Managing biodiversity in Tumut, Australia

Indicator: Managing biodiversity

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What the results tell us for Tumut

Summary

49% of all vegetation ecosystems in the Shire are assessed as being adequately represented in the dedicated reserve network (see Table 1).

Eleven out of a possible 13 highly or moderately dysfunctional vegetation ecosystems are not adequately represented in the dedicated reserve network (see Table 2).

Around 123 800 hectares are protected within International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) categories I-IV. In addition, around 33 000 hectares are protected in Crown Reserves in the Shire - IUCN category V (see Table 3). (Total area of the Shire is 375 200 hectares.)

Three biogeographic regions are represented in Tumut Shire - the South-East Highlands biogeographic region (approximately half), the NSW South-Western Slopes (approximately one-third), and the Australian Alps (approximately one-eighth) (Thackway and Cresswell, 1995).

There have been no known extensions of conservation areas or nature reserves declared in Tumut Shire to June 2000, nor conservation agreements struck over private land.

Thirty-one fauna species in the Shire were listed as endangered or vulnerable at the end of the reporting period. At the end of the reporting period there were believed to be at least five flora species listed as endangered or vulnerable in the Shire. Existence of both flora and fauna threatened species within the Shire need to be further confirmed with National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Recovery plans have been completed for two fauna species nationally, whilst at the State level, draft plans have been completed or two fauna species and plans are in preparation for a further six species.

Wildlife corridors have been generally identified although some more work is required. Details appear below.

Protection of ecological communities in public and private lands

Table 1 provides a first attempt at a summary of the adequacy of representation in the conservation management system of the 39 vegetation ecosystem types in the Tumut Shire. In brief, 17 of the 26 functional or moderately functional vegetation ecosystems in the Tumut Shire are considered to be adequately represented in the network of dedicated reserves. For this exercise, and in the absence of specific data on vegetation ecosystems covered by off-reserve conservation agreements, adequacy of representation in the conservation management network has been assessed as 40% of the original cover. (Smith et al (2000) have indicated that there should be no less than 70% of the original extent of any ecosystem, if that ecosystem functionality is to be maintained.) (Ecosystem functionality is described in 'About the Data' for Ecosystem diversity.)

By contrast there are 11 of a possible 13 dysfunctional ecosystems, which have considerably less than 40% of their estimated original size represented in the conservation management network (Table 2).

Table 3 shows detailed information from which the data in Tables 1 and 2 have been derived, including hectares protected within each vegetation ecosystem and IUCN categories are described in About the Data below.)

The ecosystem functionality assessments in this Report were based on data from the Southern and Eden Forests Regional Forest Assessment project. The ecosystems and subsequent analysis require on-ground verification and this should happen as the Ecosystem diversity indicator is developed.

Three of the four biogeographic regions that occur in the Australian Capital Region are represented in Tumut Shire. This demonstrates considerable variety in the landscape features and biodiversity of the Shire. The broadscale vegetation of the biogeographic regions (IBRA) that occur in Tumut Shire are described by Thackway and Cresswell (1995) (see About the Data).

Table 1. Summary of ecosystem representation in dedicated reserves, Tumut Shire
Ecosystem Functionality	Adequate	Inadequate	Total
S Highly Dysfunctional	2	8	10
R Moderately Dysfunctional	0	3	3
M Moderately Functional	6	6	12
I Functional	11	3	14
Totals	19	20	39
% of Total with adequate representation	49%

Table 2. Dysfunctional ecosystems - inadequate within the conservation management network, Tumut Shire
Legend Number	Ecosystem Description
43	Western Slopes River Red Gum Riparian Moist Sedge Woodland
160	Central Highlands Blakelys Red Gum-Yellow Box Dry Grass Woodland
161	Tablelands and Slopes Yellow Box Dry Herb-Grassy Woodland
154	Tablelands Apple Box Dry Grassy Woodland
117	Western Slopes White Box Dry Grass Woodland
120	Western Slopes Red Stringybark-White Box Dry Shrub-Herb-Grassy Forest
116	Western Slopes Blakely's Red Gum Herb-Grassy Woodland
148	Tableland Swamp Tussock Grass-Carex Grassland /Sedgeland/ Open Woodland
118	Western Slopes Red Ironbark-Red Box Dry Grass Forest
119	Western Tablelands Red Box-Red Stringybark Dry Shrub/Grass Forest
94	South West Slopes Red Stringybark-Apple Box Acacia Dry Herb-Grassy Forest

