Palerang

Indicator: Native Species

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What the results tell us for Palerang

The full extent of native animal and plant species diversity in the Palerang Council area is not known. Almost 2000 plant species (native and introduced) and 369 animal species have been recorded there, but these records are not comprehensive. Differences in reported species diversity compared with the last reporting period reflect factors such as improved use of data sources and survey efforts since 2004.

Thirty-one plant and 50 vertebrate animal species that occur in the council area are listed as either Vulnerable or Endangered in New South Wales (NSW) or nationally and a further 67 threatened plant and animal species are predicted to occur in the council area.

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 ten listed threatened species and draft recovery plans for a further four species. An additional 18 listed animal species were covered by national action plans. Although various recovery actions had been initiated for many threatened species, no data were available on the extent to which activities were carried out in the council area or on their effectiveness in conserving the species.

What native species occur in the council area?

No comprehensive lists of plant or animal species were available for Palerang Council area. As past extensive clearing has resulted in significant loss of natural habitat for native plants and animals, species occurring in vegetation remnants within or near the council area provide some indication of the area's former native species diversity. Important areas containing remnant vegetation include national parks, nature reserves, travelling stock reserves, road reserves and cemeteries.

Plants (flora)

Almost 2000 plant species, most of them native and including many lichens and other lower plants, have been recorded in the council area. This is similar to that reported in the 2004 State of the Environment Report (OCE 2004), with minor changes reflecting factors such as differences in data sources and survey efforts since 2004. No information was available on the abundance of native plant species in the council area during the reporting period.

Thirty-one plant species in the council area are listed as endangered or vulnerable in NSW and/or nationally (see Table 1). Several new species have been added since the 2004 report, as indicated in the table, including the Mauve Burr-daisy which is known to occur in Palerang but is not currently listed in the NSW Atlas or BioNet databases (Rehwinkel 2008). The Rough Eyebright was included in the 2004 report but is not currently listed or believed to occur in the Palerang area (Oliver 2008) so has been removed. One record of the Monaro Golden Daisy in the NSW Atlas is believed to be incorrectly located (Rehwinkel 2008), so is not included.

Table 1. Threatened plants known to occur in Palerang Council area
Common name Scientific name Conservation status Recovery Plan (RP) or Action Plan
National† NSW‡ Change*
Araluen Gum Eucalyptus kartzoffiana V V No None
Araluen Zieria Zieria adenophora E E No National RP 2002; NSW RP 2001
Austral Toadflax, Toadflax Thesium australe V _ No National recovery plan in prep. (5 Aug 2008)
Budawangs Bush-pea Pultenaea baeuerlenii V V No None
Budawangs Cliff-heath Budawangia gnidioides V V No None
Budawangs Wallaby Grass Plinthanthesis rodwayi V E No None
Buttercup Doubletail Diuris aequalis V E No None
Button Wrinklewort Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides E E No National recovery plan in prep. (5 Aug 2008)
Deane’s Boronia Boronia deanei subsp. Acutifolia V V No None
Dense Cord-rush Baloskion longipes V V Listed as Vulnerable nationally None
Dwarf Kerrawang Rulingia prostrata E E New None
Hoary Sunray Leucochrysum albicans var. tricolor E _ No National recovery plan in prep. (5 Aug 2008)
Illawarra Irene Irenepharsus trypherus E E No National RP2005; NSW RP 2005
Major’s Creek leek Orchid Prasophyllum sp. Majors Creek - E No None
Mauve Burr-daisy Calotis glandulosa V V New None
Michelago Parrot-pea Dillwynia glaucula - E No None
Monga Tea Tree Leptospermum thompsonii V V No None
Mongarlowe Mallee Eucalyptus recurva E E No National RP in prep (as at 28/10/08); NSW Draft RP 2003
Mountain Swainson-pea Swainsona recta E E No National RP in prep. (as at 28/10/08)
Nerriga Grevillea Grevillea renwickiana - E No None
Pale Golden Moths Diuris ochroma V E New National RP (2004)
Pale pomaderris
 Pomaderris pallida V V No None
Pygmy Cypress Pine Callitris oblonga subsp. corangensis V V No National RP in prep. (as at 28/10/08)
Round-leafed Wilsonia Wilsonia rotundifolia - E New None
Silky Swainson-pea Swainsona sericea - V No None
Small Snake Orchid Diuris pedunculata E E No National RP in prep. (as at 28/10/08)
Small-leaved Gum Eucalyptus parvula V V New None
Tangled Bedstraw Galium australe - E No None
Tarengo Leek Orchid Prasophyllum petilum E E No National recovery plan in prep. (5 Aug 2008); NSW Draft Recovery Plan 2003
Thick Lip Spider Orchid Caladenia tessellata V E No National RP in prep. (as at 29/10/08)
Trailing Monotoca Monotoca rotundifolia - E New 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 conservation status and/or occurrence within Palerang since the end of the last reporting period (”New” indicates new record since 2004, including recently listed as threatened or recently located within Palerang).

