Joint Management Stories
Flora and Fauna Surveys in Gregory National Park
Traditional Owners and rangers of Gregory National Park worked together on two flora and fauna surveys at Gregory National Park in June and July. The surveys used conventional scientific techniques and recorded traditional ecological knowledge from Traditional Owners.
The first camp at Paperbark Yard camp ran over five days and included NRETA scientific and ranger staff, Northern Land Council Caring for Country Rangers from Timber Creek and the area’s Traditional Owners. The 10-day Spring Creek camp involved NRETA’s Parks and Wildlife Service rangers from throughout the NT, scientists from Darwin, Geographic Information Service staff and Traditional Owners from the area.
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| Caring for Country Rangers preparing a site |
Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts (NRETA) scientist and leader of the surveys Kym Brennan “Both surveys are about monitoring and evaluating the biodiversity of the areas. The aim of both camps was to collect data that will add to Gregory National Park’s biodiversity strategy. This data will be valuable for the future management of the Park”.
Conventional scientific methods were used that involving 20 Elliott traps, four pit fall traps and two funnel traps set out inside a 50m x 50m quadrat. “As well as trapping animals birds are are counted and plants and landform descriptions recorded” Mr Brennan said.
There was much excitement at the Paperbark Yard camp where good numbers of the Kimberley Pebble Mound Mouse were caught. This animal was previously thought to exist only in ‘Bungle Bungle’ country.
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| Legless lizard, Delma nasuta |
Mr Brennan said the legless lizard, Delma nasuta, was also recorded for the first time in Gregory National Park at the Paperbark Yard camp. “This was one of just a handful of records of the species from the northern part of the NT, with most others being from central Australia,” Mr Brennan said.
“In terms of plant life the highlight of the Paperbark Yard camp was finding a previously unknown patch of the rare wattle Acacia stipulosa.” Traditional Owners at both camps were involved in all aspects of survey including site establishment, capture, identification and release of animals.
