Protecting the collared delma in South East Queensland

Improving understanding of fire and habitat management impacts to support the long-term conservation of the vulnerable collared delma.

Principal Project Manager, Dr Diana Virkki with the Vulnerable collared delma (Delma torquata).

The collared delma (Delma torquata) is one of Australia's smallest legless lizards and is listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act 1999.

Found primarily in scattered populations across South East Queensland, the species relies on rocky grassy woodland habitats that are increasingly threatened by urban development, invasive weeds and altered fire regimes.

Healthy Land & Water is partnering with Brisbane City Council to investigate how planned burning and habitat management influence collared delma populations within Anstead Bushland Reserve. The project will provide evidence-based recommendations to support future conservation and fire management decisions for this unique species.

What we are doing

Monitoring collared delma populations

Undertaking scientifically robust surveys before and after planned burns to better understand how collared delma populations respond to fire management activities.

Investigating habitat condition

Assessing habitat characteristics including native ground cover, rocky shelter sites, woody debris and vegetation structure to identify the conditions that support collared delma populations.

Evaluating fire management outcomes

Comparing collared delma abundance across burnt and unburnt areas to understand how planned burning influences habitat suitability and species persistence.

Supporting evidence-based land management

Providing ecological advice and recommendations to help guide future fire and habitat management decisions within Anstead Bushland Reserve.

Building knowledge for species conservationCapturing data and conducting surveys of collared delma habitats.

Generating baseline data and spatial information to support the long-term conservation and management of the vulnerable collared delma across South East Queensland.

Measuring success 

• Completion of pre- and post-burn collared delma surveys across monitoring sites within Anstead Bushland Reserve.
• Collection of habitat condition data to better understand factors influencing collared delma abundance.
• Development of a spatial dataset documenting collared delma observations
• Delivery of evidence-based recommendations to support future fire and habitat management.
• Improved knowledge of how planned burning and habitat restoration activities influence collared delma populations.

Why this project is important

Project snapshot

This project builds on research conducted as part of the “Improving the Trajectory of Collared Delma in South-East Queensland” project, which received grant funding from the Australian Government Saving Native Species Program and is a partnership between Lockyer Uplands Catchments Inc., Pullen Pullen Catchments Group and Kholo Creek Catchment Group.