The NCT made some surprise discoveries during recent wildlife surveys conducted on three properties in the NSW Upper Murray region that have been newly protected through the Slopes to Summit Covenanting Program. This program, being delivered by the NCT, contributes to the connectivity aims of the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative.
One of the most exciting discoveries was an eastern false pipistrelle, a threatened species of bat found on the south-east coast and ranges of Australia, from southern Queensland to Victoria and Tasmania. On another property surveyed, the NCT identified four species of glider – the threatened yellow-bellied glider, the feathertail glider, the greater glider and the sugar glider.
NCT Covenanting Project Manager Scott Hartvigsen said that Slopes to Summit is about connecting existing reserves and protecting vital habitat for threatened species through the conservation of remnant bushland on private land.
“One of the greatest threats to the survival of threatened species like the eastern false pipistrelle and the yellow-bellied glider is the loss of trees for foraging and roosting,” said Scott.
“Protecting bushland on private land, particularly land near existing reserves, increases the habitat available to these species and ensures they can move easily across the landscape in the search for food and for trees to use as dens or for roosting.”
The Slopes to Summit Covenanting Program has so far lead to the protection of 280 hectares of high conservation value land across nine properties.
The NCT is currently looking for new properties to protect through the Program from Woomargama to Tumbarumba. Incentives are available to landholders to manage the ecological values of their properties into the future. Please contact Scott Hartvigsen on 02 6051 9865 or email Scott for more information.
