Goal 1 in Nature Foundation's Strategic Plan: Towards 2030 is "Increasing areas of habitat are conserved and enhanced for future generations", and we are tackling this from the macro to the micro scale.
Tiliqua Nature Reserve is an 85-hectare pastoral landscape on Ngadjuri country in South Australia's mid-north, near Burra, and was acquired by Nature Foundation in 2010, the third to be added to the nature reserve network. Tiliqua remains the smallest of our ten nature reserves. Yet, it plays a mighty role in providing critical habitat for some of the smallest and most cryptic threatened species under our watch.
Tiliqua's landscape is classed as Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia, and this habitat type is listed nationally as a critically endangered ecological community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act (1999). The importance of this grassland reserve has been recognised, with Tiliqua now protected through a Native Vegetation Heritage Agreement since 2024. The nature reserve and its Iron-grass community offer critical habitat to three known threatened species: the nationally Endangered Pygmy Bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis), nationally Vulnerable Flinders Ranges worm-lizard (Aprasia pseudopulchella) and the Pale Sun-moth (Synemon selene), which is listed as Endangered in Victoria, but currently has no conservation rating in South Australia, likely due to lack of data.
Nature Foundation has been restoring the native grassland at Tiliqua since 2022, with a variety of Iron-grass (Lomandra multiflora ssp. dura, Lomandra densiflora, and Lomandra effusa), whose deep root systems help stabilise the soil. The plants also act as seed traps, which can support higher floral diversity.
A break in the wild early winter weather in mid-June provided the opportunity to add a further 300 Iron-grass and Kangaroo grass plants to the reserve, bringing the total planted since 2022 to 1,188.
The recent plantings expanded a previously revegetated area, offering a strategic opportunity for future population growth for Pygmy Bluetongue lizards across the reserve, with the area monitored through the annual population survey. Our team carefully examined the ground for Trapdoor and Wolf Spider burrows before digging holes for the seedlings, as once they have been vacated, these spider burrows are the preferred home of the Pygmy Bluetongue lizard.
A deep bowl was created around each seedling to help retain and concentrate water for the plants during both artificial and natural watering on the steep site. Seedlings were also protected by sturdy semi-permanent wire-mesh tree guards that shield them from grazing while allowing access for beneficial insects and small native species and supporting their role as seed traps.
In June 2026, the vegetation health survey showed an 88% survival rate, demonstrating the effectiveness of recent restoration efforts and protection measures, which are vital for the healthy establishment of plants during the region's longer, drier summers.
Revegetation areas will continue to be monitored regularly as part of our Biodiversity Monitoring Program, along with our species-specific surveys, to track the threatened species that take refuge at Tiliqua. We look forward to sharing these results with you.
The new seedlings and planting activity were supported through funding from the Waterloo Enterprise Community Foundation, administered by Bendigo Bank.