Table 3. Areas of ecosystems within the conservation management network, Tumut Shire
Legend Number	Ecosystem Description	Ecosystem Function	% Cleared	% of Pre1750 Area in Conservation Management Network	Dedicated Reserves (hectares) (IUCN Categories I,II,III,IV)	SFNSW & Crown Reserves (hectares) (IUCN Category V,VI)	Outside Conservation Management Network (hectares)
43	Western Slopes River Red Gum Riparian Moist Sedge Woodland	S	100%	0.0%	-	-	12.9
160	Central Highlands Blakelys Red Gum-Yellow Box Dry Grass Woodland	S	100%	0.0%	-	-	24.4
161	Tablelands and Slopes Yellow Box Dry Herb-Grassy Woodland	S	100%	0.0%	-	-	-
154	Tablelands Apple Box Dry Grassy Woodland	S	100%	0.0%	-	-	-
117	Western Slopes White Box Dry Grass Woodland	S	100%	0.1%	-	24.4	63.8
120	Western Slopes Red Stringybark-White Box Dry Shrub-Herb-Grassy Forest	S	92%	0.5%	-	49.3	682.4
116	Western Slopes Blakely's Red Gum Herb-Grassy Woodland	S	91%	1.1%	-	168.8	1161.9
148	Tableland Swamp Tussock Grass-Carex Grassland /Sedgeland/ Open Woodland	S	0%	15.8%	-	14.6	77.8
146	Tableland Black Sallee Dry Herb-Grassy Woodland	S	15%	71.3%	241.3	-	45.2
76	Central Tablelands Candlebark-Snow Gum Grass Grass-Shrub Dry Forest	S	5%	95.4%	3766.4	-	4.3
118	Western Slopes Red Ironbark-Red Box Dry Grass Forest	R	93%	6.8%	-	169.5	3.1
119	Western Tablelands Red Box-Red Stringybark Dry Shrub/Grass Forest	R	75%	8.0%	1.8	2674.1	5732.0
94	South West Slopes Red Stringybark-Apple Box Acacia Dry Herb-Grassy Forest	R	0%	32.9%	-	304.1	620.2
38	Tableland Calytrix-Red Box Dry Heath Shrub-Herb-Grass Woodland	M	0%	0.0%	-	-	222.5
93	Western Tablelands Western Peppermint Herb-Grassy Dry Forest	M	86%	6.6%	151.1	1851.9	2315.7
124	Western Montane Snow Gum-Black Sallee Wet Heath-Herb-Grassy Woodland	M	26%	14.7%	76.4	294.9	1499.5
114	Tablelands Red Stringybark-Scribbly Gum Dry Shrub-Tussock Grass Forest	M	0%	27.0%	-	78.4	212.3
103	Western Montane BL Peppermint-Mountain Gum-Peppermint Dry Fern-Grassy Forest	M	71%	27.7%	-	203.6	8.1
82	Western Montane Manna Gum-Western Peppermint Cassinia Fern-Herb Forest	M	56%	39.1%	16 104.7	2136.3	2220.7
108	Western Tablelands Red Stringybark-BL Peppermint Dry Herb-Grassy Forest	M	50%	43.0%	12 061.8	3034.6	2397.4
71	Western Tableland Dry Shrubland - E. macrorhyncha/Leptospermum brevipes	M	49%	48.9%	457.2	262.8	35.5
89	Eastern Tablelands Mountain Gum-Manna Gum Acacia-Herb-Grass Forest	M	0%	54.9%	-	50.3	41.4
104	Tablelands Western Peppermint-Mountain Gum Acacia-Herb-Grassy Forest	M	16%	79.1%	16 560.2	5777.4	1349.1
101	Bago Montane Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Hop Bush Dry Shrub-Herb-Grassy Forest	M	2%	97.5%	7508.1	6781.3	71.8
128	Sub-alpine Snow Gum Dry Shrub-Herb Woodland	M	1%	98.9%	3832.6	-	3.9
99	Montane Snow Gum Dry Shrub-Herb-Grass Forest	I	0%	0.0%	-	-	2468.9
58	Tableland and Escarpment Brown Barrel Wet Layered Shrub Forest	I	90%	7.7%	44.4	0.6	10.9
121	Western Slopes Red Stringybark-Red Box Grass/Herb Dry Forest	I	45%	29.7%	5130.4	4982.6	8496.2
91	Burrinjuck Apple Box-Blue Gum-Silver Wattle Dry Herb-Grass Forest	I	0%	76.9%	-	10.2	3.1
106	Montane Western NL Peppermint-Mountain Gum Dry Shrub-Tussock Forest	I	2%	94.4%	28 405.1	32.1	1101.4
97	Montane Mountain Gum-Snow Gum Silver Wattle Dry Shrub-Herb-Grass Forest	I	1%	96.0%	13 600.2	112.4	381.6
131	Sub-alpine Herbfield	I	2%	98.0%	1819.2	-	2.8
87	Western Escarpment Alpine Ash-Mountain Gum Moist Shrub-Herb-Grass Forest	I	0%	98.5%	4000.7	4226.8	90.9
98	Western Montane Snow Gum-Mountain Gum Moist Shrub Forest	I	1%	99.5%	3257.1	7.8	6.5
86	Western Montane Alpine Ash-Snow Gum Pepper Bush Moist Shrub Forest	I	0%	99.6%	4042.7	-	17.4
190	Rocky Outcrops	I	0%	100.0%	79.1	-	-
36	Montane - Sub-Alpine Dry Rocky Shrubland	I	0%	100.1%	104.6	-	0.1
130	Sub-alpine Snow Gum Shrub/Grass Woodland	I	0%	100.7%	1113.6	-	8.0
129133	Alpine Wet Herbfield-Sub-alpine Wet Herb/Grassland/ Bog	I	0%	100.8%	1445.8	6.1	13.3
	Totals				123 804	33 255	31 346

IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (now called World Conservation Union) - IUCN categories are shown in About the Data

Threatened species and relevant recovery plans

Fauna

There are 31 fauna species listed as endangered or vulnerable within the Shire (Table 4). Of these, two have changed in status during the reporting period.

Recovery plans have been completed for two species nationally, whilst at the State level, draft plans have been completed or two species and plans are in preparation for a further six species.

Table 4. Threatened fauna species recorded in Tumut Shire
Common Name Scientific Name	Status	Location/distribution/habitat	Recovery Plan
Amphibians
Booroolong Frog Litoria booroolongensis	Listed as E1NSW on 13/3/1998	Typically inhabits rocky western-flowing creeks and their headwaters, although a small number of animals have also been recorded in eastern-flowing streams.	None
Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea	E1NSW, VN	Inhabits permanent and ephemeral water bodies, including marshes, dams and stream sides, particularly those containing bullrushes Typha spp. Or spikerushes Elocharis spp. Optimum habitat includes water bodies which are unshaded, free of predatory fish Gambusia holbrooki, have a grassy area nearby and diurnal sheltering sites available such as vegetation and/or rocks in the Greater Sydney region, are in highly disturbed areas such as disused industrial sites, brick pits, landfill areas and even cleared land.	In preparation - NSW
Northern Corroboree Frog Pseudophryne pengilleyi	VNSW, VN, VACT	Restricted to areas that contain small, semi-permanent pools and seepages which provide suitable sites for tadpole development. Recorded in Tumut Shire in the high alpine and sub-alpine region.	Complete - ACT. Gazetted on the 6/1/98.
Southern Bell Frog Litoria raniformis	E1NSW, VN	Kosciuszko National Park and permanent and ephemeral water bodies	None
Southern Corroboree Frog Pseudophryne corroboree	E1NSW, E1N	Alpine and sub-alpine swamps; and associated with surrounding woodland, grassy marshland. Occurs at high altitudes (1300-1760m) in subalpine and montane areas that are subject to a winter covering of snow. It utilises two distinct habitat types: a breeding site occupied for a few weeks in mid summer by adults and for a longer period by tadpoles and juveniles; and an adjacent non-breeding habitat used by subadults and adults. The breeding sites are typically temporary pools or seepages within bogs, short, we heath or wet tussock grassland. Non breeding habitat is subalpine forest, woodland and heath adjacent to the breeding area. Litter, logs and dense ground cover in the understorey of snow gum woodland provides over-wintering habitat. Occurs in Kosciuszko National Park.	Draft plan on exhibition, gazettal date 12/7/00
Birds
Glossy Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami	VNSW	Found within Kosciuszko National Park. Inhabits forests on sites with low soil nutrient status, reflecting the distribution of key Allocasuarina spp. The drier forest types with intact and less rugged landscapes are preferred by the species.	None
Olive Whistler Pachycephala olivacea	VNSW	Rainforest, eucalypt forest, woodland, thick undergrowth and riparian thickets	None
Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis	VNSW	Inhabits inland and coastal shallow freshwater wetlands. The species occurs in both ephemeral and permanent wetlands, particularly where there is a cover of vegetation, including grasses, Lignum and Samphire. Individuals have also been known to use artificial habitats, such as sewage ponds, dams and waterlogged grassland. The Painted Snipe nests on the ground amongst tall vegetation, such as grass tussocks or reeds. Nests are often located on small islands. Occurs in Kosciuszko National Park.	None
