In early August, I joined a vegetation survey covering 100,000 ha, adjoining Mungo National Park to the north. Finding examples of Acacia melvillei and A. loderii woodland communities brought both excitement and sadness: excitement to locate a rare community in the field; sadness to witness their plight.

The condition of these acacia woodlands paints a graphic picture of the severe impact grazing has had on some vegetation communities in western NSW. The provision of artificial water in the landscape to sustain the pastoral industry has led to a vast increase in total grazing pressure (domestic stock, exotic and native herbivores) in these semi-arid landscapes. As a result, successful regeneration events in these communities are commonly suppressed, and the natural understorey is often highly degraded or absent. The woodlands of white cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla) and belah/rosewood (Casuarina pauper/Alectryon oleifolius) show similar symptoms.

Many of the palatable shrubland species, such as saltbush (Atriplex spp) and bluebush (Maireana spp), that would once have dominated the lake bed Chenopod shrubland communities, have been replaced by exotics and more unpalatable shrubs, such as Nitraria spp and Schlerolaena spp. These changes can also be attributed to excessive grazing pressure.

Extensive areas of mallee were surveyed on the sand plains and dune systems. As these areas have not been developed for grazing by the provision of artificial water, they were in relatively good condition.

As part of the socio-economic package negotiated between NSW and the Commonwealth after the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area was declared, the pastoral leases in this area were identified for purchase by the State. Their world heritage values (both cultural and natural) were deemed incompatible with continued use of the land for pastoral purposes. It was intended that certain areas of high cultural significance be transferred to the traditional Aboriginal people of the Willandra; other areas were earmarked for addition to the national parks estate, and may ultimately be returned to the traditional tribal groups.

The area surveyed forms part of this land. It represents a potential addition to Mungo NP which would almost quadruple its size; add another layer of protection to recognised world heritage values; and safeguard the natural biodiversity values, including the ‘old men,’ which have not been adequately protected under the management regime to date.

For a number of reasons, the land in question has not yet been transferred to the NPWS and remains in the management of the Department of Land and Water Conservation. Under this management regime, substantial areas continue to be sub-leased for grazing; artificial watering points remain. Removing domestic stock and closing off artificial water is fundamental to the recovery and long-term survival of these vegetation communities.

The NPA/WWF Western Project is working towards ensuring that this area is transferred to appropriate management and added to the national parks estate as soon as possible.

Anita Sundstrom is the NPA/WWF Western Project Officer 
and represents the Arid Lands Coalition on 
the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area Community Management Committee.