Sources: DECC 2008a; DECC 2008b; DEWHA 2008a; DEWHA 2008b; DEWHA 2008c; McDougall 2008;NSW Government 2008; OCE 2004; Oliver 2008; Rehwinkel 2008.

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Scientific experts predict that an additional 49 vulnerable or endangered plant species may also occur in the council area (see Table 2), although there were no confirmed records of them at the end of the current reporting period. Since the 2004 report (OCE 2004) the Small-leaved Gum has been moved from Table 2 to Table 1 as it is now confirmed as occurring in the area. One species previously reported as occurring in Palerang has been moved from Table 1 to Table 2 as its occurrence could not be expertly confirmed at the time of writing - the Trailing Hop Bush/Creeping Hop Bush.

Table 2. Threatened plant species predicted to occur in Palerang Council area
Common name Scientific name
Albatross Mallee Eucalyptus langleyi
Bauer's Midge Orchid Genoplesium baueri
Bega Wattle Acacia georgensis
Bog Grevillea Grevillea acanthifolia subsp. paludosa
Box Range Zieria Zieria buxijugum
Bredbo Gentian Gentiana bredboensis
Bynoe's Wattle Acacia bynoeana
Chef's Cap Correa Correa baeuerlenii
Cotoneaster Pomaderris Pomaderris cotoneaster
Crimson Spider Orchid Caladenia concolor
David's Westingia Westringia davidii
Deane's Paperbark Melaleuca deanei
Delicate Pomaderris Pomaderris delicata
East Lynne Midge Orchid Genoplesium vernale
Ettrema Mallee Eucalyptus sturgissiana
Few-seeded Bossiaea Bossiaea oligosperma
Genoa River Correa Correa lawrenceana var. genoensis
Grey Deua Pomaderris Pomaderris gilmourii var. cana
Imlay Mallee Eucalyptus imlayensis
Kydra Westringia Westringia kydrensis
Lacy Pomaderris Pomaderris elachophylla
Large-leafed Monotaxis Monotaxis macrophylla
Leafless Tongue Orchid Cryptostylis hunteriana
Lemon Zieria Zieria citriodora
Matted Bush-pea Pultenaea pedunculata
Monaro Golden Daisy Rutidosis leiolepis
Nalbaugh Nematolepis Nematolepis rhytidophylla
Narrabarba Wattle Acacia constablei
Nowra Heath Myrtle Triplarina nowraensis
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
Silky Pomaderris Pomaderris sericea
Silver-leafed Gum Eucalyptus pulverulenta
Solanum celatum Solanum celatum
Swamp Everlasting Xerochrysum palustre
Tall Knotweed Persicaria elatior
Tallong Midge Orchid Genoplesium plumosum
Trailing Hop-bush/Creeping Hop-bush Dodonaea procumbens
Trailing Monotoca Monotoca rotundifolia
Velvet Zieria Zieria murphyi
Warty Zieria Zieria tuberculata
Wee Jasper Grevillea Grevillea iaspicula
Wingello Grevillea Grevillea molyneuxii
Woolly Ragwort Senecio garlandii
Yass Daisy Ammobium craspedioides
Yellow Loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris var. davurica

Source: DEC 2005b; DEWHA 2008e

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Animals (fauna)

Three hundred and fifty four native vertebrate animal species have been recorded in the council area, almost two thirds of them birds (see Table 3). Almost half of the 39 new records added since the 2004 State of the Environment Report (OCE 2004) are fish species following the addition of data from the BioNet database (NSW Government 2008). Nineteen exotic vertebrate species have also been recorded. The number of invertebrate animals (insects and so on) is poorly known, although 15 species are recorded in the BioNet database. No specific information was available on the abundance of animal species in the council area during the reporting period.

