Biodiversity

Introduction to Theme

Biodiversity is a term that embraces the full variety of ecosystems, species and the ecological processes. Through their normal functions, ecosystems and ecological processes provide essential services, such as clean air, fresh water, soil and habitat for plants and animals. Biodiversity is also valued for recreational, cultural, and landscape characteristics that help form the ACT identity.

The ACT is situated within two bioregions, the Australian Alps and the South Eastern Highlands (Commonwealth of Australia 2005) and has a wide range of landscapes and ecological communities, from natural temperate grasslands in the lower valleys to sub-alpine woodland and bog complexes in the mountains and a diverse range of plants and animals living in these habitats.

Four indicator clusters are drawn on for the Biodiversity Theme:

• Native species - flora;
• Native species - fauna;
• Ecological communities;and
• Threatening processes.

Context [top ]

During the past two periods of reporting on the State of the Environment the impacts of fire and recovery from it, have been the focus of biodiversity conservation in the ACT. Much has been achieved in fire management to reconcile the need to protect life and infrastructure and the need to achieve biologically appropriate fire regimes.

Pest plant and animal species remain a significant threat. New strategies to address invasive and overabundant species have been developed and to some extent implemented. Now there needs to be more effective evaluation of the outcomes of the actions applied, in terms of benefits to threatened ecosystems. The 2007-08 State of the Environment Report highlighted the impact of an overabundance of kangaroos in the ACT. As recommended, a Kangaroo Management Plan has been developed; it has not been in operation long enough yet for its efficacy to be fully determined.

Progress has been made over the last two reporting periods in protecting areas of Yellow Box-Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Natural Temperate Grassland. These ecological communities remain under pressure because of the continued clearing of lowland woodlands and grasslands primarily for urban development. In each new reporting period there is also a small increase in new plant and animal species that are declared as threatened.

Many of the plans and strategies recommended in the 2003 and 2007-08 State of the Environment reports have been implemented to varying degrees. However, long-term research, monitoring and evaluation remain limited; many of the recommendations made in 2003 and 2007 about improvement of data and knowledge have only been partially implemented at best.

Across all State of Environment reporting periods, community involvement in and support for biodiversity conservation has made significant and valuable contributions.

Many issues discussed in previous years remain relevant and the recommendations made here, while based on the current State of the Environment reporting, also relate to previous years.

Theme summary: Key issues and outcomes [top ]

Several key issues with respect to biodiversity in the ACT have emerged again during the current reporting period:

• the fragmentation of habitat and the removal of native vegetation through ongoing land use change remains a severe pressure on biodiversity;
• the number of species listed as threatened continues to increase over each reporting period; and
• management needs to capture more relevant and timely data to assist in better understanding the condition of ecological communities and native species in the ACT, along with the pressures that are being placed on them.

The ACT retains a diverse range of landscapes that support a high diversity of native plants and animals. A sizeable proportion of land in the ACT is designated for the primary purpose of protecting significant natural landscapes, threatened and common species and recreational assets. For instance, approximately 40% of the areas occupied by endangered ecological communities in the ACT are protected in either a national park or one or more nature reserves. Three new reserves have been established during the report period (Callum Brae, Jerrabomberra West and Kama). However, nature reserves alone do not ensure the recovery or survival of threatened species and communities. Ongoing habitat fragmentation and native vegetation clearance to satisfy ongoing land use change, will continue to place pressure on species and ecological communities.

Territory-wide planning and management of threatened species and communities remains a key focus of conservation activities. For example, species such as the Northern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi) and ecological communities such as the Natural Temperate Grasslands have been the subject of a number of conservation and management actions over the period. However, each reporting period a few more species are listed as threatened, and the Northern Corroboree Frog and the Grassland Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla) continue to face real risk of extinction.

