritisesthemforprotection

• maintainsdunevegetationcoverintheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandinvestigatesopportunitiestorevegetatedesignatedareasofweedcoverwithnativespecies

• maintainsorreducesthedensitiesofferalherbivores(e.g.regular,latedryseasonaerialcull,withafocusonthefreshwaterspringswherecamelsanddonkeyscongregate)

• outlineshygiene,quarantineandsurveillanceprocedures(e.g.cleandownofmachinery,vehiclesandequipmentusedinthereserves)toreduceintroductionandspreadofweedsandferalanimals.

Planandimplementfiremanagementfortheplanningareaaspartofalandscape-scaleprogramthat:• protectskeyvaluesincludingfiresensitiveecosystems(e.g.thecentral

peatyareasofmoundspringcommunities)• reducestheareaburntbylatedryseasonfires• createsafine-scalepatchmosaicofdifferentseralstages(fuelages)• integratesfiremanagementplanningwitheffortsinadjacentIPAs.Wherefeasible,establishandmaintainastrategicsystemofprotectivefirebreaksandaccesstracksforfiremanagement,withafocusonareasofhighconservationvalue,sitesofculturalsignificanceandothercommunityassets(e.g.boundaryfencesandneighbouringproperties).Identify,andwherepracticableprotect,corridors,microhabitatsandlandformfeaturessuitableforspeciesmigrationandrefugiainresponsetoextremeeventsandclimatechange.Developrecoveryplansforthreatenedandprioritycommunitiesintheplanningareaandimplementrecoveryactionsforlistedspeciesandcommunities(inaccordancewithapprovedrecoveryandconservationplanswheretheyexist).Workwiththeappropriatebodies(e.g.WetlandsandAquaticEcosystemsSub-Committee)andtechnicalexperts(e.g.AustralasianWaderStudiesGroup)tocoordinateaerialand/orgroundsurveysofwaterbirdsinWalyartaConservationParkduringepisodicfloodingevents.

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KEYPERFORMANCEINDICATORS(KPIs)

Performancemeasures Targets Reportingrequirements

Waterqualityandquantitymeasures(e.g.nutrients,salinity,groundwaterlevels,flowrates,extentofsurfacewater).

Nosignificantchangeinwaterqualityandquantityparameters(i.e.beyondnaturalseasonalorothercyclicvariation)atselectedhighriskand/orhighvaluesites.

Annually.

Levelofunderstandingoftheecologicalwaterrequirementsofgroundwaterdependentcommunitiesandspecies.

TheecologicalwaterrequirementsofgroundwaterdependentcommunitiesandspeciesinWalyartaConservationParkandtheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesaredefinedby2022.

Every2years.

Arealextent,conditionandnumberofoccurrencesofkeyvegetationassemblages(e.g.inlandmangrovesandmelaleucathicketsinWalyartaConservationPark,dragontreesinKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve).

• Atleast90percentofthearealextentofkeyvegetationassemblagesmaintainedatthesameorimprovedcondition(determinedusingBushForeverconditionscales)overthelifeoftheplan.

• Nolossinthenumberofoccurrencesofkeyvegetationassemblages.

Every3years.

Greaterbilbypresenceandabundance.

• Nodeclineinbilbyoccupancyratesandnumbersfrombaselinelevelsoversuitablehabitatinthefirstthreeyearsofimplementation.

• Anincreaseinbilbyoccupancyratesandnumbersoversuitablehabitatoverthenextfiveyearsofimplementation.

Annuallyforthefirst5years,thenreducedtoevery2yearsonceapositiveresponseisestablished.

Proportionofeachreservewithintheplanningareaburntbylatedryseasonfires.

Nomorethan20percentofeachreservewithintheplanningareatobeburntperannumbylatedryseasonfires.

Annually.

Extent(fireseason,frequencyandarea)towhichfiresensitiveecosystemsareburnt.

Centralpeatyareasofmoundspringcommunitiesremainunburnt(orfireintervalsof>20years).

Every3years.

Diversityanddistributionofseralstages.

Afine-scalemosaic(i.e.patches<6000ha)ofseralstagesincludingrecentlyburntandlongunburntpatchesthatprovidesuitablehabitatdiversityforbilbiesandotherfaunaoverthelifeoftheplan.

Every5years.

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5.Peopleoncountry(recreation,tourismandcommunityvalues)ParksandWildlifeandtraditionalownerssupporttheconceptof‘healthyparks,healthypeople’andendeavourtosafelyfacilitatepeople’senjoymentandrecreationaluseofthelandsandwatersthattheymanagewhilestilllookingafterothervaluesthatoccurthere.Overthelifeoftheplan,recreationandtourismactivitieswilllikelybefocusedontheadjoiningEightyMileBeachMarinePark.Visitoropportunities,constraintsandmanagementintheplanningareaarediscussedinmoredetailbelow.

5.1 PlanningforvisitoruseTheplanningareaisinTourismWesternAustralia’s‘NorthWest’region.ItisdissectedbytheGreatNorthernHighway,howevervisitationislimitedduetotheisolationofKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve,coupledwithlargepartsoftheplanningareahistoricallybeingpastoralland.EightyMileBeachandCapeKeraudrenCoastalReservearepopularstopoversandholidaydestinationsfortravellersbetweenBroomeandPortHedland,providingsomeindicationofvisitoruseinthevicinity.Mostvisitorsarriveduringthedryseason(MaytoOctober)toenjoytheremoteatmosphereandpanoramicvistas,boating,recreationalfishing,camping,four-wheeldrivingandwildlifeviewing(DepartmentofParksandWildlife2014).Therecentestablishmentofthemarineparkislikelytoattractmorevisitorsandmaycreatedemandforvisitorfacilitiesandactivitiesintheplanningarea.Thecoastwillbethefocusforvisitation(especiallyaroundexistingnodesatCapeKeraudrenandEightyMileBeachCaravanPark).Thesepointsprovideaccesstothedistinctiveseascapesofthemarinepark,andofferthebestopportunitiesforvisitorstoexperienceandenjoythenaturalenvironment.Importantly,theexistingnodesprovidethesafestoptionsforvisitors.Withitsvaluepredominantlynature-based,anyrecreationactivitiesand/orfacilitieswithintheplanningareashouldbe:• lowimpactandcompatiblewiththearea’svalues• appropriatetovisitordemand• consistentwithPolicyStatementNo.18–Recreation,tourism,

andvisitorservices(DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation2006).

Accessopportunitiesandconstraints,fundingandresourceavailability,andprovisionofvisitorfacilities/activitieselsewhereinthesurroundingareaareotherimportantfactorsinplanningforvisitoruse.EightyMileBeachCaravanPark,CapeKeraudrenCoastalReserveandPardooStation(locatednearthesouth-westernextentofthemarinepark)comfortablyaccommodateallovernightstays.Campingrequirementsarenotexpectedtoexceedcurrentprovisionsoverthelifeoftheplan.Dayusefacilitiesthatmaybesuitableintheplanningareaincludeboardwalks,lookoutsandbirdhides.

Beachspinifex,Kujungurru-WarrarnNatureReserve.Photo–ChrisNutt/ParksandWildlife

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5.2 AccessTheremotenatureoftheplanningarea,togetherwithnumerousunsealedtracks,manyofwhichtraverseprivateproperty,restrictpublicaccesstothereserves.InthesouthernhalfoftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves,thereareonlytwomajorpublicroads(CapeKeraudrenRoadandEightyMileBeachRoad)thatleadfromGreatNorthernHighwaytothecoast,allowingaccesstothispartoftheplanningarea.Four-wheeldrivingispermittedonEightyMileBeach,thoughgenerallylimitedtotheareaadjacenttoEightyMileBeachCaravanPark(i.e.betweenabout6kmsouthand18kmnorthofthebeachaccesspoint).SomevisitorsdrivealongthebeachandaccesstheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesbytraversingthecoastaldunes,however,vehiclesarenotpermittedinthesereserves(seeAccessmanagementbelow).

