LLEVAR DROGA A LAS PALMAS

Barren Grounds Nature Reserve (BGNR) comprises 2024 ha and is located on the top of an escarpment above Jamberoo in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Gazetted in 1956 from a crown reserve created in 1941, BGNR is the third nature reserve declared in New South Wales. BGNR is managed by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), in conjunction with the adjoining or nearby

Budderoo National Park, and Robertson Nature Reserve16 _{(Keyzer, 2014; NPWS,}

1998, 2004). The current management principles applicable to nature reserves in New South Wales are detailed in the National Parks and Wildlife Act and include conservation of biodiversity, maintenance of ecosystem functions and protection of

15 _{As in Chapter 6 a reference to DoDAF is a reference to DoDAF 2 as implemented in UPDM.} 16 _{Until two years ago Macquarie Pass National Park was part of the same management plan}

natural phenomena; promotion of public appreciation and enjoyment; and research and monitoring (New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 No 80). BGNR supports a diverse array of wildlife, with populations of the threatened ground parrot and eastern bristlebird among the 180 recorded bird species. Facilities include walking trails, lookouts, and a picnic area containing tables, bush toilet, water and information boards, and a small parking area. Overnight accommodation is not available, nor is camping of any form permitted. Also not permitted are wood fires, cats and dogs, and horse riding (Figure 7.1).

By prior arrangement, NPWS provides day school excursions for a fee per student; otherwise there are no guided activities or services provided at the reserve. For about two decades from

1982 a Royal Australasian

Ornithologists Union (RAOU) 17

Bird Observatory operated at BGNR, providing visitor information, natural history courses and guided walks (Boughton, 2012). Throughout this period the RAOU Bird Observatory wardens provided residential and day-trip educational opportunities for the general public, school groups and organisations, with guests staying overnight in a stone cabin known as The Lodge. The Lodge (initially built as accommodation for researchers and honorary rangers) and the picnic area were constructed during the early 1960s. The Observatory consisted of a visitor information centre, warden’s house, and demountable buildings for a classroom, researchers accommodation, and the Observatory Office, as well as The Lodge (NPWS, 1998). When the Bird Observatory closed in 2004, the demountable buildings were removed.

During the period that the Bird Observatory operated, a program of research was commenced, with visiting researchers staying at the reserve, and close relationships maintained with the University of Wollongong. The longest running program of research is focused on the relationship between the threatened ground parrot and

17 _{The RAOU subsequently became Birds Australia and then BirdLife Australia.}

the frequency of burning of the heathland habitat, with annual monitoring having taken place in the years from 1983 to 2009 (Baker et al, 2010; Keith et al, 2014). BGNR research is one of 35 core long-term research studies used in Burns & Lindenmayer (2014) to identify eco-system specific management recommendations to tackle the most urgent threats to Australian ecosystems. Although Burns & Lindenmayer (2014) have BGNR ground parrot research as “inactive since 2009”, NPWS now undertakes ground parrot surveys twice per year (Norton, 2014). A research program at BGNR from 2004-2008 involving the trapping of long-nose potoroos (Norton, 2010) has been followed up with NPWS now undertaking potoroo trapping once or twice per year, as part of an evaluation of an ongoing fox control

program using 1080 poison (Figure 7.2). NPWS is also undertaking eastern bristlebird surveys once per year at BGNR. Any research activity at BGNR requires a licence, currently

Environment and Heritage.

(Norton, 2014)

Information for BGNR is available widely via websites provided by

government agencies 18 _{, tourist}

services19_{, and specialist sites}20_,

and from local tourist outlets as well as the nearby NPWS Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre in Morton National Park. BGNR is number 46 in the top 100 bird watching sites in Australia (Taylor, 2013), and is located within day-trip distance of the major urban areas of Wollongong (20 km) and Sydney (100km) in NSW, as well as Canberra (200 km) in the ACT. Recreational activities are restricted to bird watching and walking on formed and posted tracks, and low-key picnicking. Visitors must take away any rubbish they generate.

Based on published management plans (NPWS, 1998 & 2004), management activities for BGNR ought to address:

18 _{www.environment.nsw.gov.au, www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au}

19 _{www.visitnsw.com, www.kiama.com.au, www.johnevans.id.au, www.exploroz.com,}

20 _{http://ibc.lynxeds.com, http://www.fluidr.com (photos), www.birdlife.org, http://www.eremaea.com,}

www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm

• Maintenance and improvement where necessary of recreation facilities

o access road, walking tracks, picnic tables, shelter, toilet, lookouts

o signage - information on distances, prohibition of camping, reasons

why people must not walk through other sections of the reserve, and wood fires not permitted; information display boards

• Control of non-endemic species (flora and fauna), particularly foxes and cats

• Management of fire - there is a separate strategy document for fire

management at the reserve (NPWS, 2006)

• Continued encouragement of, and provision of opportunities for, scientific

research

• Provision of education opportunities aimed at improving public knowledge

and appreciation of the natural systems and support for conservation

• Promotion of appreciation of the value of vegetation remnants and

encouragement of protection and revegetation outside protected area

Resources (people and equipment) and how they would be managed to implement these activities are not addressed in the management plans, nor is there any reference to reserve security.