Goonoo (26478)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Goonoo

Central coordinates: Latitude: -31.9748, Longitude: 148.9380

System: terrestrial

Elevation (m): 350 to 500

Area of KBA (km²): 1052.66225

Protected area coverage (%): 60.95

KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This IBA consists of the contiguous forest block around Goonoo National Park, 45 km north of Dubbo. The boundary is taken as the contiguous area of native vegetation as shown on recent satellite images. It excludes the western woodland block of Coolbaggie Nature Reserve and the other isolated blocks of nearby State Forests. The climate is characterised by the temperature and rainfall patterns of Dubbo, with mean maximum temperatures of 15-33 Celsius, mean minimum temperatures of 2-18 Celsius and average rainfall of 585 mm per annum. The eastern block of Coolbaggie Nature Reserve is mallee, whereas Goonoo is predominately box-ironbark-callitris woodland with patches of mallee. Previous forestry management across Goonoo logged many of the larger box trees to promote the growth of ironbark and cypress pine, but the area is now managed primarily for conservation. Much of the area was burned in fires in 2007.

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 New South Wales Wildlife Atlas contains two records of Regent Honeyeater among 2216 total bird records for Goonoo National Park (NSW NPWS 2008). Significant populations of Glossy Black-Cockatoos, Gilbert's Whistlers, various woodland birds and the easternmost isolated population of Yellow-plumed Honeyeater. Non-bird biodiversity: Goonoo National Park and Conservation Area supports one of the few populations of Zieria ingramii, a plant only found in central NSW, from Goonoo to Cobbora Forest.

Other site values: NSW State government with management by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service; NSW State Forests and some private land.

Habitats

Land use: forestry | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Shrubland	50
Forest	50

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Ensure that fire management adequately considers the location of key bird species. Maintain fox control. Investigate impact of grazing on Diamond Firetail. Investigate opportunities for linking remnant habitat patches in the general region.

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	Trend Unknown/Unrecorded	Ongoing
Climate change & severe weather	Droughts		Ongoing
Climate change & severe weather	Storms & flooding		Only in the past and unlikely to return
Climate change & severe weather	Habitat shifting & alteration		Only in the past and unlikely to return
Energy production & mining	Oil & gas drilling		Only in the past and unlikely to return

Additional information

References: Department of Environment and Conservation (2005) Zieria ingramii Draft Recovery Plan. Hurstville: Department of Environment and Conservation. Korn, T. (1988) The Malleefowl of the Goonoo Forest, Dubbo. National Parks Journal 32: 22-24. NSW NPWS (2008) Atlas of NSW Wildlife. http://www.wildlifeatlas.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wildlifeatlas/watlas.jsp/accessed 11 June 2008.