Eurobodalla

Issue: Biodiversity

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See these indicator results for more detail:
Ecological Communities | Fire | Native Species | Pest Animals | Pest Plants | Riparian Conditions

What does the Shire have?

Eurobodalla Shire Council area has a rich biodiversity—62 different vegetation types have been mapped, and at least 1,568 plant species (native and introduced). Fauna species recorded in the Shire include 345 bird species, 252 fish species, 128 mammal species, 26 reptile species and 31 amphibian species. This reflects the habitat diversity in the Shire—from coastal areas and lowland plains to the mountains of the Great Dividing Range. It also reflects the Shire's high native vegetation cover—42% of the Shire's area is in some form of conservation reserve, 30% hardwood timber production, and 12% bushland.

The Shire contains occurrences of 12 Endangered Ecological Communities (EEC), and populations of 22 plant and 66 animal species that are vulnerable or endangered nationally or in New South Wales. An additional 33 plant species and 13 animal species listed as vulnerable or endangered are also predicted to occur in the Council area

What has changed?

Insufficient data were available to assess many aspects of the Shire's biodiversity during the reporting period. The major data gaps relate to changes in the extent and condition of terrestrial and riparian ecosystems (including changes in vegetation from clearing and fire), changes in native species populations and abundance, changes in threatening processes, information on aquatic macroinvertebrates, the extent to which recovery plan actions have been carried out and their effectiveness and changes in the distribution and population densities of pest animal species (including the effectiveness of control measures). There is little monitoring or systematic collection of data on species, populations or communities.

The number of ecological communities and species present in the Council area that are listed as vulnerable or endangered increased during the current reporting period. Nine ecological communities with occurrences in the Council area were listed as critically endangered or endangered (Note: threatened ecological community lists are generated based on Bioregions not Local Government Areas). Three plant species listed as vulnerable or endangered were added to the Shires threatened species list, due to recent survey efforts and the use of different data sets. The number of flora species (excluding non-natives) recorded in the Council area decreased by 136 due to further refinement of existing flora data sets.

Fauna species recorded in the Shire increased by 312 during the current reporting period, primarily the result of different data sets, recent survey efforts and the inclusion of non native species for this reporting period. No analysis of change in status of fauna species status took place during the current reporting period, however most pressures on these species are unlikely to have been reduced.

Although no quantitative data is available to indicate if the condition of biodiversity is deteriorating within the Council area general trends in New South Wales (NSW)that indicate the diversity of terrestrial species remains under threat and response mechanisms to protect them have not yet reversed this trend. Even where pressures on species are reduced, due to lag effects, it may take many years for the full effects to become evident. The number of species, populations and communities listed as threatened has generally increased over time. The distribution and abundance of many species not listed as threatened continues to decline due to habitat destruction and other pressures.

For this reason, Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 listings do not give a complete picture of the broader decline occurring across the region as habitats shrink and become fragmented, reducing ecological ranges and genetic diversity. Another problem may be the considerable timelag involved in the process of identifying a species of concern, nominating it for listing and obtaining the data to finally determine its status. The true level of decline is unknown as the number of species is much greater than the state of knowledge about them. The vast majority of species that make up our biodiversity, such as invertebrates, have not been described, with their ecological functions known only in general terms and their conservation status not known at all in most cases. This lack of knowledge of the full potential of impacts may itself contribute to biodiversity loss.

Habitat removal, disturbance and fragmentation, through vegetation clearing and/or modification, are thought to have continued as major threats to native species and ecosystems in the Council area. Population increases and the resulting demand for urban development within the Shire during the reporting period placed pressure on native species and communities, particularly in lowland areas. Disturbances such as rural development, fires and drought led to further degradation or loss of ecological communities. Invasive plants and animals continued to exert further pressure on ecological communities and species.

Although the Council has been actively engaged in programs to enhance biodiversity and environmental outcomes, insufficient information was available during the current reporting period to accurately assess the overall effectiveness of programs and projects by Council, other agencies, individuals and community groups.

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The 'pressure points'

The 'pressure points' are specific processes that continue to exert detrimental effects upon species and ecological communities. If these continue unabated, they will cause species and ecological communities to slide further towards extinction. These are the main pressures that need to be relieved in order to preserve and recover species and ecological communities through effective management strategies and actions.

  • Habitat removal, disturbance and fragmentation, through vegetation clearing and/or modification, were considered major threats to native species and ecosystems in the Council area.
  • Land development in coastal and lowland areas continued to pose the major threat to native species and ecosystems located there, through clearing or degradation of habitat resulting from impacts like increased runoff, sedimentation and erosion. The population growth of the Eurobodalla Shire remains well ahead of the state average as it has for the past two decades; however, the rate of growth is declining. Census 2006 showed that for the 2001‐2006 period the population grew by 7.3% (refer to the Eurobodalla Annual Reporting available at http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/publications/corporate-reports/current-reports.aspx).
  • Drought conditions that were prevalent during much of the reporting period would have affected many native species and ecosystems in the Shire.
  • At least 15,498 hectares of vegetation was burnt by fire hazard reduction burns. No information was available on wildfires within the Shire during the current reporting period. No information is available on the number of vegetation communities, including those known to be fire sensitive or affected by fire.
  • Five pest animal species and 16 pest plant (weed) species were of high concern during the reporting period. These invasive species represent one of the most serious threats to biodiversity in the Shire.
  • There is already evidence of climate change impacts on biodiversity, including effects on species physiology, distribution and the timing of life-cycle events. Climate change is also expected to exacerbate other threatening processes. It may enable invasive species to expand into new areas, create more frequent forest fires and cause declining water quality. The combined effects of other pressures reduce the options for native species to adapt to climate change.