Tyretracksacrossasaltpan,KurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve.IttakesseveraldaystoreachthereservefromtheGreatNorthernHighway.Photo–StephenReynolds/EnvironsKimberley

ThewesternboundaryofWalyartaConservationParkisdefinedbytheGreatNorthernHighway,theonlymajorsealedroadinthevicinity.Thereisnootherformalpublicaccesstotheplanningareaandattemptstoreachthereservescouldbedetrimentaltovisitorsafety.AccesstoKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve,inparticular,isextremelydifficultanddangerousduetoitsremotelocationintheGreatSandyDesert.Traditionalownershaveexpressedconcernaboutthedifficultiesinaccessingtheplanningareatoundertakecustomaryactivities(seethesectionConnectiontocountry).TheKarajarritraditionalownershavedevelopedapermitsystemtomanagevisitoraccesstocoastalrecreationsitesintheKarajarriIPA.Thesesitesarelocatedoutsidetheplanningarea.

AccessmanagementThelimitedaccesstoEightyMileBeachhasledtounauthorisedoff-roaddrivingandcampingintheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservestoreachselectedandisolatedfishingspotsorothersmallerpastoralstationtracksthatarenotopentothepublic.Thishasadverseimpactsonimportantculturalheritagesitesandpractices,whichareakeyconcernforthearea’straditionalowners.Thepracticecandestroyfragilecoastalvegetation,impactturtlenestingsites,disturbmigratoryshorebirds,andpotentiallyintroduceorspreadexoticspecies.Itcanalsodisturbstockanddisruptpastoraloperationsonsurroundinglands.Thereareno‘permittedareas’foroff-roadvehiclesundertheControlofVehicles(Off-roadAreas)Act1978intheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves.Assuch,theuseofallvehicles(licensedandunlicensed),includingmotorbikes,quadbikesanddunebuggiesisnotpermittedinthereserves.Otherunauthorisedactivitiesthatcancausedisturbanceandrisktokeyvaluesandothervisitorsincludecampfires,littering,physicaldamagetoculturalheritagesitesandartefacts,andgeneralinappropriatebehaviour.

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5.3 SafetyTheplanningareaexperiencesextremetemperatures,tropicalcyclonesandflooding,andhasremoteandchallengingterrainwithlimitedcommunicationsandemergencyassistance.VisitorsafetywillbemanagedinaccordancewithPolicyStatementNo.53–Visitorriskmanagement(ParksandWildlife2015)andwillincludedisseminationofinformationtovisitorsaboutsafetyrisksandpersonalpreparedness.Throughtheirlawsandcustoms,traditionalownersalsohavearesponsibilitytokeepvisitorssafeoncountry.

5.4 Visitorinformation,educationandinterpretationVisitorinformation,educationandinterpretationwillraiseawarenessabouttheplanningarea,engendersupportforitsmanagement,andencouragecommunityinvolvementandappropriatebehaviour.Visitorinformation,educationandinterpretationwithin,orinthevicinityof,theplanningareamaycover:• culturalheritage(placenames,storiesandlanguage)

andnatural(significantwetlands,floraandfauna,ecologicalcommunitiesandRamsar)values

• managementissuesandmanagementintent• relevantculturallawsandprotocols• appropriatevisitoruseandvisitorsafety• researchandmonitoringfindings• opportunitiesforcommunityinvolvement.Severalcommunicationandeducationmessagescouldbegivenpriority,including:• theculturalsignificanceoftheplanningareaand

thetraditionalownerassociationswiththearea’swetlands;

• theimportanceofthecoastformigratorybirdsandnestingturtles,theeffectsofdisturbance,andstepsthecommunitycantaketominimisedisturbancetomigratorybirdsandturtles;and

• theneedforacollaborativeapproachtoaddresskeyissuessuchasintroducedherbivoresandinappropriatefireregimes.

Inadditiontosignage,informationbays,publications,theParksandWildlifewebsiteandotherelectronicmedia,ParksandWildlifeencouragesitsownstaff,traditionalowners,neighbouringlandmanagers,commercialtouroperators,conservationgroupsandthewidercommunitytodisseminatethisinformation.

5.5 CommercialoperationsCommercialconcessions,suchaslicencesandleasesforcommercialoperations,provideopportunitiesforprivatebusinessestooffertourismandrecreationopportunities,facilitiesandservicestothepublic.LicencesallowcommercialoperatorstoenteranduselandsandwatersmanagedundertheCALMActtoconductactivitiessuchasguidedwalksandtours.Leasescanbegrantedforcommercialservicesthatoccupyland,requireexclusiverightsofaccessandrequiresubstantialinfrastructure.CommercialconcessionsaregrantedinconsultationwiththeConservationandParksCommissionandtraditionalownersthroughtheJMBs,andmustbeconsistentwiththepurposeoftheplanningarea,theprotectionofitsvalues,theconditionsofParksandWildlife’sCommercialoperatorhandbooksandtheobjectivesofthisplan.Mostimportantly,naturalvaluesmustbemaintainedandculturalheritageprotectedandrespectedincludingassociatedsiterestrictionsandprotocols.

NyangumartaelderMargaretRosewithsaltbush,WalyartaConservationPark.Theculturalsignificanceoftheplanningareaisakeycommunicationmessage.Photo–MattFossey/ParksandWildlife

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ParksandWildlifeencouragestraditionalownerstodevelopcommercialopportunitiesthatcelebrateAboriginalcultureonlandthattheCALMActappliesto.Whiletherearenoexistingcommercialconcessionsrelevanttotheplanningarea,theNyangumartapeoplehaveexpressedaninterestinculturalecotourismopportunitiesandadesiretodevelopaninterpretivecentrenearEightyMileBeachCaravanPark(NWACandYMAC2015).Giventhearea’sproximitytotheGreatNorthernHighway,potentialexistsfortraditionalownerstoleadandoperatedryseasontoursinWalyartaConservationParkfromSandfireRoadhouseorEightyMileBeachCaravanParktoviewthespringsinthewesternpartofthereserveandtheinlandmangrovesofSaltCreek.

NyangumartaelderTeddyHunteratSaltCreek,WalyartaConservationPark.Theplanningareamayprovideculturalecotourismopportunitiesoverthelifeoftheplan.Photo–ParksandWildlife

5.6 CommunityinvolvementInadditiontojointmanagers,neighbouringlandmanagersandrelevantgovernmentagencies,involvingthewidercommunityisintegraltothedevelopmentandimplementationofthisplan.Itincreasesthecapacitytoundertakeworksprograms,researchandmonitoring,andfosterscommunicationlinks,senseofplaceandunderstandingwithinthecommunity.Non-governmentorganisations,researchinstitutions,touroperatorsandvolunteersarekeygroupswithinthecommunitythatcontributetomanagementoftheplanningareathroughprogramssuchasrevegetation,weedcontrol,floraandfaunasurveys,interpretationanddevelopmentofvisitorfacilities.Severalofthesegroupshavealreadyprovidedinputtothisplanningprocessandothersareexpectedtoprovidetheirviewsandfeedbackthroughthepubliccommentperiodforthisplan(seeInvitationtocomment).Throughotherprojectsintheplanningarea,traditionalownergroupshavebuiltproductiveworkingrelationshipswitharangeoforganisationsandinstitutionsincludingYamatjiMarlpaAboriginalCorporation,KimberleyLandCouncil,BHPBilliton,GreeningAustralia,RangelandsNRMandLaTrobeUniversity.

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Summaryofmanagementdirectionsforrecreation,tourismandcommunityvalues

Keypointsandconsiderations

• Thecreationofnewreservesmayresultinincreasedinterestinvisitingtheplanningarea.Visitationwillbefocusedontheadjacentmarineparkandaccessiblelocationsalongthecoast.

• Authorisedpublicaccesstotheplanningareaislimited.Mosttracksareunsealedandtraverseprivateproperty.ThereiscurrentlynovisitoraccesstoKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserveorWalyartaConservationPark.

• Unauthorisedvehicleaccessalongthedunesystemisamanagementissueanddamagescoastalvegetationandlandforms,andimpactsfaunaandculturalheritagesites.Vehicles(includingmotorbikes,quadbikesanddunebuggies)arenotpermittedintheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves.

• Theremotenatureoftheplanningarea,combinedwiththeharshterrain,highdaytimetemperaturesandtheoccurrenceoftropicalcyclones,posearisktothesafetyofvisitors.

• Appropriateeducationandinterpretationwillincreasepublicawarenessofthevaluesoftheplanningarea,andpromoteresponsiblebehaviour.Whereculturalinformationisavailable,visitorsshouldhavegreaterunderstandingofandrespectforculturalvalues,lawsandprotocols.

