• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important in 2009 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus	VU	resident	1998-2008	12 individuals	A1
Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii	LC	resident	2002-2004	85-105 individuals	A1, A2
Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea	LC	non-breeding	1998-2008	uncommon	A1
Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata	VU	resident	1998-2008	uncommon	A1

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2009) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2009. The most recent assessment (2020) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	poor (40-69%)	poor (40-69%)	very unfavourable
Wetlands (inland)	very poor (< 40%)	very poor (< 40%)	very unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high
Natural system modifications	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Agricultural expansion and intensification	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Pollution	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	high
Climate change and severe weather	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	slow but significant deterioration	high
Biological resource use	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Some of site covered (10-49%)	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
-	Tocumwal Regional Park	Regional Reserve	-
1982	Barmah Forest	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	11
1986	Strathmerton H31	Natural Features Reserve - Bushland Reserve	<1
1986	Strathmerton H29	Natural Features Reserve - Bushland Reserve	<1
1986	Echuca South	Natural Features Reserve - Bushland Reserve	<1
1987	Barmah	State Park	3
1990	Top Island	Reference Area	<1
1990	Top End	Reference Area	<1
1992	Goulburn River	Heritage River	<1
2003	NSW Central Murray State Forests	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	14
2003	Moira B.R.	Natural Features Reserve	<1
2003	Picola B.R.	Natural Features Reserve	<1
2003	Lower Moira B.R.	Natural Features Reserve	<1
2004	Yielima B.R	Natural Features Reserve	<1
2007	Nurmurkah - Picola rail line B.R.	Natural Features Reserve	<1
2008	Strathmerton B.R.	Natural Features Reserve	<1
2008	Moira H14 B.R.	Natural Features Reserve	<1
2010	Murray Valley	National Park	13
2010	Barmah National Park	National Park	11
2010	Murray Valley	Regional Park	2
2010	Lower Goulburn National Park	National Park	1
2010	Nathalia N.C.R.	Natural Features Reserve	<1

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Artificial/Terrestrial	Arable land, Improved grassland & pasture	major (>10)
Forest	Callitris forests & woodlands, Eucalypt tall open forests	major (>10)
Wetlands (inland)	Permanent herbaceous swamps & bogs	minor (<10)

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
agriculture	major (>10)
forestry	major (>10)
rangeland/pastureland	major (>10)

The forests are mostly NSW State Forest; (Barma State Forest, Deniliquin State Forest, Gulpa Island State Forest, Millewa State Forest, Moira State Forest, Native Dog State Forest, Thornley State Forest, Tuppal State Forest) with about 10% in protected areas in NSW (including Moira Lakes Flora Reserve, Reedbeds Exclosure, Langmans Road Exclosure, Bullatale Flora Reserve, Island Sanctuary Deniliquin, Sand-dune Pine Flora Reserve, Tea Tree Road Exclosure) and Victoria (Barmah State Forest, Echuca Regional Park and Barmah State Park) and several small exclosures, flora reserves, roadsides and other reserves. The farmland is mostly private.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barmah-Millewa (Australia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barmah-millewa-iba-australia on 22/11/2024.