BIODIVERSITY FUND
- Investing in Tasmania’s Native Forests 2013-14
Project Title
Applicant Name
Improving the
condition &
connectivity of TFA
reserves & the Upper
Liffey River
GREENING
AUSTRALIA
(TAS) LTD
New and emerging
weeds - reducing the
threat to Tasmania's
forest biodiversity
Department of
Primary
Industries Parks
Water and
Environment
Developing
Phytophthora
management buffer
areas for native forest
assets
Macquarie
Franklin Pty Ltd
Ubertas et Fidelitas building resilient forest
ecosystems in
Tasmania (South)
Southern
Regional
Natural
Resource
Management
Association
Improving landscapescale connectivity &
biodiversity in the
Tasmanian Midlands
GREENING
AUSTRALIA
(TAS) LTD
Description
This project will improve the condition & connectivity of the Upper Liffey River system & new native forests reserved under the
Tasmanian Forest Agreement. The new reserves are adjacent to existing State & private permanent conservation reserves & lie
between the World Heritage Area & the river. The Upper Liffey catchment is within a steep environmental gradient, falling sharply
from the Great Western Tiers at 1300m ASL to 300m at Bracknell Rd bridge. The project will: restore river health & conservation
reserves by managing invasive WONS; stabilise riverbanks; complete biodiverse plantings in the riparian zone & the few gaps
between reserves. The local community will be engaged & supported in undertaking on-ground works.
This project will target a number of emerging weed species that threaten forested & associated environments in Tasmania. These
include species such as orange hawkweed & heath rush, which are impacting upon subalpine World Heritage Areas, besom heath
which threatens native woodland communities in nearby covenanted forests; spiny sharprush which is threatens wetland &
estuarine communities in the coastal reserves of the Tamar Estuary HEVAE &heather which threatens coastal reserves on Bruny
Island. These weeds are a focus for action because there is a strong belief that they can be eradicated & therefore avoid serious
impacts and significant costs in the future. A sustained, cooperative effort will be required if success is to be achieved.
Whilst Tasmania has large areas of high conservation value forests there are significant threats from the water borne root rot
disease Phytophthora. Because there is no effective method for the broad-scale control or eradication of Phytophthora disease,
management is focused on preventing the spread of the disease. This project will work with private and public landowners where
the threat from phytophthora is greatest to high value forest areas. The project will develop site specific plans and implement onground works such as fencing, signage and wash down areas to minimise the spread of Phytophthora. Community training in
disease best practice and identification will target local council work crews, landholders and NRM on-ground staff.
This project brings together key land management agencies, conservation management practitioners and the Aboriginal
community in Southern Tasmania to deliver a foundational strategic investment package that links with the new forest reserves
created under the IGA. The project will 1-use spatial science and community expertise to design and establish connectivity
pathways for biodiversity 2-create employment for local communities in restoration and management and 3-use formal
agreements to provide long term security to conservation outcomes. It will form a framework for landscape approaches to forest
ecosystem management (outside statutory responsibilities) that includes intrinsic links to the aboriginal community.
Establishment of 25km wildlife corridor connecting the best remnant vegetation in the Tas Midlands with extensive forests,
including new TFA reserves, in the Great Western Tiers. Connects existing & proposed new TFA reserves on public land by strategic
works on private land: (1) biodiverse plantings to expand & connect remnant native vegetation; (2) restoration of degraded native
vegetation; (3) managing threats to biodiversity (WoNS); (4) establishing long-term management agreements (10yr+) with
landholders. Builds on our Bio Fund Round 1 project with new sites. Tasmanian Midlands is a national biodiversity hotspot and
identified in National Wildlife Corridor Plan. Corridor supports 7 EPBCA listed species and >25 State listed species.
1
Requested
Budget
(GST incl)
$506,242
$999,455
$697,411
$1,000,000
$639,375