• Externalorganisationsandcommunitygroupsmaybeencouragedtoundertakeandsupporton-groundworks,researchandmonitoring.

Managementobjectives Strategies

1. Provideandpromoteappropriatevehicleaccessforcultural,recreationandmanagementpurposeswithoutimpactingonthevaluesoftheplanningarea.

2. Minimisesafetyriskstovisitorstotheplanningarea.

3. Enhancevisitorenjoymentandappreciationofthevaluesoftheplanningareaandencouragebehaviourthatassistswithmanagement.

4. Promoteandfacilitatecommunityinvolvementinthemanagementoftheplanningarea.

Maintainroadsandtracksthatprovidepublicandmanagementaccess.Closeandre-route(andwherefeasible,rehabilitate)unnecessaryorinappropriateaccessroutes(i.e.tracksnotneededforpublicaccessormanagementpurposesorwhereunauthorisedcampingisapparent)orapplyaccessrestrictionstoareaswherekeyvaluesarevulnerabletodisturbance(e.g.threatenedspeciesandcommunities,sitesofculturalsignificanceandmeasuresconsistentwiththemarineparkmanagementplan).Ensurethatvisitorriskmanagementfortheplanningareaisconsideredaspartofaregionalriskmanagementprogramthatincludes:• measurestomitigatethemainandmostserioussafetyissues• culturallawsandprotocolsregardingvisitorriskandsafety.Investigatetheneedfor,andprepareandimplementasappropriate,specificeducationandinterpretationstrategiesthatcommunicate:• theimportanceofthevaluesoftheplanningarea• appropriatebehaviourtoreducehumanimpactsandensurepublicsafety• thepurposeofaccessrestrictionsandotherregulations• keyresearchandmonitoringfindingswhereappropriate.Asvisitordemandrequiresandasresourcesallow,investigatethefeasibilityofprovidingsomebasicvisitorinfrastructure(e.g.installationofshelterandinterpretivefacilities)tocaterforactivitiessuchasculturalecotourismandwildlifeappreciation.SeeksupportfromEightyMileBeachCaravanPark,otherlandmanagersaccommodatingvisitors,andtouroperatorstodisseminateinformationonkeyvaluesoftheplanningareaandtopromoteappropriatevisitorbehaviour.Developspecificlicenceconditionsforcommercialoperatorswhooperateintheplanningareaandaccessimportantculturalsites,toensurevisitationtothesesitesisundertakeninaculturallyappropriateway.Investigate,andwherepossiblesupport,culturalecotourismopportunitiesintheplanningarea.Consideropportunitiesandprovidesupport(i.e.advice,financialand/orlogisticalassistance)forcommunityparticipationinmanagement(includingresearchandmonitoring)oftheplanningarea(e.g.universities,non-governmentorganisationsandcommunitygroups).MonitorvegetationcoverintheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservestoassessthenatureandlevelofvehicleuseandhumanimpactoncoastalcommunities,andtakeremedialactionwhereneeded.

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6. Usingresourcesfromthecountry(sustainableresourceuse)Theresponsibleandsustainableuseofnaturalresourcesinandadjacenttotheplanningareaisrecognisedforitscontributiontolongandshort-termeconomic,environmentalandsocialoutcomes.Themainexistingandpotentialactivitiesassociatedwiththeplanningareaarepastoralism,abstractionofgroundwater,andresourceexplorationanddevelopment.

6.1 PastoralismGrazingofdomesticlivestockoutsidetheplanningareaisanacceptedeconomicactivitythatproducesfoodandfibreforthecommunityandgeneratesexportproducts.Priortomid-2015,theEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandasignificantportionofWalyartaConservationParkwereheldunderpastorallease.Theseareasarestillsubjecttolivestockgrazingalthoughitisaprioritythatthecattleandassociatedinfrastructureberemovedassoonaspossible.Pastoraloperationscontinueonsurroundinglands,thereforeincursionoflivestockisbothanexistingandpotentialmanagementissue.Thepresenceofpermanentwater,densevegetationandshadehasmadethemoundspringcommunitiesofMandoraMarshparticularlyattractivetocattle.Fordecadestheyaccessedthefreshwaterspringsandimpactedthesitebytramplingvegetation,pugging(compacting)ofsoilandintroducingnutrients,andwereavectorfortheintroductionofexoticpasturegrassesandotherweeds.Grazingbylivestockaltershabitatstructure,negativelyaffectingspeciesthatdependonunderstoreyvegetationforforagingandnesting(MartinandPossingham2005).StockhavealonghistoryofgrazingthevegetationoftheprimarydunesalongEightyMileBeachandalongSaltCreek,contributingtoerosionanddamagetoculturalheritagesitesandvalues.Indirectimpactsincludealterationofthemovementandbehaviourofnativeandintroducedfaunaspeciesandalteredfire,nutrientandsurfacewaterflowregimes.Weedsandintroducedanimalsareoftenfavouredbyecologicalchangesarisingfromgrazing(e.g.nutrientavailability).Researchfromsiteswithahistoryofpastoralismelsewheresuggeststhatecologicalrecoverycanoccurreasonablyquicklyfollowingremovaloflivestock,however,thespeciesmostsusceptibletopastoralimpactsmayhavelongdisappearedfromthelandscapeandmaynotreturn(Leggeetal.2011;WoinarskiandAsh2002).Landscape-scaleexperimentsinvolvingtheremovalofstockarebeingundertakenacrossnorthernAustraliatoexploreinteractionsoffirepatternwithgrazingregimes.ResultsfromastudysiteinthecentralKimberleyindicatethatmammalrecoveryafterstockremovalwasonlypronouncedwhenfiresweresimultaneouslymanagedtobelowerinfrequency,sizeandintensity(Ziembickietal.2015).

Partsoftheplanningareahavelongbeensubjecttotheadverseeffectsofdomesticstock.Destockingisaprioritytoallowtheseareastorecover.Photo–DaveandFionaHarvey/NaturalistVolunteers

Soilpuggingbycattleataspring,WalyartaConservationPark.Photo–KarenBettink/ParksandWildlife

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6.2 WaterabstractionPlansexistforfuturehorticulturaldevelopmentsinthewiderregionanddiversificationofcurrentpastoralusetoincludearangeofmorewaterintensivepracticesandactivitiessuchasirrigatedagricultureandaquaculture(HaleandButcher2009).AbstractionofgroundwaterforhorticultureorotherdevelopmentsposesasignificantpotentialthreattothehydrologyandfunctioningofgroundwaterdependentwetlandsinWalyartaConservationParkandtheirassociatedecologicalassemblages,includingTECMandoraMounds.AccordingtoStoreyetal.(2011),waterabstractionfromtheaquifersfeedingthefreshwaterspringsatMandoraMarshwouldbeextremelydetrimentalandcouldleadtotheirloss.ThiswouldalsothreatenstygofaunacommunitiesandwouldhavethepotentialtoaffecttheecologicalcharacteroftheRamsarsite(seeAppendixI).Partsoftheplanningareaareatriskofacidsulfatesoilsoccurringnearorbeyondthenaturalsoilsurface.Theeffectsofdewateringordisturbingthemincludecontaminationofgroundwaterandecologicaldamagetowetlandecosystems.Aportionoftheplanningarea,includingseveraloftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandthemajorityofWalyartaConservationPark,lieswithintheLaGrangeManagementArea,inwhichgroundwaterallocationismanagedbytheDepartmentofWater.TheLaGrangeGroundwaterAllocationPlanincludesmanagementtriggersandspecificlocalareamanagementrules(e.g.nonewborescanbedrilledwithintheRamsarsiteboundaryatMandoraMarsh)toensurethatwaterabstractionwillbesustainableandsignificantvaluesprotected(DepartmentofWater2010).Intheallocationplan,theDepartmentofWatercommitstoidentifyingthelocalinvestigationsrequiredtodeterminetheecologicalwaterrequirementsforsitesofsignificance.Increasingthelevelofunderstandingaboutthehydrologyofthesepartsoftheplanningareaisanimportantmanagementoutcome.Currentabstractioniswellbelowtheannuallimit,witharound35percentofthewaterintheLaGrangeSouthsubarealicensedandcommittedasofDecember2014.Spatialdistributionofabstractionwellsmayalsobeanimportantconsiderationforpartsoftheplanningarea(J.Rutherfordpers.comm.2015).

