1. Conservation Strategy Revisions: 1. Grassland Conservation Strategy Natural Temperate Grassland Button Wrinklewort Ginninderra Peppercress Baeuerlan’s Gentian Grassland Earless Dragon Golden Sun Moth Perunga Grasshopper Striped Legless Lizard 2. Riparian Strategy 3. Woodland Strategy

2. Key differences between previous and revised Strategies and APs: Stand-alone Action Plans - Each Action Plan will be a separate stand-alone document. APs will be included as appendices in the GC Strategy document. - The GC Strategy will still provide an overarching framework for the Aps. Management and Restoration Focus -The previous Strategy had a strong focus on land planning for protection of grassland sites. -Since the previous Strategy most of the protection/development decisions have been resolved. -The revised Strategy has a stronger emphasis on management and restoration of grassland sites for long-term conservation.

3. Key differences between previous and revised Strategies and APs: Scope of Grasslands -Includes all native grassland across the full elevation range from lowland natural temperate grassland to the grasslands of the montane, subalpine and alpine zone. Updated information - NTG and threatened species (abundance, distribution, knowledge). -Synthesis of research and management since previous Strategy. -Conservation status of grassland sites.

4. Key differences between previous and revised Strategies and APs: Reorganisation of chapters and information

5. 1Introduction 1.1Overview 1.2Objectives of the Strategy 1.3Scope of the Strategy 1.4Relevant policy and legislation 1.4.1International and national context 1.4.2ACT legislation 1.4.3Environmental offsets 2Strategy: Protect native grassland and component species 2.1Overview 2.2Key principles 2.3Priority 1 sites 2.3.1Protection guidelines for priority 1 sites 2.4Priority 2 sites 2.4.1Protection guidelines for priority 2 sites 2.5Priority 3 sites 2.5.1Protection guidelines for priority 3 sites 2.6Develop, implement and review action plans 3Strategy: Manage to conserve native grassland and component species 3.1Overview 3.2Key principles 3.3Manage grass biomass and structure 3.3.1Guidelines for managing grass biomass and structure 3.4Implement ecologically appropriate disturbance regimes 3.4.1Guidelines for implementing appropriate grazing regimes 3.4.2Guidelines for implementing appropriate burning and fire regimes 3.4.3Guidelines for implementing appropriate mowing/slashing regimes 3.5Implement measures to safeguard populations 3.5.1Guidelines to safeguard populations

6. 4Strategy: Manage threats to native grassland biodiversity 4.1Key principles 4.2Manage weeds 4.2.1Guidelines to manage weeds 4.3Manage introduced pest animals 4.3.1Guidelines to manage introduced pest animals 4.4Manage grazing by kangaroos 4.4.1Guidelines to avoid overgrazing by kangaroos 4.5Manage impacts of urbanisation 4.5.1Guidelines to minimise impacts of urbanisation 4.6Manage the consequences of climate change 4.6.1Guidelines to manage the consequences of climate change 5Strategy: Enhance ecosystem function and habitat connectivity 5.1Key principles 5.2Enhance ecosystem function 5.2.1Guidelines to enhance ecosystem function 5.3Enhance habitat connectivity 5.3.1Guidelines to maintain and enhance habitat connectivity 6Strategy: Monitoring and research 6.1Monitor grassland community condition 6.1.1Priorities for current and future monitoring 6.2Collect baseline information 6.2.1Address knowledge gaps in grassland conservation and research 6.2.2Map the extent and condition of grasslands 6.2.3Research priorities

7. 7Strategy: Strengthen community engagement 7.1Key principles 7.2Engender community involvement through awareness raising and volunteering 7.2.1Guidelines to engender community involvement 7.3Enhance and promote use of citizen science 7.3.1Guidelines to enhance and promote citizen science 7.4Build Indigenous engagement in the management of natural resources 7.5Support appropriate recreational and tourism use of natural areas 7.5.1Enhance key partnerships across government, community and the private sector. 8Background 8.1What are native grasslands? 8.1.1Native grassland composition 8.1.2Native grassland structure 8.1.3Native grassland fauna 8.1.4Native grasslands in the act and region: descriptions and definitions 8.1.5Environmental determinants of ACT grassland associations 8.1.6Natural temperate grassland: an endangered ecological community 8.1.7Native grasslands and degraded grasslands 8.1.8Derived grasslands 8.2A brief history of native grasslands in the ACT and surrounding region 8.2.1Historical distribution 8.2.2Aboriginal use and influence 8.2.3Early exploration and settlement 8.3Current native grassland distribution in the ACT 8.4Threatened and uncommon grassland species in the ACT 8.4.1Threatened species 8.4.22.5.2 Uncommon and rare species

8. 8.5Grassland conservation activities in the ACT since 2005 8.5.1Protection in conservation reserves 8.5.2Management of grazing pressure 8.5.3Mapping and surveys 8.5.4Research projects 8.5.5Monitoring 8.5.6Biomass Management 8.5.7Fire Ecology 8.5.8Community Engagement 8.6Evidence Base for the ACT Native Grassland Strategy 8.7Climate change 8.7.1Potential effects of climate change on native grasslands 8.7.2Adapting to climate change 8.7.3Kangaroo grazing of native grasslands 9References 10Index Appendix 1. Definitions of grassland associations Action Plans

9. ObjectiveAction Plan Protect  Protect all remaining Priority 1 NTG sites  Manage Priority 2 NTG sites for conservation  Manage all Priority 3 native grasslands to avoid unintended impacts Natural Temperate Grassland  Protect all large and medium-sized populations. Protect small populations from unintended impacts related to urban and infrastructure works, recreation or land management activities. Button Wrinklewort Striped Legless Lizard Golden Sun Moth  Protect all ACT populations. Ginninderra Peppercress Grassland Earless Dragon Baeuerlan’s Gentian  Protect all native grassland sites where the species occurs from unintended impacts. Perunga Grasshopper Action Plans

10. Manage  Manage Natural Temperate Grasslands to:  Maintain and improve grassland structure, function and diversity;  Reduce the impacts of threats;  Conserve grassland biodiversity, and  Maintain and increase populations of threatened grassland species. Natural Temperate Grassland  Conserve the species and its habitat though appropriate management. Button Wrinklewort Striped Legless Lizard Grassland Earless Dragon  Manage habitat to conserve the species.Ginninderra Peppercress Perunga Grasshopper Golden Sun Moth Baeuerlan’s Gentian

11. Increase / Restore  Increase the extent, condition and connectivity of Natural Temperate Grassland in the ACT by restoring priority grassland sites Natural Temperate Grassland  Primary aim: Increase the size of small (< 200 plants) populations.  Secondary aim: Increase the number of populations. Button Wrinklewort  Increase the number of populations. Ginninderra Peppercress Baeuerlan’s Gentian  Increase habitat area, quality and connectivity.Grassland Earless Dragon Golden Sun Moth Perunga Grasshopper Striped Legless Lizard

12. Knowledge  Improved understanding of the ecology and threats to this community. Natural Temperate Grassland  Improved understanding of the species’ ecology, habitat and threats. Button Wrinklewort Ginninderra Peppercress Grassland Earless Dragon Golden Sun Moth Perunga Grasshopper Striped Legless Lizard Baeuerlan’s Gentian Awareness  Promote a greater awareness of, and strengthen stakeholder and community engagement in grassland conservation. Natural Temperate Grassland  Promote a greater awareness of, and strengthen stakeholder and community engagement in the conservation of the species. Button Wrinklewort Ginninderra Peppercress Grassland Earless Dragon Golden Sun Moth Perunga Grasshopper Striped Legless Lizard Baeuerlan’s Gentian