Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Figur e 7.7:
Buff-rumped Thornbill. An example of a smaller-bodied species of woodland bird attracted to
plantings. (Photo by Suzi Bond)
Travelling stock reserves as critical parts of agricultural
landscapes for biodiversity conservation
Some parts of agricultural landscapes are particularly important for biodiversity.
In New South Wales and Queensland, these include travelling stock reserves. The
equivalent of travelling stock reserves in Victoria include Crown reserves and
roadside reserves. The travelling stock reserve network was established more than
150 years ago to facilitate the movement of domestic livestock between properties
and markets. Travelling stock reserves have many important cultural and heritage
values, for both indigenous and European people.
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Because of their periodic use
and the fact that they generally escaped vegetation clearing and prolonged set-
stocking of livestock,
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travelling stock reserves are often also valuable for
biodiversity conservation. Based on studies of travelling stock reserves in the
Murray and Murrumbidgee regions of southern New South Wales, we found that
in comparison with temperate woodland remnants in other land tenures, travelling
stock reserves tend to support more species of birds, more species of declining
birds, and a greater abundance of arboreal marsupials. Travelling stock reserves
also are generally more likely to be occupied by particular species of birds of
conservation concern. These include the Red-capped Robin, Grey-crowned
Babbler, Rufous Whistler and the Brown Treecreeper.
Although our work has shown that travelling stock reserves are an important
resource for biodiversity conservation, this does not mean that temperate