6.3 MineralandpetroleumexplorationanddevelopmentTheregionhasidentified(andprospective)mineralandoilresourcesthatareimportanttotheeconomy.Atthetimeofpublication,largepartsoftheplanningareaareofinteresttotheminingandpetroleumindustries,withlivetenementscoveringportionsoftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandpetroleumexplorationpermitsextendingoverKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve,thenorthernportionofWalyartaConservationParkandoneoftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves.ExplorationanddevelopmentproposalsrelevanttotheMiningAct1978andthePetroleumandGeothermalEnergyResourcesAct1967mustundergothenecessaryenvironmentalandheritageassessments.TheymaybespecificallyreferredtotheEnvironmentalProtectionAuthorityforenvironmentalimpactassessment,andapprovalundertheEPBCActmayalsoberequiredwherepotentialsignificantimpactsonmattersofnationalsignificance(e.g.Ramsarsitesorlistedspecies)areidentified.Althoughitisunlikelythatminingwouldbepermittedwithinenvironmentallysensitivepartsoftheplanningarea,miningandexplorationinthewiderregionhasthepotentialtoimpactonkeyvalues.Localandstategovernmentagenciesmayrequiretheextractionofbasicrawmaterials(suchasgravel,shale,clay,sand,limestoneandrock)foruseonroads,trailsandfoundationsforinfrastructure.Duetothearea’slandforms(wetlandsanddunesvulnerabletoerosion),conservationvalueandlowdemandforvisitorfacilities,basicrawmaterialextractionisunlikelytobesourcedfrom,orsupportedfor,thereserves.Wherebasicrawmaterialsaresourcedfromwithintheplanningarea,thematerialsshouldonlybeusedtocontributetotheprotectionormanagementofthereserves.

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Summaryofmanagementdirectionsforsustainableresourceuse

Keypointsandconsiderations

• TheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandasignificantportionofWalyartaConservationParkhavelongbeensubjecttolivestockgrazing.Theplanningareawillsoonbedestockedbutgrazingwillcontinueonsurroundinglands.

• Accessbycattlehasimpactedthecoastaldunes,inlandmangrovesandmoundspringcommunities.ManagedandunmanagedstockarethemostsignificantthreattotheconditionofthemoundspringsatMandoraMarsh.

• Otherlandusesinthevicinityoftheplanningareaincludeintensivehorticulture,miningandpetroleumexploration.Anincreaseingroundwaterabstractionassociatedwiththeseactivitiesmayimpactthehydrologyoftheplanningareaandgroundwaterdependentecosystems.

Managementobjective Strategies

1. Protectkeyvaluesoftheplanningareafromadverseimpactsofresourceuse.

Facilitatetheremovaloflivestockandassociatedinfrastructurefromformerpastoralleaseareasoftheplanningarea.Investigatetheneedforandfeasibilityofinstallingandmaintainingcattle-prooffencingtoexcludelivestockfromsensitivesitesandlocations(e.g.moundspringsofWalyartaConservationPark).Undertakeregularsurveysofferalstockabundanceandtheintegrityoffencingaroundsensitivesiteswherecattlestilloccur.Considerrequirementsandopportunitiesforactivecontroloflivestock(e.g.musteringoffreservesandaerialculls)aspartofaregionalferalanimalcontrolprogram(alsoseeCaringforcountry).CollaboratewiththeDepartmentofWatertodefinetheecologicalwaterrequirementsforsignificantgroundwater-dependentwetlandsoftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandWalyartaConservationPark(alsoseeCaringforcountry).Considerthepossibilityofencounteringacidsulfatesoilsandavoiddisturbing,compacting,dewateringanddisplacingsaturatedsoilsatrisk.Workwiththerelevantagenciestoevaluatelanduse,explorationanddevelopmentproposalsthatmayimpactonthekeyvaluesoftheplanningareaandseektoavoidorminimisetheseimpacts.Provideadvicetoensurethatanysitesdisturbedbyresourceexplorationanddevelopmentwithintheplanningareaarerehabilitatedinaccordancewiththeconditionsoftheminingorexplorationtenureorapprovaldocumentation,aswellasParksandWildliferehabilitationstandardsandguidelines.

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7.PerformanceAssessmentTheConservationandParksCommissionhasresponsibilityforassessingtheimplementationofthisplaninaccordancewithsection19(1)(g)(iii)oftheCALMAct.Progresstowardsachievingtheobjectivesoftheplanisdemonstratedbyregularmonitoring,evaluationandreportingtoinvestigatetheeffectivenessofmanagementstrategiesandidentifyopportunitiesforimprovement.Thesearekeyelementsofanadaptivemanagementframework,enablingstrategiestoberevisedwhereneeded.Asetofkeyperformanceindicators(KPIs)willbeusedtoassesstheimplementationandsuccessofthisplan.TheKPIs(comprisingperformancemeasures,managementtargetsandreportingrequirements4)havebeenidentifiedforselectedvaluesandmanagementissuesandarepresentedintherelevantmanagementtablesthroughouttheplan.TheKPIsarelinkedtoobjectivesandstrategies,andreflectthehighestconservationandmanagementprioritiesoftheConservationandParksCommission,ParksandWildlife,jointmanagementpartnersandthecommunity.Anysustainedchange(e.g.acontinuousdecreaseorincrease)willtriggertheneedforfurtherinvestigationtodeterminethecauseofthatchangeandthereforetherequirementfor,andtypeof,managementintervention.Providingaccurateandrelevantdataandinformationasevidenceofplanimplementationisessentialtoensuretheassessmentprocessisperformedquicklyandeffectively.Aportfoliowillbemaintainedshowingevidenceofthoseareaswheretheplanisbeingsuccessfulandthosewherechangesareneeded.Someexamplesofevidencethatmaybeusedtoassessimplementationofthisplaninclude:• specific,quantitativemonitoringofsignificant

assetssuchasconservationsignificantfloraandfaunaandTECs

• seriesofphotographs,mappingorotherimagerythatshowwhetherspatialandtemporalchangeshaveoccurred

• checklists• surveys• incidentreportsorrecords• otherwrittendocumentsorcorrespondence.AssessmentbytheConservationandParksCommissionshouldalsobeinformedbymonitoringandreportingundertheKarajarriHealthyCountryPlanandtheNyangumartaWarrarnIPAplan.

4Whilereportingrequirementsmaybeannual(orother),determiningreliabletrendsmightnotbepossibleforanumberofyears.

Footprints,KujungurruWarrarnNatureReserve.Photo–MattFossey/ParksandWildlife

7.PerformanceAssessmentTheConservationandParksCommissionhasresponsibilityforassessingtheimplementationofthisplaninaccordancewithsection19(1)(g)(iii)oftheCALMAct.Progresstowardsachievingtheobjectivesoftheplanisdemonstratedbyregularmonitoring,evaluationandreportingtoinvestigatetheeffectivenessofmanagementstrategiesandidentifyopportunitiesforimprovement.Thesearekeyelementsofanadaptivemanagementframework,enablingstrategiestoberevisedwhereneeded.Asetofkeyperformanceindicators(KPIs)willbeusedtoassesstheimplementationandsuccessofthisplan.TheKPIs(comprisingperformancemeasures,managementtargetsandreportingrequirements4)havebeenidentifiedforselectedvaluesandmanagementissuesandarepresentedintherelevantmanagementtablesthroughouttheplan.TheKPIsarelinkedtoobjectivesandstrategies,andreflectthehighestconservationandmanagementprioritiesoftheConservationandParksCommission,ParksandWildlife,jointmanagementpartnersandthecommunity.Anysustainedchange(e.g.acontinuousdecreaseorincrease)willtriggertheneedforfurtherinvestigationtodeterminethecauseofthatchangeandthereforetherequirementfor,andtypeof,managementintervention.Providingaccurateandrelevantdataandinformationasevidenceofplanimplementationisessentialtoensuretheassessmentprocessisperformedquicklyandeffectively.Aportfoliowillbemaintainedshowingevidenceofthoseareaswheretheplanisbeingsuccessfulandthosewherechangesareneeded.Someexamplesofevidencethatmaybeusedtoassessimplementationofthisplaninclude:• specific,quantitativemonitoringofsignificant

assetssuchasconservationsignificantfloraandfaunaandTECs

• seriesofphotographs,mappingorotherimagerythatshowwhetherspatialandtemporalchangeshaveoccurred

• checklists• surveys• incidentreportsorrecords• otherwrittendocumentsorcorrespondence.AssessmentbytheConservationandParksCommissionshouldalsobeinformedbymonitoringandreportingundertheKarajarriHealthyCountryPlanandtheNyangumartaWarrarnIPAplan.

