Mrs Nina Earl
20 April 2012
Director, Conservation Incentives and Design Section
Dept Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Federal Parliament, Canberra
wildlife.corridors@environment.gov.au
Dear Sir/Madam
SUBMISSION TO DRAFT NATIONAL WILDLIFE CORRIDORS PLAN MARCH 2012
This most welcome initiative for wildlife corridors across our nation is heartening, commendable,
ambitious and sensible! Should the plan be adopted, it would greatly improve the survival of and
regional extent of indigenous flora and fauna of Australia. As a migrant from England and now a citizen,
and a local conservation volunteer who is passionate about Australia’s unique flora and fauna, I
comment with interest and as best I am able.
GENERAL COMMENTS
 Suggest a form of National Service that would assist in future environmental security by providing a
trained workforce to help implement, maintain, and expand the National Wildlife Corridors, along
with community involvement that includes conservation volunteers and schools.

Request better control of invasive species. Please ban imports of invasive plants and animals,
introduce strict cat curfews and de-sexing, and increase engagement of the community in
identification and control of feral plants and animals. For example, gardeners unknowingly plant
invasive species, and some ethnic communities need to be educated and persuaded not to release
carp into waterways for later harvesting.

Suggest an educational activity for schools and museums that would promote the need for and
understanding of National Wildlife Corridors, with a title such as Create/Build a Native Wildlifefriendly Landscape. For example, digital and/or cut-out components could be put together to form
a landscape that favours native habitats and corridors—forests, alpine, desert, coastal strips and
sea, waterways, road and rail ways, farms, lakes, dams, sanctuaries, reserves, parks, urban forests,
etc. Figures 1, 2 and 4 show sample elements of native wildlife-friendly landscapes. The DSEWPC or
Advisory Group could oversee the development of such an educational tool.
SPECIFIC COMMENTS
 This draft Plan is generally well presented and explained.

The anecdotes provide practical examples of conservation connectivity.

Suggest that captions are listed under photos, instead of or as well as in the photo credits.

Please explain why, in general, offshore and marine areas of Australia are not included in this Plan.

Suggest a list of documents or data sets that would support and inform this Plan (I do not recall
reading one), including the online Atlas of Living Australia.

Request. My sincere hope is that successive governments will uphold this Plan, and eventually
create new wildlife corridors to fill any gaps, including east-west connectivity, and for wildlife
corridors to become an ongoing requirement of national land management. However, as this Plan
indicates, legislation would be needed to achieve this.

Request inclusion in this Plan a statement that human beings and all life forms are dependent on
the healthy functioning of elements in our environment. The definition of Ecosystem services in the
Glossary could be adapted, for example: ‘All living things, including people, depend upon the
healthy functioning of ecosystems and the essential goods and services that they provide: clean air,
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water, food, shelter, energy, nutrients, soil formation, pollination, climate regulation, amenity
values and cultural resources’.

Suggest the ‘habitat hectares’ method for assessing native vegetation quality may be an appropriate
tool in planning wildlife corridors.

Suggest allowing natural regeneration (perhaps by fencing and weed removal), may be more
appropriate than revegetation with site-specific plant species. If plantings are not site-specific, i.e.
do not naturally belong, then this is landscape horticulture not revegetation.

Suggest this Plan refers to control or elimination of invasive species, both environmental weeds and
feral animals, as factors in the establishment of effective wildlife corridors.

Suggest including in this Plan reference to the important role of local government in supporting
native wildlife habitat. The City of Kingston in Melbourne competently manages many natural
resource areas in an urban environment. Conversely, The City of Melbourne has a draft Urban
Forest Strategy that has sound principals which are negated by a species list dominated by exotic
vegetation that would not favour native wildlife.

