Pressure is mounting on the rare swamp habitats and endangered animals of the Newnes Plateau in central western New South Wales, two ecologists say.

Swamps in the area are home to the endangered Blue Mountains Skink and the Giant Dragonfly.

Sydney University PhD student Sarsha Gorissen has spent years gathering data on the elusive Blue Mountains Skink, which lives in thick vegetation.

"Our conservation message to authorities is to protect this skink — we have to protect the habitat," she said.

"I think what's really important to know about this species, which hasn't been determined yet, is its distribution limit ... in order to protect the species properly we need to know where it lives."

The Giant Dragonfly moulting in the wild. ( Supplied: Ian Baird )

The Giant Dragonfly is a highly inquisitive and territorial insect. Adults have only a few weeks to breed a lay eggs into moist mires.

"They are big, feisty creatures, they are strong flyers, and they interact robustly," ecologist Ian Baird said.

In its long larval stage, the dragonfly spends about six years in swampy burrows, before emerging to moult.

"I've watched it several times. It's a bit of an ET thing — they just pull their head out and push out through the skin of their thorax," Dr Baird said.

Fires, back-burning 'harming endangered species'

Dr Baird said he was worried climate change would deliver hotter conditions, lowering water tables and drying surface peat.

"Once these swamps are damaged ... they are gone," Dr Baird said.

"They become invaded by trees, [the] ecosystems change. The lizards and dragonflies will have gone and they won't come back."

Ms Gorissen said an increase in frequent fires in recent years, including back-burning, impacts skinks.

"From our research we know that when there are more major fires, as in fires burning more than 75 per cent of the swamps area, we get fewer lizards," she said.

A report obtained by the ABC last month revealed serious concerns over the environmental impact of coal mining on the swampland.

Centennial Coal, which operates the Springvale underground coal mine near Lithgow, has said mining will have a minimal impact.

The company has committed to strict consent conditions, including 245 monitoring stations.

Dr Baird said risks to habitats were often overshadowed by economic arguments.

Sarsha Gorissen measures a skink before releasing it, as part of her research. ( ABC News )

"I believe the precautionary principle has been given lip service for a long time ... once impacts are detected it's probably too late," he said.

He said, despite protections, upland swamps had a history of damage.

"The swamps have suffered over the years from a lack of protection from off-road recreational vehicles, pine plantations, weeds, and urban development," he said.

Ms Gorissen said she hoped science could inform debate.

"I understand if people see them, it doesn't look like much," she said.

"It's a boggy area — not many people would choose to walk through it. But I know the secrets.

"I know what's in there. I know about two amazing threatened species that need a helping hand."