The impact

Operational benefits of conducting LFW assessments include working face to face with people on their own country. Getting out on to country during LFW assessments facilitates a close and detailed survey of local bushland flora and fauna. For example, we have identified species of notable conservation value, such as the Tangle Orchid (Plectorrhiza beckleri) (at the limit of its known range) the Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) (categorised as ‘Endangered’ in NSW ), Turquoise parrots (Neophema pulchella) and Dusky Woodswallows (Artemus cyanopterus) (both categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ in NSW’). These observations can contribute to scientific understanding of these species, their distribution, changes in populations and so on. Such discoveries can result in greater appreciation for remnant bushland communities and feed into localised management plans by individual landholders, including habitat restoration and pest animal recommendations. One landholder recently stated that the value of Land For Wildlife was enabling property-specific conservation activities and knowledge to be passed on to future generations, particularly her children who witness the LFW process. Mapping of Land For Wildlife properties has become an important part of the GBLC LFW service, and we are fortunate to be able to engage local experts to value add to our assessments. These property maps also help identify Endangered Ecological Communities and conservation works at a broader scale, knitting together a visual tapestry of how intact and healthy the environment is across the shire. In time, this data capture could facilitate more targeted strategic ecological interventions.