Table 3. Number of vertebrate animal species known to occur in Palerang Council area
Animal group (Order) Number of Species Number of Species
State of the Environment 2008 State of the Environment 2004
Mammals 52 48
Amphibians 27 26
Birds 210 200
Reptiles 45 39
Fish 20 2
Total 354 315

Source: DECC 2008a; NSW Government 2008; OCE 2004

Fifty vertebrate animal species recorded in the Palerang Council area are listed as endangered or vulnerable (see Table 4). They include 16 mammals, 22 birds, seven amphibians, three reptiles and two fish. Several new species have been added since the 2004 report, as indicated in the table, including the Swift Parrot which was previously reported as predicted to occur in Palerang Council area. The Yellow-bellied Sheathtail-bat, Painted Honeyeater and Square-tailed Kite are included in the table as they are known to occur in the Palerang Council area (Oliver 2008), even though they are not listed in the NSW Atlas or BioNet databases (DECC 2008a; NSW Government 2008). Several species reported in 2004 have been removed as they are not currently listed in the NSW Atlas or BioNet databases and are not confirmed as currently occurring within the area (Oliver 2008), namely the Black Bittern, Eastern Bristlebird and Magpie Goose.

Table 4. Threatened animals known to occur in Palerang Council area
Commonname Scientificname Conservation status# Recovery Plan (RP) or Action Plan (Date if known)
National† NSW‡ Change*
Mammals
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
Koala Phascolarctos cinereus – V No NSW Draft RP (2003)
Large-eared Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri V V No National RP in prep.; Action Plan (1999)³
Large-footed Myotis Myotis adversus – V No Action Plan (1999)³
Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus V V No National RP in prep.
Smoky Mouse Pseudomys fumeus E E No None
Southern Brown Bandicoot (eastern) Isoodon obesulus obesulus E E No National RP in prep.; NSW RP (2006)
Spotted-tailed Quoll Dasyurus maculatus E V No National RP in prep.; 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 NSW RP (2003); 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 NSW Draft RP (2003); Action Plan (2000)¹
Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis – V No Action Plan (2000)¹
Brown Treecreeper (eastern subspecies) Climacteris picumnus victoriae – V No Action Plan (2000)¹
Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata – V No Action Plan (2000)¹
Eastern Ground Parrot Pezoporus wallicus wallicus – V No None
Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa – V No Action Plan (2000)¹
Gang-gang cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum - V New None
Glossy Black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami – V No None
Hooded Robin (south-eastern form) Melanodryas cucullata cucullata – V No Action Plan (2000)¹
Masked Owl Tyto novaehollandiae – V No NSW RP (2006); Action Plan (2000)¹
Olive Whistler Pachycephala olivacea – V No None
Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta E V No Action Plan (2000)¹
Pink Robin Petroica rodinogaster – V No None
Powerful Owl Ninox strenua – V No NSW RP(2006); Action Plan (2000)¹
Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia E E No National Recovery Plan adopted (for period 1999–2003); Action Plan (2000)1
Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa – V No NSW RP(2006); Action Plan (2000)¹
Speckled Warbler Pyrrholaemus sagittatus – V No Action Plan (2000)¹
Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura – V No Action Plan (2000)¹
Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii V V No National RP in prep.; Action Plan (2000)1
Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor E E New National RP (2002)
Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella – V No Action Plan (2000)¹
Amphibians
Booroolong Frog Litoria booroolongensis E E Nationally endangered (2007) National RP in prep.
Giant Burrowing Frog Heleioporus australiacus V V No National RP in prep.
Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea V E No National RP in prep.; NSW Draft RP (2005)
Littlejohn’s Tree Frog Litoria littlejohni V V No None
Southern Bell Frog Litoria raniformis V E No National RP in prep.; NSW Draft RP (2005)
Stuttering Barrred Frog Mixophyes balbus V E No National RP in prep.
Yellow-spotted Bell Frog Litoria castanea E E No National RP (2004); NSW RP (2001)
Reptiles
Little Whip Snake Suta flagellum – V No None
Pink-tailed Worm-lizard Aprasia parapulchella V V No National RP in prep.
Rosenberg’s Goanna Varanus rosenbergi – V No None
Fish
Macquarie Perch Macquaria australasica E E No National RP in prep.
Silver Perch Bidyanus bidyanus – V No Native Fish Strategy for the Murray-Darling Basin 2003–2013 (2003)4

