Biodiversity

Introduction

Gluepot Reserve is part of the largest block of intact mallee left in Australia and so the viability of threatened bird populations and other flora and fauna is high. Prior to the November 2006 fire (that burnt 8,000 hectares of the Reserve’s 54,000ha) the last major fire on Gluepot was over half a century ago in December 1950. Importantly, some whole areas were not burnt at all during these widespread fires. A diversity of fire impacts, together with a diversity of understoreys within the mallee and other woodland communities gives rise to a wide variety of niches for birds and other animals. Many of the trees within the mallee and Casuarina woodland are hundreds of years old with numerous hollows. Such old-growth habitat is essential for many species including threatened species.

Protection

The Reserve's overall management philosophy is to "Effectively manage a large, internationally significant protected area for biodiversity conservation as an addition to Australia's National Reserve System and to develop a successful, financially independent program that will be a model for other community groups with small operating budgets." Gluepot is protected in perpetuity as a conservation reserve by the signing of a SA Heritage Agreement and is the largest area of land in South Australia under Heritage Agreement. Gluepot is also part of the National Reserve System, is on the Register of the National Estate and is further protected under the Commonwealth EPBC Act as 'critical habitat' – the first area of land on mainland Australia to have achieved this protection.

Threatened Treasures

Gluepot Reserve joins the Riverland (formerly Bookmark) Biosphere Reserve (900,000 ha), an internationally significant area with direct links to other large conservation reserves in New South Wales and Victoria. It is part of the largest block of intact mallee left in Australia and so the viability of threatened bird populations and other flora and fauna there is high. The 18 nationally threatened species of bird on Gluepot Reserve includes the Black-eared Miner, Malleefowl, Red-lored Whistler, Regent Parrot, Scarlet-chested Parrot and Striated Grasswren. A further 17 species of regionally threatened bird live there (e.g. Major Mitchell Cockatoo, Hooded Robin and Redthroat). In all, 197 species of bird have been recorded on Gluepot Reserve. Gluepot Reserve has a diversity of vegetation communities which support important wildlife other than birds. Reptiles are particularly abundant with 52 species located so far, including the threatened Bandy Bandy. Prior to the 2006 fire that burnt 8,000ha on Gluepot, the last fire on the Reserve occurred over 50 years ago, but many areas were not burnt leaving substantial areas of mallee and Casuarina woodland with trees that are hundreds of years old. These old trees have numerous hollows for nesting birds and deep litter for ground-foraging species. The vegetation quality is particularly high in the eastern third of Gluepot because the lack of water for a 10 km radius means that grazing impacts have been minimal.

Gluepot provides a safe haven for threatened bird species

More about the Flora of Gluepot

More about the Fauna of Gluepot