Why
The Stock Routes in New South Wales and Queensland have many values:
- They provide a valuable service to travelling stock, as well as an emergency drought refuge. With steeply rising fuel prices their use is likely to increase again.
- The light and intermittent grazing by travelling stock has ensured that the native vegetation is mostly in reasonable condition and that reservoirs of native seed persist. Biodiversity values have thus been conserved.
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Many stock routes cross cleared agricultural and pastoral landscapes and provide habitat for flora and fauna lost from the surrounding areas. The only surviving examples of some Regional Ecosystems are on stock routes. - In many places they are the only source of connectivity in the landscape, providing corridors for the movement of wildlife and plants.
- Stock routes incorporate a variety of local landforms, and vegetation types. Stock routes often contain fertile soils and much greater biodiversity than adjoining private grazed or cropped land.
- Some flora and fauna are likely to be adversely affected by climate change. Stock routes provide east-west and north-south corridors for these species west of the Dividing Range.
- The iconic Long Paddock also has cultural values associated with indigenous trade routes and sites of archaeological significance. Both indigenous and non-indigenous peoples have family and personal connections to certain stock routes. Stock routes have links with exploration and settlement.