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Threatened species, ecological communities and migratory species
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- Table 1: Species listing assessment outcomes 2010–11
- Species Status Transferred species – down listings
- Transferred species – up listings
- Ineligible for listing
- 1.2 Wildlife trade and management
- Live imports
- Sustainable wildlife industries
- Case study 2: Facility assessment of Sea World Penguin Encounter
Threatened species, ecological communities and migratory species The EPBC Act protects Australia’s native species and ecological communities by providing for:
Threatened fauna and flora may be listed in categories defined by the EPBC Act. Species listed as extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable are matters of national environmental significance. Ecological communities are unique and naturally occurring groups of plants, animals and other organisms that interact in a unique habitat. Their structure, composition and distribution are determined by factors such as soil type, position in the landscape, climate and water availability. Threatened ecological communities listed as critically endangered and endangered are matters of national environmental significance. Threatened ecological communities may also be listed as vulnerable. Listed threatened species and ecological communities The Threatened Species Scientific Committee advised the minister on amending and updating lists of threatened species, threatened ecological communities and key threatening processes. The committee also advised on the development or adoption of recovery and threat abatement plans. The committee had four major meetings in 2010–11, and undertook a number of assessments of the conservation status of priority species, ecological communities and key threatening processes. The committee also continued its work on reviewing the status of listed species and aligning lists of nationally threatened species and ecological communities with state and territory listings. Assessment period commencing 1 October 2010 For the assessment period commencing 1 October 2010, the minister decided to continue one theme from the previous year ‘terrestrial, estuarine and near-shore environments of Australia’s coasts’ and added one new theme ‘heathlands and mallee woodlands’. For this assessment period new nominations were received for 18 species, two key threatening processes and 10 ecological communities. Several nominations from the previous year were also eligible for reconsideration. In June 2010 the Threatened Species Scientific Committee prioritised the public nominations received and determined its proposed priority assessment list for consideration by the minister. The finalised list is expected to be made public in the first quarter of 2011–12. Assessment period commencing 1 October 2011 For this assessment period new nominations were received for 11 species, three key threatening processes and five ecological communities. Several nominations from the previous year were also eligible for reconsideration for inclusion on the assessment list. The finalised list is expected to be made public in mid 2011–12 after the minister considers the committee’s recommended priorities for assessment. Listing assessment outcomes The minister made listing decisions on the assessments for 47 species and two ecological communities. Fifteen species were from the Finalised Priority Assessment Lists and 32 were under arrangements to align state/territory and national lists. For species, as set out in Table 1, there were 28 new listings, 13 de-listings, four transfers between categories (three down-listings and one up-listing) and two proposed listings deemed as ineligible. Table 1: Species listing assessment outcomes 2010–11
The two threatened ecological community listings in 2010–11 were:
Assessments for three other ecological communities were also completed in June 2011, with listing decisions expected to be made by the minister in 2011–12. At the time of listing, extensive information is published in listing and conservation advices on distribution, key diagnostic characteristics, condition, relationship to state vegetation classifications, threats, and priority conservation actions. Managing threatened species and ecological communities The listing of species and ecological communities triggers the protection mechanisms of the EPBC Act. This makes them a priority for funding and management to assist with their recovery and conservation, such as through the Caring for our Country initiative. For example, several listed woodlands and native grasslands are key targets under the Environmental Stewardship Program, which provides funds and information to support landholders in protecting threatened native vegetation on their properties. Conservation advices for all new listings of species and ecological communities were prepared and published on the department’s website. Conservation advices provide guidance on immediate recovery and threat abatement activities that can be undertaken to ensure the conservation of newly-listed species or ecological community. The minister approved conservation advices for 32 newly-listed threatened species and two newly listed threatened ecological communities. Recovery plans The EPBC Act provides for the making or adopting of recovery plans and conservation advices when a species is listed. Recovery plans set out the research and management actions needed to stop the decline and support the recovery of listed threatened species or threatened ecological communities. The department, with the relevant state and territory government environment agencies, made substantial investment in the recovery of threatened species and ecological communities through developing and implementing recovery plans. Eighty-two recovery plans covering 173 species and one ecological community were approved by the minister or his delegate. Reviews of 31 recovery plans due for review were completed. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee continues to work with the department on national monitoring and reporting on significant species and ecological communities. Substantial progress was made on a further seven recovery plans. The threatened species covered by the plans are: Litoria booroolongensis (Booroolong frog), Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii (Southern bent-wing bat), Nangura spinosa (Nangur spiny skink) and Pristis zijsron (green sawfish). The threatened ecological communities covered are: Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia, Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain and Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of South Australia. Key threatening processes The EPBC Act provides for the listing of key threatening processes. A threatening process is one that threatens or may threaten the survival, abundance or evolutionary development of a native species or ecological community. