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Abstract

Surveys by the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority have mapped the locations of

isolated breeding groups of endangered Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata. These populations occur

within highly specific mallee vegetation that are rare within the general mallee woodlands of

the western Lachlan catchment. Direct browsing competition between goats Capra hircus and

Malleefowl has created a difficult dilemma in balancing conservation outcomes and

maintaining income for landholders. In addition to installing a network of 56 water point goat

traps, the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority has developed a landscape scale fencing

method of passively removing feral goats from critical breeding habitat. Vegetation

monitoring sites indicate that removal of high density browsing has positive vegetation

outcomes for maintaining critical Malleefowl breeding habitat. In the long-term this new

innovative use of strategic fencing to create a system of controlled traffic to reduce the impact

of goat grazing in habitats of high conservation value while reducing landholder management

costs will make goats profitable under most financial situations yet promote biodiversity of

fragile western habitats.