Projects

Biodiversity restoration and regional connections.

“One of the most pleasing aspects of this area is the suite of native grasses with nearly all expected species represented here. It is extremely rare to find such a large area in this local region unaffected by the invasive grass weeds, African Lovegrass, Chilean Needlegrass and Serrated Tussock. There are virtually no other grassy woodland reserves in the ACT or nearby NSW with this level of integrity. We can say this with confidence as we have carried out vegetation management on virtually all conservation reserves in the immediate region, both NSW and ACT, over the past 20 years.”

Simon Lang, Environmental Weed management specialist

Jerrabomberra Creek - mid catchment management

Riparian restoration, Jerrabomberra Creek, August 2023

Wandiyali Gorge

This area of Jerrabomberra Creek, which flows into the important habitats of Jerrabomberra Wetlands, and is one of the main tributaries to Lake Burley Griffin, includes serpentine folds of creek, steep cliffs and ancient Scribbly Gum studded rocky slopes.

Community

We are working with Wandiyali Rangers, Queanbeyan Landcare and other community groups, friends and families, to restore the Bottlebrush Riparian Shrubland and upland catchment tributaries.

Restoration

With staged removal of willows and poplars, the Cumbungi (Typha sp) and Phragmites is returning to mid and edge stream, providing creek bed stabilisation, nutrient cycling and sediment filtration functions.

Wandiyali~Environa Wildlife Sanctuary

300ha of private land, most under Conservation Convenant, giving the highest protection possible. Much of the Sanctuary is regionally recognised CEEC (Critically Endangered Ecological Community) Box Gum Grassy Woodland. The Sanctuary is integral in east-west landscape connectivity from the Eastern Escarpment via the Molonglo Range to the Murrumbidgee River corridor, and south-north via Jerrabomberra Creek riparian corridor to the Molonglo River and Jerrabomberra Wetlands.

“This is one of the very few large areas of Critically Endangered Box Gum Woodland left in this part of the world which is under conservation protection. So this private land site on Box Gum Woodland under conservation makes a tremendous contribution to the long term conservation of Box Gum Woodland, not just in NSW, but in Australia.”

Rainer Rehwinkel, ecologist, author, grassy woodland specialist, Wandiyali Restoration Trust board member

Wandiyali~Environa Wildlife Sanctuary, as part of the Australian Government's Environment Restoration Fund, is involved in a 4 year project aiming to restore local mammals to the Sanctuary's 300ha mosaic of CEEC Box Gum Grassy Woodland and other ecological communities, including the development of a program of Cultural 'cool patch' Burning.

The project is integrated with the extensive research, knowledge and commitment to on ground work by organisations such as Mt Rothwell - Biodiversity Interpretation Centre, Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, Arid Recovery, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Molonglo Conservation Group and ANU Fenner School of Environment & Society

It is part of a network of Australian-wide Safe Havens aiming to halt and reverse the decline of Australia’s ‘critical weight range’ mammals due to predation by introduced cats and foxes and habitat destruction.

Threatened Bush Birds & Landscape Connections

Poplars Grasslands

Restoration and rehabilitation of CEEC (Critically Endangered Ecological Community) Natural Temperate Grasslands.

NSW Priority Management Site for Button Wrinklewort (*Rutidosis lepthorrhynchoides*)

Connectivity, collaboration & community - Threatened Bush Birds & Pink-tailed Worm Lizard

Innovative collaborative land management arrangements with land holders as a catalyst for change in thinking and action towards conservation and restoration of threatened ecosystems and species in the landscapes of the surrounding region. Restoring the extent and connectedness of regional ecosystems, and sharing science based conservation techniques. Facilitate education and participation, and encourage corporate and community volunteer assistance, both financial and in-kind.

Part of the NSW Government Saving Our Species program for Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang) and Pink-tailed Worm Lizard (Aprasia parapulchella)