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Protecting and enhancing biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of life: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, their genes and the ecosystems of which they are a part. Biodiversity is vital in supporting human life on Earth. The natural environment maintains many essential functions that form the foundation of a healthy and sustainable environment. These are often called 'ecosystem services' and include air and water purification, waste detoxification and decomposition, crop and natural vegetation pollination, dispersal of seeds and nutrients and regulation of climate.

Local Councils are in a prime position to take a leading role in maintaining these vital ecosystem services. A range of activities in the Council area during the reporting period were aimed at improving the condition of native ecosystems and the habitat of native species and reducing the pressures on them. The main responses to biodiversity loss on a state level are amendments to the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, introduction of the Priorities Action Statement, increasing reservation in the protected area system, and the natural resource management reforms.

No new conservation reserves or additions to existing conservation reserves were gazetted during the current reporting period.

Of the 88 threatened species known to occur in Eurobodalla Shire Council area, only six animal species have formal recovery plans in place, at least two of which were completed during the previous reporting period.

Five of the 12 conservation reserves within the Shire had formal plans of management. Budawang National Park, Clyde River National Park and Wadbillaga National Park all had fire management plans prepared, while Gulaga National Park had a draft fire management plan.

Significant progress was made towards controlling Bitou Bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera), Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) and Salvinia (Salvinia molesta). No data was available to assess change in the distribution or population densities of pest animal species.

Council prepared plans and strategies to help enhance biodiversity within the Shire and continued its active development and implementation of on-ground projects. Council and community groups also undertook a number of ecological restoration projects (refer to the Eurobodalla Annual Reporting available at http://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/plans/Documents/Archive/SOEIndex.html for project details).

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The future—what does this mean for Council?

Ongoing population growth in Eurobodalla Shire is likely to see continued expansion of urban and rural residential development. This will place further pressure on terrestrial and aquatic native species and ecosystems, including endangered ecological communities and some threatened species. Urban expansion may also result in weed invasion into areas currently relatively weed free, as well as cause impacts such as increased runoff, erosion, sedimentation, and excess nutrients entering waterways. Continuing impacts from industry sectors such as agriculture and forestry are likely to exert ongoing pressures upon biodiversity in the Shire.

The continued lack of data to allow a full assessment of the Shire's biodiversity status carries with it the risk that approved development proposals will have unanticipated adverse impacts. Lack of monitoring of native species, populations and communities within the Shire may also hamper conservation efforts, as impacts from urban and rural development, forestry practices and other pressures (e.g. fire, drought) cannot be determined and remediation measures cannot be planned to an appropriate level. Monitoring is also essential to determine whether environmental plans and strategies and on-ground management projects are achieving the desired biodiversity outcomes.

Council needs to maintain appropriate effort and resources in the following areas of its environmental management.

  • Develop partnerships with regional research institutions and other agencies to develop and undertake data collection and monitoring programs that allow increased tracking of changes in key components of biodiversity integrity over time to support effective management of natural resources. This includes agreed methodologies for assessing vegetation condition that will facilitate its monitoring and management over time.
  • Continue to pursue information and data sharing arrangements with key government agencies to facilitate sound natural resource management and decision making
  • Use Government Agency and Council strategies and plans to prioritise the development and implementation of biodiversity related projects, ensuring that programs and projects by a range of stakeholders including community groups target key issues such as endangered ecological communities, high priority wetlands, key threatening processes and high status noxious and environmental weeds
  • Utilise existing government agency programs (as outlined in the NSW Biodiversity Strategy) which protect native species and ecosystems across NSW, where these are available.
  • Implement the Threatened Species Assessment Guideline to assist the community, developers and Council assessment staff with ensuring the legislative requirements are readily understood. Utilise Regional-scale Biodiversity Survey and Assessment Guidelines that provide information about how to approach survey and assessment of biodiversity to inform regional planning.
  • Continue to ensure biodiversity impacts are adequately taken into account in planning for and implementing landuse zoning, assessment of development applications, road management and construction activities, stormwater management, hazard control burning and weed control activities. The regulation of these activities needs to be in accordance with legislative requirements and also include, as a minimum, consideration of terrestrial and aquatic native species and ecosystems generally, in addition to specific consideration of endangered ecological communities and vulnerable or endangered plant and animal species known or predicted to occur in the Shire.
  • Incorporate `best practice’ for biodiversity planning as outlined in the Biodiversity Planning Guidelines for Local Government document. This Guide aims to assist Councils to carry out biodiversity conservation as part of their day-to-day functions, especially those relating to planning and development. It provides Councils with a 'good practice guide'. The Guide highlights the importance of plan making for biodiversity conservation, as well as the need to integrate both regulatory and positive approaches. It shows how Councils can conserve biodiversity through their existing regulatory and operational functions. The Guide does not create new plan making processes, but presents a package of strategies and tools that can be applied within existing frameworks.
  • Education of staff and the wider community on biodiversity is required. There exists a generally poor understanding of the importance of biodiversity in maintaining life support systems for human and environmental health. A broader understanding and appreciation of the values of biodiversity and will underpin future success in conserving biodiversity and critical ecological services.
  • Help ensure appropriate (relevant and achievable) monitoring programs are in place to measure the effectiveness of Council's environmental policies, strategies, management activities and on-ground restoration projects in achieving desired biodiversity outcomes.
  • Continue to support and encourage community involvement in biodiversity conservation and monitoring.
  • Maintain collaborative arrangements with other land management agencies within the region to ensure ongoing success with pest animal and plant control and fire management, and to develop awareness of new land management principles, innovations or approaches.
  • Work closely with the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority to help ensure consistency in approach to biodiversity conservation and complementary actions to achieve this.

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