Eurobodalla
Indicator: Native Species
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What the results tell us for Eurobodalla
The full extent of native animal and plant species diversity in Eurobodalla Shire Council area is not known. About 1,568 plant species (native and introduced) and 782 animal species have been recorded, but these records are not comprehensive. Differences in reported species diversity compared with the last reporting period reflect factors such as inclusion of lichens and other lower plants in the plant species list, improved use of data sources and additional survey work since 2004.
Twenty two plant and 66 vertebrate animal species that occur in the Shire are listed as vulnerable or endangered in New South Wales (NSW) and/or nationally. An additional 46 threatened plant and animal species are predicted to occur in the Shire.
Native plants and animals in the Council area are subject to national, state and local laws relating to biodiversity protection. Formal recovery plans were in place for six of the 85 listed threatened species, at least two of the plans completed during the previous reporting period. Thirty animal species were covered by national action plans.
Recently the NSW Government has developed a Priority Action Statement that summarises the actions that need to be taken to reverse the threatening processes impacting on a wide range of plant and animal species, and replaces the need for separate species-based recovery plans. These laws and plans aim to minimise the effects of threatening processes on native species to protect them from becoming endangered. Although various recovery actions had been initiated for many of the threatened species, the extent to which activities were carried out in the Shire and had been effective in conserving these species was not known.
What native species occur in the Shire?
No comprehensive lists of plant or animal species were available for Eurobodalla Shire. As past extensive clearing has resulted in significant loss of natural habitat for native plants and animals in some areas, species occurring in vegetation remnants within or near these areas provide some indication of their former native species diversity. Important areas containing remnant vegetation include national parks, nature reserves, travelling stock reserves, road reserves and cemeteries.
Plants (flora)
About 1568 plant species, most of them native and including many lichens and other lower plants, have been reported to occur in the Shire. Twenty two plant species recorded in the Shire are listed as endangered or vulnerable in NSW and/or nationally (see Table 1). No species were listed during the reporting period and six species listed here were not contained in the 2004 report – a result of utilising different data sources (see Differences between reporting periods). No updated data was provided on predicted species occurring within the Shire, however based on records given for the previous reporting period, scientific experts predict that an additional 33 vulnerable or endangered species may also occur in the Shire (see Table 2), although there were no confirmed records of them at the end of this or the previous reporting period.
| Common name | Scientific name | Conservation status | Recovery Plan or Action Plan | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National† | NSW‡ | Change* | |||
| Grevillea parviflora | V | V | N/A | None | |
| Austral Toadflax | Thesium australe | V | V | No | National recovery plan in preparation (as at 27/10/2008) |
| Australian Saltgrass | Distichlis distichophylla | - | E | No | None |
| Bega Wattle | Acacia georgensis | V | V | No | National Recovery Plan in preparation (as at 27/10/08) |
| Bodalla Pomaderris | Pomaderris bodalla | - | V | N/A | None |
| Budawangs Cliff-heath | Budawangia gnidioides | V | V | No | None |
| Dense Cord-rush | Baloskion longipes | - | V | No | None |
| East Lynne Midge Orchid | Genoplesium vernale | V | V | N/A | National recovery plan (2004); NSW recovery plan |
| Grey Deua Pomaderris | Pomaderris gilmourii var. cana | V | V | No | None |
| Large-leafed Monotaxis | Monotaxis macrophylla | - | E | No | None |
| Leafless Tongue Orchid | Cryptostylis hunteriana | V | V | No | None |
| Monga Tea Tree | Leptospermum thompsonii | V | V | No | None |
| Narrow-leafed Wilsonia | Wilsonia backhousei | - | V | No | None |
| Ralston's Leionema | Leionema ralstonii | V | V | N/A | National Recovery Plan in preparation (as at 27/10/2008); NSW Draft Recovery Plan |
| Round-leafed Wilsonia | Wilsonia rotundifolia | - | E | No | None |
| Small-leaved Gum | Eucalyptus parvula | V | V | No | None |
| Square Raspwort | Haloragis exalata subsp. exalata | V | V | No | None |
| Tall Knotweed | Persicaria elatior | V | V | No | None |
| Tangled Bedstraw | Galium australe | - | E | No | None |
| Tranquility Mintbush | Prostanthera askania | E | E | N/A | National Recovery Plan (2007);NSW Recovery Plan |
| Warty Zieria | Zieria tuberculata | V | V | No | None |
| Waterwheel Plant | Aldrovanda vesiculosa | - | E | No | None |
# Status (threat category): E=endangered; V= Vulnerable CE = Critically Endangered
† National Status under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; ‡ NSW Status under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995; *Change in status singe the end of the last reporting period (see also Threatened species – national status).