Powerful Owl Ninox strenua	VNSW	Nests in large hollows in Eucalypt forests and woodlands. Food sources: medium-sized arboreal mammals (Ringtail Possums and Greater Gliders). Forages in open areas on edges of forests; and potentially in partially cleared agricultural areas.	None
Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta	VNSW, VACT	Nomadic - woodlands with mistletoes	Complete - ACT. Gazetted 19/10/99
Pink Robin Petroica rodinogaster	VNSW	Rainforest, eucalypt forest, open country	None
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii	VNSW		None
Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia	E1NSW, E1N, EACT	Is a semi-nomadic species which occurs in temperate eucalypt woodlands and open forest in south-eastern Australia. Most records of the species are from box-ironbark eucalypt associations, and wet lowland coastal forests dominated by Swamp Mahogony, Spotted Gum and Riverine Casuarina woodlands. Remnant stands of timber, roadside reserves, travelling stock routes and street trees also provide important habitat at certain times. Food sources: vigorously flowering tree spp. eg E.melliodora, E. sideroxylon and E.leucoxylon, as well as infestations of mistletoe.	Complete - National & ACT. Gazetted in the ACT on 19/10/99.
Striated Fieldwren Calamanthus fuliginosus	VNSW	Low vegetation areas, wet or dry, where shrubs are well spaced and canopy incomplete. Upper and midslope forests.	None
Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii	VNSW, VN, VACT	Present in the ACT region during breeding season (spring-summer). Inhabits Yellow Box/Red Gum Grassy Woodlandsand other eucalypt woodlands. Also uses seeding pasture grasses as food source. Occurs in Kosciuszko National Park.	Complete - ACT. Gazetted on the 19/10/99.
Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor	Listed as E1NSW on 24/3/00, previously listed as VNSW, E1N, VACT	Potential foraging in hollows in mature and senescent trees in Eucalypt forests and woodlands on lower slopes of Tumut region, particularly in winter months. Favourite food sources: E.bicostata, E.sideroxylon, E.leucoxylon, and E.albens.	Complete - ACT. Gazetted on the 19/10/99.
Mammals
Broad-toothed Rat Mastacomys fuscus	VNSW	Alpine heath, open woodland	None
Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa	VNSW	The preferred habitat is dry sclerophyll open forest, with a sparse ground cover of herbs, grasses, scleromorphic shrubs or leaf litter. However, individuals may also inhabit heathland, swamps, rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest. The species occurs primarily where the annual rainfall exceeds 500mm. The species occurs in Kosciuszko National Park.	In preparation - NSW
Common Bent-wing Bat Miniopterus schreibersii	VNSW	Inhabits well-timbered valleys and open woodland. Roosts in caves, old mines, stormwater channels and buildings. Potential foraging habitat in Tumut region (ge/Kosciuszko National Park).	None
Eastern Quoll Dasyurus viverrinus	E1NSW	Dry sclerophyll forest, shrub, heathland and agricultural land. Riparian forests are also frequently used, particularly where a movement path is provided through cleared landscapes. The Eastern Quoll requires hollow logs, rock piles and even haysheds in which to den.	None
Greater Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus timoriensis	VNSW		None
Koala Pascolarctos cinereus	VNSW	Occupies huge but fragmented range in eastern Australia. Open forested ridges of Tumut region and timber reserved, State Forests and wooded private lands containing vegetation communities with E.viminalis, E.macrorhyncha and E.rossii.	In preparation - NSW
Mountain Pygmy-possum Burramys parvus	VNSW, E1N	Alpine and sub-alpine areas	None
Red-legged Pademelon Thylogale stigmatica	VNSW	Kosciuszko National Park	None
