Conservation challenges and benefits of multispecies reintroductions to a national park – a case study from New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Species reintroductions into predator-controlled areas are an increasingly used conservation tool. Typically, ecological outcomes of such projects (e.g. recruitment, predation) are the focus but seldom necessary legislative, policy, social and institutional processes required for establishing large projects. This particularly applies to protected areas, managed by governments for conservation. Reintroductions are recommended for a third of threatened Australian vertebrates, with the New South Wales Government boldly embarking on a 2013 initiative to return locally extinct mammals to three protected areas. We detail the legislative, policy, social and institutional processes required for one of these sites, Wild Deserts, in Sturt National Park. Seven locally extinct species, including the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), western barred bandicoot (Perameles bougainville), golden bandicoot (Isoodon auratus), greater stick-nest rat (Leporillus conditor), crest-tailed mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda), western quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii) and burrowing bettong (Bettongia lesueur) will be reintroduced into two exclosures. The scale of the project required identification of an appropriate location, satisfaction of statutory requirements for major infrastructure in a national park, assessments of potential ecological costs and benefits, engagement of the national park agency and other stakeholders (Traditional Owners, other government agencies, neighbours), and staff training to meet government agency requirements. We outline the resourcing, costs and benefits of such a project on government-managed land along with lessons learnt for similar large-scale restoration and reintroduction projects. Future projects would benefit from understanding legislative and policy frameworks and the need for transparency, while maximising efficiencies.

Strategic adaptive management planning—Restoring a desert ecosystem by managing introduced species and native herbivores and reintroducing mammals

“…The Wild Deserts' project is bounded on the northern and western sides by the dingo fence, which aims to exclude dingoes Canis familiaris from NSW, to protect F I G U R E 1 Wild Deserts' restoration project in the north-western corner of Sturt National Park, bordered to the south by pastoral areas within New South Wales, and, respectively, in the north by Queensland and South Australia, with sampling sites in five management treatments (two exclosures-E [T-Thipa] [SR]), kangaroos, dingoes, small native mammals, vegetation, introduced species (cats, foxes, goats, pigs, rabbits), sheep, and artificial waters or earthen dams (blue squares). The project focuses on the reintroduction of seven regionally extinct species in two fenced exclosures (E, red lined rectangles, 2,000 ha each, >2 m high cat-proof fencing, see (Pedler et al, 2018)), and the adjacent WTZ (10,400 ha) in the west, with an eastern border of cat-proof fencing and the northern and western border of the Dingo Fence (red line) domestic livestock. Wild Deserts occupies the traditional land of the Wongkumara and Maljangapa Aboriginal people, developed for grazing sheep and cattle in the early 19th century, before becoming a national park in 1972.…”

“…Data are regularly reported to the NSW Government but we also endeavor to publish our learnings in the scientific literature, as outlined in our Research Strategy (Table 2). The two exclosures have allowed learning, including optimizing techniques for eradication of introduced species (rabbits, cats, and foxes), removal of kangaroos (oneway gates) and fence construction (Tables 1 and 2, Pedler et al, 2018). They also provide flexibility for future trialing of different groups of species and sources of animals and phased reintroductions for herbivores, such as burrowing bettongs given vulnerability for overpopulation (Moseby et al, 2018) and native predators (cresttailed mulgara and Western quoll, Figure 1).…”

Conservation and restoration in peopled landscapes in Oceania: opportunities and challenges

“…For example, the spatial distance between protected areas and cities in Oceania is expected to decrease by 17 km by 2030 when compared with 1995, which is more than double the average distance worldwide (Mcdonald et al 2008). To highlight how managers of protected areas can overcome the ecological and social challenges associated with biodiversity conservation in remote areas, Ireland et al (2018) and Pedler et al (2018) discuss two case studies. Ireland et al (2018) focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with reintroducing threatened species to lands managed by Indigenous people, which occupy over 20% of the Australian landmass.…”

“…This allows for management objectives to include future T% uhoe resource use inside the protected area while T% uhoe continue to allow and support biodiversity conservation on their lands. Pedler et al (2018) summarise results from a project aimed at reintroducing seven locally extinct marsupials into Stewart National Park, New South Wales, Australia. As a national park, the land is managed by governmental organisations.…”

Why I have come to care about conservation and restoration in peopled landscapes

“…So when I was offered the opportunity to edit a special issue on 'Conservation and restoration in peopled landscapes in Oceania', I gladly agreed. This special issue presents seven original contributions Ireland et al 2018;Linklater et al 2018;Pedler et al 2018;Russell and Stanley 2018;Shanahan et al 2018;van Heezik and Seddon 2018) and a synthesis ) that explore three important aspects associated with conservation in peopled landscapes in Oceania: conservation in densely populated and highly modified urban areas, challenges for invasive species control in urban areas, and stakeholder involvement including traditional landowners for conservation actions in protected areas. I hope you enjoy reading them.…”