There is a pressing need to capture more relevant and timely data to assist in better understanding the condition of ecological communities and native species in the ACT. Data on the distribution and abundance of our native fauna and plant species and on the continuing pressures on ecological communities is sorely needed. A more strategic monitoring and knowledge-gathering program would assist in co-ordinating current efforts and identifying precise knowledge gaps. Such a strategy should building on existing government and non-government skills and programs, and focus on supporting evidence-based natural resource management and periodic reporting. Regular monitoring of wider changes in the ACT, such as the extent and condition of native vegetation, would also be valuable, although the resource implications of such an undertaking are acknowledged.

All these issues have been indentified in previous reporting periods.

Ecological communities

Thirty vegetation ecological communities have been recorded within the ACT. Of these, the Yellow Box-Red Gum Grassy Woodland, the Alpine Fens and Bogs, and the Natural Temperate Grassland are listed as endangered ecological communities (EEC) under the ACT Nature Conservation Act 1980 or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). Currently in the ACT there are approximately 1000 ha of Natural Temperate Grassland spread over 43 scattered and isolated sites (Cooper 2009). In the case of Yellow Box-Red Gum Grassy Woodland, only 6160 ha is currently protected in parks and reserves in the ACT (ESDD).

Recent connectivity mapping and modelling in the ACT shows several locations where high priority should be given to maintaining or improving connectivity in the ACT between separated patches of these ecological communities.

No additional new ecological communities were declared as threatened under ACT legislation between 2007 and 2011. Listing of ecological communities in surrounding NSW can be a guide to species or communities needing to be considered for protection in the ACT. The Nature Conservation Act allows the listing of a species or ecological community to be considered 'in relation to the Territory and the surrounding region'.

Coordination with regional assessments and listings is particularly important if the biodiversity of the Australian Capital Region is to be preserved and enhanced, with both ecological communities and threatening processes (such as the 2003 bushfire), occurring at regional scales and crossing the NSW-ACT border.

Native fauna

Among the ACT native fauna, 15 species are listed as vulnerable and 9 are listed as endangered under the Nature Conservation Act (ACT Government 2011). These include 3 new species (the Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides, Glossy Black-cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus lathami and Pink-tailed Worm Lizard, Aprasia parapulchella) that have been listed as vulnerable under the Act during the reporting period.

Monitoring of birds, frogs and other fauna species continues to be carried out by community organisations. For example, thanks to the Canberra Ornithologists Group, it is known that during the reporting period bird species richness has remained stable at around 233 species. For amphibians, Frogwatch volunteers have found that the 2009 season appeared favourable for frogs, with more species (10) detected overall, and a larger average number of species at each site than in previous years (GCG 2009).

As previous State of the Environment Reports have indicated, the Northern Corroboree Frog and Grassland Earless Dragon face a real risk of extinction. There has been no recovery of the endangered Northern Corroboree Frog population in the wild, which is now estimated at fewer than 100 individuals. The conclusion is that this species is likely to become extinct within the next 5-10 years unless its decline can be halted. A successful captive breeding program has continued during this reporting period, and it is a expected that a release of adult frogs into the wild expected in 2011 may improve the outlook for this species. The Grassland Earless Dragon is found in only two places in the ACT, one in the Majura Valley and one in the Jerrabomberra Valley. Loss and degradation of habitat are the main causes of its decline and development is still proposed for a number of sites, including in the Majura Valley, where the species is known to occur, mainly north of the airport. The population declined significantly during 2005 and 2006, and research indicates there is a real risk that the species will become extinct in the ACT. A captive breeding program currently being established for the Grassland Earless Dragon, along with habitat protection may hold the key to preventing total loss the species in the ACT. If those are unsuccessful, this species could become the first confirmed reptile extinction in Australia since European settlement (Diamond et al. unpublished).

Other issues concerning native animals in the ACT include:

• expiry of the period set in some existing Action Plans for their performance criteria; a review of the Action Plans, including the development of an updated set of performance criteria for each plan, is warranted;
• there is no census of native vertebrates in the ACT; by contrast, the native plant species are subject to a census which lists the names of the native and naturalised plants that are known to occur in the ACT;
• knowledge of native animals in the ACT relates primarily to vertebrates; much less is known or understood about the ACT invertebrates and their contribution and importance to ecosystem health.

