DRAFT-GININI-FLATS-WETLAND-RAMSAR-MANAGEMENT-PLAN-from-web-A13859846.doc

DRAFT GININI FLATS WETLAND COMPLEX
RAMSAR MANAGEMENT PLAN
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Ramsar
Management Plan 2016 .
I understand that under new provisions of the ACT Nature Conservation ACT 2014 , the ACT
Conservator of Fauna and Flora must report to the ACT Environment and Climate Change Minister
about the Plan at least once every five years.
Once finalised and approved by the Minister, the Plan will be tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
This will occur early in 2017.
Summary Comments
Consistent with my role as ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, my comments
address the following aspects of the Plan:
 whether prescribed burning has been considered as a measure to protect the site;
 if the potential of cultural burning has been discussed with Indigenous ACT Government
officers trained in this field;
 the importance of monitoring and recording all animal and plant species at the site, not just
the Northern Corroboree Frog, Broad-toothed Rat and Sphagnum bog; and
 developing a communications strategy that employs a range of media, including a short video
with drone footage promoting the importance of the site.

Ginini Flats Wetlands Complex by vegetation type from 2015 ACT State of the Environment Report

Context map of Ginini Flats. From the draft Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Ramsar Management Plan
2016 .

Ginini Flats Context
The Ginini Flats wetland is located within Namadgi National Park near the NSW/ACT border. It is
bordered to the west by Bimberi Nature Reserve managed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife
Service (NSW NPWS). Ginini covers 350 hectares.
Ginini Flats cannot be considered in isolation and must be considered within the context of the
broader landscape.
Ginini Flats. Image: ACT Government
Significance of Ginini Flats
 Ginini Flats Wetland Complex was designated as a Ramsar wetland of international
importance in 1996.
 It includes vegetation communities of sub-alpine sphagnum bogs, associated wet heath and
wet grassland habitats in a series of interconnected wetlands surrounded by snow gum
woodland.
 The site is
the largest intact Sphagnum
cristatum bog and fen
community in the Australian
Alps.
 The wetland provides a
range of ecosystem services
– the wetlands are located in
the upper reaches of the
Cotter River Catchment. The
Cotter River catchment is the
main water source for
Canberra. The wetlands play
a role in water filtration and
moderating run-
off. Sphagnum bogs are also
thought to play a role in
carbon storage.

Spaghnum bog at the nearby Cotter Flats. Image: Mark Jekabsons
Plants of Ginini Flats
The site includes vegetation communities of sub-alpine sphagnum bogs, associated wet heath and
wet grassland habitats in a series of interconnected wetlands surrounded by snow gum woodland.