stepping stones between Morton National Park, (spotted-tailed quoll), maculatus Potorous Nattai (long-nosed potoroo) tridactylus tridactylus and (koala), Phascolarctos cinereus threatened birds such as Petroica boodang National Park and the Upper Nepean (scarlet robin), (powerful owl) State Conservation Area. Ninox strenua and (regent Anthochaera phrygia A Conservation Advice is available that honeyeater) and threatened amphibians and outlines a range of priority research and reptiles such as Heleioporus australiacus management actions that provide (giant burrowing frog) and Varanus guidance on how to protect, manage and (Rosenberg’s goanna, heath rosenbergi restore the ecological community. goanna). Routine property maintenance and land The ecological community also provides management practices, carried out in line ecosystem services and contributes to the with local laws and guidelines covering health and wellbeing of local residents. For native vegetation, are typically unlikely to example, the forests and woodlands help require consideration under the EPBC Act cool temperatures in the surrounding (e.g. most farming activities, roadside region; store carbon; filter and maintain maintenance and managing fire breaks). aquifers; Activities likely to have significant adverse mitigate local flooding, soil loss, and impacts on the ecological community need pollution; and, provide amenity and to be considered under the EPBC Act to recreation such as scenic areas for avoid or mitigate those impacts—activities bushwalking. The ecological community such as large new developments, works or also supports soil health, crop pollination infrastructure. For example, permanently and pest management. clearing areas of high-quality native Remaining patches provide important vegetation for mining and energy wildlife corridors and refuges in a mostly infrastructure or residential subdivision fragmented landscape, including as and development. Southern Highlands Shale Forest and Woodland typical form © Greg Stone
maculatus (spotted-tailed quoll), Potorous tridactylus tridactylus (long-nosed potoroo) and Phascolarctos cinereus (koala), threatened birds such as Petroica boodang (scarlet robin), Ninox strenua (powerful owl) and Anthochaera phrygia (regent honeyeater) and threatened amphibians and reptiles such as Heleioporus australiacus (giant burrowing frog) and Varanus rosenbergi (Rosenberg’s goanna, heath goanna). The ecological community also provides ecosystem services and contributes to the health and wellbeing of local residents. For example, the forests and woodlands help cool temperatures in the surrounding region; store carbon; filter and maintain aquifers; mitigate local flooding, soil loss, and pollution; and, provide amenity and recreation such as scenic areas for bushwalking. The ecological community also supports soil health, crop pollination and pest management. Remaining patches provide important wildlife corridors and refuges in a mostly fragmented landscape, including as stepping stones between Morton National Park, Nattai National Park and the Upper Nepean State Conservation Area. A Conservation Advice is available that outlines a range of priority research and management actions that provide guidance on how to protect, manage and restore the ecological community. Routine property maintenance and land management practices, carried out in line with local laws and guidelines covering native vegetation, are typically unlikely to require consideration under the EPBC Act (e.g. most farming activities, roadside maintenance and managing fire breaks). Activities likely to have significant adverse impacts on the ecological community need to be considered under the EPBC Act to avoid or mitigate those impacts—activities such as large new developments, works or infrastructure. For example, permanently clearing areas of high-quality native vegetation for mining and energy infrastructure or residential subdivision and development. Southern Highlands Shale Forest and Woodland typical form © Greg Stone
southern-highlands-shale-forest-guide.docx