Management
Create an action plan
Land managers can use this section to create an action plan to achieve their goals. This can be farming carbon, conserving wildlife, or a combination of both.
Grow carbon
To grow carbon, the management aims for all states are:
- maximise the height and diameter of existing trees (mulga and/or eucalypts) (as much as possible without reducing the productivity of the site too much)
- increase the density of large trees (mulga and/or eucalypts) to reach the typical tree density for the vegetation type (or managers can choose a lower target tree density, but this will limit the site reaching its maximum carbon state)
- ensure that the number of new trees growing into the canopy is adequate to replace losses from dying large trees (mulga and/or eucalypts) by allowing seedlings, suckers and saplings to develop into trees
- if generating carbon credits, vegetation is managed in line with the rules of the relevant method being used.
Conserve wildlife
To conserve wildlife the management aims are the same as those for growing carbon (above) with the addition of:
- avoid actions that kill or injure wildlife (e.g. clearing, fire)
- provide a range of shelter options and food resources for wildlife
- manage fire and grazing to allow ongoing recruitment of all plant species
- protect and restore landscape features that support wildlife
- control competitors and predators that threaten wildlife (e.g. feral animals, weeds, aggressive honeyeaters).
Rainfall will probably have the strongest influence on the rate of mulga restoration and growth on your site. However, other factors may also need to be managed, including fire, weeds and grazing. The history of the site will generally determine the amount of initial effort and ongoing maintenance needed to restore it.
To determine which actions apply to your site:
- Identify your site’s condition state.
- Select whether your goal is farming carbon, conserving wildlife, or both.
- Use the table below to compile a list of management actions for the condition state and goals of your site.
Management actions
This table lists management actions for restoring and maintaining mulga vegetation.
Actions that maximise carbon have ’increase’ in the carbon column; those that conserve wildlife have ’increase’ in the wildlife column.
Crosses indicate which actions are relevant to which condition states.
Some condition states have been grouped because their management actions are the same.
Clearing and thinning
| Action | Benefits and impacts | Carbon | Wildlife | 1, 2, 3 & 4 | 5 & 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. No clearing of live trees and shrubs |
Clearing mulga will reduce the rate of carbon gain, decrease the capacity of the vegetation to store carbon, and produce a net carbon loss
Clearing removes plants and animals, and also removes the food and shelter of animals that depend on trees and shrubs Land clearing has a severe impact on animals that have little or no capacity for dispersal | increase | increase | x | x | |
| 2. Retain dead standing trees and shrubs, and fallen timber (minimise or avoid collection for firewood, or ‘cleaning up’) |
Dead trees and fallen timber contribute to the amount of carbon stored
Dead trees (especially those with hollows, cracks and crevices) and fallen timber are important for wildlife for shelter and foraging | increase | increase | x | x | x |
| 3. Encourage the growth and survival of large trees |
Healthy, large trees make a substantial contribution to the amount of carbon stored
Large trees are more likely to contain and form hollows, provide shelter and foraging sites for wildlife, and they can take a very long time to replace | increase | increase | x | x | x |
Fire
| Action | Benefits and impacts | Carbon | Wildlife | 1, 2, 3 & 4 | 5 & 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4. Prevent and suppress fire in the mulga vegetation to be restored |
Fires result in net carbon loss by consuming the carbon stored in trees, shrubs, dead wood and litter
Trees, shrubs, dead wood and litter that would be damaged or destroyed by fire all provide shelter and foraging sites for wildlife | increase | increase | x | x | x |
| 5. If grass fuel loads are likely to build up in the mulga vegetation to be restored, conduct patchy, low-severity burns, when soil moisture is high, to reduce the risk of moderate to high-severity fires |
Repeated small fires can reduce the rate of carbon gain by removing small trees and coarse woody debris, while decreasing the capacity of vegetation to store carbon by limiting the recruitment of mulga and other fire-sensitive species. But small carbon losses are preferable to potentially larger losses from unplanned wildfire
Reduces the risk of higher severity fire in the area to be restored (see #4) May have negative impacts on small relatively immobile species, but these are preferable to the larger impacts of more extensive and severe hot fires on wildlife | increase | increase | x | x | x |
| 6. Conduct low severity burns, when soil moisture is high, in the surrounding vegetation, if the surrounding vegetation is fire-adapted. Aim to create a mosaic of burnt and unburnt areas around the mulga area to be restored | Reduces the risk of fire in the area to be restored (see #4) | increase | increase | x | x | x |
| 7. Use grazing management to reduce high fuel loads in the mulga vegetation to be restored (this needs to be balanced with allowing the establishment and growth of woody plants—see #10 below) | Reduces the risk of fire in the area to be restored (see #4) | increase | increase | x | x | x |