Source: DEC 2005; DEH 2008; NSW Government 2005
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Araluen Gum | Eucalyptus kartzoffiana |
| Araluen Zieria | Zieria adenophora |
| Bog Grevillea | Grevillea acanthifolia subsp. paludosa |
| Box Range Zieria | Zieria buxijugum |
| Budawangs Wallaby Grass | Plinthanthesis rodwayi |
| Cotonaster Pomoderris | Pomaderris cotoneaster |
| David's Westingia | Westringia davidii |
| Deane's Boronia | Boronia deanei |
| East Lynne Midge Orchid | Genoplesium vernale |
| Genoa River Correa | Correa lawrenceana var. genoensis |
| Hidden Violet | Viola cleistogamoides |
| Imlay Mallee | Eucalyptus imlayensis |
| Kydra Westringia | Westringia kydrensis |
| Lacy Pomaderris | Pomaderris elachophylla |
| Majors Creek Leek Orchid | Prasophyllum sp. Majors Creek |
| Matted Bush-pea | Pultenaea pedunculata |
| Mauve Burr-daisy | Calotis glandulosa |
| Michelago Parrot-pea | Dillwynia glaucula |
| Nalbaugh Nematolepis | Nematolepis rhytidophylla |
| Narrabarba Wattle | Acacia constablei |
| Oval-leafed Pseudanthus | Pseudanthus ovalifolius |
| Pale Golden Moths | Diuris ochroma |
| Parris' Bush-pea | Pultenaea parrisiae subsp. parrisiae |
| Parris' Pomaderris | Pomaderris parrisiae |
| Parris' Zieria | Zieria parrisiae |
| Ralston's Leionema | Leionema ralstonii |
| Rhyolite Midge Orchid | Genoplesium rhyoliticum |
| Shapely Zieria | Zieria formosa |
| Small Snake Orchid | Diuris pedunculata |
| Swamp Everlasting | Xerochrysum palustre |
| Tessellated Spider Orchid | Caladenia tessellata |
| Trailing Monotoca | Monotoca rotundifolia |
| Yellow Loosestrife | Lysimachia vulgaris var. davurica |
Source: DEC 2005; SOE 2004
Animals (fauna)
Four hundred and sixty four (464) vertebrate animal species have been recorded in the Shire (see Table 3). They include marine mammals and fish which may enter estuaries, embayment or are beach cast. The total number of vertebrate species is 312 more than reported in the previous State of the Environment report; this increase most likely reflects differences in data sources between reporting periods, the inclusion of non native species in the source data and possible survey work since 2004. The number of invertebrate animals (insects etc) is not known. No specific information was available on the abundance of animal species during the reporting period.
| Animal group (Order) | Number of Species | Number of Species |
|---|---|---|
| State of the Environment 2008 | State of the Environment 2004 | |
| Mammals | 128 | 65 |
| Amphibians | 31 | 26 |
| Birds | 345 | 303 |
| Reptiles | 26 | 44 |
| Fish | 252 | 26 |
| Total | 464 | 464 |
Source: NSW Government 2005
Sixty-six animal species recorded in Eurobodalla Shire are listed as endangered or vulnerable (see Table 4). They include 19 mammals, 39 birds, four amphibians, one fish and three reptiles.