# 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 conservation status and/or occurrence within Palerang since the end of the last reporting period (”New” indicates new record since 2004, including recently listed as threatened or recently located within Palerang).

References: 1 = Garnett & Crowley 2000; 2 = Maxwell et al. 1996; 3 = Duncan et al. 1999; 4 = MDBMC 2003; Other sources: DECC 2008a; DECC 2008b; DEWHA 2008a; DEWHA 2008b; DEWHA 2008d; NSW Government 2008; Oliver 2008; OCE 2004.

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Scientific experts predict that an additional 18 vulnerable or endangered animal species may occur in the council area (see Table 5), although there were no confirmed records of them at the end of the current or previous reporting period. They include one invertebrate, the Critically Endangered Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana). The list of threatened species predicted to occur in Palerang Council area increased from the 2004 report following the addition of several new species from the Protected Matters Search Tool (DEWHA 2008e). The Swift Parrot record was moved to Table 4 as there is now an official record in the NSW Atlas of its occurrence in this area.

Table 5. Threatened animals predicted to occur in Palerang Council area
Common name Scientific name
Alpine Tree Frog Litoria verreauxii alpina
Australian Grayling Prototroctes Maraena
Australian Painted Snipe Rostratula australis
Black-chinned Honeyeater (eastern subspecies) Melithreptus gularis gularis
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
Broad-headed Snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides
Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata
Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius
Golden Sun Moth Synemon plana
Golden-tipped Bat Kerivoula papuensis
Grassland Earless Dragon Tympanocryptis pinguicolla
Greater Broad-nosed Bat Scoteanax rueppellii
Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus
Hooded Plover Thinornis rubricollis
Long-footed Potoroo Potorous longipes
Murray Cod, Cod, Goodoo Maccullochella peelii peelii
Striated Fieldwren Calamanthus fuliginosus
Striped Legless Lizard Delma impar

Source: DEC 2005b; DEWHA 2008e.

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In the broader South Eastern Highlands and South East Corner bioregions within which Palerang Council area is located, some bird species that are not listed as threatened are reported to have decreased in abundance in recent decades, although others are reported to have increased (Barrett et al. 2003). A selection of these species that occur in the Council area is listed in Table 6.

Table 6. Native birds reported to be declining or increasing in the South Eastern Highlands and South East Corner bioregions and known to occur in Palerang Council area*
Common Name Scientific Name Declining Increasing
Australian Raven Corvus coronoides   +
Black Swan Cygnus atratus   +
Brown Falcon Falco berigora +  
Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides   +
Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans   +
Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis   +
Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa   +
Hardhead Aythya australis +  
Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles +  
Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides +  
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis   +
Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus   +
Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax +  
White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaeus   +

* For a complete list of declining/increasing species in the bioregions, see Barrett et al. 2003, pages 757–788.; Source: Barrett et al. 2003; Birds Australia 2005; CSIRO 2005; NSW Government 2005.

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Threats and impacts on native species

Habitat disturbance and fragmentation are major threats to the distribution and/or abundance of native plant and animal species within the council area. There is little documented information however on the specific impacts of habitat disturbance, fragmentation or other threatening factors on species.

Although native plants and animals in the council area would have been subject to prolonged drought conditions during the current reporting period, actual drought impacts on species are generally not known and/or poorly understood. Such a natural event may however affect the abundance of species by causing localised deaths (plants and animals) and/or migration out of the area (animals).

