Over 363 hectares of significant environmental areas have been protected through a partnership between National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA).
The Mid North Coast Endangered Ecological Community and Karst Restoration project protected 5 high priority locations through funding of $64,500 from NRCMA.
NPWS Senior Ranger (Pests) Mr Tim Scanlon said the funding was greatly expanded through contributions from NPWS and volunteer groups such as National Parks Association to become a $227,817 project over two years.
“The sites were selected due to their importance for protection of endangered ecological communities such as littoral rainforest, threatened plant and animal species, and, unfortunately; the very serious threat posed by introduced weeds,” Mr Scanlon said.
Projects included: control of lantana in Yessabah Nature Reserve near Kempsey; control of bitou bush, lantana, madeira vine, winter senna and morning glory in Sea Acres National Park, control of lantana, camphor laurel and mickey mouse plant in Macquarie Nature Reserve in the urban area of Port Macquarie; control of lantana, bitou bush and winter senna at North Brother Mountain in Dooragan National Park, and; control of lantana and bitou bush in Crowdy Bay National Park near Watson Taylor Lake.
“The work was undertaken by leading professional contractors, NPWS staff and volunteers using bush regeneration techniques.
“At each site the work will be expanded through ongoing NPWS bush regeneration programs. Follow up control programs will be in place for many years.
“Monitoring of the project’s success is being measured using photo points, computer-based mapping and transects that measure the response of both the weeds and native species to the control programs,” he said.
