Covering over 240,000 ha, the Great Divide Northern Forests site features ancient rainforests and protected areas such as the Hastings–Macleay Group of reserves.
This landscape holds national and international significance for its outstanding ecological diversity and the rare and threatened species they support.
In a major milestone for the region, the Ecological Health Performance Scorecards program (Scorecards) is measuring the ecological health of these parks and reserves over time. This data will help inform effective, science-based park management decisions.
2023–24 Scorecard results
This first Great Divide Northern Forests Scorecard provides baseline data against which future scorecards can be compared. This helps determine whether ecological health is declining, improving or stable.
Biodiversity and environment
The 2023-24 survey results contain some positive news for ecological health:
- The site has retained 98% of its original mammal assemblage from before European settlement.
- The vulnerable yellow-bellied glider was detected in 8 locations for the first time.
- Several threatened mammal species have strongholds in Great Divide Northern Forests, notably the endangered Hastings River mouse, vulnerable spotted-tailed quoll, Parma wallaby and long-nosed potoroo.
- Most monitoring sites show strong signs of vegetation regeneration following the 2019–20 bushfires.
Threats
The survey revealed several threats to ecological health:
- Nine feral animal species occur in Great Divide Northern Forests. Feral cats are widespread, detected at 69% of monitoring sites. Fox presence was low, detected at 15% of monitoring sites.
- The site has moderate water quality which is driven by land use outside the area.
- 39 weed species were recorded at 40% of monitoring sites. Weeds of National Significance were detected at 6 sites, including lantana, blackberry and fireweed.
- Almost 80% of Great Divide Northern Forests burned during the 2019-20 bushfires, and the scale of the impact has meant many species and habitats are still recovering.
Survey effort
The survey effort for the Great Divide Northern Forest Scorecard was substantial. The survey collected:
- 420,596 images
- 467,406 audio files
- 8,754 bird records
- 2,837 plant records
- 335 soil samples
- 30 water quality samples.
The next Great Divide Northern Forest Scorecard will also include results from targeted monitoring of the stuttering and sphagnum frogs, southern greater glider and Willi Willi zieria.