Native flora

In the ACT, 1655 plants species (native and introduced) are recorded as occurring in the ACT. A total of 8 plant species is listed as threatened under the ACT Nature Conservation Act, and an additional 6 species that are predicted to occur within the ACT are listed under the Commonwealth EPBC Act. No new plant species have been listed as threatened since the 2007-08 State of the Environment reporting period, but the riparian shrub Bossiaea grayi (only known from the ACT) is being assessed for listing as a threatened species.

In recent years, significant changes to land use have occurred in the northern parts of the ACT with the rapid development of residential and industrial land and associated infrastructure. This development has led required clearing of land occupied by native vegetation, including mature trees. The list of plant species in the ACT, recorded by the ACT Government and the Australian National Herbarium Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, was last updated in 2008. With recent and ongoing urban development it would be valuable to continue to update information on the number and distribution of plant species.

There is ongoing management planning and some limited monitoring of known populations of threatened plant species. Some species such as the endangered Button Wrinklewort (Rutidosis leptorrynchoides) are surveyed only once every 5 years; the next survey is planned for 2012-13. Other endangered species including the Canberra Spider Orchid (Arachnorchis actensis Syn. Caladenia actensis), the Brindabella Midge Orchid (Corunastylis ectopa) and Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum petilum) are monitored annually. However, sporadic growth and flowering in some plants can make monitoring challenging for land managers. For example, the Canberra Spider Orchid was surveyed for the first time in 2008 and no plants were located, but during the 2009-10 flowering season around 100 plants were observed. Another example is the Leek Orchid at the Hall cemetery. The population of this particular species has fluctuated widely since 1991 and in 2009, 26 flowering plants were recorded while in 2010 a total of 47 flowering plants were observed. Management of the Hall Cemetery, including proposed expansions, should be consistent with the conservation of the Leek Orchid and Yellow Box-Red Gum Grassy Woodland, which is also found there.

Securing the survival of endemic plant species will continue to be an issue for the ACT. This should build on our knowledge of such plants and the importance of seed collection and propagation to ensure the future survival of the species well into the future. It is noted that some action has been taken to address this issue in collaboration with the Australian National Botanic Gardens now maintaining a seed collection of the endangered Ginninderra Peppercress (Lepidium ginninderrense). In addition, more than 90 clones from the 10 known wild plants of the endangered Tuggeranong Lignum (Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong) have been introduced into suitable habitat in the Murrumbidgee River corridor. Approximately 50% of these new plants were alive when inspected in 2011.

There is ongoing management planning and some limited monitoring of known populations of threatened plant species. Some species such as the endangered Button Wrinklewort (Rutidosis leptorrynchoides) are surveyed only once every 5 years; the next survey is planned for 2012-13. Other endangered species including the Canberra Spider Orchid (Arachnorchis actensis Syn. Caladenia actensis), the Brindabella Midge Orchid (Corunastylis ectopa) and Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum petilum) are monitored annually. However, sporadic growth and flowering in some plants can make monitoring challenging for land managers. For example, the Canberra Spider Orchid was surveyed for the first time in 2008 and no plants were located, but during the 2009-10 flowering season around 100 plants were observed. Another example is the Leek Orchid at the Hall cemetery. The population of this particular species has fluctuated widely since 1991 and in 2009, 26 flowering plants were recorded while in 2010 a total of 47 flowering plants were observed. Management of the Hall Cemetery, including proposed expansions, should be consistent with the conservation of the Leek Orchid and Yellow Box-Red Gum Grassy Woodland, which is also found there.

