Remote sensing and threatened species surveys in the Narrabri Gas Project region

Development of the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP) may increase habitat fragmentation in the Pilliga Forest, which represents the single largest area of inland plains forest in Australia.

The landscapes of the Pilliga Forest have experienced intense modification since European settlement, including clearing for agricultural purposes, clearing and thinning through forestry, grazing, and is fragmented in parts due to these activities.

This project provides scientific understanding to determine how fragmentation resulting from NGP land clearing activities could add to existing biodiversity impacts from prior land use fragmentation in the region.

Research results address a key community concern related to the potential impact of the NGP on Pilliga Forest ecosystems and their component species.

This project used a combination of remote sensing and field-based research to address the issue of forest fragmentation and its effects. The diversity of mycorrhizal associations between threatened plants and fungi was also assessed.

Up-to-date methods from earth observation science were used to assess fragmentation and connectivity across the entire NGP area.

A collection of multiple datasets from from this research project will be made available through CSIRO’s Data Access Portal for use by interested researchers. The Data Access Portal provides access to research data, software and other digital assets published by CSIRO across a range of disciplines.

This research revealed relatively low levels of fragmentation and typically high connectivity across the landscapes of the Pilliga.

At the species level, the study did not find evidence that vertebrates or threatened plants persisting in the Pilliga are impacted by current levels of fragmentation.

However, it did confirm several known and imminent threats that are of high concern for biodiversity conservation. These pressures include the ongoing effects of the loss of large, hollow-bearing trees and the effects of large-scale wildfires.

There should be a focus on ensuring that these threats are not exacerbated through activities associated with the development of the NGP, particularly within the Pilliga Forest.