The Gulf Region links the Top End and Cape York Peninsula, playing a vital role in connecting the landscape of northern Australia. However, there has been little investment in conservation in the Gulf and its wildlife is disappearing. Populations of small to medium-sized mammals have crashed and many seed-eating birds, such as finches, are declining rapidly. The impact of feral animals and weeds, changed fire regimes and cattle grazing has been severe.
Pungalina-Seven Emu has escaped the impact of these threats and is one of the region’s last strongholds for wildlife.
Recognising this, AWC has:
- secured a contract to acquire Pungalina and protect it forever; and
- entered into an historic partnership with the indigenous owners of Seven Emu to provide for its conservation.
However, the establishment of the Pungalina-Seven Emu wildlife sanctuary is only the first step in saving the habitats and wildlife on these remarkable properties. Merely establishing a sanctuary will not protect it from threats such as wildfire, feral animals and invasive weeds.
Pungalina-Seven Emu will only be secure when active, on ground land management is in place.
- A fire management program must be implemented. Strategic burning from the ground and by helicopter can prevent extensive wildfires on Pungalina-Seven Emu.
- Feral animals need to be controlled. Horses, donkeys, pigs, feral cats and even buffalos have the potential to devastate the wildlife of Pungalina-Seven Emu.
- Invasive weeds need to be eradicated or contained.
In order to implement these management programs, AWC must establish a field operations base and employ experienced land management staff. Assets such as vehicles, tractors and the equipment required for fire management, weed control and biological surveys must be deployed and maintained.
AWC land management actions are informed by the best available science. At Pungalina-Seven Emu, AWC’s science program will:
- implement research projects designed to unlock the secrets to survival for northern Australia’s threatened wildlife;
- shape the design of land management strategies, taking into account the outcomes of our research; and
- measure and report on the success of our land management by tracking key indicators of ecological health.