Page 4898 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 25 October 2011
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Volunteering ACT in this regard. The aim of the strategy will be to attract and retain volunteers working in reserves; build a stronger sense of place and connection to reserves; build wider connections between people in the community and our reserves; make better use of the knowledge of volunteers; and use volunteers to help monitor the condition of our reserves.
The commissioner’s recommendation 2.3 identified the importance of implementing a nature reserve restoration program, which is additional to routine management actions. Work is already underway on a four-year $1 million program to improve the resilience and condition of nature reserves to respond to climate change. The initial focus is on improving the extent of woodland habitat and its connectivity across five nature reserves stretching from Aranda bushland via the Belconnen hills and Kama reserve to the Molonglo River.
The commissioner has also identified the importance of implementing actions to improve connectivity, informed by the independent scientific and ecological advice available from the government’s advisory committees. This is highlighted in recommendation 2.3 of the report. Research on ecological connectivity of habitat between nature reserves is already underway as a key adaptive response to climate change. In addition, the government’s Natural Resource Management Advisory Committee will continue in its role of providing expert advice on ecological connectivity issues.
Connectivity was identified as a critical issue in public consultation in the review of the Nature Conservation Act. The report recommends that an operational plan for each nature reserve be prepared and that these include priority management and restoration actions, such as fire, infrastructure and urban protection works; maps with boundaries, recreation areas and tracks shown; lists of any relevant research; and a monitoring program guided by a comprehensive monitoring strategy.
Plans can only be produced and maintained with resources. The government will prepare an operational plan for each of over 40 high priority nature reserves. To achieve more with the available resources, it may help to group some reserves, such as those which are similar and do not have their own individual ParkCare groups.
The commissioner has recognised the need to update the 1999 Canberra nature park plan of management. The government will give careful consideration to the timing of such a substantial review. The government released its draft ACT pest animal management strategy for public comment on 28 July this year. The strategy identifies the need for the development of detailed pest animal management plans for high priority pest animals as provided for under the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005. The commissioner’s recommendation 4.3 proposes developing and implementing a pest animal management plan to address issues raised in Managing rabbits in Canberra nature park, a report prepared by Dr Kent Williams from the CSIRO.
I recently asked the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate and the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate to commence development of a pest animal management plan for rabbits, across all land tenures, as a matter of priority. In his report, the commissioner also recommended establishing a capital woodland and
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