| 8. Use grazing management to reduce high fuel loads in the surrounding vegetation, if the surrounding vegetation includes pasture | Reduces the risk of fire in the area to be restored (see #4) | increase | increase | x | x | x |
| 9. Rake litter and debris away from the base of large and hollow trees before prescribed burning |
Healthy, large trees make a substantial contribution to the amount of carbon stored
Helps to protect important habitat trees from scorching, and premature death | increase | increase | x | x |
Grazing
| Action | Benefits and impacts | Carbon | Wildlife | 1, 2, 3 & 4 | 5 & 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10. Manage grazing to allow tree recruitment to reach or maintain the tree density required. While sheep, goats and macropods can eliminate mulga seedlings, cattle are less likely to
If recruitment of mulga and/or eucalypt seedlings is needed, possible grazing strategies include resting the area from sheep grazing—or, stock it only with cattle—until sufficient mulga and/or eucalypt seedlings have grown higher than the upper limit of sheep browsing (about 120cm). Then resume stocking with sheep |
Uncontrolled grazing may reduce carbon gain and storage by disturbing tree and shrub growth and establishment, and trampling woody debris and litter
Uncontrolled grazing by stock can reduce shelter and food for wildlife by slowing and preventing the recruitment and growth of mulga, grasses and understorey shrubs, and by trampling and reducing the amount of litter and fallen timber | increase | increase | x | x | x |
| 11. Control macropods and feral herbivores (e.g. goats) if they are in sufficient densities to prevent the recruitment of native trees and shrubs |
Uncontrolled grazing may reduce carbon gain and storage by disturbing tree and shrub growth and establishment, and trampling woody debris and litter
Uncontrolled grazing by feral and native animals can reduce shelter and food for wildlife by slowing and preventing the recruitment and growth of mulga, grasses and understorey shrubs, and by trampling and reducing the amount of litter and fallen timber | increase | increase | x | x | x |
Site preparation and plant establishment
| Action | Benefits and impacts | Carbon | Wildlife | 1, 2, 3 & 4 | 5 & 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. If areas of bare, eroded soil are present, leave fallen timber on the ground, and ensure that management fires are not severe enough to destroy fallen timber. Large branches and cut shrubs can also be deliberately placed in elongated piles along contours |
This has been shown to accumulate soil and litter, promoting the establishment and growth of perennial grasses (grasses that live for more than 2 years) in mulga
This method is also likely to promote the recruitment of trees by rehabilitating soil and organic matter and offering some protection from grazing animals | increase | increase | x | x | x |
| 13. Use slashing or low severity fire to reduce the cover of herbaceous plants before ripping, direct seeding or tubestock/sucker planting | Improves the establishment and growth of woody plants by reducing competition | increase | increase | x | ||
| 14. Encourage natural regeneration by resting the site from grazing for a month or two, immediately following good rains, then inspect it for canopy tree seedlings. If none appear, direct seeding or planting tubestock is still possible | A good rain event or ripping may stimulate seed germination if seeds are present in the soil | increase | increase | x | ||
| 15. Revegetate treeless areas with native trees and shrubs (especially mulga and eucalypts) using direct seeding or tubestock |
Establishing and growing woody plants increases the rate and amount of carbon stored
A diversity of woody plant species of different sizes and ages provides food and habitat for wildlife | increase | increase | x | ||
| 16. Establish a diversity of tree and shrub species in areas without woody plants | A diversity of woody plant species of different sizes and ages provides food and habitat for wildlife | increase | x | x | x |
Competitors and predators
| Action | Benefits and impacts | Carbon | Wildlife | 1, 2, 3 & 4 | 5 & 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17. Prevent the introduction and spread of exotic grasses and other serious weeds. Vehicles, machinery, quad bikes and stock can all spread weeds. Regularly check disturbed areas (e.g. roadsides and firebreaks) and control new weed infestations before they become widespread |
Weeds may reduce carbon gain and storage by reducing tree and shrub growth and establishment, and increasing the risk of fire
Exotic pasture species appear to have a negative impact on the richness and diversity of plant species, and the recruitment and growth of many native plant species | increase | increase | x | x | x |
| 18. Control buffel grass by slashing or conducting low-severity burns at the end of its growing season (end of the wet season), and then applying herbicide when it resprouts. Hand-pulling or grubbing is also an effective (but highly labour intensive) method of control. Aim to increase canopy shading by trees and shrubs for long-term buffel grass control |
Weeds may reduce carbon gain and storage by reducing tree and shrub growth and establishment, and increasing the risk of fire
Exotic pasture species appear to have a negative impact on the richness and diversity of plant species, and the recruitment and growth of many native plant species | increase | increase | x | x | |
| 19. Encourage dense growth of native trees and shrubs on site edges to suppress the growth of grasses |
Limits grass fuel loads (especially buffel grass) on site edges, and reduces the risk of fire entering the site
