Biodiversity of Wielangta Forest - Wild Wielangta - Edublogs

Wild Wielangta Reserve Proposal
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Biodiversity of Wielangta Forest
The aim of the Wielangta reserve proposal is to protect the unique values of Wielangta and create a
robust reserve design. The proposal reduces the ‘edge effect’ of numerous small reserves and aims to
provide a biogeographic link between existing reserves and surrounding landscapes.
The proposal is to link the Three Thumbs, Wielangta, Sandspit and Cape Bernier Reserves to create a
new Wielangta State Reserve.
This can be achieved by:
• upgrading some of the existing network of Informal Reserves to State Reserve status (2307
ha).
• conversion of some additional areas of State Forest to State Reserve.
A Habitat Restoration Zone is proposed to harvest and regenerate a small area (89 ha) of plantation.
This area is centrally located in the proposed reserve and worthy of restoration to native vegetation
following commercial harvesting of the planted trees.
The reserve extension will incorporate the geoheritage site “Wielangta Slump Landform Complex”,
previously proposed as the Wielangta Lake Forest Reserve. It would also provide reservation for an
additional five plant species and increase the known number of swift parrot nests that are reserved
from 19 to over 60.
The following table shows a comparison between what is already reserved and what will be added
with the proposed extension.
What is notable is the significant increase in the reservation of wet forest that would be achieved by
these changes. Currently only 14 % of wet forest is reserved. This would be increased to 66 %
including a significant increase in the area of forestry sensitive mixed forest.
Other achievements would be a substantial increase in the area of reserved swift parrot habitat and
old growth forest.
Wild Wielangta