About Us(old page please refer to )

Vision for Black Mountain
Our vision is that Black Mountain be recognised as an icon of biodiversity in Canberra, the 'Bush Capital' of Australia
Vision for Friends of Black Mountain
Friends of Black Mountain alms to be the primary community voice for conserving
and promoting the biodiversity of Black Mountain.
Aims
The Friends of Black Mountain is a non-profit voluntary organisation dedicated to
conserving and promoting the biodiversity of Black Mountain. Its aims are to:
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Encourage interest in and develop knowledge and understanding of the natural,
cultural. recreational, scientific, educational and aesthetic values of Black Mountain.
Build a record of the reserve's biodiversity and values.
Promote its uniqueness within and beyond the ACT region.
Membership
Membership is open all people interested in the conservation and promotion of the
biodiversity of Black Mountain.
Activities
The Friends of Black Mountain Coordination Group organises a range of formal and
informal activities for:
Protecting the integrity of Black Mountain and its connectivity to adjoining nature
reserves.
Preserving the Belconnen Way, Caswell Drive and Frith Street approaches to Black
Mountain as the main access for recreational, educational, research and
conservation activities on the Mountain and as a wildlife corridor
Preserving the aesthetic values of Black Mountain.
Protecting the nature reserve for future generations of Canberrans and the nation.
Preserving the significance and unique features of the diverse range of soil biota,
geology, native flora and fauna so close to the centre of the National Capital.
Preserving the ecotourism value of Black Mountain for Canberra.
Preserving the living heritage value of Black Mountain.
Providing interpretation and education about Black Mountain.
Preserving the recreational and community values of Black Mountain. dddddddd

Values
Black Mountain is an icon, also described as the 'Jewel In the Crown' of the Canberra
urban reserve system, Canberra Nature Park It is the largest and most prominent.
and reserve in Canberra Nature Park and has unique biodiversity. The mountain is a
gem of natural, cultural, recreational, scientific, educational and aesthetic value.

Environmental values
Black Mountain is an outstanding dry sclerophyil forest on the Southem Tablelands.
Low altitude temperate open forest and temperate grassland are well recognised as
under threat across southeast Australia broadly, and Canberrås Black Mountain is a
very significant reserve of these types of vegetation;
The reserve is very rich floristically, with over 500 species of plants recorded — In one
place — in the heart of the Bush Capital;
Trees include scribbly gums, brittle gums and stringybarks, as well as yellow box, red
gum, apple box, Blakeley's gum, cherry ballarts and a small populations of black
cypress pines Then there is a diverse array of wattles, heaths, daisies and
everlastings, native peas, grasses, sedges, and bluebells - plus a myriad of other
plant diversity such as fringed lilies, sundews, geebungs, guinea flowers, indigo,
sarsparilla, and lilies
Two significant endangered ecological communities are also represented in the
Reserve: natural temperate grassland and yellow box/red gum grassy woodland;
The Reserve is renowned for its orchids; so far, more than 60 species of orchids have
been recorded as being on Black Mountain in the Field Guide to the Orchids of the
Australian Capital Territory The management plan for Canberra Nature Park also
notes the Importance of the orchids recorded on Black Mountain at the time it was
published as representing two thirds of the total orchid diversity recorded for the
More than 90 species of birds have been recorded on Black Mountain cr.'er the years.
Many of these species depend on the relatively und sturbed breeding habitats in the
northern and western parts of the Reserve
The Caswell Drive area is also a wildlife corridor that is important for the Black
Mountain kangaroo population.
Ecologically, the mountaiås key feature IS the survival of the native plant understorey
and groundcover and the animal communities that depend on them;
Records of mammals on the mountain include kangaroos and swamp wallabies, the
wallaroo, brush-tailed and ring-tailed possums, echidnas, dunnarts, Stuar&
marsupial mouse and the yellow-footed marsupial mouse, sugar gliders, and nine
species of bat;
Reptiles include three snake species, mne species of skink, and seven lizard species,
including dragone There are also nine frog species, two rare cricket species, and two
scorpion species;
Black Mountain has unique geology and soil biota in the ACT
The reserve is an immensely valuable scientific and educational resource
botanically, and the conservation of this remnant area is dependent on minimal
fragmentation and absence of ecological barriers to other elements of Canberra
Nature Park
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Heritage values
This nature reserve holds a special place In Australian biology, because of its place
in scientific nomenclature. Due to its location next to CSIRO Herbarium and
Entomology, many of Australia's plant and insect species have been described on
Black Mountain
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Education values
Black Mountain is used for a variety of educational purposes, including spring and
summer wildflower walks conducted by local volunteers.
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Recreational and community values
Black Mountain is used by people from all over Canberra as a place to relax, look at
wildflower displays, watch birds, or simply recharge by recreation that has minimal
damage on the natural environment, consistent with appreciation, conservation and
preservation of the natural environment on Black Mountain.
Acknowledgement of Country
Molonglo Conservation Group acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land our studio stands on, the Ngunnawal people and extends this respect to all First Nations peoples, including Elders past, present and emerging.
This site is managed in partnership with Molonglo Conservation Group
Molonglo Conservation Group acknowledges the funding assistance provided through the Australian Government's National Landcare Programme Regional Investment Strategy, various ACT Government environment and heritage programs, and various NSW Government programs.




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