Spotted-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus	VNSW	Inhabits sclerophyll forest and woodlands, coastal heathlands and rainforests. Occasional sightings have been made in open country, grazing lands, rocky outcrops and other treeless areas. This species habitat requirements include suitable den sites (such as hollow logs, tree hollows, rock outcrops or caves) and an abundance of food (such as birds and small mammals). Individuals also require large areas of relatively intact vegetation through which to forage. Recorded in Tumut State Forest in E.macrorhyncha forest and Kosciuszko National Park.	None
Smoky Mouse Pseudomys fumeus	E1NSW, E1N, EACT	Inhabits healthy ridge-tops and slopes within sclerophyll forests, heathland and open forest from the coast to sub-alpine regions of up to 1800m. Occasionally, individuals may be observed in adjacent wetter habitats such as fern gullies. Habitats are characterised by a diverse array of shrub species predominantly from the Papillionaceae and Epacridaceae families. However, Acacia spp., Leptospermum spp., Xanthorrhoea spp. And trigger plants (Stylidium gramininfolim) also occur frequently in habitat areas. Occurs in Kosciuszko National Park.	Draft - NSW. Complete - ACT. Gazetted in the ACT on the 19/10/99.
Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus	E1NSW	Inhabits heath, heathy forest, shrubland and woodland which is usually supported by well-drained soils. A mosaic of post-fire vegetation is an important component of the species habitat as it is dependent on the diversity of vegetation that results from recent fires and the associated abundance of insects as a food source. Occurs in Kosciuszko National Park.	In preparation - NSW
Squirrel Glider Petaurus norfolcensis	VNSW V to EI for Wagga Wagga population only	Tree hollows in dry sclerophyll forest and woodlands. Inhabits dry sclerophyll forest and woodland and is generally absent from rainforest and closed forest. Potential habitat includes Box Ironbark forests and woodlands in the west of NSW, the River Red Gum forest of the Murray Valley and the eucalypt forests of the northeast. Individuals have also been recorded in a diverse range of vegetation communities, including Blackbutt, Forest Red Gum and Red Bloodwood forests, Coastal Banksia heathland. The Squirrel Glider requires abundant hollow-bearing trees and a mix of eucalypts, acacias and banksias. Within a suitable vegetation community at least one flora species should flower heavily in winter and one or more of the eucalypts should be smooth-barked. Found in Kosciuszko National Park.	In preparation - NSW
Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis	VNSW	Prefers productive, tall open, mature sclerophyll forests in regions of high rainfall. The patchy distribution of the species is perhaps determined by the local availability of a variety of suitable flowering trees with overlapping blossoming periods. Critical elements of habitat include sap-site trees, winter flowering eucalypts, mature trees suitable for den sites and a mosaic of different forest types. Found in Kosciuszko National Park.	In preparation - NSW
Reptiles
Pink-tailed Worm Lizard Aprasia parapulchella	VNSW, VN	Open areas of predominantly native grassland understorey, well-drained sites with rocky outcrops or scattered, partially buried rocks, or beneath shallowly buried slabs of rock.	None
Striped Legless Lizard Delma impar	VNSW, VN, VACT	Lowland native grasslands, dominated by perennial, tussock-forming species such as Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra, Speargrass Stipa spp, and Wallaby Grass Danthonia spp. Sometimes in modified grasslands with significant content of exotic grasses.	Complete - National. In force from May 2000. Complete - ACT. Gazetted in the ACT on the 6/1/98.

