Victoria Minister for Energy Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

Managing And Protecting The Greater Alpine National Parks

Victor P Taffa

Parks Victoria has released its blueprint for managing and protecting 900,000 ha of Victoria’s unique alpine and high country over the next 15 years.

“The Plan will guide the management and protection of Victoria’s highest mountains and some of our spectacular landscapes.” Minister for Energy Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said.

“The Alps are home to a range of important flora and fauna, including about a third of Victoria’s native plant species, more than half of the terrestrial bird species and 40 % of the State’s mammal species.”

Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan aims to protect and enhance the outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values of the parks.

“It’s also home to one third of our total rare and threatened species, including a number of creatures found nowhere else, which is why we’ve set out this plan to ensure it is managed and protected for future generations.” Ms. D’Ambrosio said.

Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan identifies 8 priorities for urgent action:

• Targeted weed containment (brooms, blackberries, willows)
• Fire management to protect and enhance ecosystems
• Integrated work with all the Traditional Owners
• Responding to climate change
• Benefits beyond boundaries, weeds and dogs
• Feral horse control
• Deer control
• Fox control.

Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan covers the

• Alpine,
• Baw Baw,
• Errinundra,
• Mount Buffalo and Snowy River National Parks,
• Avon Wilderness Park,
• Tara Range Park,
• Walhalla Historic Areas,
• Howqua Hills Historic Areas,
• Grant Historic Areas,
• Mount Wills Historic Areas,
• Mount Murphy Historic Areas.

Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan was developed in consultation with the community and key stakeholders including the Alpine Advisory Committee, the Victorian Alps Traditional Owner Reference Group and the Environment and Scientific Advisory Group.

Comments from over 500 written submissions on the draft plan contributed to the proposals adopted in the plan.