| Common name | Scientific name | Conservation status# | Recovery Plan or Action Plan (Date if known) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National† | NSW‡ | Change* | |||
| Mammals | |||||
| Australian Fur-Seal | Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus | – | V | No | None |
| Brush-tailed Phascogale | Phascogale tapoatafa | – | V | No | Action Plan (1996)2 |
| Eastern Bentwing-bat | Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis | – | V | No | None |
| Eastern False Pipistrelle | Falsistrellus tasmaniensis | – | V | No | None |
| Eastern Freetail-bat | Mormopterus norfolkensis | – | V | No | None |
| Eastern Pygmy-possum | Cercartetus nanus | – | V | No | None |
| Golden-tipped Bat | Kerivoula papuensis | – | V | No | Action Plan (1999)3 |
| Greater Broad-nosed Bat | Scoteanax rueppellii | – | V | No | Action Plan (1999)3 |
| Grey-headed Flying-fox | Pteropus poliocephalus | V | V | No | National Recovery Plan in preparation (as at 28/02/04) |
| Koala | Phascolarctos cinereus | – | V | No | Recovery Plan exhibited (21/03/03) |
| Large-footed Myotis | Myotis adversus | – | V | No | Action Plan (1999)3 |
| Long-nosed Potoroo | Potorous tridactylus | V | V | No | National Recovery Plan in preparation (as at 28/02/04) |
| New Zealand Fur-seal | Arctocephalus forsteri | – | V | No | None |
| Southern Brown Bandicoot (eastern) | Isoodon obesulus obesulus | E | E | No | National Recovery Plan in preparation (as at 28/02/04) |
| Spotted-tailed Quoll | Dasyurus maculatus | E | V | No | National Recovery Plan in preparation (as at 28/02/04); Action Plan (1996)2 |
| Squirrel Glider | Petaurus norfolcensis | – | V | No | Action Plan (1996)2 |
| White-footed Dunnart | Sminthopsis leucopus | – | V | No | Action Plan (1996)2 |
| Yellow-bellied Glider | Petaurus australis | – | V | No | Recovery Plan (gazetted 07/03/03); Action Plan (1996)2 |
| Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat | Saccolaimus flaviventris | – | V | No | None |
| Birds | |||||
| Australasian Bittern | Botaurus poiciloptilus | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Barking Owl | Ninox connivens | – | V | No | Recovery Plan exhibited (10/03/03); Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Black Bittern | Ixobrychus flavicollis | – | V | No | None |
| Black-browed Albatross | Thalassarche melanophris | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Black-tailed Godwit | Limosa limosa | – | V | No | None |
| Brown Treecreeper (eastern subspecies) | Climacteris picumnus victoriae | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Bush Stone-curlew | Burhinus grallarius | – | E | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Diamond Firetail | Stagonopleura guttata | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Eastern Ground Parrot | Pezoporus wallicus wallicus | – | V | No | None |
| Flesh-footed Shearwater | Puffinus carneipes | – | V | No | None |
| Freckled Duck | Stictonetta naevosa | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Glossy Black-cockatoo | Calyptorhynchus lathami | – | V | No | None |
| Great Knot | Calidris tenuirostris | – | V | No | None |
| Grey Falcon | Falco hypoleucos | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Hooded Plover | Thinornis rubricollis | – | E | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Hooded Robin (south-eastern form) | Melanodryas cucullata cucullata | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Lesser Sand Plover | Charadrius mongolus | – | V | No | None |
| Little Shearwater | Puffinus assimilis | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Little Tern | Sterna albifrons | – | E | No | NSW Recovery Plan |
| Masked Owl | Tyto novaehollandiae | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Olive Whistler | Pachycephala olivacea | – | V | No | None |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | – | V | No | None |
| Pied Oystercatcher | Haematopus longirostris | – | V | No | None |
| Pink Robin | Petroica rodinogaster | – | V | No | None |
| Powerful Owl | Ninox strenua | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Regent Honeyeater | Xanthomyza phrygia | E | E | No | National Recovery Plan 1999–2003 (1999); Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | – | V | No | None |
| Shy Albatross | Thalassarche cauta | V | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Sooty Owl | Tyto tenebricosa | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Sooty Oystercatcher | Haematopus fuliginosus | – | V | No | None |
| Sooty Tern | Sterna fuscata | – | V | No | None |
| Speckled Warbler | Pyrrholaemus sagittatus | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Square-tailed Kite | Lophoictinia isura | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Striated Fieldwren | Calamanthus fuliginosus | – | V | No | None |
| Superb Fruit-dove | Ptilinopus superbus | – | V | No | None |
