Biodiversity Conservation Programs

Restoring the Balance

Tammar Wallaby

Biodiversity in the Northern and Yorke Region has been greatly reduced due to the extensive clearance of native vegetation. Remnant vegetation is highly fragmented and contained within relatively small isolated blocks, resulting in species' declines and the disruption of ecological processes. Our ecological restoration programs and activities are based on sound ecological knowledge, underpinned by co-ordinated action, community involvement and partnerships. One of the Department's significant project partners is the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board. The Northern and Yorke NRM Board support a number of projects in the Northern and Yorke Region including threatened flora and fauna recovery programs and community awareness activities.

Restoring the balance requires a long-term, landscape-scale approach. A substantial body of scientific knowledge exists which indicates that conservation actions (eg weed control) are not effective unless carried out across large tracts of land. With management operations required over such a large area, the involvement of a wide range of participants is required, including; farmers, community groups, local councils, statutory authorities and universities. Connectivity through the landscape is critical to maintaining viable populations. Habitat restoration, revegetation, and management of invasive species all need to occur at a large scale, with individual projects forming part of a "bigger picture". The conservation programs of the Northern and Yorke Region follow the landscape ecology principles spelt out in the Department for Environment and Heritage's NatureLinks policy.

As part of our commitment to protecting the environment of the Northern and Yorke Region, the Department for Environment and Heritage coordinates a number of biodiversity conservation programs; including; Recovery of Native Grasslands of the Mid North, Bounceback Southern Flinders, the Recovery of Grassy Woodlands, and Yorke Peninsula Recovery Projects. These projects focus on the recovery of threatened species and communities and the amelioration of threats from introduced plants and animals.