Royal–Heathcote–Garawarra Scorecard

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has done surveys for small and medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals, microbats and birds in monitoring this site. We used camera traps and acoustic recorders to monitor the site and conducted dedicated bird surveys and vegetation surveys. We monitored soil health, water quality and the level of threats – feral animals and weeds are measured, and fire regimes are described. This is a huge program, which collected a lot of data.

The first Scorecard contains some good news:

• We have a widespread and diverse population of small mammals living on Sydney’s doorstep.
• Royal–Heathcote–Garawarra is a stronghold for the threatened eastern pygmy possum.
• There are species that have been recorded for the first time in Royal–Heathcote–Garawarra, such as Krefft’s glider and the threatened yellow-bellied sheath-tailed bat.
• There are few weeds outside disturbed areas.
• Water quality is mostly good.

And it contains some challenges:

• Foxes occur widely across the landscape.
• Deer activity is high in some parts of Royal National Park.
• Six mammal species have likely disappeared since European settlement.

This first Scorecard gives us a snapshot of the ecological health of Royal–Heathcote–Garawarra and is an important first step to better understanding changes in the health of this site.