| Superb Parrot | Polytelis swainsonii | V | V | No | National Recovery Plan in preparation (as at 28/02/04); Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Swift Parrot | Lathamus discolor | E | E | No | National Recovery Plan 2001–2005 (2001); Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Turquoise Parrot | Neophema pulchella | – | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Wandering Albatross | Diomedea exulans | V | V | No | Action Plan (2000)1 |
| Amphibians | |||||
| Giant Burrowing Frog | Heleioporus australiacus | V | V | No | None |
| Green and Golden Bell Frog | Litoria aurea | V | E | No | National Recovery Plan in preparation (as at 28/02/04) |
| Littlejohn's Tree Frog | Litoria littlejohni | V | V | No | None |
| Stuttering Barrred Frog | Mixophyes balbus | V | E | No | National Recovery Plan in preparation (as at 28/02/04) |
| Reptiles | |||||
| Little Whip Snake | Suta flagellum | – | V | No | None |
| South-eastern Lined Earless Dragon | Tympanocryptis lineata pinguicolla | E | E | No | National Recovery Plan 2000–2004 (Apr. 2000) |
| Striped Legless-lizard | Delma impar | V | V | No | National Recovery Plan 1999–2003 |
| Fish | |||||
| Black Cod | Epinephelus daemelii | – | V4 | No | None |
# Status (threat category): E = Endangered; V = Vulnerable † National status under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; ‡ NSW status under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995; * Change in status since the end of the last reporting period (see also Threatened species—national status) Sources: 1 = Garnett & Crowley 2000; 2 = Maxwell et al. 1996; 3 = Duncan et al. 1999; 4 = DPI 2005; Other sources: Birds Australia 2005; CSIRO 2005; DEC 2005b; DEH 2005; Graham 2005; NSW Government 2005.
Although no data has been provided on predicted species occurrences, based on data gathered for the previous reporting period, scientific experts predict that an additional 13 vulnerable or endangered animal species may occur in the Shire (see Table 5), although there were no confirmed records of them at the end of the reporting period.
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Beach Stone-curlew | Esacus neglectus |
| Broad-headed Snake | Hoplocephalus bungaroides |
| Comb-crested Jacana | Irediparra gallinacea |
| Eastern Bristlebird | Dasyornis brachypterus |
| Greater Sand-plover | Charadrius leschenaultii |
| Large-eared Pied Bat | Chalinolobus dwyeri |
| Long-footed Potoroo | Potorous longipes |
| Orange-bellied Parrot | Neophema chrysogaster |
| Purple-crowned Lorikeet | Glossopsitta porphyrocephala |
| Rosenberg's Goanna | Varanus rosenbergi |
| Smoky Mouse | Pseudomys fumeus |
| Southern Bell Frog | Litoria raniformis |
| Terek Sandpiper | Xenus cinereus |
Source: DEC 2005b
In the broader South East Corner bioregion within which Eurobodalla Shire Council area is located, some bird species that are not listed as threatened are reported to have decreased in abundance over the last 20 years, although others are reported to have increased (Barrett et al. 2003). A selection of these species that occur in the Shire is listed in Table 6.
| Common name | Scientific name | Declining | Increasing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian White Ibis | Threskiornis molucca | + | |
| Banded Lapwing | Vanellus tricolor | + | |
| Black-fronted Dotterel | Elseyornis melanops | + | |
| Brown Falcon | Falco berigora | + | |
| Brown Goshawk | Accipiter fasciatus | + | |
| Chestnut Teal | Anas castanea | + | |
| Crested Shrike-tit | Falcunculus frontatus | + | |
| Darter | Anhinga melanogaster | + | |
| Dusky Woodswallow | Artamus cyanopterus | + | |
| Eurasian Coot | Fulica atra | + | |
| Grey Butcherbird | Cracticus torquatus | + | |
| Grey Teal | Anas gracilis | + | |
| Hoary-headed Grebe | Poliocephalus poliocephalus | + | |
| Jacky Winter | Microeca fascinans | + | |
| Masked Lapwing | Vanellus miles | + | |
| Nankeen Kestrel | Falco cenchroides | + | |
| New Holland Honeyeater | Phylidonyris novaehollandiae | + | |
| Noisy Friarbird | Philemon corniculatus | + | |
| Noisy Miner | Manorina melanocephala | + | |
| Rainbow Lorikeet | Trichoglossus haematodus | + | |
| Red-browed Finch | Neochmia temporalis | + | |
| Red Wattlebird | Anthochaera carunculata | + | |
| Restless Flycatcher | Myiagra inquieta | + | |
| Rufous Fantail | Rhipidura rufifrons | + | |
| Striated Pardalote | Pardalotus striatus | + | |
| Wedge-tailed Eagle | Aquila audax | + | |
| White-bellied Sea-Eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster | + | |
| White-eared Honeyeater | Lichenostomus leucotis | + | |
| White-faced Heron | Egretta novaehollandiae | + | |
| White-necked Heron | Ardea pacifica | + |
* For a complete list of declining/increasing species in the bioregion, see Barrett et al. 2003 pages 757–788; Source: Barrett et al. 2003; Birds Australia 2005; CSIRO 2005; NSW Government 2005.
