
Biodiversity in the Murray Mallee
What is biodiversity? Biodiversity is ‘the variety of all life forms’ – the different plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystem of which they form a part. Biodiversity within the Murray Mallee region The Murray Mallee region contains valuable habitat for a number of threatened and common fauna. These include the Nationally threatened Malleefowl, Black-eared Miner, Red-lored Whistler and Regent Parrot. The State vulnerable Carpet Python and the State rare Olive Snake-lizard have also been recorded in the area. Approximately 80% of the original mallee vegetation has been cleared, with the remaining 20% confined to conservation areas. Of the remaining remnant vegetation, approximately 90% are less than 100ha in size. The decline in biodiversity occurs as a major consequence of declining native vegetation. The two large remnant areas of the Ngarkat Conservation Park and Billiatt Conservation Park provide a highly significant habitat for the fauna of the Murray Mallee region. Road reserves throughout the Murray Mallee are also significant to biodiversity conservation, as they form links or corridors for wildlife between fragmented blocks of vegetation and in many cases, are the only remaining examples of native vegetation in the area What are the threats to biodiversity? Feral Animals – Rabbits, hares, foxes and cats have the highest impact on remnant vegetation and biodiversity in the Murray Mallee region. Grazing – Grazing animals such as sheep, cattle and goats do enormous damage to native vegetation by grazing out palatable species, killing lichen and damaging the soil crust with their hard hooves. Weeds – Weeds can out compete local species for water and nutrients and threaten their survival. Isolated remnants - The small patches of native vegetation are more likely to suffer impacts from grazing disturbance, feral animals, climatic change and weed invasion. The fragmented nature also reduces the availability of habitat and potential for cross-pollination of plant species, cross-fertilisation of fauna species and biodiversity. What can be done? Revegetation using local native species on private and public land, including roadsides, improves biodiversity. The provision of incentive funds for fencing and revegetation projects has proven to be a successful method of encouraging landholders to protect and enhance their remnant vegetation. What is Heritage Agreement? Under Heritage Agreements the land, and the remnant vegetation upon the land, is protected through a covenant on the land’s title. Currently there are 240 areas totalling approx. 98,000ha protected through Heritage Agreements in the Murray Mallee.

Biodiversity in the Murray Mallee

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What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is ‘the variety of all life forms’ – the different plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystem of which they form a part.

Biodiversity within the Murray Mallee region
The Murray Mallee region contains valuable habitat for a number of threatened and common fauna. These include the Nationally threatened Malleefowl, Black-eared Miner, Red-lored Whistler and Regent Parrot. The State vulnerable Carpet Python and the State rare Olive Snake-lizard have also been recorded in the area.

Approximately 80% of the original mallee vegetation has been cleared, with the remaining 20% confined to conservation areas. Of the remaining remnant vegetation, approximately 90% are less than 100ha in size. The decline in biodiversity occurs as a major consequence of declining native vegetation.

The two large remnant areas of the Ngarkat Conservation Park and Billiatt Conservation Park provide a highly significant habitat for the fauna of the Murray Mallee region. Road reserves throughout the Murray Mallee are also significant to biodiversity conservation, as they form links or corridors for wildlife between fragmented blocks of vegetation and in many cases, are the only remaining examples of native vegetation in the area

What are the threats to biodiversity?
Feral Animals – Rabbits, hares, foxes and cats have the highest impact on remnant vegetation and biodiversity in the Murray Mallee region.

Grazing – Grazing animals such as sheep, cattle and goats do enormous damage to native vegetation by grazing out palatable species, killing lichen and damaging the soil crust with their hard hooves.

Weeds – Weeds can out compete local species for water and nutrients and threaten their survival.

Isolated remnants - The small patches of native vegetation are more likely to suffer impacts from grazing disturbance, feral animals, climatic change and weed invasion. The fragmented nature also reduces the availability of habitat and potential for cross-pollination of plant species, cross-fertilisation of fauna species and biodiversity.

What can be done?

Revegetation using local native species on private and public land, including roadsides, improves biodiversity. The provision of incentive funds for fencing and revegetation projects has proven to be a successful method of encouraging landholders to protect and enhance their remnant vegetation.

What is Heritage Agreement?

Under Heritage Agreements the land, and the remnant vegetation upon the land, is protected through a covenant on the land’s title. Currently there are 240 areas totalling approx. 98,000ha protected through Heritage Agreements in the Murray Mallee.