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Three grey baby swans and four black swans, with red beaks swimming in grassy water.

Conserving highland wetland habitat and species

  • Context: Regional

Northern Tablelands Local Land Services is working with the local community to protect the nationally significant highland wetlands of the New England Tablelands, including the Ramsar listed Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve.

This project is strengthening wetland habitat and resilience to protect threatened species and ecological communities by:

  • revegetating the area
  • releasing endangered Bell’s turtles into the area
  • partnering with landholders to exclude livestock from sensitive wetland areas
  • improving community awareness about the importance of these wetlands.  
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Project funded by

This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by Northern Tablelands Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.

The rare near-natural lagoon of Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve is listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention because it supports threatened species and endangered ecological communities.  

The wetlands provide refuge for waterbirds during drought e.g. Pacific black duck, grey teal, Australasian bittern, Australasian shoveler, blue-billed duck, magpie geese, Eurasian coot, white-faced heron.

Traditional Owners’ ecological knowledge is being incorporated into management of associated local threatened species and ecological communities at the sites to enhance project outcomes.

Since the project began in 2023, 1,560 New England Peppermint (Eucalyptus nova-anglica) seedlings have been planted. Another 720 will be planted by 30 June 2027. New England peppermints are an Endangered Ecological Community. 

Key to success is the partnership and input from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, which is assisting with site preparations, as well as Guyra Local Aboriginal Land Council and Banbai Rangers, who are supporting the planting program.

The project is a continuation of work already undertaken by Northern Tablelands Local Land Services to protect the nationally significant upland wetlands, swamps, peatlands and marshes of the New England Tablelands.

Read more here.

A brown turtle is perched on a rock, with long, green grass and water in the background.
Northern Tablelands LLS, Bells turtle, at Ingleba, near Walcha, NSW
A turtle nest hole, in the dirt, with eggshell remains.
Northern Tablelands LLS, Turtle nest destroyed by fox, Cobrabald, NSW
Three people kneeling on the ground, gardening.
Northern Tablelands LLS, Banbai rangers, NSW
A person is knelt in the sand, on the bank of a body of water, counting turtle eggshells.
Northern Tablelands LLS, carefully excavating hatched Bells turtle nests, to count how many eggs hatched, NSW, Martin Dillon
Two people on the bank of a body of water, observing hatched turtle nest holes.
Northern Tablelands LLS, Counting hatched eggshells, from protected turtle nests, NSW, Martin Dillon
A group of people in a bush landscape, surrounded by orange and black markers.
Northern Tablelands LLS, Revegetation at, Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve, NSW
‘A highlight this year was having Banbai Junior Rangers and students from Guyra Central School helping at each planting session. They applied themselves fully to the task at hand, learned some valuable skills and got to spend time on Country. They were a pleasure to have around and we hope they’re able to be involved in remaining planting activities.’
– Anya Salmon, Senior Land Services Officer Northern Tablelands Local Land Services
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