Threats and impacts on native species
Habitat disturbance and fragmentation are major threats to the distribution and abundance of native plant and animal species within the Shire; with changes in landcover and landuse being significant factors. There is little documented information however on the specific impacts of habitat disturbance, fragmentation or other threatening factors on species.
Drought impacts on species are generally not known or poorly understood. Such a natural event may however affect the abundance of species by causing localised deaths (plants and animals) and migration out of the area (animals).
Threatening processes affecting plants
Several key processes listed as threatening in Schedule 3 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 are relevant to plant species in Eurobodalla Shire Council area. They include:
- alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers and streams and their floodplains and wetlands
- clearing of native vegetation
- infection of native plants by Phytophthora cinnamomi
- invasion of native plant communities by Chrysanthemoides monilifera
- competition and grazing by the feral European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
- competition and habitat degradation by Feral Goats (Capra hircus)
- invasion of native plant communities by exotic perennial grasses.
The main known threats to two of the threatened plants in Eurobodalla Shire Council area are outlined in Table 7. For information on known threats for other listed plants in the Shire, and species predicted to occur there, see http://www.maps.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile.
| Species | Threats |
|---|---|
| Austral Toadflax | loss and degradation of habitat and populations for residential, infrastructure and agricultural developments, intensification of grazing regimes, weed invasion and from road works (particularly widening or re-routing) |
| Dense Cord-rush | for populations close to road edges, impacts of road works and weed spraying pigs rooting for food |
Source: DEC 2005b
Threatening processes affecting animals
Several key processes listed as threatening in Schedule 3 of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 are relevant to animal species in Eurobodalla Shire. They include:
- alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers and streams and their floodplains and wetlands
- bushrock removal
- clearing of native vegetation
- competition and grazing by the feral European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
- competition and habitat degradation by Feral Goats (Capra hircus)
- competition from feral honeybees (Apis mellifera)
- infection of frogs by amphibian chytrid causing the disease chytridiomycosis
- predation by Plague Minnow or Mosquito Fish (Gambusia holbrooki)
- predation by the European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
- predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by Feral Pig (Sus scrofa)
- predation by the Feral Cat (Felis catus)
- removal of dead wood and dead trees.
Some key threats identified for native fish within the Murray-Darling Basin (MDBMC 2003) may also be relevant to fish species within the Shire. These threats are low regulation, habitat degradation, lowered water quality, barriers, alien species, exploitation, diseases, and translocation and stocking.
Specific threats identified for some of the endangered/vulnerable animals occurring in the Shire are shown in Table 8. The threats include a range of factors that affect species habitat, food sources or population viability. Habitat clearance and fragmentation threaten many of the species. For information on known threats for individual threatened animal species in the area, and for other threatened species predicted to occur there, see http://www.maps.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile.
