Dookie Biolinks Program
The Dookie Biolinks Program is a community initiative, developed by a local representative committee to protect and connect existing vegetation, creek lines and wetlands throughout the Dookie region.
A significant cropping and agriculture district, the fragmentation of the Dookie districts natural vegetation over time has exposed threats to the survival of many native flora and fauna species in the region. Of the 150 bird species recorded, for example, 26 are considered threatened, the Diamond Firetail and Brolga , both examples of threatened woodland and wetland birds identified in the region.
The Woodland vegetation communities present in the Dookie District provide open grassy habitat for Bush Stone-Curlew , nectar resources and tree hollows for Squirrel Gliders and existing roadside trees and shrubs for Grey-Crowned Babblers . The existing creek lines and wetlands provide significant habitat for many wetland flora and fauna species, like the Brolga, and it is our aim to increase and connect these remaining habitats throughout the landscape.
Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis), Grey-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis), Bush-stone Curlew (Burhinus grallarius) and Brolga (Grus rubicunda)
Objectives of the Program
- To improve biodiversity in the Dookie region by protecting and connecting existing habitat through the landscape.
- To improve quality and quantity of habitat specific to the requirements of threatened species in the district.
- Focusing on Wetlands, Woodlands and Grassy Plains environments.
- Engaging and informing the Dookie community on ecological protection and enhancement.
Species Objectives
- Increase the distribution and abundance of the endangered Squirrel Glider.
- Increase the abundance and distribution of selected woodland and wetland species known to be in decline e.g. Diamond Firetail, Brown Tree creeper, Jacky Winter and Brolga.
- Increasing the abundance and distribution of significant plant species e.g. Western Silver Wattle, Rock Correa, Dookie Daisy.
Natural Assets in the Region
- Box-Ironbark Forest vegetation
- Cypress Pine Woodland vegetation,
- Grassy Woodland vegetation,
- Wetlands and major creek lines
- Mount Major, remnant Grassy White box Woodland
- Indigenous Flora and Fauna species
Landscape Strategies
- Connecting within the Dookie Hills landscape and the Broken River
- Protect and enhance woodland and wetland communities
Local Actions
- Fence remnant vegetation, creeks and wetlands on private land,
- Enhance remnant vegetation, creeks and wetlands through understorey plantings, retaining logs for habitat, pest, plant and animal control and manage for regeneration.
- Co-ordinated weed control programs
- Co-ordinated rabbit, fox and hare control programs
- Revegetation projects, linking habitat across the landscape.
- Adopting management plans for ecologically significant natural sites.
For further information, please contact Liz Evans at The University of Melbourne - Dookie Campus 03 5833 9279
or Jim Begley from Department of Primary Industries 03 5761 1574.
Dookie Biolinks Committee Membership: Dookie Land Management Group, The University of Melbourne, Trust For Nature, Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seed Bank, Local Dookie community/landholders, Department of Primary Industries, Parks Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Landcare, City of Greater Shepparton, Moira Shire, Broken-Boosey Catchment Management Network and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.
Dookie Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Zone (Click to enlarge (PDF, 202kb))