Implementing ecological restoration in national parks

Recent expansion of the NSW protected area estate has captured degraded and substantially modified land. National Parks on the NSW Mid North and North Coast are estimated to now contain over 300 timber plantations (R.J. Hunter pers. comm. 2003). The conservation estate also includes sand-mined areas, previously cleared and grazed sites, land that has been exposed to inappropriate fire regimes and areas infested with weeds and feral animals. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for managing these reserves. The Service charter requires that degraded areas be managed to enhance biodiversity values (Steering Committee to the Minister for the Environment 1998).Since 1999 the University of New England and the NPWS have collaborated in the ecological restoration of degraded areas in Bongil Bongil National Park on the NSW Mid North Coast. We have adopted Hobbs and Harris' (2001) restoration framework (Figure 1). Several NPWS planning and policy instruments are integral to the successful implementation of this framework. Expertise in the design, monitoring and analysis of restoration projects has been equally important in ensuring successful outcomes. Inclusion of case studies is beyond the scope of this short note. Here we present our current views on the value of applying ecological models to restoration planning and evaluation, given the anticipated escalation of ecological restoration projects in national parks.