| Species | Threats |
|---|---|
| Mammals | |
| Eastern False Pipistrelle | disturbance to winter roosting and breeding sites loss of trees for foraging and hollow-bearing trees for roosting. application of pesticides in or adjacent to foraging areas |
| Eastern Pygmy-possum | loss and fragmentation of habitat through land-clearing for agriculture, forestry and urban development and overgrazing by stock and rabbits changed fire regimes that affect food plants loss of nest sites due to removal of firewood predation from cats, dogs and foxes |
| Yellow-bellied Glider | loss and fragmentation of habitat loss of hollow-bearing trees loss of feed trees |
| Birds* | |
| Barking Owl (southern form); Brown Treecreeper (eastern subspecies); Glossy Black-cockatoo; Hooded Robin (southern form); Masked Owl; Olive Whistler; Powerful Owl; Speckled Warbler | loss, degradation and/or fragmentation of habitat through native vegetation clearance, residential development, overgrazing fox and cat predation poisoning, disturbance tree loss through altered water tables loss in availability of nest trees reduction in suitably-sized prey competition with Starlings for nest sites road mortality reduction of river flows |
| Amphibians | |
| Green and Golden Bell Frog | loss or alteration of habitat through destruction or infilling of wetlands, alteration of drainage patterns and stormwater runoff fungal pathogen known as Frog Chytrid Fungus predation by feral animals such as foxes, and by exotic fish such as Plague Minnow herbicides and other weed-control measures road mortality, where populations are already small due to other threats |
* Each threat listed does not necessarily apply to every species; Source: DEC 2005b
What is being done to conserve native species?
Laws and policy
National and state laws provide a framework for the protection of native plant and animal species within the Shire. Two state laws were enacted during the previous reporting period: the Native Vegetation Act 2003 and the Catchment Management Authorities Act 2003. These two laws and the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 provide a landscape scale framework for biodiversity management. The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, other state laws including the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and the national Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 provide the framework for the recognition and protection of threatened plant and animal species, and usually require the species to be taken into account during proposed developments.
Eurobodalla Shire Council is located within the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) area. The CMA is required to work in partnership with Local Government as well as other stakeholders. No updated CMA information was provided for this report, however the South East Catchment Blueprint (South East Catchment Management Board 2002), which was completed during the previous reporting period, includes a range of management actions to restore, maintain or conserve biodiversity values.
Local government regulations, legislation or planning documents such as Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) may also provide some protection for native species, or limit or prohibit certain activities that may lead to the further decline of protected species. Council has developed a technique called the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as a planning and decision-making tool for undertaking environmental constraints analysis and determining suitability of land for development. The SEA includes absolute constraints such as riparian vegetation, SEPP 14 Wetlands, Vulnerable Ecosystems and a weighted factor for fauna habitat and vegetation ecosystems.
Threatened species recovery planning
Of the 88 threatened species known to occur in Eurobodalla Shire, only six animals species have formal recovery plans in place (see Tables 2 and 6), at least two of which were completed during the previous reporting period. During the same period plans were being prepared for another two plant species and seven animal species, and had been exhibited for an additional two animal species. Thirty animal species were covered by three national action plans, at least two of which were completed prior to 2004.
During the reporting period the NSW Government developed a Priority Action Statement that summarises the actions that need to be taken to reverse the threatening processes impacting on a wide range of plant and animal species, and replaces the need for separate species-based recovery plans. These laws and plans aim to minimise the effects of threatening processes on native species to protect them from becoming endangered.
An array of actions has been detailed by various conservation management agencies for many of the threatened species occurring in Eurobodalla Shire. No updated information detailing current actions was provided, however recovery actions had been initiated during the previous reporting period by researchers and the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation for some threatened species with no recovery plans, but these actions did not necessarily occur within the Shire. The extent to which recovery actions are proving effective in conserving targeted threatened species within Eurobodalla Shire is not clear.
Some key actions undertaken during the previous reporting period include:
During 2001–2002, a conservation strategy was developed for the Yellow-bellied Glider, in cooperation with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, with the aim of conserving populations of the glider. The strategy originally covered only the Broulee area, but it had been planned to extend it to the whole Shire during 2002–2003. This policy was still active and being implemented during the reporting period.
The South Coast Shorebird Recovery Program is a specific long-term recovery program for threatened shorebirds. It is an ongoing collaborative effort of Shorebird Recovery coordinators, volunteers, Council rangers, Rural Lands Protection Board rangers and Department of Environment and Conservation staff that is proving beneficial to the future conservation of these threatened species.
Other activities
Environment Projects received $1.9 million invested through the environment fund into a wide range of environmental projects over 2005-2006 (refer to the Eurobodalla Annual Reporting available at http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/plans/Documents/Archive/SOEIndex.html for details on projects).
