Connecting habitats, connecting people.
Connecting habitats, connecting people.
An exciting project is engaging the local community to improve the habitats for threatened species on private lands surrounding Mount Yarrihapinni.
Local Links - Stronger Communities -
LLCI033-097
The issue
Mount Yarrahapinni is situated on the NSW mid-north coast and its unique geographical location supports a remarkable blend of different vegetation types. It also provides habitat for an abundance of wildlife including records of threatened species such as the Koala, Yellow-bellied Glider, Brush-tailed Phascogale, and Powerful Owl. Yarriabini, meaning 'koala rolling', is the Aboriginal name for the mountain, which is very significant to the Dunghutti, Ngambaa and Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal people.
The mountain is now protected within the Yarriabini National Park but is surrounded by private lands. The habitats provided by these surrounding properties act as important biodiversity corridors that are so important for the long-term survival of wildlife in the face of on-going threats from habitat fragmentation, invasive weeds, pest animals and climate change.
The solution
The Protecting and Connecting Coastal Habitat Corridors at Mt Yarrahapinni project aims to engage the local community to improve the habitats for threatened species in private lands surrounding the Yarriabini National Park. The project is a collaboration between the Macleay Landcare Network and Nambucca Valley Landcare made possible with funding from the NSW Government’s Environmental Trust.
Participating landholders are being supported to control invasive weeds and undertake bush regeneration to restore 35 hectares of habitat. Game cameras are being used to record wildlife and pest predator activity, and 12 nest boxes have been installed to make up for the loss of nesting hollows following the historic loss of old-growth trees.
The project is also delivering a program of awareness raising and training events for the local community to raise awareness and knowledge of the importance of managing land for threatened species. Nocturnal spotlighting tours, school excursions, bush regeneration workshops, and pest predator presentations are all being used to engage and inform the local community and add value to the on-ground works being undertaken.
The impact
Scott’s Head Primary School class K-2 were treated to a mix of traditional indigenous knowledge and contemporary land management concepts delivered with fun, humour, and out-and-out enthusiasm by Aboriginal Rangers Mark and Jess. National Parks and Wildlife Ranger Andrew Turbill also hosted 50 enthusiastic participants during two nocturnal spotlighting tours within Yarriabini National Park.
With the results of the wildlife monitoring and nest box installation program still to come the year ahead looks exciting for project participants and the local community.
Key facts
- Biodiversity corridors are so important for the long-term survival of wildlife.
- Landholders are being supported to undertake bush regeneration and participate in a wildlife monitoring and nest box installation program.
- A program of awareness raising and training events is being used to engage and inform the local community and add value to the on-ground works being undertaken.