Securing the survival of endemic plant species will continue to be an issue for the ACT. This should build on our knowledge of such plants and the importance of seed collection and propagation to ensure the future survival of the species well into the future. It is noted that some action has been taken to address this issue in collaboration with the Australian National Botanic Gardens now maintaining a seed collection of the endangered Ginninderra Peppercress (Lepidium ginninderrense). In addition, more than 90 clones from the 10 known wild plants of the endangered Tuggeranong Lignum (Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong) have been introduced into suitable habitat in the Murrumbidgee River corridor. Approximately 50% of these new plants were alive when inspected in 2011.

Threatening processes

During the reporting period there has been pressure on biodiversity conservation because of the continuing need to develop land for residential and industrial purposes in response to ACT population growth. Development is proceeding not only in the ACT but also in surrounding areas including Queanbeyan, Goulburn and the Yass Valley. While the ACT has large areas of nature reserve, national park and green infrastructure within and around the city, changes at the urban fringe are placing significant pressures on local native vegetation and are threatening some very important biodiversity assets. The continued growth of the ACT highlights why biodiversity conservation might be important to the image of Canberra as the 'bush capital', and to the health of ecosystems in the ACT.

Changes at local scale (human population increase and associated pressures) and global scale (global warming and climate change) are placing the ecosystems of the ACT under increasing pressure. Impacts from climate change, changed fire regimes and pest and weeds continue to challenge the survival of native species or ecological communities in the ACT. Because of a paucity of ongoing monitoring, knowledge about specific impacts and the status of many threatening processes is very limited, and more information is required to guide effective management.

There are concerns related to threatening processes in the ACT and their impact on biodiversity. No threatening processes have been formally determined under the ACT Nature Conservation Act. However, the ACT Government has given consideration to threatening processes, through the Conservator for Flora and Fauna, and the Flora and Fauna Committee. A broad approach to managing threatened species and communities has been adopted in Action Plan 27: ACT Lowland Woodland Conservation Strategy, Action Plan 28: Lowland Native Grassland Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 29: ACT Aquatic Species and Riparian Zone Conservation Strategy, by including management of the threats relevant to the suite of species and communities covered in each Action Plan. Whether this creates enough focus and impetus to act on the threatening process should be assessed.

In relation to weed impacts, the Australian Government recently announced that the loss and degradation of native plant and animal habitat by invasion of escaped garden plants was threatening biodiversity in the ACT. This announcement may assist in guiding potential threatening processes determinations in the ACT. There are now 6 Weeds of National Significance that have established populations in the ACT:

• Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg.)
• Chilean Needle Grass (Nassella neesiana);
• Gorse (Ulex europaeus);
• Serrated Tussock (Nassella trichotoma);
• Willow (Salix spp.); and
• Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides).

The ACT Government maintains records of the known distribution of these weeds in the ACT that informs control efforts by Government and private landholders, coordinated through programs developed by the ACT Weeds Committee. Work has begun to map species and density of weeds in priority areas, including locations of rare or threatened plant species that may be at threat from weed invasion. This will help with setting priorities for control work.

On a positive note in relation to threatening processes, effort is being made to monitor pest species. For example, data show that despite the ACT having a biologically diverse array of native fish species, the European Carp (Cyprinus carpio) continue to make up 80-90% of fish biomass in the Murrumbidgee River within the ACT. In addition, feral deer populations are increasing and as is evident from the recording of incidental sightings.

Further, foxes have been removed from part of Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve following the erection of a fence. The Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary can now be maintained as a fox-free area

Responses and effectiveness [top ]

Native species and protected area management

The ACT currently maintains a comprehensive reserve system that covers over 50% of the Territory, and a management approach which aims to conserve habitat for a range of native plant and animal species. The recent report Building Nature's Safety Net 2011: The state of protected areas for Australia's ecosystems and wildlife, identified that the ACT has a reserve system which can be regarded as very close to adequate, with the chief remaining priority being the improved protection of Yellow Box-Red Gum grassy woodlands and Natural Temperate Grasslands. However, as already mentioned, during the reporting period 32 species in the ACT remain threatened, and new species have been added or are under consideration to be added to the list of threatened species under the Nature Conservation Act.