During the previous reporting period Council commissioned several reports to address or identify some of the key environmental or biodiversity issues in the Shire. They included the identification of habitat linkages in the rural/residential interface (Daly 2001; Gaia Research 2001) as part of the Eurobodalla Coastal Environment Capacity Planning Project. This project aimed to record the natural resource values within the Shire, with a strong catchment focus, and identify and define impacts on those catchments in relation to future development. The documents arising from the project will facilitate planning processes within the Shire. Council also commissioned studies related to the ecology of coastal estuaries and creeks in the Shire (WBM Oceanics Australia 1999, 2004a, 2004b).
Council also conducted a desktop survey to identify and prioritise localities for biodiversity conservation in the Shire. Project works for on ground implementation of biodiversity include foreshore/riparian protection and revegetation, protection and management of remnants and the creation of linkages between them, protection of identified vulnerable ecosystems and threatened species, and erosion control and sediment load reduction. Council also aims to increase community participation in biodiversity conservation.
A range of nationally funded activities undertaken during the previous reporting period in the Southern Rivers catchment (DIPNR 2004) may have enhanced the conservation of plant and animal species in Eurobodalla Shire. Effects from these programs may have continued into the current reporting period
The Shire supports 27 Landcare groups, some of which may also be Coastcare groups.
About the data
Data for species lists were obtained from the sources listed below.
- BioNet (NSW Government 2005)—this database includes records from the Australian Museum, Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The DEC data includes data from the former NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Atlas of NSW Wildlife database (DEC 2005a) and the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens Herbarium Collection database (Royal Botanic Gardens 2005). The DPI data includes data from the former NSW State Forests and the former NSW Fisheries.
- Atlas of NSW Wildlife (DEC 2005a)—species records are submitted to the Atlas as incidental sightings or systematic surveys, or imported from existing databases. Location details are validated on data entry, based on the grid references supplied. An accuracy index of location is applied and all records are automatically assigned a reliability category, based on the observers' experience. Unusual sightings that fail validations are queried and further validation may occur.
- Australian National Wildlife Collection Database (CSIRO 2005).
- Australia's Virtual Herbarium database—contains flora records from the Australian National Herbarium and other major herbaria in Australia (ANH 2005).
- NSW State Forests data—flora and fauna records held by NSW State Forests South Coast, Eden and Riverina Regions.
- Atlas of Australian Birds database (Birds Australia 2005)—records of threatened and migratory birds only. Detail about the database, accuracy of its records and other relevant information is outlined in Barrett et al. (2003).
Selection of species records
Species records were selected from between July 1955 to October 2008. This date range was used to eliminate species which had not been recorded in the last 50 years, and to eliminate historic records with poor locational or taxonomic detail.
Due to extensive data and time constraints, some exotic plant species may be included in the list of native plant species and hence also included in the plant species total for the Council area.
Some species, especially plants, may appear more than once in the species lists of native plants and animals where slight variations in spelling or formatting of scientific names have occurred between or within the datasets used to compile these lists.
The total number of plant and animal species referred to in this report equals the total number of taxa listed in the lists of native plant and animal species (i.e. the total 'species' count includes varieties, subspecies, forms and hybrids).
Differences between reporting periods
The DECC Wildlife Atlas is the only source used to generate species lists for vulnerable and threatened flora species during this reporting period. This tool allows for geographic searching by Local Government Area Boundaries, hence revealing a more spatially accurate data set for the LGA in question. It is possible that the differences in threatened fauna species between 2008 and the 2004 report are due to a different catchment boundary being utilised for the previous reporting period (i.e. CMA regions), which do not correspond entirely with LGA boundaries.
Threatened species—status
Plant and animal species listed under the Commonwealth Government's Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 were automatically transferred to the new Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and were formally listed under the EPBC Act on 16 July 2000. Although this listing date falls within the current reporting period, the status of such species was considered to remain unchanged from the previous reporting period. Data on the status of plant and animal species listed under NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) was not provided for this reporting period and was considered to remain unchanged.
Threatened species predicted to occur in the Shire
No data was provided for predicted threatened species in the current reporting period. Data given here is based on that provided for the previous reporting period. This data was sourced from the DECC, Threatened Species Unit, Southern Directorate as an extract from its Property Vegetation Planning Database.
