Conservation goals and objectives
Our conservation goal in Habitat 141° Zone 2 “Wimmera Rivers, Woodlands and Wetlands” is to enhance the viability of each conservation asset.
This means that we need to improve the condition, the size and/or the processes that maintain these targets. We also need to eliminate or reduce the threats to them. By doing this for our nine conservation assets, we should also improve the ecological health of the rest of the system because many of the processes and the threats are common to many components of the ecosystem.
This means that we need to improve the condition, the size and/or the processes that maintain these targets. We also need to eliminate or reduce the threats to them. By doing this for our nine conservation assets, we should also improve the ecological health of the rest of the system because many of the processes and the threats are common to many components of the ecosystem.
Conservations objectives and strategies arising from the CAP planning process
1. LANDSCAPE LINKAGES PROGRAM
Objective: Protect and enhance 5000 ha and re-vegetate 4000 ha in priority landscape linkage areas to reconnect large remnants by 2040
Strategy: Consolidate, expand and buffer small, isolated remnants of grassy woodlands while also reconnecting large remnants.
2. GRASSY WOODLAND HABITAT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Objective: Maintain or improve the condition of all best remaining grassy woodlands to "minimum integrity" (to be determined) levels by 2020
Strategy: Use a range of incentive and policy mechanisms to protect, enhance and restore grasslands and grassy woodlands occurring on private and public land.
3. WETLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM FOCUSSING ON EPHEMERAL WETLANDS
Objective: Long term protection of 80% remaining ephemeral wetlands occurring in priority areas by 2020
Strategy: Use a range of incentive and policy mechanisms to protect, enhance and restore ephemeral wetlands
4. RIPARIAN ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOCUSSING ON MOSQUITO CREEK
Objective: Improve the instream habitat quality of Mosquito Creek to minimum integrity Index of Stream Condition levels (to be determined) in priority areas by 2020.
Achieve the minimum environmental flow requirement (to be determined) needed to maintain permanent pools and substantially inundate Bool Lagoon during wet years by 2020.
Strategy: Use a range of incentive mechanisms to protect, enhance and restore riparian vegetation and enhance instream habitat diversity along Mosquito Creek
Maintain involvement and commitment of partner organisations to the Connecting the Catchments MOU and continue to investigate ways of maintaining or increasing stream flows
Objective: Protect and enhance 5000 ha and re-vegetate 4000 ha in priority landscape linkage areas to reconnect large remnants by 2040
Strategy: Consolidate, expand and buffer small, isolated remnants of grassy woodlands while also reconnecting large remnants.
2. GRASSY WOODLAND HABITAT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Objective: Maintain or improve the condition of all best remaining grassy woodlands to "minimum integrity" (to be determined) levels by 2020
Strategy: Use a range of incentive and policy mechanisms to protect, enhance and restore grasslands and grassy woodlands occurring on private and public land.
3. WETLAND PROTECTION PROGRAM FOCUSSING ON EPHEMERAL WETLANDS
Objective: Long term protection of 80% remaining ephemeral wetlands occurring in priority areas by 2020
Strategy: Use a range of incentive and policy mechanisms to protect, enhance and restore ephemeral wetlands
4. RIPARIAN ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOCUSSING ON MOSQUITO CREEK
Objective: Improve the instream habitat quality of Mosquito Creek to minimum integrity Index of Stream Condition levels (to be determined) in priority areas by 2020.
Achieve the minimum environmental flow requirement (to be determined) needed to maintain permanent pools and substantially inundate Bool Lagoon during wet years by 2020.
Strategy: Use a range of incentive mechanisms to protect, enhance and restore riparian vegetation and enhance instream habitat diversity along Mosquito Creek
Maintain involvement and commitment of partner organisations to the Connecting the Catchments MOU and continue to investigate ways of maintaining or increasing stream flows