Bezzants Lease
Where we work / Great Divide / Bezzants Lease
- Acquired:
- 2011
- Area:
- 2,535 ha
- Bioregion:
- New England Tableland
- Habitat:
- Montane peatlands and swamps of the New England tableland, New England peppermint woodland on basalts and sediments in the New England tableland Bioregion, White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland, at least seven other plant communities
- Threatened Ecological Communities:
- 3
- Threatened and Near-Threatened Species:
- 19
Reserve Overview
Bezzants Lease is a 2,535-hectare reserve located near Deepwater in northern NSW, just west of the Great Dividing Range at around 1,000 m elevation. Endeavour Conservation acquired the property in 2011 to protect its exceptionally intact ecosystems.
The reserve features striking old growth forests, dramatic granite outcrops, and extensive wetlands. While still recovering from the 2019 bushfires, its core ecological values remain strong.
PROTECTING Wildlife, sustaining life
Species and Habitats
Bezzants Lease protects three Endangered Ecological Communities:
- Montane Peatlands and Swamps of the New England Tableland
- New England Peppermint Woodland on Basalts and Sediments in the New England Tableland Bioregion
- White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland.
The reserve also protects at least seventeen threatened fauna species and two threatened flora species.
Threatened fauna species include:
- Spotted-tailed Quoll – endangered
- Koala – endangered
- Greater Glider – endangered
- Yellow-bellied glider – vulnerable
- Greater Broad-nosed Bat – vulnerable
- Little Bentwing-bat – vulnerable
- Eastern Cave Bat – vulnerable
- Eastern Long-eared Bat – vulnerable
- Glossy Black-Cockatoo – vulnerable
- Varied Sittella – vulnerable
- Barking Owl – vulnerable
- Powerful Owl – vulnerable
- Sutton’s Crayfish – endangered
Conservation Highlights
Bezzants Lease protects three endangered ecological communities and supports at least 19 threatened species. A total of 470 native plant species have been recorded on the reserve.
Threatened fauna include the endangered Spotted-tailed Quoll, Koala, Greater Glider, and Sutton’s Crayfish. The reserve also provides habitat for vulnerable species such as the Yellow-bellied Glider, Greater Broad-nosed Bat, Little Bentwing-bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Eastern Long-eared Bat, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Varied Sittella, Barking Owl, and Powerful Owl.
The presence of these species underscores the ecological value of Bezzants Lease and the importance of its ongoing protection.
