Linking habitat in the south-east coastal ranges

The Linking Habitat in the South East Coastal Ranges project is improving the condition and connectivity of key threatened ecological communities (TECs) – particularly the critically endangered River-Flat Eucalyptus Forest on Coastal Floodplains and Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion. 

The project supports threatened species including the greater glider (Petauroides volans) and yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis australis).

The project links key habitat areas across priority landscapes within the South East Local Land Services region using targeted actions such as:

• fencing
• weed control
• pest animal management
• revegetation. 

Activities are aligned with the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 and the priority place: South East Coastal Ranges.

Project background

The South East Coastal Ranges spans southeast NSW into eastern Victoria and is recognised as one of Australia’s 20 national priority places due to its biodiversity significance. The region contains over 140 threatened plant and animal species and 18 threatened ecological communities (TECs), including River flat Eucalypt Forest and Lowland Grassy Woodland.

Major threats include:

• habitat loss from agriculture and logging
• invasive species (weeds, foxes, cats, deer, pigs and goats)
• overgrazing
• inappropriate fire regimes
• climate pressures. 

This project addresses these pressures by restoring ecosystems, improving landscape connectivity and supporting native species recovery.

Project objectives

The Linking Habitat in the South-East Coastal Ranges project will:  

• improve condition and extent of the target TECs through protection and restoration
• restore and connect habitat for threatened species including the endangered southern greater glider and the vulnerable yellow-bellied glider
• reduce key threats through weed control, targeted management of feral herbivores and predators and stock exclusion  
• support Aboriginal community involvement and integrated cultural knowledge
• ongoing monitoring to measure changes in vegetation conditions from targeted works. 

Project delivery

South East Local Land Services is working with project partners to:  

• protect and improve remaining patches of TECs through fencing and weed management
• increase connectivity of TEC patches via tree planting
• reduce key threats to priority areas by reducing the impact of feral herbivores and livestock grazing  
• support Aboriginal communities to be actively involved in the project and share traditional ecological knowledge they feel is appropriate  
• help land managers and the broader community understand the importance of preserving these TECs through knowledge building activities. 

Project timeline

2023–24:  

• desktop assessment of remnant TECs to identify priority catchments for works that ensure the best patches of remnant TECs across tenure are identified for on ground works.
• contracting delivery partners and establishment of project coordination.

2024–25:

• stakeholder and landholder engagement undertaken to gain buy-in to prioritised project sites
• baseline monitoring established across selected project sites
• weed management and feral herbivore control commenced in upper catchments and priority TEC patches
• community education workshops and Aboriginal cultural practice workshops delivered.

2025–28:

• ongoing weed and pest animal control across expanded priority sites
• community education activities continue, supporting landholder awareness of TEC protection and sustainable landscape management
• continued restoration and revegetation to strengthen habitat connectivity across the landscape
• maintenance and installation of fencing to protect remnant TEC patches and reduce grazing pressure from livestock and feral herbivore  
• erosion control to improve the condition of target TECs and maintain site ecohydrology (riverbanks)
• indicator monitoring of selected project sites to assess project impacts.  

Work underway

• Priority weed and pest animal control to reduce threats to TECs.
• Fencing and revegetation projects to improve and connect priority TEC patches.
• Monitoring of selected project sites to determine the impact of the project.
• First Nations and landholder engagement and education.

Project updates

2024/25

• Weed Control: 48 ha treated across priority locations supporting River-flat Eucalypt Forest and Lowland Grassy Woodland.
• Pest animal management: 825 ha addressed with efforts focused on landscape scale pressure reduction in key areas.
• Fencing/Access control: 6 km of fencing installed to protect TEC sites, manage stock pressure and safeguard revegetation.
• Revegetation: 9.4 ha established to improve habitat continuity with additional planting scheduled as sites are secured and prepared.
• First Nations engagement: Planning projects with Eden, Merrimans and Batemans Bay Local Aboriginal Land Councils, and the Walbunja Rangers to help restore River-flat Eucalyptus Forest and build skills and knowledge.
• Monitoring and site planning: 21 baseline condition assessments completed, and 20 potential sites assessed to guide works in River-flat Eucalypt Forest and Lowland Grassy Woodland.
• Community engagement: Delivered 8 engagement workshops and events, including pest management workshops at Mogendoura, Deua River, Meringo and Towamba. Ongoing one-on-one technical support with landholders, Local Aboriginal Land Councils and Landcare groups to identify, plan and deliver priority works.
• Awareness and resources: Fact sheets describing how to identify River-flat Eucalypt Forest and Lowland Grassy Woodland on private and public land were produced and provided to event participants.

Funding and partnerships

Local Land Services' key delivery partners are:

• NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service  
• Forestry Corporation NSW
• Aboriginal communities
• ecologists
• community groups
• private and public land managers.

This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government under Saving Native Species and the Natural Heritage Trust, and delivered by South East Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel. All outcomes for this project are recorded in MERIT.