Investing in Our Natural and Cultural Heritage - THREATENED SPECIES AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

	Document Index 1999-2000 Ministerial Statements Investing in our Natural and Cultural Heritage Chapter 4

THREATENED SPECIES AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

The Commonwealth will provide $6.8 million in 1999-2000 for the Endangered Species Programme for action on threatened species and ecological communities, threatening processes and community education and involvement.

A major initiative announced in 1998-99 was the decision to provide $1 million of Endangered Species Programme funds for community grants over 1998-99 and 1999-2000. The grants Programme was established to support and inspire community work to recover threatened species and ecological communities. Ninety-one applications were received in the first round of funding.

Action on Species and Communities

The Endangered Species Programme provides a core resource for the conservation of nationally threatened species and ecological communities, primarily through recovery and threat abatement plans. Plans are undertaken in cooperation with the States and Territories and strongly foster the involvement of all stakeholders, including industry and community groups. Table 4.3 summarises the number of recovery plans that have been adopted or approved by the Commonwealth and the number of species for which recovery plans are currently in preparation.

During 1998-99, 13 amendments were made to the listings of species that are endangered, vulnerable or presumed extinct, as follows.

Three mammals, two birds and one amphibian were added to, and one mammal was removed from Schedule 1: Part 1 of the Act-species that are endangered.
One invertebrate and one non-vascular plant were added to and one mammal and one bird were removed from Schedule 1: Part 2 of the Act-species that are vulnerable.
Two birds were added to Schedule 1: Part 3 of the Act-species that are presumed extinct.

In addition, the Cumberland Plain Woodland and the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub of the Sydney Region became the first two endangered ecological communities to be listed under Schedule 2 of the Act. A further nine endangered ecological communities are currently being considered for listing.

Action plans and conservation overviews review major plant and animal groups, identify species at risk and develop nationally agreed priorities for conservation action, including amending the Act's lists of nationally threatened species.

During 1998-99, a Seal Action Plan and a Bat Action Plan were published. During 1999-2000, conservation overviews for marine invertebrates and marine algae will be finalised, and work on the preparation of a butterfly action plan, a marine fish action plan and a revised bird action plan will near completion.

Table 4.3: Status of the preparation and adoption of Recovery Plans (as at April 1999)

Taxa	Number listed as Endangered or Vulnerable	Number of Plans adopted or approved	Number of species for which Recovery Plans are currently in preparation
Mammals	57	3	26
Birds	96	8	34
Amphibians	16	1 (covers 2 species)	13
Reptiles	52	1	10
Invertebrates	4	-	2
Fish	21	-	7
Plants	1072	8	250
Non Vascular Plants	1	-	-
Ecological Communities	2	-	1
Total	1321	21	343

Threatening Processes

Box 4.7: Albatross Threat Abatement Plan

Listed under the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 is the key threatening process of the `incidental catch (or by-catch) of seabirds during oceanic long-line fishing operations'. This listing led to the preparation of a Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) for this threatening process. The TAP was finalised in 1998. The objective of the TAP is to reduce seabird by-catch in all fishing areas, seasons or fisheries to below 0.05 seabirds per thousand hooks, based on current fishing levels. This represents a reduction of up to 90 per cent of seabird by-catch within the Australian Fishing Zone, and should be achievable within the five-year life of this Plan. The ultimate aim of the threat abatement process is to achieve a zero by-catch of seabirds, especially threatened albatross and petrel species, in long-line fisheries.

The Plan aims to significantly reduce the by-catch of seabirds during oceanic long-line operations in the Australian Fishing Zone within five years by:

prescribing the appropriate modifications to fishing practices or equipment (mitigation measures);
providing for development of new mitigation measures;
educating fishers and the public; and
collecting information necessary to improve knowledge of seabird long-line fishery interactions.

The Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 provides for action on key threatening processes, and the preparation of nationally coordinated threat abatement plans. This benefits both common and threatened species. The first Threat Abatement Plan-for the Incidental Capture (or Bycatch) of Seabirds during Longline Fishing Operations-was approved in August 1998. Threat abatement plans for the fox and feral cats were also approved. Work continued on the threat abatement plans for rabbits, feral goats, and dieback caused by the root-rot fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, and it is anticipated that these plans will become operational in 1999-2000.

Other Natural Heritage Trust Programmes also provide resources for the preparation and implementation of threat abatement plans. The National Weed and National Feral Animal Control Programmes in particular carry out threat abatement activities for introduced and feral animals and weeds, including hosting national workshops to develop research and management priorities, and funding the preparation of national threat abatement plans.

Box 4.8: Endangered Species Enclosure Project

In 1998-99, the Endangered Species Programme provided $535,000 for four projects involving development of secure enclosures for the captive breeding and management of a number of threatened species. Protection from predators has the potential to significantly enhance the recovery of some species, particularly small to medium sized mammals. The enclosures funded by the Programme will not only increase the numbers of these species in captivity but will also provide a source of animals that can be released into the wild, once adequate habitat has been made secure from predation.

Contact: Environment Australia, Biodiversity Group -- 02 6274 2240

Community Education and Involvement

A communications strategy has been developed for the Endangered Species Programme. In 1999-00, this strategy will be used to guide the expenditure of funds designed to enhance community education and involvement in threatened species issues. A total of $670,000 will be allocated to implementation of this strategy.

One example of the programme's innovative approach to community education and involvement is the Threatened Species Network. The Network provides a networker in each State and Territory and is administered under contract by the World Wide Fund for Nature. The Networkers are particularly important for identifying opportunities for public participation in on-ground activities to protect threatened species and in forging links between the community and government agencies. Birds Australia is contracted to provide a similar Threatened Bird Network, and the Australian Network for Plant Conservation undertakes similar work in relation to threatened flora.

Funding for the Threatened Species Network was increased in 1998-99 to allow networkers to be employed on a full-time basis. The Network is also responsible for administering the new community grants component of the Programme-the Threatened Species Network Community Grants. The Threatened Species Network Community Grants aim to provide seed funding to assist community groups to take on long-term responsibility for conservation and recovery of populations of threatened species and ecological communities.

In May 1999, the Minister announced the successful grant recipients for the first round of funding. Thirty-nine community groups received a total of $410,881 to assist them in undertaking on-ground work to protect threatened species.

Contact: Environment Australia, Biodiversity Group -- 02 6274 2280

Cooperative Research Centre for Conservation and Management of Marsupials

The CRC for Conservation and Management of Marsupials is concentrating on the special problems unique to marsupials. Research is aimed at gaining an understanding of the fundamental aspects of marsupial reproduction and genetics to develop practical management tools and policies. The CRC has, to date, isolated and cloned essential reproductive genes and developed new protocols for artificial breeding. This research also has a direct application to understanding the processes threatening rare or endangered marsupials. An interesting aspect of this research is the partnership with Landcare Research International Ltd of New Zealand, where marsupials are a major feral pest. The CRC also aims to assist New Zealand in developing humane methods of marsupial population control.

Contact: CRC Secretariat -- 02 6213 6429