4Whilereportingrequirementsmaybeannual(orother),determiningreliabletrendsmightnotbepossibleforanumberofyears.

Footprints,KujungurruWarrarnNatureReserve.Photo–MattFossey/ParksandWildlife

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SpencerP.B.S.,HamptonJ.O.,PacioniC.,KennedyM.S.,SaalfeldK.,RoseK.andWoolnoughA.P.(2015).GeneticrelationshipswithinsocialgroupsinfluencetheapplicationoftheJudastechnique:Acasestudywithwilddromedarycamels.JournalofWildlifeManagement79:102-111.

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SteffenW.,BurbidgeA.A.,HughesL.,KitchingR.,LindenmayerD.,MusgraveW.,StaffordSmithM.andWernerP.A.(2009).Australia’sbiodiversityandclimatechange:astrategicassessmentofthevulnerabilityofAustralia’sbiodiversitytoclimatechange.AreporttotheNaturalResourceManagementMinisterialCouncilcommissionedbytheAustralianGovernment.DepartmentofClimateChange,Canberra.

StoreyA.W.,HalseS.A.,ShielR.J.andCreaghS.(2011).AquaticfaunaandwaterchemistryofthemoundspringsandwetlandsofMandoraMarsh,north-westernAustralia.JournaloftheRoyalSocietyofWesternAustralia,94,419-37.

WatkinsD.,BrennanK.,LangeC.,JaenschR.andFinlaysonM.(1997).ManagementPlanningforRamsarSitesintheKimberleyRegionofWesternAustralia.ReporttotheDepartmentofConservationandLandManagement,Perth,WesternAustralia.

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WillingT.(2014).TukujanaNganyjurrukuraNgurra‘Allofuslookingaftercountrytogether’:LiteratureReviewwithRecommendationsforTerrestrialandMarineEnvironmentsonKarajarriLandandSeaCountry.KarajarriTraditionalLandsAssociation,Broome,WesternAustralia.

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WoinarskiJ.C.Z.andAshA.J.(2002).Responsesofvertebratestopastoralism,militarylanduseandlandscapepositioninanAustraliantropicalsavanna.AustralEcology27:311-323.

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WyrwollK.H.,McKenzieN.L.,PedersonB.J.andTapleyI.J.(1986).TheGreatSandyDesertofnorth-westernAustralia:thelast7000years.Search,17,208-10.

Yu,S.(2000).NgapaKunangkul:LivingWater.ReportontheAboriginalculturalvaluesofgroundwaterintheLaGrangesub-basin.PreparedbytheCentreofAnthropologicalResearch,UniversityofWesternAustraliafortheWaterandRiversCommissionofWesternAustralia.Secondedition.

ZiembickiM.R.,WoinarskiJ.C.Z.,WebbJ.K.,Vanderduys,E.,TuftK.,SmithJ.,RitchieE.G.,ReardonT.B.,RadfordI.J.,PreeceN.,PerryJ.,MurphyB.P.,McGregorH.,LeggeS.,LeahyL.,LawesM.J.,KanowskiJ.,JohnsonC.N.,JamesA.,GriffithsA.D.,GillespieG.,FrankA.S.K.,FisherA.andBurbidgeA.A.(2015).Stemmingthetide:progresstowardsresolvingthecausesofdeclineandimplementingmanagementresponsesforthedisappearingmammalfaunaofnorthernAustralia.Therya,6(1),169-225.

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AppendicesAppendixI:EightyMileBeachRamsarsiteTheEightyMileBeachRamsarsitewaslistedasawetlandofinternationalimportanceundertheRamsarConventionon7June1990.Thesitecoverstwoseparateanddistinctareas,totalling175,487ha:EightyMileBeachandassociatedintertidalflatsandprimarydunes(knownasthebeachsection)andMandoraMarsh.ThebeachsectionislargelyprotectedbytheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesandtheadjacentmarineparkandWalyartaConservationParkcoversthemajorityofMandoraMarsh.SmallareasoftheRamsarsiteoccuronpastoralleaseoutsidetheformalconservationestate.

TheplanningareaformallyprotectsasignificantportionoftheEightyMileBeachRamsarsite.Photo–ParksandWildlife

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RamsarlistingcriteriaToqualifyforlisting,awetlandmustmeetatleastoneofthenineRamsarcriteria.TheEightyMileBeachRamsarsitecurrentlymeetscriteria1-6.Table5ListingcriteriametbyportionsoftheRamsarsiteintheplanningarea

GroupAofthecriteria:Sitescontainingrepresentative,rareoruniquewetlandtypes

Criterion1:Awetlandshouldbeconsideredinternationallyimportantifitcontainsarepresentative,rare,oruniqueexampleofanaturalornear-naturalwetlandtypefoundwithintheappropriatebiogeographicregion.• MandoraMarsh,withintheGreatSandyDesertbioregion,containsanimportantandrare

groupofwetlands,includingperiodicallyinundatedlakes,apermanenthyper-salinecreek,freshwater,tree-dominatedwetlands,andfreshwaterandsalinemoundsprings.

GroupBofthecriteria:Sitesofinternationalimportanceforconservingbiodiversity

Speciesandecologicalcommunities

Criterion2:Awetlandshouldbeconsideredinternationallyimportantifitsupportsvulnerable,endangered,orcriticallyendangeredspeciesorthreatenedecologicalcommunities.• Thegreaterbilby,listedasVulnerableundertheWildlifeConservationActandtheEPBC

Act,hasbeenrecordedatMandoraMarsh.• Thecoastaldunesandinlandwetlandssupportseveralthreatenedshorebirdspecies

includingtheAustralianpaintedsnipe,bar-tailedgodwit,curlewsandpiperandgreatersandplover.

• ThedunesofEightyMileBeachprovidenestinghabitatfortheflatbackturtle,listedasVulnerableundertheWildlifeConservationActandtheEPBCAct.

• OnethreatenedecologicalcommunityandonepriorityecologicalcommunityarelocatedatMandoraMarsh.

Criterion3:Awetlandshouldbeconsideredinternationallyimportantifitsupportspopulationsofplantand/oranimalspeciesimportantformaintainingthebiologicaldiversityofaparticularbiogeographicregion.• MandoraMarshcontainstemporaryandpermanentwetlandsrecognisedasimportant

refugiaforbiodiversityinapredominantlyaridbioregion.Inparticular,themoundspringsmakeasignificantcontributiontotheregionaldiversityoffloraandfauna.

Criterion4:Awetlandshouldbeconsideredinternationallyimportantifitsupportsplantand/oranimalspeciesatacriticalstageintheirlifecycles,orprovidesrefugeduringadverseconditions.• Whenflooded,MandoraMarshsupportsthecriticallifestageofbreedingforatleast13

waterbirdspecies,includinglargenumbersofAustralianpelicans(Pelecanusconspicillatus)andblackswans(Cygnusatratus).

• EightyMileBeachisoneofthemajorstopoverandnon-breedingareasformigratoryshorebirdsvisitingAustralia.Manyofthesefeedalmostexclusivelyontheintertidalflatsofthemarinepark,butusethecoastalreservesforroostingathightide.

• Thecoastaldunesalsosupportflatbackturtlenesting.Waterbirds

Criterion5:Awetlandshouldbeconsideredinternationallyimportantifitregularlysupports20,000ormorewaterbirds.• Thebeachsection,includingthecoastalreserves,isconsideredtoregularlysupportin

excessof500,000birds.• Therearerecordsoflargenumbers(i.e.>20,000)ofwaterbirdsassociatedwithfloodingat

MandoraMarsh,thoughonaninfrequentbasis.Criterion6:Awetlandshouldbeconsideredinternationallyimportantifitregularlysupportsonepercentoftheindividualsinapopulationofonespeciesorsubspeciesofwaterbird.• Maximumcountsforatleasttworesidentwaterbirds–theblack-wingedstilt(Himantopus

himantopus)andEasterngreategret(Ardeamodesta)–atMandoraMarshexceedtheonepercentpopulationthresholds.

