Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Summary This IBA supports a high proportion of the world population of the restricted-range Rockwarbler as well as populations of the near threatened Flame Robin and Diamond Firetail, the restricted-range Pilotbird and regular occurrences of the endangered Regent Honeyeater. It is a migration bottleneck for the Yellow-faced Honeyeater.

Ornithological information A total 265 bird species have been recorded in the IBA (DEH 2005) including the vulnerable Painted Honeyeater and the Australian Little Bittern (Atlas of Australian Birds database).

Site description The IBA includes the whole Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area which is comprised of eight protected areas: Blue Mountains, Kanangra-Boyd, Gardens of Stone, Wollemi, Nattai, Yengo and Thirlmere Lakes National Parks and the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. This area includes most of the Hawkesbury Sandstone massif 60 to 180 km inland of Sydney, which supports most of the world population of the Rock Warbler. Another 12 adjacent protected areas could be included but the World Heritage Area supports a sustainable population of Rock Warblers. A number of peripheral valleys supporting Regent Honeyeaters and other woodland birds could be considered for inclusion within this IBA or as separate IBAs: the Capertee and Burragorang valleys are categorised as separate IBAs but the Howes Valley in the Wollemi National Park has not supported significant numbers of Regent Honeyeaters since 1994. Within the World Heritage Area, 542,000 ha has been designated as Wilderness Areas, and another 245,000 ha could be listed. The area is dominated by eucalypt forest between rugged sandstone cliffs, with an exceptional diversity of habitats. Because of the intrinsic beauty, natural features and accessibility from the major population centres, the area has high recreational values, and hosts more than three million visitors annually.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Blue Mountains	National Park	267,776	protected area contained by site	264,848
Gardens of Stone	National Park	15,084	protected area contained by site	15,010
Kanangra-Boyd	National Park	65,647	protected area contained by site	68,661
Nattai	National Park	49,517	protected area contained by site	48,944
Thirlmere Lakes	National Park	626	protected area contained by site	630
Wollemi	National Park	502,533	protected area contained by site	492,976
Yengo	National Park	167,283	protected area contained by site	150,569

Habitats

Land ownership National Parks managed by NSW NPWS.

Land use

Other biodiversity Wollemi Pine Wollemia nobilis and the Dwarf Mountain Pine Microstrobos fitzgeraldii. About 1500 plant species including 102 eucalypt species and more than 70 plant communities, including approximately 127 rare or threatened plants, of which almost half are confined to the Greater Blue Mountains. Fifty-two native mammals, 63 reptiles and more than 30 frogs.

Management considerations Within the World Heritage Area, biodiversity must continue to be a major objective, especially in design of fire management.

Protection status Numerous national parks - see separate section.

Conservation response The Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute is a collaborative research and education organisation specifically focused on addressing policy issues within the World Heritage Area.

Acknowledgements Thanks to Carol Probets as compiler.

References DEH (2005) Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area Draft Strategic Plan. Sydney: Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW).

NSW NPWS (2001) Blue Mountains National Park Plan of Management. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Hurstville, Sydney.

NSW NPWS (2001) Wollemi National Park Plan of Management. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Hurstville, Sydney.

NSW NPWS (2001) Kanangra-Boyd National Park Plan of Management. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Hurstville, Sydney.

NSW NPWS (2001) Nattai Reserves Plan of Management. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Hurstville, Sydney.

NSW NPWS (2001) Yengo National Park Plan of Management. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Hurstville, Sydney.

NSW NPWS (2008) Atlas of NSW Wildlife. Accessed 11 June 2008.

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Greater Blue Mountains. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

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