A total of 289 priority actions have been identified to help recover threatened species and tackle threatening processes in the Palerang Council area. These priority actions can be grouped into 19 recovery strategies and four threat abatement strategies (DECC 2008c).

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 Palerang Council area. They include:

  • alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers and streams and their floodplains and wetlands
  • clearing of native vegetation
  • 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 some of the threatened plants in Palerang Council Area are outlined in Table 7. For information on known threats for other threatened plants in the area, including species predicted to occur there, see http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/index.aspx.

Table 7. Selection of known threats to listed Endangered and Vulnerable plants in Palerang Council area
Species Threats
Austral Toadflax
  • loss or degradation of habitat and populations for residential, infrastructure and agricultural developments, and by intensification of grazing regimes, weed invasion and from road works (particularly widening or re-routing)
Dense Cord-rush
  • populations close to road edges may be threatened by roadworks and weed spraying
  • pigs rooting for food
Doubletail Buttercup
  • habitat clearing or degradation through rural-residential subdivision and associated land uses (e.g. horse and goat grazing, illegal rubbish dumping, roadworks
Mongarlowe Mallee
  • effects of inbreeding from narrow genetic base
  • unauthorised collection of specimens by interested visitors
  • site damage from visitors' vehicles
Rough Eyebright
  • pig and deer damage, illegal grazing by stock and off-road vehicular disturbance
  • competition from the vigorous native Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and blackberries
  • changes to swamp hydrology and vegetation
Silky Swainson-pea
  • loss and degradation of habitat or populations for residential and agricultural developments, intensification of grazing regimes, weed invasion and from road works (particularly widening or re-routing)

Source: DEC 2005b

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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 Palerang Council area. 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 Pigs (Sus scrofa)
  • predation by the Feral Cat (Felis catus)
  • removal of dead wood and dead trees.

Eight key threats identified for native fish within the Murray-Darling Basin (MDBMC 2003) may also be relevant to fish species within the council area. These threats are flow regulation, habitat degradation, lowered water quality, barriers, alien species, exploitation, diseases, and translocation and stocking.

Specific threats identified for many of the endangered/vulnerable animals occurring in Palerang 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.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/index.aspx.

Table 8. Selection of known threats to listed Endangered and Vulnerable animals in Palerang Council area
Species Threats
Mammals*
Eastern Bentwing-bat; Eastern Pygmy-possum; Koala; Large-footed Myotis; Spotted-tailed Quoll; Squirrel Glider; Yellow-bellied Glider.
  • habitat loss, fragmentation and/or degradation through native vegetation clearance, forest harvesting and associated activities, loss of hollow bearing and mature roost trees, loss of nest sites due to removal of firewood, declining shrub diversity from overgrazing by stock and rabbits, changed fire regimes
  • removal of old buildings
  • predation from cats, dogs and foxes
  • competition with foxes and feral cats
  • strychnine baiting for dingoes
  • non-target mortality from trapping and poisoning
  • mortality as a result of raiding caged birds
Birds*
Australasian Bittern; Barking Owl (southern form); Blue-billed Duck; Brown Treecreeper (eastern subspecies); Glossy Black-cockatoo; Hooded Robin (southern form); Magpie Goose; Masked Owl; Olive Whistler; Painted Honeyeater; Powerful Owl; Regent Honeyeater; Speckled Warbler; Superb Parrot; Turquoise Parrot.
  • habitat loss, fragmentation and/or degradation through native vegetation clearance, residential development, tree loss through altered water tables, overgrazing by stock and rabbits, loss in availability of nest trees
  • diversion of water for irrigation
  • drainage of deep permanent wetlands or degradation of such from introduced fish or cattle
  • reduction of river flows
  • salinisation
  • fox and cat predation
  • reduction in suitably-sized prey
  • poisoning, disturbance and predation by foxes on fledglings
  • competition with Starlings for nest sites
  • road mortality
Amphibians*
Booroolong Frog; Green and Golden Bell Frog; Southern Bell Frog; Yellow-spotted Bell Frog.
  • habitat loss, fragmentation and/or degradation through destruction/infilling of wetlands, modification of steam channels, loss of cobble banks, loss of native streamside vegetation, stock damage to stream margins, weed invasion of streamside habitats (particularly by willows), removal of fallen timber, rocks or other debris used as shelter
  • predation of eggs and tadpoles by introduced fish
  • disease—chytrid fungus
  • changes to water quality through sedimentation and use of herbicides or pesticides near streams
  • alteration of drainage patterns and stormwater runoff
  • predation by feral animals such as foxes and by exotic fish such as Plague Minnow; predation of eggs and tadpoles by introduced fish, particularly Gambusia
  • herbicides and other weed-control measures
  • road mortality, where populations are already small due to other threats
Reptiles*
Little Whip Snake; Pink-tailed Worm-lizard; Rosenberg's Goanna.
  • habitat loss and fragmentation through land clearing for residential, agricultural and industrial developments, removal termite mounds and fallen timber
  • road kill from moving vehicles
  • predation by cats and dogs