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee advises the minister on the listing of key threatening processes and whether a threat abatement plan or other actions are needed to abate key threatening processes. There were no key threatening processes added to the list during 2010–11. In June 2011 a threat abatement plan for the biological effects, including lethal toxic ingestion caused by cane toads came into effect. The minister also approved the release of a draft threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts on northern Australia’s biodiversity by five pest grass species, and its background document, for a three-month public consultation period. The key threatening processes and threat abatement plans listed under the EPBC Act are at Appendix D. Migratory species The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks came into effect in March 2010 and Australia became the 14th signatory to this agreement on 4 February 2011. This global memorandum of understanding is the first of its kind for sharks and aims to conserve migratory sharks throughout the world. It currently covers seven shark species: white shark, whale shark, basking shark, porbeagle, shortfin mako, longfin mako, and the northern hemisphere populations of spiny dogfish. All except the spiny dogfish inhabit Australian waters. An intergovernmental dugong task force between the Australian and Queensland Governments was established to address the ongoing sustainability of dugong populations in the waters off Queensland. Its primary role was to establish a comprehensive understanding of the existing programs of dugong conservation and management and associated community engagement in waters off Queensland and identify areas for improvement. Australia was represented at the first official signatory state meeting of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their Range. It was held in the United Arab Emirates between 4 and 6 October 2010 under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species. Australia provided a voluntary contribution of $20 000 to support the 2011 Pacific Year of the Dugong, which aimed to undertake awareness raising activities to ensure the long term conservation of dugong populations in the Pacific Ocean. 1.2 Wildlife trade and management This section reports on the operation of the EPBC Act in regulating the import and export of Australia’s native flora and fauna and of species restricted through international trade controls, and the development of wildlife and fisheries conservation and management plans. Live imports The import of live animals into Australia is controlled by the EPBC Act and the Quarantine Act 1908, administered by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. These laws apply to all imports of live animals. Only species that are included in the live import list can be legally imported as live specimens into Australia. Any live specimen of a species that does not appear on the live import list cannot legally enter Australia, irrespective of whether the species is already known to be in this country. Anyone is eligible to apply to the minister to amend the live import list to include a new species. The applicant needs to provide a report against the standard terms of reference. Each species proposed for inclusion on the live import list is the subject of a detailed risk assessment, including public consultation. In 2010–11, seven applications to amend the live import list were received. From those applications, the minister decided to make one addition to the list: the radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) for non-commercial purposes only. One amendment was made to the listing of the red rainbowfish (Glossolepis incisus) to increase the size limit from 1.5cm to 4cm. Siganus rivulatus and Siganus luridus were excluded from the part 1 listing for rabbit fishes (Siganus spp.)—an action initiated by the department as these species were identified as being a potential pest risk. An application for the Brazilian agouti (Dasyprocta leporine) was withdrawn and three applications are still being processed. Several applications for live import listing received in previous years were finalised this year. The minister decided to make four additions to the list: the leaf-feeding beetle (Plectonycha correntina) was added to part 1 of the list, while the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and the grey nurse shark (Carcharias taurus) were added to part 2 of the list for non-commercial purposes only. The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) was also added to part 2 of the list, but import is restricted to its use for research purposes only.
The international movement of wildlife and wildlife products is regulated under the EPBC Act. Trade in specimens derived from regulated native species, species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), or the import of regulated live plants and animals may be allowed. Approval can be given provided the specimens have been derived from an approved captive breeding program, artificial propagation program, aquaculture program, wildlife trade operation, or a wildlife trade management plan. The following wildlife programs were approved in 2010–11:
The department completed 22 assessments for transfers of live animals for exhibition in zoos and aquaria. The department ensures that live animals only go to appropriate zoological institutions through a review process and facility assessments. The department completed 38 facility assessments for a wide range of animals, including koalas and southern white rhinoceros.
The department regulates the import of live animals into Australia to ensure that this international trade does not threaten the survival of species in the wild, and that animals are cared for and used for appropriate purposes. This includes the import of many animal species for non-commercial exhibition at zoos and aquaria. The department recognises that these organisations are valuable education and conservation resources for both native Australian and exotic wildlife. In October 2010, Sea World in Queensland applied to the department to import king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) from New Zealand for public exhibition in the new, purpose-built Penguin Encounter facility. This climate-controlled building was designed to enable the co-habitation of the two penguin species and allow the public to view their land and underwater activities. The penguins’ living-space includes a pool, man-made snow and a naturalistic land space. The department completed a detailed assessment of the Sea World facility to ensure that it would adequately house and care for the penguins, and meet their other biological and behavioral needs. The department also liaised closely with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and the Queensland Government to ensure that all Commonwealth and state requirements were met. The king and gentoo penguins have now settled in at Penguin Encounter. In May 2011 the complex was awarded the Exhibit Award in the Large Institution Category at the Zoo and Aquarium Association 2011 Conference. Gentoo Penguins and King Penguins, Sea World Penguin Encounter. (Sea World)
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