Parks Conservation and Lands

Research

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Links to experimental management research program (ANU)

In 2004, in recognition of the importance of the need to improve management of grassy woodlands, the ACT Government initiated a partnership with The Australian National University (ANU) to undertake a major research project. This resulted in a successful bid for an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (approx. $2 million cash/in-kind over 5 years). The project is called Innovative Enhancement and Management of Threatened Temperate Woodlands for Improved Biodiversity Conservation. This project is breaking new ground by investigating management manipulations that improve woodlands for biodiversity.

Experimental management includes the addition of deadwood, which provides habitat for animals, control of exotic predators, which are a major threat to woodland fauna, the exclusion of kangaroos – which are having a major impact on vegetation and the use of controlled burning to manage vegetation.

The experimental framework established for this study has now provided a focus for further scientific collaborations with CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and CSIRO Entomology.  The project also has provided a focus for student research at ANU, with two PhDs and one honours project starting in 2007. There have also been a number of smaller valuable student projects investigating new lines of inquiry. More student research projects are planned.

The ARC Linkage project will also take advantage of the exclusion of cats and foxes in the Sanctuary to look at the effect of these predators on biodiversity (the Sanctuary fence encloses half of the experimental plots). Furthermore, new research programs are planned to investigate the reintroduced species and their effects on the woodland ecosystem. This will provide opportunities to investigate unique research questions of direct relevance to conservation management in the ACT and region.

Links to research websites:

The Mulligans Flat-Goorooyarroo Woodland Experiment 

Links to other 'Sanctuaries' that have assisted us in many ways:

Arid Recovery - Roxby Downs South Australia 

Australian Wildlife Conservancy  

Karori Sanctuary - Wellington New Zealand 

Maungatuatari Ecological Island Trust - New Zealand