page_title: Stingray Swamp Flora Reserve
section_title: Environmental Threats & Hazards
hierarchical_section_title: Stingray Swamp Flora Reserve / Environmental Threats & Hazards
caption_attribution_description: English: Threats and hazards found within Stingray Swamp Flora Reserve
context_page_description: Stingray Swamp Flora Reserve is located immediately north of Penrose township in the south-western region of Wingecarribee Shire. The reserve is primarily surrounded by the Penrose State Forest, which is a commercially active plantation forest administered by the Forest Corporation NSW. Pine species dominate the state forest with a mix of native vegetation types in isolated pockets and adjacent areas. Stingray Swamp Flora Reserve belongs to a larger wetland complex known as the Paddy’s River Wetland Complex. These wetlands also form part of the Paddy’s River sub-catchment, which belong to the larger Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment. Historic use of this area has mainly been that of pine plantation, agriculture and mining activities. The forest is publicly accessible and therefore is a site of mixed recreational activities.
context_section_description: Ongoing forestry activities pose threats to the integrity of the flora reserve through several processes. Of main concern is the invasion of Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) species that is utilised within the plantation. These species migrate into native forests and establish themselves in dense groups. Observed Radiata species has been noted and ongoing Landcare action in and around the flora reserve aims to remove these species. Lantana (Lantana camara) and English holly (Ilex aquifolium), whilst not currently found within SWFR, pose a direct threat to native species.  
  Harvesting activities occur adjacent to and upslope from the SWFR and may alter hydraulic and geomorphic processes. Clear cutting of select areas upslope from SWFR may increase sediment loading within the waterways within the swamps.
caption: (Left) Trash dumped in SWFR; (Right) Radiata pine removal in SWFR
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