Reserve Management

Cravens Peak Reserve was run as a cattle grazing property for over 30 years on what can be described as marginal cattle country. The impact of this 30 year regime has resulted in overgrazing and erosion and reduction in the general health of the ecosystem.

Now that the cattle have been removed, management of the reserve involves reducing the threats to the biodiversity of Cravens Peak. Ongoing removal of feral herbivores, including cattle, camels and horses, will reduce the overall grazing pressure. Over several years we hope to see a rapid improvement in the condition of the Mitchell grass plains, wetland areas, and increase in the woodland vegetation between dune tops. Feral predator control will also be undertaken.

One of the most important aspects of management of Cravens Peak will be to implement a Fire Management Plan. Fire has had a long associated with the arid zone landscapes, effecting native fauna and flora characteristics. Wildfire, in particular, has a devastating effect on the structure of the vegetation communities and generally results in a monoculture of the fire loving spinifex in the dunefields. Mosaic burning, a modern version of Aboriginal fire-stick farming, will be undertaken on Cravens Peak to firstly reduce the likelihood of wildfires and secondly, create small pockets of vegetation in different stages of succession, providing a range of resources for the fauna of the desert.

Weed control, erosion control, and monitoring change in the environment are all part of the management process for the reserve.