• Maximumcountsinthebeachsectionexceedonepercentoftheflywaypopulation(oronepercentoftheAustralianpopulationforresidentspecies)for21waterbirdspecies.

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CriticalcomponentsandprocessesUndertheConvention,ContractingPartiescommittopromotingtheconservationoflistedwetlands,withtheaimofpreventingchangestotheirecologicalcharacter.Ecologicalcharacterisdeterminedbykeyphysical,chemicalandbiologicalcomponentsandprocesses.ThecriticalcomponentsandprocessesfortheEightyMileBeachRamsarsite,asidentifiedbyHaleandButcher(2009),arelistedbelow:Beachsection MandoraMarshHydrology HydrologyGeomorphology GeomorphologyPrimaryproduction WaterqualityInvertebrates PhytoplanktonandprimaryproductionFish VegetationWaterbirds InvertebratesTurtles WaterbirdsWhilethecomponentsandprocessesofthebeachsectionhaverelevancetotheEightyMileBeachcoastalreserves,theirmanagementandmonitoringisgenerallydealtwithbythemarineparkmanagementplan.

LimitsofacceptablechangeParksandWildlifeistheleadagencyforimplementationoftheRamsarConventioninWesternAustraliaandpartofthisresponsibilityinvolvesreportingtotheAustralianGovernmentiftheecologicalcharacteroftheRamsarsitehaschanged,ischangingorislikelytochange.Toassistwiththis,limitsofacceptablechangeandinterimlimitsofacceptablechangeweresetbyHaleandButcher(2009)butthesewillneedtobereviewedasinformationisgainedfromfuturemonitoring.Toensurethatlimitsofacceptablechangearenotexceeded,operationallimitsmayneedtobeidentifiedasearlywarningtriggers.Whereanoperationallimitisreached,managementshouldintervenetodeterminewhetherthechangeisdetrimentaland,ifrequired,preventfurtherdeterioration.ResearchandmonitoringinWalyartaConservationParkwillenablelimitsofacceptablechangeandoperationallimitstobesetandreviewedforthecriticalcomponentsandprocessesofMandoraMarsh.Ifitisnotpossibleorpracticaltosetlimitsforallcomponentsandprocesses,priorityshouldbegiventothosewhicharetheprimarydeterminantsofecologicalcharacter(e.g.hydrology)andthosewhichcanbemanagedandmonitored(e.g.waterqualityandvegetation).

ReportingParksandWildlifeisresponsibleforreportingontheconditionandstatusoftheecologicalcharacteroftheEightyMileBeachRamsarsiteeverythreeyears,aspartofarollingreview.Thedepartment’sWetlandsSectionwillcoordinatethetriennialreviewandreportingtotheAustralianGovernment.

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AppendixII:PhysicalandbiologicalenvironmentClimateTheclimateoftheplanningareaissemi-aridmonsoonalwithaprolongeddryseasonbetweenAprilandNovember.Temperaturesrangefromwarmtohotyear-roundand,onaverage,evaporationgreatlyexceedsrainfall.TheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesreceiveanaveragerainfallof370mmdecreasingfurtherinlandto300mmatWalyartaConservationParkandabout250-200mmatKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve.Muchoftheraincomesfromthunderstormsandtheproximityofcyclones(Willing2014).Tropicalcyclonesfrequentlyimpacttheregion,mostcommonlyduringthewetseason(DecembertoApril),bringingextremelystrongwindsandtorrentialrainfall.Thiscanhavedramaticeffectsonthelandformsandecologyoftheplanningarea.Floodingissometimesassociatedwiththesecycloniceventsandisenhancedwhenmultipletropicallowsoccurwithinafewweeksofeachother.Asthecycloniccentresmoveacrossland,theirstrengthdiminishesandwindspeedsabate.

GeomorphologyandlandformsIngeologicalterms,theplanningareaissituatedinthesouthernpartoftheCanningBasin.TheentireareaispartofalargepalaeodrainagesystemcalledtheWallalPaleoriverthatextendsfromtheNorthernTerritory,throughtheeasternKimberley,toEightyMileBeachonthecoast(Wyrwolletal.1986).Thegeomorphologyorcontemporarylandscapeisinfluencedbyacombinationofdeep-seatedgeologicalstructuresandexternalfluvialandaeolianprocesses.Fluctuationsinmeansealevelhavealsohadamajorimpactonthelocallandscape,withthemostrecentoccurringaround10,000yearsagowhenthewetlandsofWalyartaConservationParkandthecoastalplainsthatbackEightyMileBeachexistedasashallowmarinesystem.Atthistime,thesewetlandswereprobablypartofanestuaryatthemouthoftheWallalPaleoriver(Watkinsetal.1997).Thisisreflectedbythefine,carbonate-dominatedlithologyofthearea(Semeniuk2008).Theretreatofthesealevelanditsrecentrelativestabilityenabledsanddunestobuildupalongthecoastline.CarbondatingofthesedimentsofEilEilSpringinWalyartaConservationParkandDragonTreeSoakinKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReservesuggeststhattheselandscapefeaturesformedabout7000yearsago,andhavebeengeographicallyisolatedsince(Wyrwolletal.1986).

EilEilSpring,WalyartaConservationPark.Photo–JanvandeKam

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ThedunesoftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesarecomprisedofcoarsesand,dominatedbycalcareoussedimentsofmarineshellorigin(Pearsonetal.2005).Thesouthernsectionsoftheshorelinearecharacterisedbycalcarenitebluffs,3-5minheight.Therearealsoasmallnumberofshallowtidalcreeksthatdissectthedunesinthesouth.ThewetlandsofWalyartaConservationParkaresurroundedbylineardunesofredquartzsand.Thefloorofthetwolarge,periodicallyinundatedwetlandscomprisesand,siltandclayofalluvialorigin.Tothesouthandnorthofthese(butmoreextensiveinthesouth)areareasofclaysoilthatretainsurfacewaterforlongerthanthesurroundinglandscape.Therearealsosignificantrockyexposuresofcalcrete.Themoundspringscontainpeatsoils,accumulatedoverthousandsofyears.ThedominantlandformsofKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReservearethesandplainsanddunes,comprisinglongitudinaldunesofredquartzsandwithapredominanteast-westtrendandtheplainsbetweenthem.Thetwomoundsprings,DragonTreeSoakandthesmallerElizabethSoak,containblackpeatymudandaresituatedinaseriesofclaypans.

HydrologyWalyartaConservationParkprincipallycomprisestheMandoraMarshwetlandcomplex,whichincludesanumberofwetlandtypes.Thepredominantfeaturesaretwolarge,periodicallyinundatedwetlands,LakeWalyartaandEastLake.SaltCreekisabraidedsalinechannelsystembetweenthetwolakesthatispredominantlygroundwaterfed,butafterheavyraincarriessurfacewatereasttowestintoLakeWalyarta.Atothertimesthecreekexistsasaseriesofisolatedpools(HaleandButcher2009).TheMandoraMarshcomplexalsocontainsaseriesofpermanentlywetmoundspringsthatvaryinsizefrom0.1toseveralhectaresandarelocatedalongthesouthernsideofthetwomainwetlands.Thesearecharacterisedbyathickmoundofsaturatedpeat,toppedbydensevegetationandsurroundedbyeitheraninundatedmoatortail.ThediverserangeofwetlandsthatoccurinthereservereflectsthedifferentwaterbalancerequirementsthatoccurwithinthecomplexThemostimportanthydrologicalinputforLakeWalyartaandEastLakeissurfacerun-offflowduringperiodsofcyclonicactivity.Floodingeventsaresignificantindirectlyprovidinghabitatforaquaticorganismsandabreedingsiteformanywaterbirds(Halseetal.2005).However,inthemajorityofyearsthelakesareeitherdryorafterpartialinundationtheydrytoformbareclaybedssurroundedbysaltmarsh.Importantlyforthefreshwatersprings,floodingwithintheupgradientdunesandswalesystemsisalsolikelytobeimportantinencouraginggroundwaterrechargewithinaquifersbeneaththewetlands.GroundwaterisasignificantcomponentofthehydrologyofWalyartaConservationPark.TheBroomeSandstoneaquiferisbelievedtobeanimportantgroundwatersystemandisthoughttosustainmanyofthefreshwatermoundsprings,whileatsomespringstheWallalaquiferislikelytoalsoplayaroleinspringresilienceduetogroundwatermovementalonggeologicalfaults(J.Rutherfordpers.comm.2015).AlessercontributiontothehydrologyofthereserveistheinputofdiscretechannelisedflowfromSaltCreek(DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation2012).Thiswaterwayappearstobefedthroughaseriesofspringsfromasalineaquifer(Graham1999).SaltCreekisanimportantwetlandinitsownrightasitsupportsauniquemangrovecommunity,whichisthoughttodependonspringsintheareaproducingwaterofsimilarsalinitytoseawater(Willing2014).KurrijiPaYajulaNatureReservecontainstwopermanentmoundsprings,whichlieabout2kmapart.ThesoaksandfringingpermanentswampsaresmallinsizebutareregardedasoaseswithintheGreatSandyDesert.HydrologyisbelievedtobedominatedbyshallowaquiferswithintheWallalPaleoriver,whichsuppliesacontinuoussupplyofgroundwater(Wywrolletal.1986).Themoundspringsoccurwherethegroundwaterdischargereachesthesurface(Spurr1996).Majorrainevents,suchasthoseassociatedwithcyclones,presumablyrechargeaquifersandfloodthesurroundingclaypansforshortperiods.