The existing high degree of habitat fragmentation in the northern half of the ACT makes it difficult for many organisms to move between across patches of habitat in these modified landscapes. The interaction of climate change and land use change is having a far more detrimental effect on biodiversity than either factor in isolation. Habitat connectivity, enhanced by managing off-reserve lands in a manner which recognises the need for wildlife to move across the whole landscape, is essential to managing our biodiversity.

During the reporting period, the ACT Government commissioned a connectivity analysis identifying priority areas for action. This work prepared a biodiversity connectivity map for the ACT and region, based on specific modelling of the connectivity needs of 6 types of animals. From this starting point, an ongoing whole-of-landscape connectivity approach to planning can follow. Work is continuing with more detailed analysis of connectivity requirements for priority areas that will show how to improve connectivity between ecological communities through a system of corridors and 'stepping stones' linked by corridors, integrating reserve-based and off-reserve conservation. Some of this is already planned. Integrating connectivity into urban planning and development in the ACT, through the Territory Plan, would be an important step towards achieving a higher level of protection for the ecological systems in Canberra's reserves.

During the reporting period, several important research projects relevant to native fauna and their habitat within the ACT have been continued or established. They include:

• the Mulligans Flat-Goorooyarroo Woodland Experiment - a partnership between the Australian National University, the ACT Government and CSIRO which aims to assess ways of restoring Box-Gum grassy woodland to benefit biodiversity; research so far has generated more than 10 publications in national and international journals, and others are in preparation; and
• Kangaroo management - research to better understand the movements and home ranges of kangaroos in urban Canberra, including use of GPS tracking collars in a pilot study of 25 individuals over 2 years; other research is seeking to develop immunocontraceptive vaccines that could be applied to manage kangaroo fertility.

These projects are demonstrating the benefits of research and monitoring that provides a more informed and evidence-based management response to threats and changing conditions. The challenge remains: that of implementing relevant findings into conservation management across the ACT.

Another innovative development is the Capital Woodland and Wetlands Conservation Trust, a partnership between Government and the community. This newly established Trust aims to access private sector and community funding for projects in Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve and Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, over and above normal government funded operations.

Also, investigations into the management of lowland native grasslands and Canberra Nature Park have provided some guidance to improve management of some of our important conservation areas in the ACT.

Management of pest species

The release and implementation of the ACT Weeds Strategy 2009-2019 addresses a key recommendation of the 2007-08 ACT State of the Environment Report. The Strategy prioritises weed species of national significance, and is guided by the Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) guidelines. In high priority areas, the species and density of weeds since 2009 has been mapped. Ongoing control work is ongoing expected to continue, included in future ACT Environmental Weed Control Operations Plans.

In line with the recommendations of the 2007-08 ACT State of the Environment Report, the ACT Government has continued programs to manage known pest animals and is monitoring emerging pests such as deer. A Draft Pest Animal Management Strategy 2011-2021 has been developed which require preparation of Pest Animal Management Plans, consistent with national threat abatement plans, as a key strategic action. The 2011-12 Vertebrate Pest Management Plan is being developed.

Overabundant native species

Canberra is unusual in having large populations of free-ranging kangaroos in the urban areas. However, kangaroo populations in some parts of the ACT are unnaturally high, resulting in ecological damage through overgrazing. In response to community and scientific concern about the overabundance of kangaroos and associated ecological, social and economic impacts the ACT Government released the ACT Kangaroo Management Plan in 2010 (TAMS 2010). The plan represents a significant advance in the management of kangaroos in the ACT, and its finalisation is consistent with the recommendations of the 2007-08 ACT State of the Environment Report. The adaptive management approach, outlined in the plan, provides a framework to link research, monitoring and action to manage plants and animals affected by overgrazing by kangaroos.

Climate change and fire

Predicted climate variability and climate change will have significant implications for biodiversity and the management of parks and reserves. The potential rate, scale and geographic extent of climate change make it even more significant than other threats (Webb 2011).

