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Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife |
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Nature Reserves
Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve 2km north of Moss Vale The reserve, situated on the banks of the Wingecarribee River, is essentially swampland. The area is not only vital as an educational resource for the study of aquatic plants but also a refuge to many waterbirds and platypus. Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife funds have assisted in the establishment of this nature reserve. Coneac State Conservation Area 25km north-west of Gloucester Coneac State Conservation Area protects rainforest on the hinterland of the NSW mid north coast. This rainforest is home to abundant wildlife including the threatened yellow-bellied glider, brush turkeys, goannas and many species of frogs. The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife received a donation of 355 hectares of steeply sloping forest. The gift offers a rich tract of rainforest. This donation almost doubled the size of the previously 449-hectare reserve. 10km south-east of Lismore This small reserve (11 hectares), part of Big Scrub Nature Reserves system, protects one of the last sub-tropical rainforest communities in the state. The reserve incorporates Nine Mile Beach. Davis Scrub Nature Reserve is a sub-tropical rainforest predominantly of a black bean-red bean sub-alliance. One hundred and thirty-four plant species have been recorded. 26km north-west of Sydney Dural Nature Reserve is an untouched and pristine, bird heaven in the heart of suburban Sydney. A diverse vegetation ranging from tall angophora and ironbark to hakeas and spiky shrubs provide habitat for many native species including King Parrots, Azure Kingfishers, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistlers, Little Thornbills and Rufous Fantail. In a model deal for urban sustainability, Australand, a major Australian property developer, donated 9.26 hectares of adjoining bushland to the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. Following negotiations with Hornsby Shire Council and the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation this land has been added to the Nature Reserve, showcasing a way to balance natural and built environment. Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve 60km north of Armidale Little Llangothlin is a small high-altitude wetland, supporting significant communities of waterbirds. It is listed as a Wetland of International Importance. The lagoon provides invaluable opportunity for scientific study of wetland ecology. It is a significant breeding ground for Black Swans and Marsh Terns. The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife purchased this important nature reserve. Nombinnie Nature Reserve and State Conservation Area Near Lake Cargellico in Central NSW Nombinnie Nature Reserve, along with the neighbouring Yathong and Round Hill Nature Reserves form the largest contiguous stand of mallee remaining in NSW. 60,000 hectares of the 70,000 hectare reserve has not been dedicated as national park due to pending mineral exploration but is managed as a national park. A rich array of wildlife is supported in this reserve including the endangered legless lizard, mallee fowl, red-lored whistler, pink cockatoo and the kultarr. With a donation from the Beswick Family Fund, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife purchased the 56,294ha property “Lysmoyle” for addition to Nombinnie Nature Reserve. 40 km south of Queanbeyan in NSW Tinderry Nature Reserve protects the highest and most spectacular part of the Tinderry Range in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. Huge granite monoliths characterise the landscape, and the woody grassland vegetation provides habitat for koalas and other native wildlife. Private donors gifted an 80 hectare inholding in this reserve to the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife to consolidate this nature reserve and protect the grassy woodland habitats for future generations. 35 km north-west of Mount Hope in central NSW Yathong, the largest reserve in NSW with an area of 107,241 hectares is mallee country with the outstanding feature of having all the large kangaroo species, the red, the grey and the eastern grey, in one area. Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife funding made the acquisition of this spectacular property possible. It is the major release area for captive bred Mallee Fowl. (See also Mallee Cliffs National Park, Nombinnie Nature Reserve and Mallee Fowl) The UNESCO has included Yathong in the list of international biosphere reserves. |
