The Canberra Nature Park Reserve Management Plan 2021 is now complete.
The Plan will guide management of Canberra Nature Park’s 39 nature reserves in and around Canberra over the next 10 years.
Canberra Nature Park is located on the lands of the Ngunnawal people and provides the Ngunnawal Traditional Custodians important opportunities to connect with Country and, in partnership with the Parks and Conservation Service, manage Country together for the benefit of future generations.
The plan further enables land managers and community to protect important forest, woodland and grassland ecosystems and provide habitat for our native wildlife, including many threatened species. The reserves also protect significant cultural heritage sites.
Canberra Nature Park gives our city its distinctive character as the nation’s ‘city in the landscape’ and contributes significantly to the liveability of our city. The reserves also provide extraordinary opportunities for nature-based experiences and an active lifestyle that so many Canberrans value, contributing significantly to the health and wellbeing of the community.
New codes of practices for dog walking, horse riding and bike riding are included in the plan and will ensure these activities are kept to designated tracks and trails to help minimise the impacts on the native flora and fauna the reserves set out to protect. Recreational drone use will not be allowed over Canberra Nature Park due to the adverse impacts on wildlife, fire risk, privacy concerns and the impact on people’s enjoyment of the natural environment.
The draft plan was released for public comment from 23 September 2019 to 16 December 2019.
Thank you to all who submitted feedback on the draft plan. This feedback informed the development of the final Canberra Nature Park Reserve Management Plan.
The Canberra Nature Park Reserve Management Plan covers areas including:
Management approach
- Threatened species and communities, native plants and animals are conserved.
- The extent and condition of native vegetation and habitat connectivity is improved.
- Threats are managed to reduce impacts and increase resilience to climate change.
- Aboriginal cultural practices are integrated into management.
Management approach
- Landscape character is protected from visual impacts.
- Geological features are protected and interpreted.
- Soils and watercourses are protected from erosion.
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- Connection to Country is maintained through land management activities.
- Access to Country for cultural and social purposes is supported.
- Interpretation of Aboriginal cultural heritage is by Ngunnawal Traditional Custodians.
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- Knowledge about heritage is improved.
- Cultural values are promoted.
- Threats to heritage places are managed.
- Conservation management plans are developed for significant heritage places.
Management approach
- Management of Zone 1 aims to avoid disturbance from infrastructure; high impact activities are preferred outside reserves.
- Management of Zone 2 aims to direct damaging activities to previously disturbed areas.
- Access restrictions apply to some areas, such as rural leases.
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- Recreational and tourism activities are compatible with protecting reserve values.
- Visitor experience is enriched through enhanced understanding of reserve values.
- An active healthy lifestyle is promoted through experiencing nature.
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- Volunteer groups, partnerships and community organisations are supported.
- Traditional Custodians are involved in land management programs, providing meaningful work on Country and economic development opportunities.
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- ACT Government research – threatened species, woodland and grassland ecology and restoration, kangaroo grazing and fire ecology.
- Conservation Effectiveness Monitoring Program (CEMP) – a framework for monitoring and evaluating ecosystem condition and management effectiveness.
- CEMP supports adaptive, evidence based decision making.
Management approach
Conservation officers under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 may exercise a range of powers to protect, conserve and enhance the biodiversity of the ACT, including issuing infringement notices for a range of offences.
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.
