Bounceback - Flinders Ranges

About the brochure

Bounceback is a major ecological restoration program operating in the semi-arid Flinders and Olary bioregion of South Australia with the following broad aims:

• Link efforts to conserve and enhance biodiversity across the region
• Restore the natural ecological processes across the region, with particular focus on core areas of the Flinders Ranges National Park (FRNP) and Gammon Ranges National Park (GRNP)
• Remove major threats to biodiversity and ecological integrity in the region
• Develop and demonstrate a best-practice model of integrated ecological management

Key issues that initiated the development of the Bounceback program include:

• Extinction of critical weight range mammals such as the Brush-tailed Bettong across the region
• Continued decline in habitat quality due to ongoing threats including excessive grazing pressure, weed infestation and introduced predators
• The lack of an integrated approach to ecological management
• Continued decline of threatened species, including the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby Petrogale xanthopus.

Bounceback established a series of targets to be achieved over the project lifespan. These included desired results such as signs of recovery of Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies, but also more readily quantifiable targets such as reductions in pest species to certain levels or increases in the extent of treatment areas.

Indicators of progress were selected and rigorous monitoring programs designed and implemented. The bulk of these were designed with a long-term outlook, although most also provided an indication of trend or success to allow regular review of our on-ground activities.