Current projects 

Rosenberg's Goanna Project:
•  (PM Don Fletcher) Two species of goannas (aka monitors, varanids) were once among the most important predators in our region. The Tree Goanna (Varanus varius) has almost disappeared. Rosenberg’s Goanna (V. rosenbergi) is still abundant enough in one part of Namadgi NP to enable research. The project aims to: Improve our understanding of habitat use and movements of Rosenberg's Goanna in Namadgi using GPS tracking devices and wildlife cameras. Develop more effective survey methods than ones currently recommended to detect goannas in environmental impact surveys. Expand the tracking study to learn generally about the local goanna population and in particular find out whether their extraordinary movements are restricted to male goannas and whether all males in the population are involved. Further evaluate the conservation status of goannas in Namadgi and the region, considering their movement behaviour. NPA ACT has funded some of this project. [Use "Goanna" as reference] 
• (Jason Dobry) Measure the DNA of some Rosenberg's Goanna in the ACT funded by a grant from the NPA ACT Bubb fund.
• (Kevin McCue) Measure the temperature inside and outside two Nasutitermes exitiosus mounds in the Naas Valley for a year to compare with Kangaroo Island results. Funded through the NPAACT Bubb fund.

The Annual Honours Scholarship at ANU Fenner School: We fully fund a scholarship for Honours Year students known as the 'National Parks Association of the A.C.T. Honours Scholarship in Biodiversity Management in National Parks and Nature Reserves'. The aim of the scholarship is to enable young researchers and practitioners to undertake quality research in areas pertaining to the conservation of flora and fauna in National Parks and Nature Reserves in the A.C.T. and surrounding areas. [Use "Scholars" as reference] (PM Rosemary Hollow)

Work Parties: Our work parties, that are supervised by Park Rangers, have costs associated with tools, equipment and other incidentals such as protective clothing, and First Aid courses which we fund. [Use "WorkParties" as reference] (PM Martin Chalk)

Publications: Our whole range of publications, especially Field Guides, require professional graphic design which we have to buy in. Donations towards this expensive work are most appreciated. [Use "Pubs" as reference] (PM Kevin McCue)

Ferals and Reclaim Kosci. A “Grand Coalition” of regional environmental and bushwalking groups was formed to protest the NSW legislation protecting feral horses in Kosciuszko NP. The group includes NPA ACT, NPA NSW, Canberra Bushwalking Club, Invasive Species Council (ISC), Conservation Council ACT, NSW Nature Conservancy and others. We continue to support 'Reclaim Kosci'. For more information see http://reclaimkosci.org. (PM Cynthia Burton)

Completed projects

The Little Eagle Project: The Little Eagle Research Group is an informal, collaborative group formed in 2017, to monitor and assess the status and ecology of the Little Eagle in the ACT and nearby NSW, and in particular to provide information relevant to protection of the Lower Molonglo and Ginninderra pairs of Little Eagles. The group draws membership from the Conservation Research Unit of the ACT Government (three members), the CSIRO (two members), researchers associated with the Australian National University (three members) and the Ginninderry Group (1 member). An observer from the University of New England has recently joined. The group has established a set of research aims and objectives, undertaken targeted searches for and watched territory-holding pairs of Little Eagles, monitored nests, collected pellets and analysed food remains, purchased and attached GPS satellite transmitters to birds, positioned nest cameras at a few locations and undertaken short written science communications to provide information on the new Little Eagle conservation status and findings.

The Grassland Earless Dragon Project: The Grassland Earless Dragon, Tympanocryptis pinguicolla, is one of Australia’s most endangered reptiles. (See page 49 of our Reptiles and Frogs guide). Once occurring in temperate grasslands across southeastern Australia, T.pinguicolla now exists in only a few small and fragmented populations in the ACT/Queanbeyan area and near Cooma (NSW). Reasons for its decline are varied but include habitat clearance and fragmentation and more subtle causes such as habitat degradation (through stock or kangaroo grazing) or other agricultural practices. Climate change is also likely to increase the threats to this species. In collaboration with the ACT Government, the University of Canberra has collected mark-recapture data from populations of the species using back-pattern recognition. In this project, the student surveyed the lizard in key population localities within the ACT, combine this data with captures from previous years, and then used the total dataset to develop a population dynamic model for the species. The goal was to predict the future population trajectories for the species and its likelihood of extinction. 

Rakali (Native Water Rat) Project: The Australian Platypus Conservancy (APC) is promoting a survey of the Australian native water rat Hydromys chrysogaster or Rakali to better understand how the population is recovering from the brink of extinction. NPA ACT and The Field Naturalists Association of the ACT have agreed to organise a survey of these cute white-tipped-tailed rodents in the ACT, all sightings with photos should be reported to Canberra Nature Map, starting now http://canberra.naturemapr.org The Norman Wettenhall Foundation has supported the ACT project with a grant of $10,000. NPA ACT itself also substantially contributed towards this project. 

The Fire Management Project: Investigating avenues to facilitate use of the Forest Flammability Model to more widely to address significant questions in the evolution, ecology and management of flammability. Two approaches will be: investigation of more efficient ways of collecting input data, such the use of LiDAR and remote sensing; and forging of collaborations with researchers in Australia and internationally. NPA ACT funded this project.

If you have any queries please contact a member of the committee.