Gregory National Park (23866)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Gregory National Park

Central coordinates: Latitude: -16.3833, Longitude: 130.4537

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 140 to 305

Area of KBA (km²): 12883.40411

Protected area coverage (%): 99.63

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The IBA is identical to Gregory National Park, in the north-west of the Northern Territory. The National Park and the IBA consists of two separate sections, a smaller eastern block which has had some bird surveys and a larger western block which is very poorly known but is predominately habitat suitable for White-quelled Rock-Pigeons. The whole National Park is taken as it is suitable habitat for the eastern subspecies of the White-quelled Rock-Pigeon although much of the western section of the park is poorly-known. The IBA boundaries could also be extended along the Victoria River to capture the majority of this population of Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens, which is isolated between the populations in the Kimberley and the Gulf. Gregory is dominated by eucalypt open woodlands on rocky ground and is surrounded by extensive cattle-grazing pastoral stations. The eastern section of the park has been burned less than the surrounding land, with most land burned once between 2004-7. It is in the southern savanna or semi-arid savanna zone, with mean min and max temperatures of 20-34 oC and an average of 661 mm rain mostly between November and March.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)

Additional biodiversity: The endangered Gouldian Finch has been recorded in East Gregory NP (Northern Territory government database; accessed March 2008; Atlas of Australian Birds database) but is more common outside park (A. Fisher pers. comm. 2008). This area was not noted to support many birds in the Gouldian Finch Recovery Plan and better data are needed. The near threatened Grey Falcon and Australian Bustard and the rare northern (sub)species of the Crested Shrike-tit have been recorded (Atlas of Australian Birds database; NRETA unpublished data).

Other site values: Northern Territory Government with park administered by Parks NT.

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Savanna	95
Forest	5

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Ensure appropriate fire management. Investigate extent and impact of invasive alien weeds. Work with adjacent land-owners to promote conservation of Purple-crowned Fairy-wren habitat along Victoria River.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression	Trend Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases	Unspecified species	Ongoing

Additional information

References: Harrison, L., McGuire, L., Ward, S. Fisher, A., Pavey, C., Fegan, M. and Lynch, B. (2009) An inventory of sites of international and national significance for biodiversity values in the Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts & Sport, Darwin, NT. NRETA. Northern Territory Fauna Atlas & Flora Databases. Department of Natural Resources, Environment & the Arts, Palmerston NT http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/wildlife/animals/requests.html (accessed March 2008). PWCNT (2001) Gregory National Park Draft Plan of Management, May 2001. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Darwin. http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/manage/plans/pdf/gregorypom.pdf Van Doorn, A.M.(in prep.) Ecology, conservation and management of the Purple-crowned Fairy-wren in the VRD. Ward, S. and Harrison, L. (2009) Recognising sites of conservation significance for biodiversity values in the Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts & Sport, Darwin, NT.