Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00195:reg:4:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00195
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 3/8)
Character Range: 48905–51976

4). These impacts decrease the connectivity of useful habitat across the Mahogany Gliders distribution and therefore reduce genetic exchange and the dispersal of juvenile animals.
Of the remaining Mixed Open Forest habitat, 45% is considered to be decreasing in its suitability for the Mahogany Glider as a result of sclerophyll thickening or transition to rainforest. In addition, 26% of Mixed Woodland habitat, 33% of Monotypic Stands habitat and 8% of Emergent habitat are undergoing degradation. Across its distribution, at least 66% of the remaining suitable habitat appears to be undergoing degradation, severely reducing the amount of habitat available to this species (Jackson et al., 2011). Once rainforest becomes established, it is difficult to reverse because it becomes pyrophobic (fire repellent), and fire frequency declines dramatically (Ash, 1988; Stanton, 1992; Harrington & Sanderson, 1994). Pioneer rainforest species also have fire-survival strategies, such as being able to re-coppice. Therefore, these species can aid in the transition to a secondary, more entrenched form of closed forest/rainforest transition under gradually reduced fire intervals (Jackson et al., 2011).
Though less of a threat to the Mahogany Glider than transitioning to rainforest, if fires are too frequent, they can have negative impacts on some tree species due to an increase in tree mortality and reduced recruitment some sclerophyll species including eucalypts, wattles and Albizia procera (Guinto et al. 1999). When fire intervals become too short, saplings are unable to reach sufficient height above flammable native grass, and are scorched back to basal reshooting, or can be fire-killed under repeated intensity. Over time this reduce available food resources such as the arils of the Albizia procera, on which the Mahogany Glider relies upon at critical times of the year.
Map 4 Current distribution of the Mahogany Glider showing the remaining habitat under threat from sclerophyll thickening and transition to rainforest
Note: Adapted from Jackson et al. (2011).

4.2.3             Inappropriate grazing management
Although the habitat where Mahogany Gliders live can potentially tolerate a degree of grazing, inappropriate grazing management can result in the degradation of understory species composition. Inappropriate grazing management does this by inhibiting plant recruitment through removal or damage of young plants which alters the canopy structure and promotes woody thickening. Weed invasion associated with poor grazing land management practices in different parts of the glider's distribution is also having a significant impact on the quality of habitat in some areas. It is clear that a combination of weed invasion and inappropriate grazing can threaten the structure and ecological integrity of the remaining fragments of habitat.
Weeds of concern within habitat of the Mahogany Glider associated with poor grazing management include Siam Weed (Chromolaena odorata) and Sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia). However, weeds of concern such as Lantana