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Bukkulla has been gazetted as a Conservation Park under
the Queensland Nature Conservation Act, with the Wildlife
Land Fund as its sole trustee.
Conservation Values of Bukkulla
Bukkulla Reserve includes semi-evergreen vine thickets,
open forests and woodlands.
Currently there is little disturbance within the semi-evergreen
vine thickets. Selective but minor clearing and logging
has taken place. There is a mining lease on the Reserve
and some quarrying material has been removed. Cattle
graze grassy areas. However they do not have access
to the semi-evergreen vine thicket and the stocking
rate is low.
Bukkulla Reserve offers excellent opportunities for
scientific research. Little is known of the characteristic
of the land systems, the taxonomy and ecology of many
of the plant and animal species. Thus there is a possibiltiy
to develop monitoring techniques, evaluate human impact,
the sustainability of cattle grazing and develop appropriate
means to manage and conserve some of central Queensland's
remnant bushland.
Management Intents
Bukkulla Nature Reserve will be managed to care for
and conserve rare and threatened regional ecosystems
and species.
In time these Management Intents will become the Bukkulla
Reserve Management Plan.
The Wildlife Land Fund, assisted by the Director WPSQ,
a part-time site manager, Bukkulla Nature Reserve Management
Committee and Scientific Committee, will implement the
management plan.
Assistance will be sought from State government agencies,
local government and local community groups. Volunteers
will undertake much of the work with some specific tasks
such as fencing, pest control and evaluation of progress
will be undertaken by consultants.
The proposed Management Plan will ensure that:
- significant plant species, animal species and regional
ecosystems are protected;
- long term programs of scientific research and environmental
monitoring are undertaken;
- fire, feral animal and weed management strategies
are developed to maintain the natural species diversity;
- the Livingstone Shire, government agencies, local
organisations and community members are consulted;
- volunteers and selected public groups visit the
Reserve safely without compromising its natural integrity;
- volunteers will be involved in:
- management projects;
- monitoring and evaluating;
- developing training programs;
- preparing educational material and activities for
selected public visitors;
- seeking funds to support management programs.
Management strategies
Bukkulla Reserve will be divided into two zones.
Zone 1 is a small area (close to the point of access)
set aside for:
- vehicle and cattle access;
- volunteer and visitor vehicle parking;
- equipment and plant storage;
- plant nursery;
- volunteer and visitor accommodation.
This zone will provide basic facilities for the management
of the Reserve. The major priority in this zone will
be protecting conservation values, but modification
of the natural environment for volunteer and visitor
use will occur.
The facilities in Zone 1 (which will be fenced off
from the rest of the Reserve i.e. Zone 2) will include:
- volunteer and visitor car park
- lock-up storage shed
- covered area for campers
- water tanks and toilet
- nursery site
- gates into main part of the Reserve.
The Zone 1 Management Plan will include:
- an access policy nominating the optimum number of
day visitors or camp at any one time;
- plans for monitoring and identifying impacts;
- recommendations and priorities for rehabilitation
activities;
- plans for the maintenance and future developments
of facilities within Zone 1;
- a program of prescribed burns; fencing, control
of feral plants and animals and rehabilitation.
Zone 2 takes in all areas of the Reserve lying outside
Zone 1 and will be managed to protect and maintain natural
values.
The proposed Bukkulla Reserve Management Plan will
include policies, guidelines and actions for the conservation
of regional ecosystems and plant and animal species.
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