Helping our ecosystems and wildlife recover - Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate - Environment

Helping our ecosystems and wildlife recover

Namadgi and Tidbinbilla are home to more than 700 species of plants, 222 species of vertebrate animals, 15 threatened species and over 40 rare or uncommon species recorded to date.

The bushfires and floods impacted ACT native plants and animals, including threatened species and their unique habitats. Large areas of land were opened leading to increased threats from feral animals (such as foxes, deer and pigs) and invasive weeds (such as blackberry, Chilean Needle Grass and St John’s Wort). The fire and flood events also served to reduce water quality in our waterways on which many of our native aquatic species depend.

Following the bushfires and floods, our native plants and animals will face many immediate challenges and ongoing impacts in the years to come. It is important that we manage these threats to give them their best chance to recover.

To protect plants and animals and assist natural recovery processes, the ACT recovery program is considering and implementing activities such as:

Impacted wildlife

Greater Glyder
Photo credit to Tyrrie Starrs

Namadgi National Park is home to a rich diversity of wildlife populations, including birds, bats, frogs, reptiles, mammals, and aquatic species, making it an important natural asset. There are a number of species that are likely to be either directly impacted by the bushfires or indirectly impacted through loss of habitat and increased risk of predation.

Our recovery response addresses threatened wildlife populations in Namadgi and Tidbinbilla, with a specific focus on species of national concern.

The Broad-toothed Rat (Mastacomys fuscus)

The Broad-toothed Rat is an endangered animal and a species of national concern and are often found in Alpine Bogs and Fens – a threatened ecological community also impacted by bushfires. It is estimated that 10 of the 13 known populations in Namadgi. Key threats to this species include increased loss and competition for habitat and increased risk of predation.

Gliders

Two species of large gliders, the Greater Glider (Petauroides volans) and the Yellow-bellied Glider (Petaurus australis) are found within the fireground and are listed as species of national concern. Recent surveys indicate three areas in Namadgi where Gliders occur, two of which have been impacted by fire.

Reiks Crayfish (Euastacus reiki)

The species of mountain spiny crayfish inhabits the tributaries and bogs in the upper Cotter catchment, upper Nass, Orroral and Gudgenby Valleys. It is estimated that 95% of it’s habitat in the ACT is within the burn area. Poorer water quality following the fires encourages them to emerge from their burrows, making them vulnerable to increased predation.

Reiks Crayfhish
Photo credit to Mark Jekabsons

Two-spined Blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus)

The two-spined Blackfish is a threatened fish species found in the Upper Cotter catchment. Three of the five ACT areas identified as important to the species have been impacted. High severity fire within catchments followed by substantial rainfall can lead to increased sedimentation of waterways and decreased water quality. In extreme cases, aquatic environments can become toxic to fish leading to fish kills and loss of local populations.

Macquarie Perch (Macquaria australasica)

Macquarie Perch are a species of national concern, with a significant proportion of their range burnt nationally. High severity fire within catchments followed by substantial rainfall can lead to increased sedimentation of waterways and decreased water quality. In extreme cases, aquatic environments can become toxic to fish leading to fish kills and loss of local populations.

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