Suggest this Plan includes discussion of the impact of population pressure on the natural
environment, and a sustainable population carrying capacity for Australia.
Part 1: Why do we need a National Wildlife Corridors Plan?
‘...Australian Government’s commitment to rebuild, maintain and facilitate active management of
corridors and natural patterns of vegetation, waterways and other landscape features across public and
private lands, through our cities and towns and between our national parks’, p. 4, para 1. It is
refreshing, thank you, for cities and towns to be included in the management of corridors and natural
landscape patterns and features. Settlements contain many, often isolated, pockets of remnant or
planted indigenous vegetation that is home for native wildlife, which are often overlooked, with many
people assuming conservation is something done out in the wilderness. And it promotes the
importance of urban native wildlife habitat and connectivity.
‘Australia’s National Reserve System covers about 13 per cent of the continent...’, p. 4, para 2. This is
very little set aside for such a relatively young nation and highlights the need for this Plan.
1.1 Wildlife corridors and climate change. Fine no comment.
1.2 What are wildlife corridors? Fine, no comment.
1.3 The objectives of the National Wildlife Corridors Plan
‘Protect natural stores of carbon in native ecosystems to minimise greenhouse gas emissions’, p. 9, last
para. Fully support protection of native ecosystems in general, in this case for the purpose of retaining
and restoring natural stores of carbon.
‘Support the global and national movements of fauna’, p. 10, para 2. Fully support habitat protection in
general, in this case for the purpose of enabling global and national movements of fauna.
‘Assist in the management and protection of Australia’s iconic landscapes and Indigenous and nonIndigenous culture and heritage’, p. 10, last para. Wholeheartedly support this intent, thank you.
However, for clarity, please explain non-Indigenous culture and heritage.
‘Increase community knowledge and understanding of wildlife corridors and connectivity conservation’,
p. 11, last para. Very necessary for the whole Australian community to understand, cooperate and be
involve with conservation, expansion and maintenance of wildlife corridors and connectivity
conservation.
1.4 Guiding principles for wildlife corridor design and implementation
‘Healthy functioning landscapes require connectivity at a variety of scales’, p. 12, para 2. Yes,
connectivity cannot be generic; thank you for recognising connectivity must differ in form and scale for
different species.
‘Effective corridors connect the landscape across a mosaic of land tenures and land uses without
affecting property rights’, p. 12, para 3. Doubtful; for this wildlife corridors plan to be meaningful, some
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sort of protection for important habitat, corridors or species is needed regardless of any change in land
use or property rights.
‘The design and location of corridors should be based on the best available information derived from
scientific research, traditional Indigenous knowledge and practitioner experience’, p. 13, para 1. Fully
agree.
‘Corridors should be designed to assist native species’ adaptation to the impacts of climate change’, p.
13, para 2. Very necessary for corridor planning to allow for the impacts of climate change on
‘differences in dispersal ability and adaptation responses between species and geographic variation
across the continent’.
‘Corridor design recognises and manages for potential risks, such as those from invasive species and
fire’, p. 13, last para. Yes, corridors must inhibit the movement of invasive species yet minimise fire risk,
but within the choice of species for local ecological vegetation classes.
‘Corridors should be designed and implemented in ways that benefit local communities’, p. 14, para 2.
Yes, effective wildlife corridors do and can benefit local communities—environmentally, socially and
economically—providing ecosystem services, valuable windbreaks and shelter for farms, shade and
visual improvements to landscapes, local employment, etc.
‘Building wildlife corridors across Australian landscapes is a cooperative endeavour’, p. 14. Yes,
informed and cooperative land management between landholders and users is essential to maintain,
improve or build wildlife corridors.
1.5 A national network of wildlife corridors, p. 15. Fine, no comment.
1.6 Different landscapes, different solutions, p. 17. Please include tourism in ‘Intensification of land
uses such as mining, urbanisation, agriculture and increasing tourist activities often impact on the
natural environment’.
