Southern NSW Mallee (24453)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Southern NSW Mallee
Central coordinates: Latitude: -33.9547, Longitude: 142.9038
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 133
Area of KBA (km2): 8315.71355
Protected area coverage (%): 14.66
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA is defined as the contiguous area of suitable habitat for Malleefowl in central southern New South Wales north of Mildura. It includes a very large area of native vegetation, bounded to the west by the Darling River and to the south by the Murray River, extending as far north-east as the area east of Garnpung Lake, and as far south-east as just north of Balranald. The boundaries are defined as the vegetation communities Deep Sand Mallee, East West Dune Mallee, Chenopod Mallee and Mallee Mosaic, excising areas that have been largely cleared or support other vegetation communities (notably Belah Woodland and Chenopod Shrubland). The climate is cool semi-arid, with temperatures ranging from a mean daily maximum in January of 33 Celsius to the daily minimum in July of 4.5 Celsius, and mean annual rainfall in nearby Mildura is 280 mm. The landscape is largely mallee on flat or undulating sand plains, which is mainly used for grazing, although there is some continuing pressure for clearance of chenopod mallee for agricultural purposes. The IBA includes Mallee Cliffs National Park, some of Mungo National Park and many small reserves originally established as offsets when clearing other land.
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: Other notable species recorded in the IBA include the near threatened Flame Robin, the biome-restricted Black Honeyeater and Pied Honeyeater (recorded in six of 761 (0.8%) Atlas of Australian Birds surveys including two of 216 (0.9%) 2-ha surveys from 1998 to 2008) and the following species which are listed as threatened in New South Wales: Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Purple-crowned Lorikeet (few records), Regent Parrot (few records), Shy Heathwren, Pied Honeyeater (few records), Southern Scrub-robin (few records), Hooded Robin, Chestnut Quail-thrush and Gilbert’s Whistler. Non-bird biodiversity: Mallee Cliffs National Park supports 108 species of bird, 17 species of mammal, 39 species of reptile, and 59 species of ants, as well as 171 species of native plant from 48 families. This includes the Western Pygmy Possum (Cercatetus concinnus) and the Mallee Worm Lizard (Aprasia inaurita), which is listed as vulnerable in NSW.
Other site values: Mostly leasehold but also NSW NPWS.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (28%) | rangeland/pastureland (72%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 95 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Enforce controls on clearance of native vegetation. Regulate grazing pressure. Continue to close water holes and tanks.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Only in the future |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Suppression in fire frequency/intensity | Only in the future |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: NSW NPWS (1998) Mallee Cliffs National Park Plan of Management. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville. Val, J. D. (2001) The Preclearing Natural Vegetation of the Southern Mallee Planning Region. NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation. Val, J., Foster, E. and Le Breton, M. (2001) Biodiversity survey of the Lower Murray Darling. Report for National Heritage Trust, Environment Australia. Department of Land and Water Conservation: Buronga.
Contributors: Peter Ewin (NSW NPWS) commented extensively on the nomination.