A new draft strategy to protect and manage the ACT’s exceptional native woodlands is now open for community consultation.
The ACT Native Woodland Conservation Strategy will guide the protection, restoration and management of our precious lowland and subalpine woodlands, and the plants and animals that live in them, for the next 10 years.
ACT’s woodlands cover more than 79,000 hectares, have significant conservation value and are exceptional in size, diversity and habitat for threatened species.
We have a responsibility to protect and manage these areas effectively.
Approximately 70 per cent are within the ACT’s reserve system and protected by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service and community groups, particularly dedicated ParkCare groups.
Our native woodlands are facing numerous threats including climate change, inappropriate disturbance invasive species, dieback and urbanisation.
The strategy identifies how the ACT Government intends to:
- manage threats
- work with the community and other partners
- safeguard threatened species
- enhance woodlands’ resilience, ecosystem function and connectivity
- undertake monitoring and research.
The new strategy will replace the current Lowland Woodland Conservation Strategy, which has guided significant progress in the protection, restoration and management of our woodlands since 2004.
We would like to hear perspectives from anyone interested in our woodlands. Comment on the Strategy at www.yoursay.act.gov.au/woodlands until 24 May 2019.