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FloraDiversevegetationassociationsoccurwithintheplanningarea,reflectingitslocationinboththeDampierlandandGreatSandyDesertbioregions,andthefactthatitincludesareasonthecoastandhundredsofkilometresinland.Ataverybroadscale,muchofthevegetationoftheplanningareaismappedashummockgrassland,whilepartsofWalyartaConservationParkarecategorisedastallshrublandandsamphire(Beardetal.2013).TheprimarydunesoftheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesaregenerallysparselyvegetatedwithbeachspinifex(Spinifexlongifolius),greysoftspinifex(Triodiaepactia)andthehardysedgesFimbristyliscymosaandFimbristylisserica.Creepers,shrubsandlowherbsoccuronthesecondaryduneridgesandswales,includingthicketsofdunewattle(Acaciabivenosa).SomesmalltidalcreeksnearMandorastationsupporttwominormangrovestands.Samphirecommunitiesareknowntooccurinthevicinity(Johnstone1990).Theco-occurrenceofsalineandfreshwaterwetlandsinWalyartaConservationParkgivesrisetouniqueandunusualvegetationassociations,withplantsthatareabletotoleratesalineconditionsoccurringincloseproximitytospeciesreliantonfreshwater.Insomeareasforexample,greymangroveshaveacloseassociationwithfreshwaterspeciessuchasdragontreesandbulrush(Typhadomingensis).ThegreymangrovecommunityofSaltCreekismorethan50kmfromthecoastandrepresentsoneofonlytwosuchcommunitiesinAustralia,theotherbeingatLakeMacleod.Ithasbeensuggestedthatthisisarelictstandfromatimewhensealevelswerehigher.Afewmangrovesalsooccuronthemorebrackishsprings(e.g.FernSpring).Thefreshwatermoundspringscontainacomplexmosaicofvegetationassociations(e.g.DepartmentofEnvironmentandConservation2009)andprovideasharpcontrasttothesurroundingshrubsteppe.Tallstandsofpaperbark(MelaleucaleucadendraorMelaleucacajuputi)anddragontreesgrowonthepeatmoundsandmakethespringsstandoutonthelandscape.Underthisisoftenadensegroundcoverofthemangrovefern(Acrostichumspeciosum).Alsopresentarestandsofbulrush,sedgelandsdominatedbySchoenoplectusspecies,rustysedge(Fimbristylisferruginea),andpatchesofsaltwatercouchgrass(Sporobolusvirginicus).Notonlyisthedominantvegetationofthevariousspringsvariablebetweenoccurrences,itisvariableovertimeastheareaisfrequentlysubjecttocyclones.

TallstandsofpaperbarkareassociatedwithmanyofthefreshwatermoundspringsofWalyartaConservationPark.Photo–JanvandeKam

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LakeWalyartaandEastLakearegenerallybareofvegetation,orsupportlowopenshrublandsofsamphiresdominatedbyTecticorniaspp.Whenflooded,theycontainamixofsubmergedaquaticspeciesincludingribbonweed(Vallisneriaspiralis)andfreshwatermacroalgae(Graham1999).Theextensivealluvialplainstothenorthandsouthofthesewetlandssupportlowwoodlandsorshrubthicketsofsaltwaterpaperbark(Melaleucaalsophilia)andAcaciaampliceps,overlowshrubssuchasAcaciamonticola.Thesurroundingredsanddunesandsandplainssupportaselectionofpindananddesertplantspecies.KurrijiPaYajulaNatureReservehasrelictpopulationsoffloranotfoundelsewhereintheregion.ThecentreofDragonTreeSoakisdominatedbyT.domingensisandasmallpatchofjointedrush(Baumeaarticulata),whichisattheedgeofitsextent.TwomainclustersofdragontreesgrowasalowforestatthenorthernandsouthernendsandscatteredspecimensalsooccurintheB.articulata.AdensebandoftallergrassPaspalumvaginatumexistsaroundthesoakindampmudandamoreextensiveringofS.virginicussurroundsthisonhigher,drierground.ThenearbysmallerElizabethSoakhassimilarvegetationcommunities.Beyondthesoaks,thevegetationquicklyassumesthatofthedesertlandscape,dominatedbyspinifexgrasses,acaciaandmelaleucathickets,anddesertwalnut(Oweniareticulata).

Scatteredgroveofdesertwalnut,KurrijiPaYajulaNatureReserve.Whenroasted,thenutsareapopularfoodfortraditionalowners.Photo–StephenReynolds/EnvironsKimberley

FaunaLimitedfaunaresearchhasbeenconductedintheplanningarea,howevertherarityofaquatichabitatsuggeststhatthereservesaresignificantforarangeofspeciesandpopulations.Inparticular,thepermanentfreshwaterwetlandsprovidehabitatforaquaticfaunayearroundandasourceofdrinkingwaterforterrestrialanimals.TheEightyMileBeachcoastalreservesbordertheentirelengthofthebeachandprovidehabitatvalueforthenestingflatbackturtleandmanymigratoryshorebirds.Acaciaandmelaleucathicketssupporthighdensitiesofredkangaroo(Macropusrufus),euro(Macropusrobustus)andagilewallaby(Macropusagilis).ThereservesandadjacentcoastalplainsareregardedasastrongholdfortheAustralianbustard(Ardeotisaustralis).TerrestrialvertebratesurveysofMandoraMarshwereconductedin1999and2015(Graham1999;JackettandGraff2015;ParksandWildlife2016).Severalmajordifferenceswerefoundbetweenspeciesrecorded,abundancesanddistribution,highlightingtheneedforfurtherresearchandmonitoring.Ofparticularsignificanceisthepresenceofthegreaterbilby,recordednearSaltCreekasrecentlyasSeptember2015(ParksandWildlife2016). Breedingcolonyofpelicans,blackswansandstraw-neckedibisesin