EACT = declared endangered in the ACT, VACT = declared vulnerable in the ACT,
E1NSW = declared endangered in NSW, CNAQ = declared vulnerable in NSW,
E1N = declared endangered nationally, VN = declared vulnerable nationally,
EI - declared endangered internationally, VI - declared vulnerable internationally
Species that appear in bold have been changed in status/declared since January 1997

Flora

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Wildlife Atlas lists five endangered or vulnerable flora species as occurring within Tumut Shire (Table 5). However, in the 1997 State of the Environment Report, a further four threatened species were noted as occurring within Tumut Shire. All species are nationally threatened as well as declared in NSW, including the Tumut grevillea Grevillea wilkinsonii. The existence of threatened species in Tumut Shire needs to be confirmed with officers of National Parks and Wildlife Service and changes made to the Wildlife Atlas website, if relevant.

Its extent in the Region and relevant threatened species are described on the website http://www.ea.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/natural-temperate-grasslands.html

Table 5. Threatened flora species recorded in Tumut Shire
Family Name	Species, Common Name/description	Status shown in 1997 State of the Environment Report	Legal Status in 2000 (TSC Act)
	*Ammobium craspedioides (Yass daisy)	Threatened	Vulnerable (V)*
	*Grevillea wilkinsonii Tumut Grevillea	Threatened	Endangered (E1)*
	*Pomaderrus cotoneaster Cotoneaster Pomaderris	Threatened	Endangered (E1)*
	*Prasophyllum morganii Cobungra or Mignonette Leek Orchid	Threatened	Vulnerable (V)*
Asteraceae	*Calotis glandulosa		Vulnerable (V)*
Asteraceae	*Rutidosis leiolepis		Vulnerable (V)*
Rhamnaceae	Discaria nitida		Endangered (E1)
Santalaceae	*Thesium australe Austral Toad-flax	Threatened	Vulnerable (V)*
Scrophulariaceae	Euphrasia scabra Yellow Eyebright	Threatened	Endangered (E1)

Notes: TSC Act = NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (species declared as endangered are listed in Schedule 1; species declared as vulnerable are listed in Schedule 2)
* = also listed under the Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Shaded cells - see About the Data for Table 5.

Establishment and maintenance of wildlife corridors for selected species

Outside the Kosciuszko National Park and State Forests, wildlife corridors are generally located on steep and infertile ridges and lands adjacent to rivers and creeks. The areas which require zoning protection include -

land classified as "AcIII*iiI" and "BcIII*iiI" in the Tumut Shire Pilot Tree Study;
Tumut River and Adelong Creek with their associated wetland;
Snubba Range to Tabletop Mountain and land surrounding Minjary State Forest.

As an alternative source of wildlife corridors, the Roadside Vegetation Study identified six categories of conservation value from low to high. Walker (1997) has described the areas of high and medium conservation value in detail, noting, for example, where remnant stands of Silver Banksia Banksia marginata occur. According to Walker (1997:8), Silver Banksia is known to have once colonised many areas of the south-west slopes, but is now found rarely in such healthy proportions, and may be fast approaching endangered species status.

