Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00006:reg:3:p11
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00006
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 11/58)
Character Range: 31952–35069

and their habitat occur across areas of cultural significance to numerous Traditional Owner groups. The landscape, and the plants, animals and physical features within the landscape, are all an integral part of Aboriginal cultural heritage. The small areas occupied by the Eastern Bristlebird are part of a larger landscape which is recognised for its significance and connectivity to people and places beyond the scope of this recovery plan.

Northern population

           Northern Eastern Bristlebirds are known to occur on the lands of the Bundjalung, Githabul, Gugin Gudduba and Yugambeh Indigenous Peoples (Charley et al. 2021). Northern birds are adapted to habitats shaped by traditional burning practices (frequent, low intensity fires) that maintain open grassy forests that prevent transition to rainforest (Stone 2018a). The population depends on this burning regime to maintain breeding habitats. As such, the restoration of the adaptive Aboriginal
           fire practices needs to be encouraged to help manage grassy forests appropriately (Stone 2018a). Additionally, grazing land management by private landowners in Queensland has helped maintain grassy open forest and provide breeding habitat for Eastern Bristlebird and productive pasture.

           All habitat for the northern population occurs within the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area (WHA) and buffering landscapes, and Eastern Bristlebird are recognised within the WHA's Outstanding Universal Values. Further, Eastern Bristlebird habitats provide scenic amenity, nature-based recreation and ecotourism opportunities.

Central population

           Within the central population, the Eastern Bristlebird is of high cultural significance for the Dharawal and Dhurga people from southern Botany Bay to Wreck Bay.

              "For the Dharawal and Dhurga the Eastern Bristlebird indicates extreme weather can be on its way, such as fire. We have always known the Eastern Bristlebirds make their nests in the old native sedge and lomandra gardens where our people once gathered seasonal plant seeds for food, such as bush rice from the lomandra species and other local grass seeds and also hard seed local fruits" (R Mason pers. comm. cited in OEH 2012).

           Jervis Bay has been a focus of human activity for at least 7,000 years and has an Aboriginal cultural heritage that is remarkable for its diversity; richness and significance to Aboriginal people (DAWE 2021b). Occupation of the area by Aboriginal people in traditional and recent times and continuing use today for food gathering, educational and ceremonial activities has given the area high Aboriginal social value. Many of the traditional storylines linking different elements of the landscape are still recounted and spiritual ties to the land are maintained through stories, on-going use and the passing on of knowledge through the generations.

 Through their cultural traditions, the South Coast (Yuin) Aboriginal people of the Dharawal-Dhurga language group and the Jerrinja community identify the Jervis Bay area as their Traditional Country. Booderee