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The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve: Final

The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve: Final

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Management response Target areas or habitats Cave-dwelling<br />

species affected<br />

Ensure potential changes to temperature and<br />

humidity is included in any impact assessment<br />

when upgrading or installing new infrastructure in<br />

the caves.<br />

Consider the cumulative impact <strong>of</strong> management<br />

actions on the temperature and humidity <strong>of</strong> caves.<br />

Interference by the public<br />

Continue to follow the cave access policy and<br />

guidelines for mitigating human impacts on cave<br />

values (DECCW 2010a, 2010c)<br />

Continue implementation <strong>of</strong> the permit system<br />

for non-show caves with restrictions on accessing<br />

known bat roosts in the cooler months, and<br />

complete closure to the public <strong>of</strong> bat roosts in<br />

winter.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re should be no access permits granted to<br />

identified important bat roosts, especially during<br />

hibernation, unless significant cause is given (as<br />

per DECCW 2010c).<br />

Develop a management plan for Mammoth<br />

Cave that formalises the strategies that must be<br />

taken by cave guides and speleological groups to<br />

avoid impacting roosting bats, particularly during<br />

hibernation.<br />

Provide education for visitors and permit<br />

applicants on ways to minimise impacts on cave<br />

fauna e.g. not approaching roosting bats, touching<br />

or feeding animals, and keeping noise to a<br />

minimum.<br />

Noise<br />

Within the caves, avoid construction and<br />

maintenance in winter when bats are vulnerable<br />

to disturbance.<br />

Within the caves, avoid noisy activities where<br />

sooty owls are nesting. This will usually be in<br />

winter. Ensure known nesting sites are not being<br />

used before planning outdoor concerts or<br />

construction works.<br />

Sealing up or inappropriate gating <strong>of</strong> cave entrances<br />

Follow policy directives outlined in the OEH cave<br />

gating guidelines (DECCW 2010b)<br />

Avoid new gating on natural cave entrances<br />

where bats are present<br />

Use copola or cage gates where possible to allow<br />

for bats that will not fly though vertical exits<br />

Position gates where they will not interfere with<br />

air flow or water regimes.<br />

Ensure new or upgraded gates are designed to<br />

minimise impacts on bats. Site assessment and<br />

consultation with a bat ecologist and monitoring is<br />

advised.<br />

Gate installation should not occur at critical<br />

points in the lifecycle <strong>of</strong> cave-dwelling fauna.<br />

All developed caves where bats<br />

are known to roost.<br />

All developed caves where bats<br />

are known to roost.<br />

Cave-dwelling bats.<br />

Cave-dwelling bats.<br />

All caves. All cave-dwelling fauna.<br />

All wild caves where large<br />

colonies <strong>of</strong> bats roost.<br />

All cave-dwelling bats.<br />

Paradox Cave. Eastern bentwing-bat.<br />

Mammoth Cave. Eastern bentwing-bat,<br />

eastern horseshoe bat.<br />

All caves where vertebrate<br />

fauna occur.<br />

All developed caves where bats<br />

roost.<br />

Known and potential sooty owl<br />

nesting sites.<br />

All caves where bats are known<br />

to occur.<br />

All caves where bats are known<br />

to occur.<br />

All caves where bats are known<br />

to occur.<br />

All caves where vertebrate<br />

fauna occur.<br />

Any gated cave where bats are<br />

known to roost or have roosted<br />

in the past.<br />

All caves where vertebrate<br />

fauna occur.<br />

All cave-dwelling fauna.<br />

All cave-dwelling bats.<br />

Sooty owl.<br />

All cave-dwelling bats.<br />

All cave-dwelling bats.<br />

All cave-dwelling bats.<br />

All cave-dwelling fauna.<br />

All cave-dwelling bats.<br />

All cave-dwelling fauna<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Vertebrate</strong> <strong>Fauna</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jenolan</strong> <strong>Karst</strong> <strong>Conservation</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong> 123

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