Livingstone National Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Livingstone National Park New South Wales
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Livingstone National Park Location in New South Wales
Nearest town or city	Mangoplah
Established	January 2001
Area	19.19 km2 (7.4 sq mi)
Managing authorities	New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service
See also	Protected areas of New South Wales

Livingstone is a special place in New South Wales, Australia. It's a national park and state conservation area. You can find it about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Wagga Wagga and 10 kilometers (6 miles) east of Mangoplah. This amazing park is located in the South West Slopes region.

Livingstone National Park: A Look Back

Livingstone National Park has an interesting history! It started as a "State Forest" in 1915. This meant its timber was protected for the town of Junee. A train line was even built nearby to help carry the timber.

Later, experts from the New South Wales Forestry Commission discovered how unique this forest was. They found it was one of the last of its kind. Studies also showed it was home to a rare group of squirrel gliders. These gliders have only two known groups left in southern New South Wales! The forest also had three types of orchids and over 100 kinds of native birds.

In 1976, a group called the Wagga Wildlife and Conservation Society asked for the forest to become a national park. They wanted to protect it from threats. However, their request was not approved at that time. Finally, in January 2001, the state forest officially became Livingstone National Park. It covers a large area of 1,919 hectares (about 4,742 acres).

What You Can See and Do at Livingstone

Livingstone National Park is full of different types of plants. You can see grass trees, mallee shrubs, kangaroo grass, and open forest areas.

This park is also part of a very important area for birds. It's called the South West Slopes of NSW Important Bird Area (IBA). BirdLife International chose this area because it's super important for protecting swift parrots and superb parrots.

If you visit, there are fun things to do! You can enjoy a multi-use track. This track is perfect for walking, riding your bike, or even horse riding.

Amazing Plants of Livingstone

Livingstone National Park is like a living museum! It shows us what the landscape in the South West Slopes looked like a long time ago. This was before farms and towns changed so much of the land. It's the only public area in the South West Slopes with tall shrubland on its high plateaus.

The park has six different types of plant communities. Most are open forests and woodlands. But that tall shrubland on the plateau tops is very special. Livingstone also protects the vulnerable Yass Daisy (Ammobium craspedioides). This flower is rare, and the park is at the edge of where it grows.

Some of the plant communities in the park are considered endangered. For example, the White Box, Red Box, and Blakely's Red Gum trees in the park are part of an endangered group. This group is known as the White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Woodland.

Sadly, much of this woodland has been cleared for farming. Experts say that about 90% of these woodlands were cleared since people settled here. This makes places like Livingstone National Park incredibly important. They are like islands of nature in a landscape that has changed a lot.

Livingstone is special because it has a healthy tree layer and plants growing underneath. It hasn't been disturbed much. Its large size and different plant types make it a vital place for protecting nature in the South West Slopes.

Wonderful Wildlife of Livingstone

Livingstone National Park is a crucial home for many animals. It's especially important for birds!

Swift Parrots

The park is a key feeding spot for Swift parrots (Lathamus discolour). These parrots fly all the way from Tasmania each winter! They come to mainland Australia looking for nectar and insects. There are fewer than 2,500 Swift Parrots left. They often return to the same places, so parks like Livingstone are vital for their survival.

Swift Parrots are listed as endangered in New South Wales and across Australia. They are also recognized as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Protecting Livingstone National Park helps follow plans to save these amazing birds. Volunteers even help track these birds across Australia!

The Ironbark tree (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) is very important for Swift Parrots. Many Ironbark trees have been removed from other areas. So, places like Livingstone, which still have these trees, are highly valued by BirdLife Australia. This is why the South West Slopes is an Important Bird Area for these parrots.

Superb Parrots

Livingstone National Park is also a breeding ground for the Superb Parrot (Polytelis swainsonii). This species is vulnerable. Superb Parrots can move their homes if their habitat changes. The South West Slopes is an important area for them. Here, they feed and nest in Box Gum Woodlands.

Superb Parrots love dead, older, and larger Blakely's Red Gum trees (Eucalyptus blakelyi). These trees often have hollows, which are perfect for nesting. Livingstone National Park helps protect these important dead trees. This is because the park has been preserved for a long time. It offers a safe place where these trees can remain, unlike many other areas where dead trees are often removed.

Bush Stone-curlews

The Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) is another vulnerable species found here. It relies on leaf litter and debris on the ground for camouflage. This helps protect its young from predators like foxes. The park's protection means these important natural features are kept safe.

Protecting Livingstone's Future

Climate change brings new challenges for places like Box Gum Woodlands. It also affects Australia's unique animals, like the Superb Parrot and Swift Parrot. These species already face problems from their homes being broken up. Livingstone National Park offers a rare safe haven from these pressures.

Experts believe that many Australian animals will need to move their homes as the climate warms. They might move to different areas or higher elevations. Livingstone National Park is in a great spot for this. It lies between the Riverina Plains and the South West Slopes. This allows species to move from west to east and gain elevation if needed.

Livingstone National Park is a large area in a landscape that has been changed a lot by farming. This means natural processes can happen more freely. It also helps protect threatened species. Its size means it's less likely to have problems like too many weeds or predators from outside the park.

However, being an "island" of habitat can still be a challenge. It can be hard for small groups of animals to move around. This can reduce their chances to breed and keep their populations healthy.

Connecting Livingstone with other natural areas is very important. These "corridor linkages" or "stepping stones" can help animals move and find new mates. This helps keep their genes strong. While the park's management plan mentions these connections, they need more focus.

Working with neighbors and other groups to create these connections is key. This will help threatened species survive as the climate changes. Protecting existing species, linking habitats, reducing threats like invasive animals, and managing fire are all important steps. These actions give Australian species the space they need to adapt to a changing world.