Driving Corridor Connectivity
Grassy Box Woodland enhancement project
Community Participation - LP013-003
The issue
Grassy Box Woodland is a critically endangered ecosystem in the central districts of NSW containing Grey Box, White Box, Blakely's Red Gum, Kangaroo Grass and other important ground layer flora and fungi species.
Under threat from fragmentation, over grazing, feral animal invasion and weed encroachment, the ecosystem is home to many fauna species including Powerful Owls, Glossy Black Cockatoos, Superb Parrots, Yellow Bellied Gliders and Squirrel Gliders.
The solution
Ongoing funding through the Central Tablelands Local Land Services funding grant "Driving Corridor Connectivity" allowed Lithgow Oberon Landcare Association to put out an expression of interest to landholders in the area for funding to conserve remnant trees or stands of trees through stock exclusion fencing.
A farmer in the district was selected for his desire to fence off a three hectare remnant stand of Grey Box, White Box and Blakely's red gum that will create a connective corridor between two larger areas of remnant bushland.
The impact
The corridor that has been fenced is significant as it comes close to joining two separated reserves of bushland on opposite sides of the valley. In these fragmented landscapes protecting and enhancing these linkages from stock grazing pressure is important to create habitat for birds, insects and other species for food, habitat and migration.
Key facts
- Grassy Box Woodland is a critically endangered ecosystem endemic to central New South Wales.
- Stock exclusion fencing helps create a corridor between unlinked remnant bushland reserves and allows natural recruitment to occur, revegetating the degraded landscape, increasing biodiversity.