(Note that the information in these links, or the links themselves, were current as at January 2009, and may be updated as a result of future ecological investigations.)
Ecology of Cessnock LGA
National Parks in the Cessnock LGA
Biodiversity Educational Resources
Habitat Reconstruction and Weeds Management
Protected, Threatened and Introduced Flora and Fauna Species in Cessnock LGAThe following links list flora and fauna species which occur in the Cessnock LGA, along with habitat and ecological attributes (compilation of information is based on the NSW Natural Resources Atlas Database)
Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs)The following links provide information on key Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs) listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 which occur in the Cessnock LGA.
Recovery PlansRecovery plans are developed to assist the recovery of Endangered Ecological Communities that are listed in a critical state and at risk of irreversible decline, in accordance with the legislation. A number of Endangered Ecological Communities in the Cessnock LGA are the subject of Recovery Plans. Recovery plans have been developed with specific short, medium and longer-term measures to achieve healthier and viable ecological communities through the implementation of prioritised actions, such as restoration activities by landcare programs.
National Parks in the Cessnock LGAThe following links direct readers to information on NSW Government web pages on each of the National Parks in the Cessnock LGA and the Friends of Werakata website.
Biodiversity Educational Resources
Hunter Region Ecology – the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens website provides an introduction to the vegetation of the Hunter Valley and the regional rare plants database.
http://www.huntergardens.org.au/
Australian Museum – information on different animal groups occurring in Australasia.
http://www.austmus.gov.au/
Dept of Environment and Climate Change: Threatened Species – links to official websites that provide information on threatened species in NSW, including their legal status.
http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/index.aspx - profiles
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/ - Scientific Committee Determinations
NSW Natural Resources Atlas Database – information on natural resources in NSW.
http://www.nratlas.nsw.gov.au/
Community Environment Network: Land for Wildlife – community based organisation in the Hunter Region with programs related to environmental management.
http://www.cen.org.au/
Threatened Species Network – run by the World Wide Fund for Nature to provide useful information on threatened species and their conservation.
http://wwf.org.au/ourwork/species/tsn/
Native Animal Trust Fund Wildlife Rescue Service – community based organisation in the Hunter Region that provides a 24 hour rescue service to sick and injured native fauna.
http://www.hunterwildlife.org.au
Habitat Reconstruction and Weeds Management Hunter Landcare Network – community based organisation that coordinates landcare activities throughout the Hunter region, which assists the restoration of local biodiversity values. http://www.landcarensw.org/CentRiv.htm
The Bow Wow Creek Gorge is located at Mt Vincent, on privately owned land. The Gorge has significant geological and ecological features and provides habitat for a number of threatened flora and fauna species and endangered ecological communities. The Bow Wow Creek Gorge is protected by Federal, State and Local Government legislation, is undergoing restorative work and is not open to the public. Each year the National Parks and Wildlife Service conducts a Discovery Tour through the Bow Wow Creek Gorge with emphasis on bird activity in spring, usually the second Sunday in October.
Wallis and Fishery Creeks Catchments Biodiversity CorridorsThe Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is working in partnership with the Community Environment Network (CEN) and private landholders in the Wallis and Fishery Creeks Catchments to establish biodiversity corridors between the Watagan Forest and the centre of the valley floor near Maitland.
The corridors will provide local native fauna with habitat and migration routes from the top to the bottom of the Wallis and Fishery Creek catchments, while enhancing and protecting several ecologically endangered communities (EEC), including the Quorrobolong Scribbly Gum, Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Ironbark Forest and Kurri Sand Swamp Woodland.
Private landholders are undertaking weed removal, bush regeneration, re-vegetation and fencing on their properties with grant funding through the project, while a Property Vegetation Plan has been developed to protect the private land around Bow Wow Gorge.
For more information on the Wallis and Fishery Creeks Catchments Biodiversity Corridors Project and other initiatives of the CMA, go to www.hcr.cma.nsw.gov.au.
Hunter Bushland Resource Kit – provides information on plant species for use in bushland restoration projects in the Hunter Valley.
http://www.hcr.cma.nsw.gov.au/ep_resources.php3
National Weeds Lists – Weeds of National Significance (WONS) – website with detailed information on weeds from throughout Australia.
http://www.weeds.gov.au/weeds/lists/index.html
Acknowledgements:The contribution of the following community members is appreciated in the compilation of information on the ecological attributes of plant and animal species in the Cessnock area:
Copyright Cessnock City CouncilThe information on this web page is available for use by the public, academics and commercial organisations provided Cessnock City Council is duly acknowledged as the author.
2009 Copyright Max Elliott. All rights reserved. No images to be reproduced without permission of Max Elliott, Grow Local Native Plants Photography. Licensing of images is available on agreement of terms and conditions.
