Mondurup Reserve Hygiene Plan

($19,400) commenced January 2012 and completed Dec 2012: This project has mapped the distribution and extent of the invasive pathogen species (Phytophthora cinnamomi) in the Mondurup Reserve to assist in the development of a hygiene plan. This hygiene plan has enabled management decisions to be made to protect the biodiversity within the reserve from 'dieback' decline. Dieback kills numerous species of structurally and floristically dominant plant families such as the Proteaceae and Myrtaceae from ecosystems which in turn threatens the existence of rare flora and fauna dependant on these ecosystems. Areas protectable from the effects of dieback can be demarcated and access prevented especially in the wetter months to prevent infection of susceptible species to maintain biodiversity.By identifying infected areas and non infected areas, strategies can be put in place to reduce the spread in protectable areas, such as restricting public vehicle access especially in wet weather, encouraging the use of foot baths; installing gates to allow emergency access such as fire control; public awareness raising by erecting signage and media articles and foot baths for pedestrians. Signage and gates have been installed which has seen a dramatic reduction in illegal activity in the Reserve.