References
Australian National Herbarium (2005) Australia's Virtual Herbarium database, Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, CSIRO and Australian National Botanic Gardens, Department of Environment and Conservation, Canberra.
Barrett, G, Silcocks, A, Barry, S, Cunningham, R and Poulter, R (2003) The New Atlas of Australian Birds, Royal Australasian Ornithologist's Union, Melbourne.
Birds Australia (2005) Atlas of Australian Birds database, Birds Australia, Melbourne.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (2005) Australian National Wildlife Collection Database, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra.
Daly, G (2001) Summary Report on Assessment of Fauna Habitat Linkages and Considerations for Management. Select Rural Residential Areas, Eurobodalla Shire, prepared for Eurobodalla Shire Council for the Eurobodalla Environmental Capacity Planning Project.
Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2004) Recovery Planning Database, Threatened Species Unit, Department of Environment and Conservation, Hurstville.
Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) (2005a) Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database, Department of Environment and Conservation, Hurstville.
Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2005b) Threatened Species, Populations and Ecological Communities of NSW Catchments, viewed October 2008, http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/index.aspx.
Department of Environment and Heritage (Commonwealth) (2005) Species Profile and Threats Database, viewed December 2005, http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl.
Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (NSW) (2004) 2003/04 Combined NSW Catchment Management Authorities Annual Report, Volume 1: CMA Activities and Achievements, Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources, Sydney.
Department of Primary Industries (2005) Fisheries Scientific Committee Final Recommendations, http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/threatened_species/fsc/recomend.
DIPNR—see Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (NSW)
DPI—see Department of Primary Industries
Duncan, A, Baker, GB and Montgomery, N (eds) (1999) The Action Plan for Australian Bats, Environment Australia, Canberra.
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2001) Supplementary State of the Environment Report 2000/01, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Moruya, on-line at http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Publications/annualreport/SOER/SOERSupplementary/
SOE2001/SoESupp_2001.pdf.
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2002) Supplementary State of the Environment Report 2001/02, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Moruya, on-line at http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Publications/annualreport/SOER/SOERSupplementary/
SOE2002/SoESupp_Report_02.htm.
Eurobodalla Shire Council (2003) State of the Environment Supplementary Report 2002/03, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Moruya, on-line at http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/Publications/annualreport/SOER/SOERSupplementary/
SOE2003/SoESupp_Index.htm.
Gaia Research Pty Ltd (2001) Assessment of Fauna Habitat Linkages and Considerations for Management. Select Rural Residential Areas Eurobodalla Shire, prepared for Eurobodalla Shire Council for the Eurobodalla Environmental Capacity Planning Project.
Garnett, ST and Crowley, GM (2000) The Action Plan for Australian Birds, Environment Australia, Canberra.
Graham, C (2005) Charles Sturt University, personal communication.
Maxwell, S, Burbidge, AA and Morris, K (eds) (1996) The 1996 Action Plan for Australian Marsupials and Monotremes, Environment Australia, Canberra.
MDBMC—see Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council
Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council (2003) Native Fish Strategy for the Murray-Darling Basin 2003–2013, Murray Darling Basin Commission, Canberra.
NSW Government (2005) BioNet System, NSW Government, viewed October 2008, http://www.bionet.nsw.gov.au/BioNet.cfm?is_ie5up.
Office of the Commissioner for the Environment (2000) Australian Capital Region State of the Environment Report 2000, Office of the Commissioner for the Environment, Canberra.
Royal Botanic Gardens (2005) Herbarium Collection Database, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
South East Catchment Management Board (2002) South East Catchment Blueprint – An Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the South East Catchment 2002, NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney, online at http://www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/cmb/blueprints/pdf/south_east_blueprint.pdf.
WBM Oceanics Australia (1999) Batemans Bay Estuary Process Study Ecology Component, Spring Hill, Queensland.
WBM Oceanics Australia (2004a) Background Information for Joes, Wimbie, Short Beach and Surfside Creeks – Final Report, Spring Hill, Queensland.
WBM Oceanics Australia (2004b) Tuross Estuary and Coila Lake Estuary Management Study for the Eurobodalla Shire Council Final Report, July 2004, Newcastle.