Corridors in fragmented landscapes, p. 19. Yes, agricultural zones do contain valuable remnant habitat
and these zones have great connectivity potential.
Corridors in near intact and natural landscapes, p.19. Yes, despite large areas of cleared vegetation,
Australia is fortunate to still have some near intact and natural landscapes that are worthy of protection
and connectivity, which this Plan does recognise.
Corridors in peri-urban and urban landscapes, p.20. Yes, these areas do contain substantial natural
areas that are valuable as habitat, for connectivity, and water conservation. They are also educational,
as they are areas where people can observe and experience nature.
1.7 Who will be involved in building a national network of wildlife corridors?, p.20.
The brief list of potential participants in building a national wildlife corridor network seems
comprehensive. The involvement of Indigenous groups is particularly pleasing as, collectively, they have
a wealth of natural environment knowledge and experience. Inclusion of Indigenous peoples is an act of
reconciliation and respect towards them which may reduce acts of self-harm for those groups that are
disadvantaged. Presumably, the individuals mentioned might be private landholders, appointed
managers, or people with specialised knowledge. If so, suggest including a statement to clarify what
sort of individuals.
1.8 Foundation stones
The National Reserve System, p.21. Fully support conservation and connectivity of these foundation or
fundamental protected natural and cultural areas and nearby public and private lands as appropriate or
necessary. In a sense, this borrows from the Bradley method of conservation and regeneration by
consolidating the integrity or quality of good areas, then improving surrounding areas and/or creating
connectivity. I would hope that conservation and connectivity of wildlife habitat and corridors would
continue beyond the National Reserve System, ultimately to all parts of mainland and offshore
Australia. Suggest: the rationale of first planning connectivity of the National Reserve System is
explained earlier in this document to set the context for the reader, perhaps in the Vision or at the
beginning of Part 1: Why do we need a National Wildlife Corridors Plan?
World Heritage Areas, p. 22. Yes, it is important and necessary to conserve and connect World
Heritage conservation areas, part of the fundamental natural National Reserves System.
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Private Land conservation, p.23. Recognition is welcome in this Plan of conserving valued or high
quality native habitat, much of it remnant; as are the various encouragement/incentive schemes for
conservation of native habitat on private land. Greater awareness of the contribution of native habitat
on private land to local, regional or national wildlife corridors, and greater promotion of conservation
schemes may well expand the National Reserve System.
Ecological and cultural pathways, p.23. Again, this is welcome recognition of the co-existence of
ecological and cultural pathways, that tend to follow watercourses, and the natural ‘framework’ they
provide for wildlife corridors; at one time, they may have been inseparable.
Existing major corridor initiatives, p.23. It is excellent that some major corridor initiatives are
underway. Suggest these initiatives are listed here, or an example given of a major corridor initiative.
Part 2: Building a national network of wildlife corridors
Australian Government initiatives: National Reserve System and Indigenous Protected Areas; Caring for
Our Country; Working on Country and the Indigenous Ranger Program; Land Sector Package of the Clean
Energy Future Plan; National Environment Research Program; National Plan for Environmental
Information; Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Suggest, for clarity, that the
above list of Australian Government initiatives, that informed this Plan, include the agencies or areas
that they cover, e.g. local government.
2.1 The five point plan of action
Wildlife Corridors Act, p.25. Fully support establishing a Wildlife Corridors Act for the purpose of
implementing and continuing National Wildlife Corridors—it would be a necessary mechanism to
achieve this, from which funding and actions will result. Also with considering public nominations of
potential wildlife corridors as there would be many people, some in local government and conservation
groups, with expert knowledge, experience or observations of wildlife movements and their habitats,
that could provide data to inform this Plan.
Wildlife Corridors Act scope, p.26. Agree with the following necessary actions:
 1) define policy and design; 2) create an authority; 3) set appropriate criteria;
 4) establish a Council to provide independent advice, assess nominations and advise, monitor and
