Key Biodiversity Areas

Mudgee-Wollar (24449)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Mudgee-Wollar
Central coordinates: Latitude: -32.3545, Longitude: 149.9123
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 580 to 745
Area of KBA (km2): 1653.16053
Protected area coverage (%): 48.05
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: This IBA consists of land around Goulburn River National Park, north of Wollemi National Park, inland from Newcastle. The IBA includes Goulburn River National Park, Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve and private land west to Gulgong and Mudgee, being defined by a number of woodland remnants used by Regent Honeyeaters around Mudgee, Buckeroo, Home Rule, Meroo, Ulan, Wollar, Windemere Dam and Murrumbo. The Goulburn River NP extends along 80km of the Goulburn River. The average daily temperature varies from 15-30 Celsius in summer to 2-13 Celsius in winter and the average annual rainfall is 620 mm.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The vulnerable Painted Honeyeater is probably a regular breeding visitor but is under-recorded (Atlas of Australian Birds database); confirmed sites recorded in New South Wales Annual Bird Reports include Munghorn Gap (three in October 1998 and January 1997 plus eight records in the Atlas of New South Wales Wildlife from 1980 to June 2008), Wollar (one in 2000) and Goulburn River National Park (one in 2001). There have been occasional records of the endangered Swift Parrot (New South Wales Annual Bird Reports; NSW NPWS 2008) and the near threatened Flame Robin (Atlas of Australian Birds database). One hundred and sixty-four species of bird, including at least 14 species listed as threatened at state level or above, have been recorded in Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve (NSW NPWS 2007, 2008). Non-bird biodiversity: The IBA supports a range of non-avian wildlife. For example, two species of amphibian, 22 species of reptile and at least 26 species of mammal have been recorded in Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve (Atlas of New South Wales Wildlife 2007).
Other site values: Largely private land; also protected areas managed by state government (Department of Environment and Climate Change).

Habitats


Land use: nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Forest50
Artificial - Terrestrial50

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Develop and implement a Habitat Retention and Enhancement policy to protect woodland, especially in areas known to support Regent Honeyeaters. Revegetate and fence remnants and corridors of suitable habitat.
Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Agriculture & aquacultureLivestock farming & ranchingAgro-industry grazing, ranching or farmingOngoing
Energy production & miningMining & quarryingOngoing
Energy production & miningOil & gas drillingOnly in the future
Climate change & severe weatherDroughtsOngoing

Additional information


References: NSW NPWS (2007). Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. NSW NPWS (2008) Atlas of NSW Wildlife. http://wildlifeatlas.nationalparks.gov.au/wildlifeatlas/watlas.jsp. Accessed 2008.
Contributors: Thanks to Alan Morris as compiler and David Geering for his assistance.