Pilliga Target of Community Biodiversity Survey

National Parks Association of NSW
14 November 2001

From Thursday this week more than 60 volunteers from all over NSW will take part in a five-day biodiversity survey in the Pilliga forests, organised by the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA).

The survey from Thursday 15 to Monday 19 November is part of a series of community information gathering projects being conducted in the broader bioregion between Dubbo and the Queensland border that will contribute to a greater understanding of the plants and animals. This will also feed into the western regional assessment being conducted by the Government over the next year.

NPA survey coordinator, Claire Carlton said, "Participants will compile a comprehensive list of plants and animals in the eastern part of the Pilliga region, north of Coonabarabran. This includes birds, frogs and reptiles, and mammals such as gliders, native mice, possums, and bats."

"The Pilliga State forests were selected because despite being the largest area of State forests in NSW, are poorly studied. The eastern edge of the Pilliga is largely unknown scientifically and mostly covered with undisturbed habitat"

"This is an ideal opportunity for the community to learn more about native wildlife and the Pilliga, under the guidance of experts in their field. They should also get to see some very spectacular woodlands, since the Pilliga is famous for its wildflowers and animal life," said Ms Carlton.

"The survey utilises the method of community-based biodiversity surveying pioneered by NPA, but now developed into a detailed manual produced with the support of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (see www.npws.nsw.gov.au/wildlife/cbsm.html )."

"This ensures information collected is of a high standard and consistent with other collection and reporting methods, and so is not wasted."

"This will be the thirteenth community biodiversity survey NPA has organised, and follows on from a survey NPA conducted in Goonoo State Forest north-east of Dubbo in 1997."

"We are hoping to find a few rarely found animals and plants, but you never know until you get out there and start looking," said Ms Carlton.

"A report will be prepared and released in several months, and all information added to Government natural resource databases."

To see the survey in action, come and visit the base camp on Saturday 17 November from 9am. Base camp is at Delwood Dam on Delwood Road on the eastern side of Pilliga State Forest (see the attached map for details).

Contact: Until 12 noon 14 Nov: Survey coordinator Claire Carlton on 0418 605 617; after 12 noon 14 Nov: Andrew Cox, Executive Officer on 9299 0000 or 0438 588 040


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