report on progress, provide guidance on biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation;
 5) annual reports on progress to parliament.
However, unless I misunderstand the possible scope of this Act, actions outside of parliament and the
Advisory Group are missing. Suggest the list includes 6) regular reporting to relevant agencies, and 7)
regular promotion of the National Wild Corridors Plan creation and progress in the media, with
landholders and managers, and with community groups.
Developing and supporting existing major and prospective corridor initiatives, p.26
Fully support progressive development of National Wildlife Corridors through a community-initiated
process supported by legislation. For clarity, please explain the rationale for proposing prospective
corridors based on their different landscape settings.
Figure 6: Species richness in Australia’s bioregions, p.27. Presumably, this Figure refers to fauna
species. It is curious that high species richness occurs in some highly populated regions and that low
species richness occurs in some low populated regions. For clarity, please 1) state whether the species
are fauna or flora or both, and 2) explain the reasons for variation in species richness.
Existing major corridors and Prospective corridors, p.27. For ease of reference, please cross-reference
these lists with relevant page numbers in Appendix A. Suggest in this section a map of existing and
prospective corridors would be useful.
Existing major corridors, p. 27: Gondwana Link WA; Great Eastern Ranges NSW; Habitat 141o
Vic/NSW/SA; NatureLinks SA; Tasmanian Midlandscapes; Trans-Australia Eco-link NT/SA. It is pleasing
to see an existing corridor listed for Tasmania. However, it is surprising to me that no existing corridors
are identified for northern Western Australia and for much of Victoria. For clarity, please explain on
what basis these existing major corridors were identified.
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Prospective corridors, p. 27: Kimberley region WA; Cape York Peninsula Qld; Noosa to Ballina region
(Qld/NSW); Edward-Wakool Rivers region (NSW/Vic). For clarity, please list the States for the NoosaBallina and Edward-Wakool Rivers prospective corridors.
Strategic Investment, p. 28. Fine, no comment.
Working with stakeholders and supporting NRM regional planning, p. 28. Fine, no comment.
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting, p. 29. Agree in general (see suggestion above about public
reporting under Wildlife Corridors Act scope). Regarding ‘community willingness to participate’, people
will participate if they know about, understand, and appreciate the purpose and need for national
wildlife corridors, hence, the need for appropriate reports and promotion in the public arena. Indeed,
involvement in creating and maintaining a system of national wildlife corridors could become a national
activity.
2.2 A collaborative governance framework, p.30
Broad principles for successful corridor projects: accountability, transparency, integrity, efficiency,
leadership, engagement, social cohesion. This list is somewhat comprehensive; however, suggest 1)
initial fauna assessment and periodic evaluation of corridor projects, 2) regular reporting to
parliament and relevant agencies, and 2) public promotion would also be features of successful
corridor projects.
Table 1 Collaborative governance and management framework, p. 31. This framework seems
comprehensive, and all the elements are important and necessary. Particularly pleasing is: 1) reference
to ‘whole-of-government coordination, support and endorsement’ which would overcome possible
competing departmental interests; 2) ‘encourage individual champions and their initiatives’ which
would be an incentive to others; 3) ‘Income diversification and investment strategies’ for judicial
management of funding; 4) ‘adaptive management approaches’ to adjust corridor plans as necessary.
2.3 Next steps, p. 32. During consideration of this draft Plan, it is pleasing that existing connectivity
conservation and corridor projects will be supported.
Glossary, p. 33. In general, comprehensive, otherwise:
National Plan for Environmental Information (p. 35). In these times of climate change, it is pertinent
that the Bureau of Meteorology is to provide environmental information to datasets for this national
environmental information plan.
Endemic. Please add a definition for endemic on p. 34.
Feral herbivory. Please add a definition for feral herbivory on p. 35.
Remnant vegetation, p. 36. For accuracy, please add to the definition to state: ‘native vegetation that
has not been cleared or planted’.
Revegetation, p. 36. This definition seems inaccurate: ‘the re-establishment of native vegetation in