Bushfire frequency and intensity, reduced productivity in plants, interaction with other existing pressures, changes in rainfall patterns involving intensified seasonality, increased grazing pressure from native herbivores, and increased weed incursions will all drive changes in ecosystems in the region. Ecosystems' structure, composition and function are likely to alter, and the distributions of individual species and invertebrate populations are likely to change; high-altitude ecosystems are expected to contract in area (NSW Government 2010).

During the reporting period, a report on the implications of climate variability and change (Webb 2011) recommended a series of response strategies, including: maintaining and enhancing ecosystems processes and services; enhancing ecosystem resilience through by maintaining diversified habitats, refugia and connectivity; facilitating ecosystems and species development (including 'novel ecosystems'); land use planning; fire management; integrated governance; and adaptive management. Such response strategies should be integrated into conservation management in the ACT.

Balancing the protection of life and infrastructure against the maintenance of biologically appropriate fire regimes is a challenge in the ACT. During the reporting period, the ACT Government released the Strategic Bushfire Management Plan for the ACT (ACT Government 2009). The plan attempts to balance the protection of human life and infrastructure with the fire management practises which minimise adverse impact on biodiversity. To minimise the risk of ecosystem impacts from fuel reduction activities, ecological guidelines have been prepared for the conduct of prescribed burns in the ACT. Annual surveys to record potential changes in vegetation composition and structure as a consequence of prescribed burning are also undertaken to monitor biodiversity impacts of prescribed burns and future management decisions. However, currently only about 10% of prescribed burns are monitored for ecological effects, and only for a 5-year period (OCSE 2011).

Emerging issues [top ]

During the reporting period, it has emerged that there are issues that have the potential to become particularly relevant over the next 5 years.

Legislative and policy action

To improve transparency of biodiversity integration into legislative and planning frameworks it is important that recognition of 'biodiversity' is improved and better defined in all relevant ACT legislation. Further, making biodiversity conservation a more important element of the land use planning process in the ACT, by integrating connectivity opportunities in all planning decisions and including a connectivity overlay in the Territory Plan, would help provide greater clarity when integrating biodiversity needs into the ACT planning framework.

Road design

Fauna sensitive road design is considered an emerging issue because of the relative increase in the number of road-deaths of native fauna and of fauna-related vehicle accidents in the ACT in recent years. The increase has led to collision avoidance policies being included in the ACT Kangaroo Management Plan; 'Slow down' road signs are being installed at kangaroo-crossing 'hot spots'. During research in preparation for this State of the Environment Report, it was noticed that that the ACT lacks design guidelines for road design that would help fauna move across new and existing roads in the ACT through infrastructure such as land and canopy bridges and fauna culverts. The design of future projects, such as the Majura parkway should take this into account.

Access to data

While not a new issue, having good biodiversity data in the ACT is increasingly important. Government, the community and industry need access to wildlife data to guide better planning and development decisions. Several areas of data management need strengthening.

• Recording and accounting for the ACT's biodiversity assets would mean that when planning and development decisions are made and individual species, populations and ecological communities are removed, the register would be updated to show the biodiversity assets that remain.
• Public reporting about biodiversity matters needs to be done in a way that clearly quantifies and qualifies the outcomes of decisions and activities as they relate to individual species, populations and ecological communities in the ACT.
• Finally, collaboration with the NSW Government and regional local governments should continue to be effective, to ensure that data and information gathering and reporting is consistent and continuous.

Recommendations [top ]

A number of recommendations to improve the management of nature reserves and many of the protected areas and grasslands in the ACT have been developed through the investigations into Lowland Native Grassland and Canberra Nature Park, Molonglo River Corridor and Googong Foreshores. These recommendations should be implemented. Given the continued loss of lowland native grassland habitats, recommendations (i.e. recommendation 23 and 24 of the Lowland Native Grassland Investigation) to enhance the protection afforded to areas of natural temperate grassland, particularly in the Majura valley, should be urgently implemented.

