australian terrestrial biodiversity assessment 2002 - Land and Water ...

THE ASSESSMENT
Threatened Species and
Ecosystems
Important information needed at the regional level
for biodiversity conservation is the occurrence of
threatened species and ecosystems, their threatening
processes, recommended recovery actions and the
resources required to effect improvement. This
information is vital for the development of catchment
plans, local government plans and other instruments
that seek to integrate biodiversity conservation with
natural resource management activities.
The Biodiversity Assessment has investigated the
conservation status of ecosystems as one means of
highlighting the need to maintain viable ecosystems
for the protection of biodiversity. An attempt was also
1. Habitat retention through reserves
2. Habitat protection on private lands
3. Habitat protection on other public lands
4. Regrowth retention
5. Fencing
6. Weed control
7. Feral animal control
8. Revegetation
To assist in the collation of results, a standardised list of
recovery actions was provided to agencies (Figure 9.1).
The existence of current State, Territory and
Commonwealth recovery plans are also recorded.
The recovery of threatened species and ecosystems
through inclusion in regional planning processes and
activities is dependent upon community capacity and
opportunity. It is also important to consider where
comparatively modest investments in conservation
measures might result in significant biodiversity gains.
Subregions were ranked in terms of threatened species
and ecosystems recovery opportunity within a series of
classes shown in Figure 9.2.
made to identify groups of threatened species based on
similar distribution, association with particular
ecosystems, similar threats or taxonomic affinity where
efficiency of scales might be achieved in planning
recovery actions, for example, grouping of threatened
coastal heath species or threatened upland rainforest
frog species. The difficulties experienced by States and
Territories in compiling this information indicate that
further work is needed if integrated management
activities are to be a key part of the response.
To contribute to regional recovery planning, the
Biodiversity Assessment has identified the threatened
species and ecosystems in each subregion based on
species records held by States and the Territories.
Where known, the range of recovery actions required
for these species has been listed.
9. Fire management
10. Translocation
11. Reinstatement of hydrology
12. Research
13. Capacity building required with community,
landholders, industry and institutions
14. Other
Figure 9.1 Range of recovery actions assessed for threatened species and ecosystems.
1. Major constraints to achieve conservation
outcomes e.g., due to level of habitat loss or
landscape condition
2. Significant off-reserve effort needed,
resource constraints, limited community
capacity
3. Relatively limited off-reserve effort will
result in significant biodiversity gains
4. Range of off-reserve measures required,
capacity exists and some achieved
biodiversity outcomes
5. Off-reserve measures significantly in place
Figure 9.2 Criteria used to rank opportunity for the recovery of threatened species and ecosystems across
subregions.
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Chapter 9