areas that have been cleared or highly modified’, because it does not differentiate between remnant or
original vegetation and planted native vegetation that may not be original to an area. Please amend to
state: ‘the re-establishment of site-specific or native vegetation original to an area that has been
cleared or highly modified’.
References and suggested further reading, p 39. Fine, no comment.
Appendix A: Land use, condition and biodiversity maps
Map 1 Primary land use, p. 43. Mining: please consider cessation of mining in National Parks. Although
the Primary land use category Table (p. 44) shows the percentage area of mining on primary land is
small (0.2%), compared to other land uses, mining activity tends to be environmentally damaging and
contrary to conservation principles. Grazing: likewise, grazing may need to cease in some areas, as it
can also be environmentally damaging to flora and fauna habitat and waterways.
Map 2 Fragmentation index and vegetation condition map, p. 45. Unsurprisingly, fragmentation is
higher in more densely populated areas, which confirms the importance of conservation of wildlife
habitat and connectivity in urban areas.
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Map 3 Species richness by bioregion, and Map 4 Endemism by bioregion, p. 45 & 46. Unsurprisingly,
there is fairly high correlation between species richness and endemism densities.
Map 5 Number of Threatened Species and Communities (to Dec 2010), p.47 There appear to be no
areas of Australia without threatened species and communities, which is a sad environmental record.
The threats may be due to population levels and activity, climate change or other factors. Suggest the
source of these threats is mapped or listed.
Map 6 Projected change in annual temperature between 1990 and 2070, and Map 6 Projected Change
in Annual Rainfall between 1990 and 2070, p.48. A scenario of average global warming of 4oC (relative
to the pre-industrial age) during the 2070s, is scary—such a rise in annual temperature would cause
mass species extinctions, alteration or demise of plant communities. And the projected changes in
annual rainfall between 1990 and 2070 may reduce liveability with some areas much wetter and some
much drier. Therefore, it is perplexing that the Australian government has not taken stronger
measures, other than the carbon tax, to combat climate change by reducing Australia’s greenhouse
emissions at every level of society. Business as usual will not prepare for this future scenario, which
would undo the good work of this National Wildlife Corridors Plan.
Appendix B: Potential National Wildlife Corridors, p. 49. The descriptions of these potential National
Wildlife Corridors provide interesting reading and knowledge of the features and issues of each region.
Existing Corridors, p.49 (see comment under Existing major corridors above). Suggest a map of each
area would be useful. For clarity and geographical context, please identify State location for each
existing corridor, other than Tasmanian Midlandscapes which is self-explanatory.
Gondwana Link (WA), p.49. The collaboration between groups and organisations on this link is inspiring.
Hopefully, this corridor initiative will halt the decline of the natural environment in this area.
The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative (NSW), p.51. The scale of this initiative is impressive.
Habitat 141o (Vic/NSW/SA), p.53. Suggest riparian aspects of this initiative would be assisted by greater
flows returned to the Murray River.
NatureLinks (SA), p. 55. This long-term 100-year vision for five main corridors—Arid Lands, FlindersOlary, East Meets West, River Murray-South-east and Cape Borda to Barossa—is admirable and
ambitious but much needed given climate change predictions for South Australia. Predicted
temperature increases of 1oC near the coast and 1.5oC in the arid North combined with reduced rainfall
would make species survival and future management of this area difficult. Thankfully, only 13% has
been cleared, presumably because of low population levels due to inhospitable lands and remoteness!
Trans-Australia Eco-link (NT/SA, p. 57. This corridor has enormous reach, spanning 3500 kilometres
north to south coasts of our continent, across varied and incompatible habitats and eco-systems from
rainforests to deserts. Predicted temperature increases of 0.5oC to 2.0oC by 2030 and reduced rainfall
would make life more hazardous for any life, particularly in arid areas, so the need for effective wildlife
corridors would be greater.
Tasmanian Midlandscapes, p. 59. Whilst Tasmania fairs better in climate change predictions, the
midlands natural environment would still become vulnerable from the combination of predicted
