Editing Kosciuszko National Park (section)

==Ecology==
[[File:Snow Gum on the Dead Horse Gap Walk.jpg|thumb|Snow gum at tree line along Dead Horse Gap Walk, Kosciuszko National Park]]

The Kosciuszko National Park covers a variety of climatic regions which support several distinct [[ecosystem]]s.

That which is most closely identified with the park, the alpine area above the [[tree line]], is one of the most fragile and covers the smallest area. This area is a patchwork of alpine [[Heath (habitat)|heath]]s, [[herbfield]]s, [[feldmark]]s, [[bog]]s and [[fen]]s. The windswept [[feldmark]] [[ecotope]] is endemic to the alpine region, and covers a mere {{Convert|300000|m2|abbr=on}}. It is most vulnerable to the wandering footsteps of unmindful tourists.

Nine separate [[wilderness]] zones have been identified in the latest management scheme.<ref>[http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/k_np_mgmtplan DECC | Kosciuszko National Park – plan of management] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003060414/http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/k_np_mgmtplan |date=3 October 2006 }}</ref> These include the Indi, Byadbo, Pilot, Jagungal, Bogong Peaks, Goobarragandra, Western Falls, Bramina and Bimberi wilderness areas.

===Fauna===
Many rare or threatened plant and animal species occur within the boundaries of the park.

The park is home to one of Australia's most threatened species: the [[corroboree frog]]. The endangered [[mountain pygmy possum]] and the more common [[dusky antechinus]] are located in the high country of the park.

There are also significant populations of [[Invasive species in Australia|feral animals]] in the park, including [[brumby|brumbies]] or wild horses. Park authorities have coordinated their [[cull]]ing and relocation,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/16/2139601.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117105959/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/16/2139601.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 January 2008 |title=Environmentalists call for aerial brumby cull |access-date=2008-01-16 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=16 January 2008 }}</ref> leading to public controversy over how to reduce their numbers. The actual number of horses within the park is also difficult to ascertain with estimates ranging from 1,700 in 2008 increasing by 300 each year,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/16/2139601.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117105959/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/16/2139601.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 January 2008 |title=Environmentalists call for aerial brumby cull |access-date=2015-01-03 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=16 January 2008 }}</ref> 7,679 in 2009,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dawson|first1=Michelle|title=2009 Aerial Survey of feral Horses in the Australian Alps |url=http://theaustralianalps.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/2009feralhorsealpssurvey.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815080643/http://theaustralianalps.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/2009feralhorsealpssurvey.pdf |archive-date=2014-08-15 |url-status=live |work=The Australian Alps|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref> and from 2,500 to 14,000 in 2013–2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thistleton|first1=John|title=Kosciuszko wild horses should be culled, says activist|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/kosciuszko-wild-horses-should-be-culled-says-activist-20140725-zt2y9.html|access-date=3 January 2015|work=The Canberra Times|date=26 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Singhal|first1=Pallavi|last2=Elliot|first2=Tim|title=Aerial culling of brumbies in Snowy Mountains: controversial ban to remain|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/world/australia/aerial-culling-of-brumbies-in-snowy-mountains-controversial-ban-to-remain-20150103-12h144.html|access-date=3 January 2015|work=The Canberra Times|date=3 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Wild horses 'damaging alpine ecosystem'|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/wild-horses-damaging-alpine-ecosystem-20130526-2n61v.html|access-date=3 January 2015|work=The Canberra Times|agency=AAP|date=27 May 2013}}</ref> In 2016 the population was estimated to be 6,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-01/plans-to-drastically-reduce-snowy-mountains-brumby-population/7373634 |title=NSW Government to cull 90pc of brumbies in Kosciusko National Park over next 20 years |date=1 May 2016 |website=abc.net.au |publisher=ABC News |access-date=29 October 2018}}</ref> By 2019, this number was found to have more than doubled to 25,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/feral-horse-population-out-of-control-in-the-alps-25-000-run-free-20191216-p53khb.html |title=Feral horse population out of control in the Alps: 25,000 run free |date=16 December 2019 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> A 2020 survey placed the number at 14,380.<ref name="awf">{{cite web |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/a-way-forward--final-kosciuszko-wild-horse-plan-released |title=A way forward - final Kosciuszko wild horse plan released |date=24 November 2021 |website=www.environment.nsw.gov.au |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=25 November 2021 }}</ref> Since the resumption of aerial shooting in Kosciuszko National Park, a total of 5,539 feral horses have been culled. In addition, 427 horses have been removed using other methods such as [[trapping]], [[Animal shelter|rehoming]], and ground shooting. According to the latest population surveys conducted in October 2023, it is estimated that there are still approximately 17,000 feral horses in the park.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cox |first=Lisa |date=2024-05-25 |title=More than 5,000 feral horses culled in Kosciuszko national park since aerial shooting resumed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/25/more-than-5000-feral-horses-culled-in-kosciuszko-national-park-since-aerial-shooting-resumed |access-date=2024-05-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
[[File:Kosciuszko National Park map Stevage.png|thumb|413x413px|Map of the national park. The [[Australian Alps Walking Track]] is shown in yellow.]]
In June 2021, Federal environment minister [[Sussan Ley]] wrote to the NSW environment minister [[Matt Kean]] saying she planned to introduce regulation under federal environmental laws to protect the park, because the state was failing in its obligation to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-26|title=Alpine brumbies: destructive feral hoofed beasts or a heritage breed to protect?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/27/alpine-brumbies-destructive-feral-hoofed-beasts-or-a-heritage-breed-to-protect|access-date=2021-06-28|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> A management plan for the wild horses was released on 24 November 2021.<ref name="awf"/> By June 2027 numbers are planned to be culled down to 3,000.<ref name="awf"/>

===Flora===
Much of the park is dominated by alpine woodlands, characterised by the [[Eucalyptus pauciflora|snow gum]]. [[Montane forest|Montane]] and wet [[sclerophyll]] forest also occur across the ranges, supporting large stands of [[eucalyptus delegatensis|alpine ash]] and [[eucalyptus regnans|mountain gum]]. In the southern [[Byadbo, New South Wales|Byadbo]] wilderness area, dry sclerophyll and [[acacia|wattle]] forests predominate. Amongst the many different native trees in the park, the large [[Ulmus parvifolia|Chinese elm]] has become naturalised.

Much of the tree cover in the lower sections of the park was seriously burned in [[Canberra bushfires of 2003|bushfires in 2003]]. Fires are a natural feature of the park ecosystem, but it will take some time for the region to return to its pre 2003 condition.