The recommendations below build on and complement recommendations developed through these investigations.
 

1. Strengthen research, planning and practical projects to enhance biodiversity conservation in the ACT through:
   1. developing a biodiversity monitoring strategy, building on existing government and non-government skills, capacity and programs, and focused on periodic reporting. This should include, where appropriate, systematic statistical methodologies which support monitoring of trends and changes to biodiversity assets in the ACT;
   2. funding a dedicated senior officer position to facilitate knowledge development and consolidation, across disparate sources, including more strategic integration within and between government, research/academic institutions and community groups and members. To support this role, systems should be developed to provide wide public access to information to guide research, teaching, planning and practical projects to enhance the sustainability of the ACT and Region;
   3. identifying opportunities to integrate multiple environmental assessments. For example, when monitoring nature reserves for vegetation qualities, land-health indicators and grazing impacts should also be monitored at the same sites. Assessing sites in Canberra Nature Park on a rolling 3-year basis over a 10-year period would provide the basic information for monitoring trends in environmental condition;
   4. publicly reporting decisions and activities relating to individual species, populations and ecological communities in the ACT. This should include both qualitative and quantitative information;
   5. reviewing and updating Action Plans where appropriate, and publicly reporting on progress against Action Plan objectives and proposed actions; and
   6. collaborating with NSW Government and regional organisations to contribute to regional and national biodiversity data sets.

 

2. Better integrating biodiversity values within urban planning through:
   1. integrating biodiversity corridors and habitat connectivity in the Territory Plan process;
   2. identifying, where possible, appropriate clearance thresholds for ecological communities across the ACT to maintain and improve biodiversity values and guide development decisions. To complement this the draft biodiversity offset policy should be finalised to ensure no net loss in ecosystems; and
   3. developing and implementing an ACT fauna sensitive road design manual.

 

3. Improve transparency of biodiversity integration into legislative and planning frameworks through:
   1. including objectives for the protection of biodiversity and a definition for ‘biodiversity’ as part of the Nature Conservation Act 1980 review;
   2. aligning provisions in the Environment Protection Act 1997 and Planning and Development Act with any relevant changes to the NC Act including biodiversity definitions and reviewing the definition of environmental harm to determine whether unauthorised loss of biodiversity should be included as an offence; and
   3. assessing the effectiveness of managing threatening processes through Action Plans and determining if management of key threatening processes needs strengthening through listing under the NC Act.
       

Glossary [top ]

Canopy bridge: a rope or pole suspended above a road and connected to vertical poles or trees for use by arboreal marsupials and other climbing species

Ecological communities: in the ACT, ecological communities are defined by the Nature Conservation Act 1980 as being groups of ecologically related species with shared characteristics that inhabit a particular place and vary in composition

Endemic species: species only found in a particular region and nowhere else in the world

Fauna culvert: a square or circular structure beneath a road designed for non-aquatic fauna passage

Land bridge: a bridge over a road, covered in soil and planted with native vegetation and enhanced with habitat features such logs and rocks

Native fauna: in the ACT, native fauna species are defined by the Nature Conservation Act 1980 as native animals that are indigenous to Australia or are migratory in that they periodically or occasionally visit Australia or have been introduced into Australia directly or indirectly by Aboriginal people before the year 1788

Native flora: in the ACT, native flora species are defined by the Nature Conservation Act 1980 as native plants that are indigenous to Australia or have been introduced into Australia directly or indirectly by Aboriginal people before the year 1788

Threatening processes: in the ACT, threatening processes are defined by the Nature Conservation Act 1980 as processes that threaten or may threaten the survival, abundance or evolution of a native species or an ecological community

References [top ]

ACT Government 1980. Nature Conservation Act 1980. http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1980-20/current/pdf/1980-20.pdf (accessed 22/7/11)

ACT Government 1997. Environment Protection Act 1997. http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1997-92/current/pdf/1997-92.pdf (accessed 22/7/11)

ACT Government 1999. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2011C00369 (accessed 26/7/11)

