Bounceback - Key Outcomes

• What progress are we making?
• Restoration, repair and recovery
• Threat abatement
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Threatened and significant species
• Active and Accelerated Recovery
• Communication and extension

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What progress are we making?

Key findings and achievements of Bounceback to date are listed below including ecosystem responses that have been noted or achieved and some of the many operational lessons learnt, and the following represents a very brief summary of the project's progress.

Restoration, repair and recovery

The most complex of Bounceback's components, and the most general in both intent and geographic extent, clear signs of repair and recovery have been achieved, demonstrated by vegetation community recovery in the Flinders, Gawler and Olary Ranges. Indicator species (based on palatable species) have responded, and decline and degradation of communities has been arrested, although in the majority of extensive chenopod systems, the response can only be considered at an early phase. Indicators including bird, mammal and reptile presence and abundance within landscapes has also revealed genuine improvement in environmental condition.

• Increased biomass of chenopod indicators in Flinders Ranges in chenopod/tussock grassland communities
• Improvement in habitat values at Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby recovery sites
• Improvement in condition on Bimbowrie (Olary Ranges) and the Flinders Ranges NP represented by increases in Land Condition Index values
• Plant community recovery, including density and frequency increases in the Gawler Ranges (particularly low shrubs), and further recovery noted as likely where shrubs previously removed
• Riparian Spring condition rated good to very good in areas of the Flinders Ranges following 14 years of management, contrasting riparian spring conditions where management is limited
• Short-tailed Grasswren able to occupy areas of lower Triodia cover due to fox baiting, with fox control proving greatest influence on abundance
• Malleefowl hatching events at Gawler Ranges
• Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby populations showing positive trends and viability across range where actively managed
• Reduction in weediness in areas where rabbit control conducted in the central Flinders

Threat abatement

Threat abatement programs have been successfully implemented across the project area, and are now considered at a maintenance level. Aerial and ground-based fox control has proven effective at suppressing fox populations, and in provoking responses in indicator species such as Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies and Short-tailed Grasswrens. Feral goat control has been highly effective in reducing impacts and in operating cooperatively, but requires a long-term commitment to operations, policy and attitudes. A mix of broadscale and small scale rabbit control has been effective, though resource intensive.

• Vertebrate pest species have been controlled to at or below target levels across the project area where management implemented
• Aerial feral goat control highly effective in inaccessible terrain
• Active management of total grazing pressure is required, irrespective of destocking programs
• Effective rabbit control achieved in presence of wombats
• Compensatory grazing by macropods potential threat following successful rabbit treatment

Monitoring and evaluation

'Process' monitoring referred to earlier is generally straight forward in terms of checking operational progress and status of management programs and pest species. Bounceback has effectively monitored pest species, impacts and status to provide confidence and feedback to the on-ground work programs. Response monitoring, however, has proven much tougher both in design and implementation, particularly in being able to isolate responses within a system and determine responses within short, rolling timeframes. The greatest challenge has been measures of system recovery through surrogates of vegetation community condition and trend, and the vertebrates and invertebrates that are associated with these habitats. However, most of our indicators selected have been of value.

• Comprehensive 'process' monitoring of threat abatement program progress effective in providing management information
• Key indicator species and indices effective for response include Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby sub population information, Short-tailed Grasswren status and distribution information
• A number of species of bush bird have been identified that could be used as indicators of positive trends in vegetation responses and improved condition of various habitats to management of total grazing pressure and reduction in predation pressure
• Complexity of ecology and influences of arthropods make use as habitat response indicators difficult for short-term, but restoration of chenopod shrublands determined as beneficial to ant and spider communities
• Site-specific Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby monitoring programs highly effective to tailor management
• Small vertebrates as habitat quality and trend indicators proving difficult, due to seasonal fluctuations and patchy distributions despite long time period
• Shift from 'condition' status monitoring to status against defined vegetation association and community recovery targets

Threatened and significant species

A major focus of Bounceback since its inception has been the protection and recovery of the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby, firstly within targeted locations, then across its range in South Australia. This has been two-fold, as firstly it is clear the species required, and still requires, active intervention to ensure long-term viability of sub-populations, and secondly, the management activities are a good match for general conservation objectives throughout the area. Significant progress has been achieved, with many sub-populations taken from at-risk of local extinction to now being secure in the medium-term.

• Intensive sub-population monitoring program for status, viability, genetics and management requirements developed across range
• Mark recapture data in the Gawler Ranges National Park indicates healthy recruitment of juveniles into the population and a diverse age distribution. This is less clear at Mount Friday, located 40 km from the Gawler Ranges National Park. Nevertheless this data suggests that threat abatement has at the very least, prevented any further declines of the population at Yandinga Gorge. As treatments at this site have only recently been commenced, their effects will only be fully realised over a five to ten year period
• Based upon long-term aerial survey data in the Flinders Ranges and Olary Hills, there is now strong statistical evidence to show populations of the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby in the Bounceback treated areas are significantly increasing. This is in contrast to the untreated areas where the populations will either continue to decline or remain approximately at current levels in sometimes isolated areas. The species can therefore be considered to be recovering in SA, but will remain conservation dependent
• Short-tailed Grasswren populations demonstrated increasing abundance in management areas in the Flinders Ranges
• Increased sightings of regionally rare species such as Stimson's Python and Short-beaked Echidna on Flinders Ranges National Park

Active and accelerated recovery

Our recent focus has been the implementation of revegetation programs in highly degraded chenopod plains country in the Flinders Ranges National Park. Of the various methods trialed, broadscale direct seeding with a purpose built contour seeder has been the most practical approach, only really limited by seed availability and seasons. Importantly, grazing hasn't been a limiting factor overall, which encourages us to believe over time the technique will be valuable in stabilising and repairing targeted areas, as well as reintroducing locally rare or absent species (a result of historic total grazing pressure). The slightly more ambitious trial release of Brush-tailed Bettongs indicated that there is in fact potential for this type of initiative, and it remains a long-term goal to establish an environment where medium sized mammals can once again survive and thrive. This is a critical step if we are to meet the broad aim of reversing mammal decline in the semi-arid rangelands.

• Revegetation programs successful in highly degraded treatment areas
• Potential demonstrated for network or patchwork approach to reintroducing plant species across landscape
• Grazing generally not the limiting factor in establishment, though there can be high impact areas
• Brush-tailed Bettong trial reintroduction in Flinders Ranges showed resources a limiting factor (2000), but predation potentially of greater importance

Communication and extension

The priority to date has been the development of working relationships with landholders and partners to gradually expand both the scope and delivery of the conservation and land management programs Bounceback is attempting to implement. As such, much effort has gone into direct liaison with landholders and partners, with comparatively less public promotion and extension. The return on this has been solid support amongst the landholder and partner community for the concepts and for the on-ground works, and even if people are not directly participating, they have generally been supportive. However, far from complete, this aspect will need to be maintained and in fact grown, as Bounceback will rely on their support and commitment if is to maintain progress.

• Direct liaison approach effective in generating support
• Partners have grown each year
• Extensive media and promotions
• Recognition from DEH and NRM as a long-term initiative is an important step

Recovery and responses in semi-arid systems can take a long time, at least compared with traditional project timelines. Bounceback is a long-term initiative, with a commitment to continuing and maintaining its operations and its progress, and it is anticipated that based on the signs so far, the positive responses will compound as all those involved in the project continue to work towards the high level aims of a healthy, functioning system.