See #18 for other benefits of grass control | increase | increase | x | x | x |
| 20. Use high grazing pressure by stock to control exotic grasses, once the number of native trees and shrubs is higher than the upper limit of stock grazing (but ease grazing pressure before there are negative effects on soil health and wildlife) |
Weeds may reduce carbon gain and storage by reducing tree and shrub growth and establishment, and increasing the risk of fire
Exotic pasture species (like buffel grass) appear to have a negative impact on the richness and diversity of plant species, and the recruitment and growth of many native plant species The level of grazing required to control buffel grass may be just as destructive to soil health and wildlife as the buffel grass itself. More trials are needed to assess the effectiveness and any negative impacts of this method | increase | ? | x | x | |
| 21. Control feral animal species in mulga where these are having a negative impact on wildlife and plant regeneration |
Pigs, cats, foxes and goats threaten native plants and animals through predation, competition and spreading disease
Management actions that have adverse effects on wildlife should be avoided if possible, or implemented in stages | increase | x | x | x | |
| 22. Control weed species where these are having a negative impact on wildlife | Management actions that have adverse effects on wildlife should be avoided if possible, or implemented in stages | increase | x | x | x | |
23. Reduce numbers of aggressive honeyeaters (yellow-throated miners) where these are having a negative impact on wildlife by:
|
Miners can have a strong negative influence on the abundance and species richness of other native birds
Direct control of miners is not recommended Modifying the structure of mulga vegetation in these ways will help to exclude miners and other predatory birds, and provide a more suitable habitat for small birds | increase | x | x | x |
Other actions for wildlife
| Action | Benefits and impacts | Carbon | Wildlife | 1, 2, 3 & 4 | 5 & 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24. Retain and restore tree and shrub patches of different sizes, ages and stem densities | More wildlife species are likely to be supported if there is a range of vegetation growth types | increase | x | x | x | |
| 25. Reduce the density of low shrubs < 1m in height (e.g. turkey bush) | Reduced densities of low shrubs are likely to benefit small woodland birds and reptile species | increase | x | x | x | |
| 26. Provide nest boxes if hollows are scarce | Tree hollows provide important shelter and foraging sites for wildlife | increase | x | x | x | |
| 27. Retain and protect mistletoe on mulga and other woody plant species | Mistletoe provides nectar, berries and nesting sites for many animal species | increase | x | x | ||
| 28. Retain and protect rocks and rock outcrops |
Some plant species may only be found around rocky areas
Rocky areas also provide habitat for animal species including invertebrates | increase | x | x | x | |
| 29. Retain and protect leaf litter (including fallen leaves, bark and twigs) | Leaf litter provides habitat for animal species including invertebrates | increase | x | x | x | |
| 30. Minimise or avoid the use of insecticides in mulga vegetation to be restored, and prevent spray drift from adjacent areas to protect invertebrates | Invertebrates deserve protection in their own right, but also provide food for other animals, and ecosystem services such as pollination and seed dispersal | increase | x | x | x |
Other considerations
| Action | Benefits and impacts |
|---|---|
| Rainfall will have a large bearing on the success of management actions |
Lower rainfall will have a negative overall effect on biomass accumulation
Extended dry periods may cause the death of mature trees Recruitment and survival of mulga and eucalypt seedlings are heavily dependent on good rains. Revegetation with tubestock or direct seeding is highly risky and will usually only succeed when good rains follow |
Fire severity
This table is reproduced from the planned burn guidelines.
It describes the features of a range of fire severities that may be encountered in open forests and woodlands in Queensland.
(Note: Based on fuel load at 8 t/ha, grasses cured at 90%, Byram fireline intensity at 18,000 kj/kg.)
| Fire severity class | Fire intensity – during fire (kilowatts per metre—kWm-1) | Average flame height (m) | Fire severity - post fire Average scorch height (m) | Description (loss of biomass) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (L) | < 150 | < 0.5 | < 2.5 | Significant patchiness. Litter retained but charred. Humus layer retained. Nearly all habitat trees, fallen logs, and grass stubble retained. Some scorching of elevated fuels. Little or no canopy scorch. |
| Moderate (M) | 150–500 | 0.5–1.5 | 2.5–7.5 | Moderate patchiness. Some scorched litter remains. About half the humus layer and grass stubble remain. Most habitat trees and fallen logs retained. Some scorch of elevated fuels. Little or no canopy scorch. |
| High (H) | 500–1000 | 1.5–3.0 | 7.5–15.0 | Some patchiness. Some humus remains. Some habitat trees and fallen logs affected. At least some canopy scorch in moderate < 20m height canopy, mid stratum burnt completely (or nearly so). |
| Very high (H) | 1000–3000 | 3.0–10.0 | Extensive scorching | All understorey burnt to ash (or nearly so). Most habitat trees and fallen logs affected. Extensive crown scorch. |
| Extreme (E) | > 3000 | > 10.0 | Partial or total defoliation | All understorey burnt to ash (or nearly so). Loss of nearly all habitat trees and fallen logs. Partial or total defoliation. |