Priority Places initiative to benefit MacDonnell Ranges threatened species
The MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia are nationally significant due to the high number of threatened plants and animals that occur there.
The Australian Government’s Priority Places initiative has invested $3.4M to support threatened species recovery at a landscape scale. The project aims to improve the condition of the MacDonnell Ranges by improving fire regimes, reducing damage by feral herbivores, tackling invasive Buffel Grass in targeted areas, and removing cats from known threatened species habitats.
The MacDonnell Ranges has been chosen as one of the Australian Government’s 20 Priority Places across the country for its diversity of threatened species and ecological communities, unique landscape and importance to Aboriginal people. Identified in the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022–2032, the Priority Places initiative supports a landscape scale approach to threatened species recovery.
The project’s focus will be on improving landscape condition of the MacDonnell Ranges for the 41 species of threatened fauna and fauna that call the bioregion home. Most of these species (78%) are endemic to the MacDonnell Ranges, including the Central Rock-rat, Red Cabbage Palm, MacDonnell Ranges Cycad and endemic land snails such as Hillier’s Keeled Snail - the only known species in its genus.
Threats such as larger and more frequent fires, Buffel grass infestation, feral cats and herbivores will all be addressed in targeted areas for the maximum benefit. The project will trial new methods of threat mitigation including Australia’s largest deployment of Felixer cat grooming traps and an aerial incendiary drone to be used for strategic fire management, monitoring and mapping.
Importantly, the project will work on both the Park estate and Aboriginal Land Trusts to provide employment and training for Traditional Owners and Aboriginal ranger groups.
The project will be managed by the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment’s Flora and Fauna division through to June 2026.
