Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, ACT. VAST-2: Tracking the Transformation of Australia's Vegetated Landscapes

The aim of this project is to compile land use and management practices and their observed and measured impacts and effects on vegetation condition. The results provide land managers and researchers with a tool for reporting and monitoring spatial and temporal transformations of Australia’s native vegetated landscapes due to changes in land use and management practices. Following are the details about Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve.

Pre-European benchmark-analogue vegetation: the site was originally woodlands on the deeper soils of the lower slopes and flats (Eucalyptus blakelyi and Eucalyptus melliodora) (McIntyre et al. 2010).

Brief chronology of changes in land use and management:
1819: Area managed by indigenous Ngunnawal people
1826: Sheep grazing with shepherds commenced
1860: Fences constructed - continuous stocking with sheep commenced
1920: Fallen timber collected for firewood started
1994: Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve established
1995: Continuous stocking with sheep grazing ceased
1995: Collection of firewood ceased
1996: Kangaroo population begins to rapidly increase
2006: Predator proof fence completed
2008: Commenced annual removal of pest species of plants and animals
2010: Commenced annual kangaroo cull.