2004,WalyartaConservationPark.Photo–JanvandeKam

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LakeWalyartaandEastLakeinWalyartaConservationParkareimportantforwaterbirds,includingmigratoryspecies,wheninundatedextensively.WhenLakeWalyartafloodedin1999and2000,itwasfoundtobesupportingaround480,000and490,000waterbirdsrespectively(Halseetal.2005),althoughtheareasurveyedincludedinundatedlandoutsidetheboundariesofthereserveandtheRamsarsite.Thesiteisalsosignificantfortheroleitplaysinsupportingindividualwaterbirdspecies,withmaximumcountsexceedingtheonepercentpopulationthresholdsforseveralspecies(HaleandButcher2009).MandoraMarshalsosupportsarelativelyrichaquaticinvertebratefauna,whichStoreyetal.(2011)attributedtothedifferenttypesofpermanentwetlandswithintheonelocation.Whiletherewerefewendemicspecies,thespringsareregionallyimportantformaintainingvirtuallyallaquaticinvertebrates.Theyarebelievedtoprovideasourceofinvertebratestocolonisethemainlakebodieswheninflood(A.Pinderpers.comm.2016).GiventhestronglinkbetweencalcreteandstygofaunaalreadyknownfromthePilbara(Eberhardetal.2005),thearealikelysupportsdiverseandlocallytoregionallyendemicstygofaunacommunities,butthesehavebeenpoorlysurveyedtodate.TwonativefishspecieshavebeenrecordedfromtheSaltCreeksystem,includinganewendemicspecies(anundescribedgoby)(HaleandButcher2009;Storeyetal.2011).FaunasurveysinKurrijiPaYajulaNatureReservehavemainlyfocusedonDragonTreeSoakitself.BamfordandDavies(1996)notedthatthesitehadhighavianspeciesrichnessforanaridarea.WaterbirdspeciesnotrecordedelsewhereintheregionbutpresentinthedensevegetationofthecentralsedgelandincludetheAustraliancrake(Porzanafluminea),clamorousreed-warbler(Acrocephalusstentoreus)andlittlegrassbird(Megalurusgramineus)(AustralianNatureConservationAgency1996;Charles2004).Thegiantfrog(Cycloranaaustralis)andatleastthreebatspecieshavebeenrecordedatthesoak,alongwithgreaterbilbysign(Burbidgeetal.1991;Handley1996).

ThelittlegrassbirdisrareintheGreatSandyDesertbutinhabitsthethickreedbedsofDragonTreeSoak.Photo–CSIRO

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AppendixIII:Guidingprinciplesforfiremanagementinlandscapesdominatedbyspinifexgrasslands1. Climateandvegetationmakelandscapesdominatedbyspinifexgrasslandshighlypronetofire.Forthousandsof

years,lightningandhumanignitionshaveensuredthatfireisanenvironmentalfactorthathasinfluencedthestructure,functionandbiodiversityofspinifexgrasslands.

2. Speciesandcommunitiesvaryintheiradaptationsto,andrelianceonfire.Knowledgeofthewaysinwhichspeciesandcommunitiesrespondtofire,andofthetemporalandspatialscalesoffiresinrelationtolifehistoriesoforganismsorcommunities,underpinstheuseoffire.

3. Rainfallisaprimarydriveroftherateoffuelaccumulationandsubsequentflammabilityofspinifexgrasslands,andlarge,extensivewildfiresareusuallyprecededbyseveralseasonsofaboveaveragerainfall.

4. Theresponseofspeciesandcommunitiestofirewillbeinfluencedbysubsequentrainfallandthefire’sscaleandpatchiness,whichcandrivesystemstowardsanewtransientstatewithrespecttospeciescompositionandstructure.

5. Firemanagementisrequiredprimarilytoconservebiodiversity.Insomecircumstances,itmaybenecessarytomanagefiretoprotectproperty,infrastructureandculturalvalues.

6. Firemanagementshouldbebothprecautionaryandadaptive,consideringtherequirementsofbothfiresensitive(habitatspecific)andfiremaintainedcommunitiesandspeciesinordertooptimizebiodiversityconservationoutcomes.

7. Landscapesdominatedbyspinifexgrasslandsarevast,remoteanddifficulttoaccess.Firemanagementresourcesarescarce,soactivefiremanagementincludingfiresuppressionandprescribedburning,shouldfocusonareasofhighconservationvalueandonhighvaluebuiltandculturalassets.Onmuchofthespinifexgrasslands,passivemanagement,includingallowingunplannedfirestoburn,isarealisticandacceptablemanagementoption.

8. Firediversitycansupportbiodiversitybothatlandscapeandlocalscales.Atthelandscapescale,afinegrainmosaicofpatchesofvegetationrepresentingarangeofinterlockingseral(post-fire)stageswillprovidediversityofhabitatsfororganismsthataremobileandcanmovethroughthelandscape.Atthelocalscale,appropriateintervalsbetweenfire,basedonvitalattributesofkeyspecies,arenecessarytoensurethepersistenceofsessileorlessmobileorganisms.

9. Avoidapplyingthesamefireregime(frequency,interval,seasonandscale)overlargeareasforlongperiodsandavoidseralandstructuralhomogenizationbynottreatinglargeareaswithextremeregimessuchassustainedfrequentburningorinfrequentburning.

10. Thescaleorgrainsizeofthemosaicshoulda)enablenataldispersal,b)optimizeboundaryhabitat(boundarybetweentwoormoreseralstages),andc)optimiseconnectivity(abilityofkeyspeciestomigratebetweenseralstages).

11. Twotothreeyearsormoreofaboveaveragerainfallwillresultinrapidgrowthofspinifexandflammablesoftgrasses,predisposinglandscapestolargewildfirescapableofburningthroughfiremosaics.Whilesucheventsareinfrequent,strategicallylocatedlowfuelbuffers500-1000mwidemayberequiredtocontainwildfiresundertheseconditions.

12. Allavailableknowledgeincludingscientific,localandindigenousknowledgeshouldbeutilizedtodevelopecologicallyappropriatefiremanagement.

13. Consultationandpartnershipswithneighbours,includingtraditionalcustodians,isaneffectivewayofmanagingfireformutualbenefit.

14. Firemanagementshouldbeplannedandimplementedinanadaptivemanagementframework.Useoftoolsincludingremotesensingandaircraft,willbeessentialforplanningandimplementingfireuseandformappingandmonitoringfiremosaicsandfirehistory.

15. Aspartofanadaptivemanagementframework,biodiversitymonitoringshouldfocuson;1)threatenedspeciesandcommunities,2)firesensitivespeciesandcommunitiesand3)theremainingbiota.Threatssuchasintroducedplantsandanimals,andabioticprocessesincludingweather(rainfall)andfirehistory,mustbemonitored/recordedtohelpinterpretchangesinbiodiversity.

16. Wherespinifexgrasslandshavebeeninvadedbyflammableweedspeciessuchasbuffelgrass,whichiscapableofadverselyalteringthefrequencyandintensityoffire,prescribedfireshouldbeusedconservativelyandstrategicallytobreakuptherunofmajorwildfires.

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AppendixIV:Climatechangevulnerabilityassessmentofmoundspringcommunities,WalyartaConservationPark

Description:Suiteofapproximately15moundspringsintheMandoraMarshwetlandcomplex.RiskassessmentPresentstatus=GoodSpringsareclassifiedasevolutionaryrefugiabecausetheyarelikelytosupportshort-rangeendemicspecies.Biodiversityconservationvalueishigh.SpringsareprotectedwithinaRamsarsiteandconservationestate.Themostsignificantdriversofchangearelivestockgrazingandferalherbivores(camels).Recentsurveysindicatethatspringsacrossthesitehavebeenadverselyimpactedbycattle.Thesitewillsoonbedestocked;thethreatofferalanimalsremains.RiskperceptionSensitivityLowtodirectclimateimpactsbecausespringsaregroundwater-fed.Veryhightoindirectclimateimpacts(groundwaterabstraction)andotherstressors(e.g.degradationofhabitatandwaterqualityduetoimpactsoflivestockandferalherbivores).AdaptivecapacityHighforhabitat,lowforendemicbiotabecausealthoughsomespringsmaybemoreresilienttodirectclimateimpactsduetobeingsustainedbydeepergroundwater,endemicspringbiotahavelittlecapacitytorecoloniseifspringsrundry.Notetheresponsesofdifferentspringswillvary(e.g.thosewithahigherrelianceonshallowaquiferdischargearelikelytoshowmorerapidchanges).Theopenwaterareasofthespringsalsodryoutregularlyandalteredclimaticconditionsmaychangetheperiodicityofthisdrying.Riskminimisation/managementVulnerability=ModerateLowvulnerabilitytodirectclimateimpacts.Highvulnerabilitytoindirectclimateimpactsandotherstressors.RiskminimisationandadaptationstrategiesProtectaquifersandmonitorwaterlevelsinselectedsprings.Fencesectionsofthereserveadjacenttopastoraloperationsandundertakecullingofcamelsanddonkeystomaintainlowdensitypopulationsofferalherbivores.Assessdegradedhabitatsandrestoreifneeded.Assessnewdevelopmentsforpotentialimpactsonspringsandtheaquiferssupportingthem.

Conservation and Parks Commission

Department of Parks and Wildlife

2016

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6 PD

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