Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002:front:0:p56
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00002
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 162651–165690

and springs in the stone country are being degraded by pigs and buffaloes. Popular visitor sites in coastal areas have also experienced some localised degradation associated with unregulated use.

Marine and riverine environments within the park potentially have the best-protected populations of threatened sawfishes and river sharks, but there are a number of threats operating outside the park. Bininj/Mungguy have concerns about the declining population of some bush tucker species, such as turtles and goanna.

Existing threats to values

  Weeds (highly significant)
Weeds such as Mimosa pigra, Salvinia molesta and the introduced pasture species para grass (Bracharia mutica) and olive hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) pose a substantial and ongoing threat to floodplain environments in the park. The floodplain areas are extensive and access can be difficult, making management costly and future eradication unlikely.

  Feral animals:
    * Pig and buffalo (highly significant)

  There is localised impact from buffalo and pigs on some spring areas in the stone country and extensive impact in floodplain areas. Pigs predate on several wetland dependent species including frogs and turtles. Bininj/Mungguy are concerned about the decline in numbers of turtles, which may be related to the presence of pigs. Pigs target Eleocharis bulbs which are a major food source for magpie geese. The spread of weeds such as mimosa and olive hymenachne by pigs and buffalo through foraging activities is of major concern.

    * Cane toad (highly significant)

  Cane toads have impacted significantly on many species in wetland areas, including goannas, large dragons and elapid snakes. This threat cannot realistically be humanly controlled and will be monitored to enable an adaptive response to possible impacts.

    * Feral cat (highly significant

  While the extent of impact of cats on floodplain fauna is not fully known, it is clear they are contributing to the decline of some species. Actions addressing feral cat management are covered in Section 5.3 (Managing park-wide threats affecting values).

  Climate change (highly significant)
Sea-level rise is expected to result in the replacement of many freshwater wetlands with saline wetlands and will potentially have a major effect on floodplain values. Historic disturbance to natural levees by buffalo allowed entry of salt water into some freshwater areas and impacted on vegetation communities. Artificial dams and levees were built in some places to replace and stabilise damaged levees but have not been maintained and there are limited other options to minimise saltwater intrusion in the park. More extreme weather events associated with climate change are also likely to impact on coastal and riverine areas in Kakadu.

  Fire (moderately significant)
In the absence of continued traditional burning practices over generations, extensive areas that were once identifiable as open Aboriginal occupation sites are now obscured by native vegetation, increasing fuel