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Great Divide Northern Forests Scorecard

View through trees towards Tia Falls and gorge. Credit: Gerhard Koertner © DCCEEW

NPWS staff member attaching a wildlife motion sensor camera to a tree. Credit: DCCEEW

A parma wallaby mum and juvenile in Willi Willi National Park. Credit: DCCEEW

The Great Divide Northern Forests Scorecard reports on the ecological health of 7 national parks and reserves in northern NSW, including parts of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

Areas of national and international significance

Covering over 240,000 ha, the Great Divide Northern Forests (GNF) site features ancient rainforests and protected areas, which contain outstanding ecological diversity as well as rare and threatened species.

The Ecological Health Performance Scorecards program (Scorecards) is tracking the health of these parks and reserves over time which will help to inform park management decisions.

A map of NSW showing parks in the Great Divide Northern Forests area

Great Divide Northern Forests Ecological Health Performance Scorecards site

Scorecard results for 2023-24

Biodiversity and environment:

The site has retained 98% of its original mammal assemblage from before European settlement.
The vulnerable yellow-bellied glider was detected in 8 locations for the first time.
Several threatened mammal species have strongholds in GNF, notably the endangered Hastings River mouse, vulnerable spotted-tailed quoll, Parma wallaby and long-nosed potoroo.
Most monitoring sites show strong signs of vegetation regeneration following the 2019-20 bushfires.

Threats:

Nine feral animal species occur in GNF. Feral cats are widespread, detected at 69% of monitoring sites. Fox presence was low, detected at 15% of monitoring sites.
The site has moderate water quality which is driven by land use outside the area.
39 weed species were recorded at 40% of monitoring sites. Weeds of National Significance were detected at 6 sites, including lantana, blackberry and fireweed.
Almost 80% of GNF burned during the 2019-20 bushfires, and the scale of impact has meant many species and habitats are still recovering.

The next GNF Scorecard will also include results from targeted monitoring of the stuttering and sphagnum frogs, southern greater glider and Willi Willi Zieria.