Conservation of high priority bittern wetlands in the NSW Riverina through partnerships and environmental water management
The following abstract is part of the Bringing Back the Bunyip Bird Australasian Bittern Conservation Summit (Leeton, 1-4 Feb, 2022).
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Ali Borrell, Murray-Darling Wetlands Working Group, ali.borrell@mdwwg.com.au
The Australasian bittern faces many challenges in Australia. Ongoing drought conditions and changed land use create an uncertain future for the long-term viability of this iconic bird. Effective management of large wetland complexes in the southern basin requires a coordinated approach between state agencies, Traditional Owners and non-government organisations for the successful recovery of this species.
Environmental water delivery is complicated and is paradoxically paramount with regards to providing volumes large enough to provide appropriate timing, duration, and extent of inundation of large wetland complexes, especially during drought. Barmah-Millewa has been a good example of how an endangered wetland species can be managed within the complex environmental water delivery framework. However, more wetland complexes are required for the survival and subsequent longer-term recovery of this cryptic migratory bird.
The acquisition of larger wetland complexes such as Gayini on the Low-Murrumbidgee by the Traditional Owners, supported by a non-government consortium provides a turning point for wetland management and Australasian bittern outcomes in the southern basin. Water delivery for this part of the river requires constant negotiation between the government, Traditional Owner organisations, NSW National Parks, and conservation organisations.
After only three years of large-scale wetland watering and monitoring, it isn’t hard to see that species’ interaction with has changed drastically, and for the better.
The ultimate gatekeepers for the survival of the Australian bittern and our wetland complexes, primarily lies with water policy makers, and wider government policy and government environmental water holders, however a collaborative approach, potentially driven by TO’s and NGO’s, like the partnerships exemplified by Gayini, has demonstrated that positive outcomes can be achieved for the Australasian Bittern.