* Each threat listed does not necessarily apply to every species

Source: DEC 2005b

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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 council area. 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.

Palerang Council area is located within the Murrumbidgee and Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) areas. Each CMA is required to work in partnership with Local Government as well as other stakeholders. No current information on CMA actions was available, however the Murrumbidgee Catchment Blueprint (Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Board 2003) and South East Catchment Blueprint (South East Catchment Management Board 2002), both of which were completed during the previous reporting period, include a range of management actions to restore, maintain or conserve biodiversity values. Outcomes from these blueprints may have impacted into the current reporting period.

Local government regulations, legislation or planning documents may also provide some protection for native species, or limit or prohibit certain activities that may lead to the further decline of protected species. Palerang Council's Local Environment Plans and Development Control Plans include provisions for protection of native species (Bromley 2005). Proposed land developments must take into account the possible occurrence of any of the threatened species known or predicted to occur in the council area (see Tables 1, 2, 4 and 5).

During the previous reporting period the document A Planning Framework for Natural Ecosystems of the ACT and NSW Southern Tablelands (Fallding 2002) was produced to provide a regional approach to conservation of biodiversity. Palerang Council area is part of the Southern Tablelands region. The framework identifies species of conservation importance, including threatened species, and provides a methodology for integrating biodiversity issues into land use and the development planning processes.

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Threatened species recovery planning

Of the 81 threatened plant and animal species known to occur in Palerang, only ten have formal recovery plans in place, with another four species covered by draft recovery plans. Twenty-three animal species were covered by three action plans, at least two of which were completed prior to 2001 (see Table 4).

An array of actions has been detailed by various conservation management agencies for many of the threatened species occurring in the Palerang Council area. Although recovery actions had been initiated during the previous reporting period by researchers and the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change for some of threatened species with no recovery plans (DEC 2004), these actions did not necessarily occur within the council area and it is unknown whether any of these plans continued into the current reporting period. The extent to which recovery actions are proving effective in conserving targeted threatened species within Palerang Council area is not clear.

Other activities

Council has continued to employ appropriately qualified and experienced environmental consultants and continually sought to improve activities and procedures with regard to compliance of its own activities and its statutory role as a Regulatory Authority (Holloway 2008).

A range of nationally funded activities undertaken during the previous reporting period in the Murrumbidgee and Southern Rivers catchments (DIPNR 2004) may also have enhanced the conservation of plant and animal species in the council area and possibly continued into the current reporting period. Council liaised with local landcare groups, Catchment Management and Coordinating Committees and Catchment Management Authorities, to help plan and deliver local, state and national programmes for the development of positive environmental outcomes (Bromley 2005). The Palerang Council area includes the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Coordinating Committee.

The Palerang Council area supports 26 Landcare groups.

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About the data

Data for species lists for the 2004 report (OCE 2004) 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).

Data compiled by Cornish (undated) which gives a monthly synopsis of plants in flower in the region.

Plant lists from 14 sites within the Flora Survey of South-East Yarrowlumla (Barrer 1997) which fall within Palerang Council Area.

Data used to update the species lists for the current report were obtained from the sources outlined below:

The 2004 State of the Environment report for Palerang (OCE 2004), Atlas of NSW Wildlife (DECC 2008) and BioNet (NSW Government 2008) were used to determine current species lists. The protected Matters Search Tool database (DEWHA 2008e) was used to check for additional predicted species ranges within Palerang. Local expertise was used to confirm the occurrence of any uncertain species (McDougall 2008;Oliver 2008; Rehwinkel 2008).