ACT Government 2007. Planning and Development Act 2007. http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2007-24/current/pdf/2007-24.pdf (accessed 22/7/11)

ACT Government 2008. Nature Conservation (Criteria and Guidelines for Declaring Threatened Species and Communities) Declaration 2008. http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2008-170/current/pdf/2008-170.pdf (accessed 23/7/11)

ACT Government 2009. Strategic Bushfire Management Plan for the ACT: Version 2. Territory and Municipal Services. ACT Government. Canberra. http://www.esa.act.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/act-sbmp-version-two.pdf (accessed 1/12/11)

ACT Government 2010. Nature Conservation (Species and Ecological Communities) Declaration 2010. http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2010-194/current/pdf/2010-194.pdf (accessed 23/7/11)

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Commonwealth of Australia 2005a. Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia. Version 6.1. Australian Government, Department of Environment and Heritage. Canberra. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs/science/pubs/regions.pdf (accessed 22/7/11)

Commonwealth of Australia. 2005b. Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia, Version 6.1 Sub-regions. Department of Environment and Heritage. Canberra. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs/science/pubs/subregions.pdf (accessed 22/7/11)

Cooper, M. 2009. Report on ACT Lowland Native Grassland Investigation. Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment. Canberra

DECCEW 2010. Discussion Paper: Review into the Nature Conservation Act 1980: Enhancing nature conservation in the Australian Capital Territory. Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water. Canberra. http://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/209984/Review_of_the_Nature_Conservation_Act_Discussion_Paper_WEB.pdf (accessed 24/7/11

Diamond, W.J., Osborne, W.S., Evans, M., Gruber, B. and Sarre, S. Back to the Brink - Population decline of the endangered Grassland Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla) following its rediscovery.Unpublished

DSEWPaC 2010. 2010. Australia's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010-2030. Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Canberra. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/publications/strategy-2010-30/pubs/biodiversity-strategy-2010.pdf (accessed 22/7/11)

GCG 2009. ACT and Region Community Frogwatch Census Report. Ginninderra Catchment Group. Canberra http://www.ginninderralandcare.org.au/res/File/PDFs/Frogwatch%20Reports/2009_Frogwatch_Report.pdf (accessed 4/5/11)

Hope, G., Nanson, R. and Flett, I. 2009. Technical Report 19. The Peat-forming Mires of the Australian Capital Territory. Territory and Municipal Services. Canberra. http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/172698/The_Peat-Forming_Mires_of_the_Australian_Capital_Territory_screen.pdf, (accessed 24/7/11)

Lepschi, B.J., Mallinson, D.J. and Cargill, D.C. eds. 2008. Census of the Vascular Plants, Hornworts and Liverworts of the Australian Capital Territory. Version 2.0. Center for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Canberra. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/ACT-census/index.html (accessed 23/7/11)

Macdonald, T. 2009. Technical Report 120. Sphagnum Bog Mapping and Recovery Plan. Territory and Municipal Services. Canberra. http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/172703/Technical_Report_20_Sphagnum_Bog_Mapping_and_Recovery_Plan.pdf (accessed 24/7/11)

NSW Government 2010. NSW Climate Impact Profile. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. Sydney http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/climatechange/10171climateimpactprof.pdf (accessed 1/12/11)

TAMS 2010. ACT Kangaroo Management Plan. Department of Territory and Municipal Services. ACT Government. Canberra http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/186378/Kangaroo_Management_Plan_complete_for_web.pdf (accessed 1/12/11)

Webb, B. 2011. Impacts of Climate on the Canberra Nature Park: Risks and Responses. Report for the ACT Office of the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment. Canberra http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/220477/OCSE_ANU_paper_climate_CNP.pdf (accessed 1/12/11)

Other data sources

In addition to these published reports, data for this paper were also sourced from:

• ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS) -now Territory and Municipal Services Directorate (TAMSD)
• Parks, Conservation and Lands (PCL) - now part of the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate (ESDD)