THREATENED AND IMPORTANT SPECIES

PRIORITY BS8

Marrawah Skipper and Ptunarra Brown butterflies

The Marrawah Skipper is a subspecies which is endemic to the Cradle Coast Region and is listed under both Commonwealth and State legislation. It is exclusively associated with the tussock-sedge Carex appressa in coastal or near-coastal areas. Its habitat ranges from dense Carex appressa sedgeland (e.g. along drains and forest margins) and swamp forest to plantations and pasture. The main threats to the Marrawah Skipper are clearing of coastal and near-coastal habitat, further fragmentation of subpopulations, and inappropriate disturbance including cattle grazing, weed invasion and forestry.

The Ptunarra Brown Butterfly occurs in Poa tussock grassland and grassy shrubland and woodland above 400 m in the north-west plains. Large areas of this species’ habitat have been lost through conversion to pasture or plantation. Over-grazing, over-burning and predation by the introduced European wasp can also lead to loss of this species from a site.

outcome

By 2030, there has been a reduction in loss of habitat through two partnerships established to manage threats associated with land and fire management across 50% of the known range of each species.

threats

Local threats that can be addressed by NRM actions:

  • Land use pressures including development, intensification of agriculture and other industries
  • Inappropriate land management practices including vegetation clearing
  • European wasps
  • Increasing fire risk due to climate change

Actions

BS8.a

Partnerships developed to establish or sustain monitoring regimes in the known range of the species.

Habitat protection and restoration through improved land management and implementation of appropriate fire regimes.

Education and awareness of key habitat requirements and disturbance threats.

implementation

Investment Opportunity

  • Australian Government
  • Tasmanian Government
  • Regional or Local
  • Private or philanthropic

  • Information gathering activities including assessment and mapping of known populations and habitat.
  • Policy and planning activities such as prioritisation of appropriate management actions and locations for investment and engagement planning.
  • On-ground work including land management agreements for habitat protection and restoration and weed and pest management.
  • Behaviour-change and capacity-building activities – education, awareness and skill-building focused on natural values.

Government agencies including PWS and FPA; Aboriginal groups; Land managers including Forico; volunteers; researchers.

Extension, capacity building and land management agreement opportunities for landholders and land managers; volunteer and citizen science opportunities.