The national status of species detected from state databases was checked from the Species profile and Threats Database (DEWHA 2008a).

The current status of recovery plans for all threatened species listed for Palerang was checked via the NSW Recovery Planning Database (DECC 2008b) and lists of national recovery plans in existence (DEWHA 2008b) and under development (DEWHA 2008c; DEWHA 2008d).

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References

ANH—see Australian National Herbarium

Australian National Herbarium (2005) Australia's Virtual Herbarium database, Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, CSIRO and Australian National Botanic Gardens, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Canberra.

Barrer, P (1997) The Flora of South-East Yarrowlumla—a preliminary assessment, Consultant's report to the Save the Bush grants scheme and the Stoney Creek Landcare Group.

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.

Bromley, K (2005) Environmental Coordinator, Palerang Council, personal communication.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (2005) Australian National Wildlife Collection Database, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra.

Cornish, R (undated) Local Plants in Flower—a monthly synopsis. Unpublished report.

CSIRO—see Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

DEC – see Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW)

DECC—see Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW)

DEWHA—see Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Commonwealth)

Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2008a) Atlas of NSW Wildlife Database, , viewed 18 November 2008 (search of Palerang LGA), http://wildlifeatlas.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wildlifeatlas/watlas.jsp

Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2008b) Recovery Planning Database, viewed 18 November 2008, http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/RecoveryPlanning.htm

Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2008c) Recovery and threat abatement –Priority actions, viewed 12 December 2008 (search of Palerang LGA), http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/home_recovery_new.aspx

Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) (2005b) Threatened Species, Populations and Ecological Communities of NSW Catchments, viewed 12 April 2005, http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/index.aspx.

Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Commonwealth) (2008a) Species Profile and Threats Database, viewed 18 November 2008, http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl

Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Commonwealth) (2008b), Recovery Plans made or adopted, viewed 18 November 2008, http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery-list-common.html

Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Commonwealth) (2008c), Flora for which Recovery Plans are being prepared, viewed 18 November 2008, http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/pubs/preparation-flora.pdf

Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Commonwealth) (2008d), Fauna for which Recovery Plans are being prepared, viewed 18 November 2008, http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/pubs/preparation-fauna.pdf

Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (Commonwealth) (2008e), Protected Matters search Tool, viewed 18 November 2008 (search of Palerang LGA), http://www.environment.gov.au/erin/ert/epbc/index.html

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 (NSW)

Duncan, A, Baker, GB and Montgomery, N (eds) (1999) The Action Plan for Australian Bats, Environment Australia, Canberra.

Fallding, M (2002) Planning framework for natural ecosystems of the ACT and NSW Southern Tablelands, Natural Heritage Trust, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Land and Environment Planning.

Garnett, ST and Crowley, GM (2000) The Action Plan for Australian Birds, Environment Australia, Canberra.

Graham, C (2005) Charles Sturt University, personal communication.

Holloway, S (2008) Environmental Coordinator, Palerang Council, personal communication.

Maxwell, S, Burbidge, AA and Morris, K (eds) (1996) The 1996 Action Plan for Australian Marsupials and Monotremes, Environment Australia, Canberra.

McDougall, Keith (2008), Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), personal communication.

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.

Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Board (2003) Murrumbidgee Catchment Blueprint, NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney, online at http://www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/cmb/blueprints/pdf/murrumbidgee_blueprint.pdf.

NSW Government (2008) BioNet System, NSW Government, viewed 18 November 2008 (search of Eastern Capital City LGA), http://www.bionet.nsw.gov.au/.

OCE—see Office of the Commissioner for the Environment

Office of the Commissioner for the Environment (2004) Australian Capital Region State of the Environment Report 2004, Office of the Commissioner for the Environment, Canberra, http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/soe2004/index.htm

Oliver, Lorraine (2008), Threatened Species Information Officer, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), personal communication.

Rehwinkel, Rainer (2008), Senior Threatened Species Officer, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), personal communication.

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.

 

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