reduced rainfall and dependence upon the goodwill of private landholders or managers in conservation
actions.
Prospective corridor initiatives, p. 61. Fully support the four additional proposed wildlife corridors—
Kimberley region (WA), Cape York Peninsula (Qld), Noosa to Ballina region (Qld/NSW) and EdwardWakool Rivers region (NSW/Vic). The maps are useful, thank you. For clarity and geographical context,
please identify State location for each prospective corridor.
Kimberley region (WA), p. 61. Thankfully, this description reveals that this region retains extensive areas
of intact native vegetation and other habitats with high biodiversity value, 40% of land conserved, and
good heritage recognition of historical, cultural, landscape and biodiversity values. These factors, along
with few private landholders, mean this proposed corridor has a good starting basis. However, future
vulnerability will come from pending invasion of cane toads, likely spread of invasive grasses causing
hotter and more extensive fires, 10% less winter rainfall predicted by 2030, likely reduced humidity and
average temperature increase of up to 1oC. Agree with partnerships between Traditional Owners and
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pastoralists for desirable and essential management of threats to biodiversity, and with Indigenous
Ranger programs for local employment and care of these lands. Please explain feral herbivory.
Cape York Peninsula (Qld), p.63. This section reveals that Cape York Peninsula rainfall significantly
recharges the Great Artesian Basin, 45% of the land is conserved or protected, and it has relatively
intact vegetation, continuous vegetation cover, and largely intact hydrological processes. These factors
mean that restoration of the Cape may be easier than some other prospective corridors. However,
threats to biodiversity come from pressure from mining and agriculture, feral pigs and cane toads, and
invasive Gamba grass along with altered rainfall patterns and increased temperatures are likely to result
in bigger, more frequent and intense fires. Agree with using Indigenous Rangers, traditional knowledge
and land management practices to help maintain the region’s biodiversity. Also, agree with an
appropriate level of cultural and ecological tourism that causes no environmental harm.
Noosa to Ballina region (Qld/NSW), p. 65. This area is worthy of conservation and connectivity alone for
its rich variety of ancient Gondwana plant species and, significantly, it also contains a UNESCO
Biosphere reserve at Noosa, which indicates a high level of biological diversity. Extensive land clearing
(65%) may have led to a declining Koala population, also threats to wildlife habitat come from marked
population increase, weed encroachment, predation and competition by domestic and feral animals,
and decreased rainfall by up to 8% by 2070 that is likely to increase fires. Agree that support from rural
landholders to manage remnant habitat on their land, wildlife-friendly parks and gardens in urban
areas, and community involvement in biodiversity conservation are key to protecting and restoring
ecological connectivity in this region.
Edward-Wakool Rivers region (NSW/Vic), p. 67. This important riparian and wetland systems region is
worthy of conservation and connectivity and inclusion in the National Wildlife Corridors Plan, especially
as it few conservation areas. Threats to biodiversity come from reduced rainfall, particularly in winter,
decline in water quality, salinity, irrigated agriculture, feral animals, and increased fire frequency.
Request: to improve the condition and effectiveness of wildlife corridors, please 1) return greater
environmental flows to the Murray-Darling system (increased flows have recently been allocated but
more are needed) and, 2) where possible, keep livestock away from the edges of water bodies to reduce
damage and pollution.
Appendix C: National Wildlife Corridors Plan Advisory Group, p. 69. Representation of land use
interests is comprehensive.
Terms of Reference and administrative arrangements for the National Wildlife Corridors Advisory
Group, p. 70. Fine, no issues.
Appendix C: National Wildlife Corridors Plan Expert Working Group
Social and Institutional Opportunities Expert Working Group and Spatial, Climate Change and
Biodiversity Analysis Expert Working Group, p. 71. Representation of experts seems excellent.
Terms of Reference and administrative arrangements for the National Wildlife Corridors Expert
Working Group, p. 72. Fine, no issues.
I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this Draft National Wildlife Corridors Plan that is so
important for biodiversity conservation across Australia, and I hope my comments are useful.
Yours faithfully
Nina Earl
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