Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve Interim Management Statement

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

The Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve is assigned to Category Ia of the IUCN list of National Parks and Protected Areas (ANCA 1996). Category Ia – Strict Nature Reserve: Protected area managed mainly for science – is defined as an, “Area of land and/or sea possessing some outstanding or representative ecosystems, geological or physiographical features and/or species, available primarily for scientific research and/or environmental monitoring”.

The (interim) management objectives for the Balmattum Reserve are derived from the objects of the

National Parks Act 1975 and the Application of IUCN Protected Area Management Categories.

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  Maintain existing conservation values and biodiversity across the area.
  

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  Protect and maintain native vegetation communities and habitat for significant flora and fauna.
  

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  Restore and enhance native vegetation communities.
  

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  Control short and long-term processes that will affect conservation values.
  

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  Facilitate scientific research and environmental monitoring.
  

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  Conserve features of archaeological, historical and cultural significance.
  

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  Allow for the future development of limited areas for public education and appreciation of grassy woodland conservation.
  

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  Cooperate with local, State and interstate government authorities, the community and other interested organisations to assist with the management of the Reserve.
  

The maintenance of existing conservation values, control of processes that affect conservation values, restoration and enhancement of native vegetation communities and the establishment of appropriate research and monitoring are of immediate concern. Hence these management objectives are of most relevance in the context of this Interim Management Statement.

The Balmattum Reserve is the largest remnant of woodland/gilgai vegetation in this district and is one of the five largest remnants of woodland vegetation in the Goulburn Broken part of the Riverina Bioregion. Accordingly, its protection provides an exceptional opportunity for the conservation of woodland fauna that require relatively large areas of vegetation. Management of the Reserve should therefore be concerned with not only the protection of the site’s intrinsic values but also its potential values and its strategic role within the local and regional conservation context.
The main aim of vegetation management at Balmattum Reserve is to increase the complexity, health and diversity of the vegetation. Management should therefore promote a mosaic of different grassy woodland habitats across the site with some areas of relatively dense woodlands, and other areas of open woodland, wetlands and open grassy areas. Achieving this aim is fundamental to the protection and enhancement of woodland fauna habitat at the Reserve.
Within the time frame of this Interim Management Statement the Management Objectives will be effected through implementing the Interim Management Directions identified throughout this document.

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