For a comment on fragmentation of native habitat in State Forest pine plantations, see Native Vegetation Clearing.

About the data

Information for Tables 1, 2 and 3 follows:

Assessment of the vegetation ecosystems that are protected within public and private land was provided under contract by EcoGIS, using data from the Regional Forests Assessment project for the Southern and Eden Forests, 1997–2000. Details of this study and the assessment techniques used are reported in About the Data for Ecosystem diversity.
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) categories are described in http://www.ea.gov.au - search for IUCN. In brief, the categories are as follows:
– Category I Strict Nature Reserve/Wilderness Area
– Category II National Park
– Category III Natural Monument
– Category IV Habitat/Species Management Area
– Category V Protected Landscape/Seascape
– Category VI Managed Resource Protected Area

Information for Tables 4 and 5 was compiled from the following sources:

National Parks and Wildlife Service Wildlife Atlas—data reliability is variable.
NPWS website; the following pages:
– http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/wildlife/thr_profiles/tsproflist.htm
– http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/tscdets/index.html
– http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/detsarch/index.html
– http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/wildlife/tscs00.htm
– http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/recovery_plans/index.html
Environment Australia website, the following pages:
– http://www.biodiversity.environment.gov.au/wildlife/plans/recovery/index.html
– http://www.biodiversity.environment.gov.au/wildlife/lists/threatsp/vun.html
– http://www.biodiversity.environment.gov.au/wildlife/lists/threatsp/end.html
– http://www.biodiversity.environment.gov.au/threaten/information/esp-projects99-00.htm
Data are spatial and temporal and reliability is high.

Table 5 - shaded cells indicate threatened flora species that were included in the 1997 State of the Environment Report as occurring in Tumut Shire, but not currently listed in the Wildlife Atlas as occurring in the Shire.

Sources (1997)

National Parks and Wildlife Service Threatened Plant Species of the Southern Zone - updated October 1997

R. Rehwinkel, (August, 1997) Grassy Ecosystems of the South Eastern Highlands - ACT & NSW - Stage 1 Summary Report and Technical Report

Source document referred to under Wildlife Corridors:

K. Walker (March 1997) Tumut Shire Roadside Vegetation Survey and Management Guidelines, Greening Australia

Description: What does 'managing biodiversity' measure?

Which data are collected?

area and types of ecological communities protected in public and private lands in each biogeographic subregion
native species and ecological communities declared as endangered or vulnerable in each biogeographic subregion
threatened species and ecological communities with action or recovery plans, and progress on implementation of the plans
establishment and maintenance of wildlife corridors for selected species

Why do we report this indicator?

As very few 'natural' areas remain totally natural, the long-term maintenance of native species and their ecosystems (or, more often, an overlapping series of ecosystems) is usually impossible without some form of intervention or management. In State of the Environment reporting, the way in which native species and ecological communities are managed indicates society's response to reducing the pressures on native ecosystems so that they will survive, and even thrive, into the future.

Managing native species and ecosystem diversity can also be directed at establishing and maintaining an adequate reserve system. On-reserve lands are National Parks or equivalent reserves, usually large areas of public land set aside for managing biodiversity by. Off-reserve lands are lands managed for biodiversity conservation and other purposes. Wildlife corridors on privately-owned agricultural land are a good example of part of the off-reserve system.

Legislation aiming to protect bidiversity often uses the term 'threatened'. In this context, threatened is a generic term for species and ecological communities that are:

presumed extinct, endangered species, endangered populations, endangered ecological communities, vulnerable species, under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995
declared endangered or vulnerable under the ACT Nature Conservation Act 1980
declared endangered, vulnerable, extinct, critically endangered, conservation dependent and extinct in the wild under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Ecological communities that have been sufficiently depleted to be declared as threatened, endangered or vulnerable require a recovery or action plan to be developed to help restore local biodiversity. The existence of these plans, when they were last reviewed, and the extent to which they have been implemented indicates the response by society to conserving Australia's biodiversity.