National Recovery Plan for the Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia ecological community

Evaluation

Performance criteria have been identified to evaluate the effectiveness of each recovery action. A key strategy for the recovery plan is to establish a recovery team to facilitate and coordinate recovery plan implementation, evaluate the effectiveness of recovery actions and report on progress with recovering the ecological community. Representation on this recovery team is yet to be determined but should include key stakeholder groups and organisations.

The Grassy Ecosystems Recovery Project Steering Committee is an advisory group established to support development of this recovery plan. The committee is not a representative group for key stakeholders, but may be able to take an interim role until the recovery team is established. Organisations and stakeholders represented on this steering committee include:

• 
  Department of Environment and Natural Resources
  

• 
  Mid North Grasslands Working Group
  
• 
  Rural Solutions SA
  
• 
  Greening Australia SA
  
• 
  Threatened Plant Action Group
  
• 
  Nature Conservation Society of SA
  
• 
  Conservation Council of SA
  
• 
  Northern & York NRM Board
  
• 
  SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board
  
• 
  Community members, including graziers
  
• 
  Upper North Farming Systems Group
  
• 
  Eastern Hills and Murray Plains Catchment Group
  

The outcomes of the plan and future directions for recovery will be reviewed after five years and at the end of the ten-year period. In addition, the Recovery Team will review and report on the status and recovery of the ecological community every three years. However it is recognised that many of the desired ecological outcomes for the Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland community will need to be measured over a much longer time-frame than the intended duration of this plan.

Part G Communication and Participation

A communication strategy is being developed to support the recovery program (Action 1.1). The strategy will identify options for engaging with key stakeholder groups and strategies for implementing recovery actions related to awareness raising, knowledge and skills development and capacity building of those stakeholders. It will also identify opportunities for engaging partner organisations and gaining their support and involvement in recovery actions.

Private land owners and managers are key stakeholders in the recovery of the Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia, as they currently own, manage and have influence over most of the remaining area of the ecological community. The greatest gains for the ecological community will be achieved by working in partnership with private land owners and managers, to raise their interest in and awareness of native grasslands, develop their knowledge and skills to manage these areas, and build their capacity to implement ‘best practice’ adaptive management for conservation and production outcomes.

Other sectors including community and industry groups, non-government organisations, local government, NRM Boards, other statutory organisations, research institutions, government agencies and indigenous groups and organisations will be significant and essential partners in the recovery program.

Effective communication and liaison will be needed between these various stakeholders and partners, to ensure a common understanding of the recovery aims, objectives and priorities, to help establish and maintain partnerships and to avoid duplication and make best use of resources in implementing recovery actions. The proposed recovery team (Action 7.1), supported by a project officer (Action 7.2) will facilitate and coordinate stakeholder involvement in implementing this recovery plan.

Current and potential stakeholders in the management and recovery of the Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia are listed in Table 7.

Table 7: Current and potential stakeholders in the management and recovery of Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland of South Australia.

National Stakeholders: Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities National non-government organisations (e.g. WWF Australia) National Farmers’ Federation General public

State Stakeholders: Department of Environment and Natural Resources Primary Industries and Resources SA Rural Solutions SA Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure Department of Planning and Local Government Native Vegetation Council Natural Resources Management Council Advisory Board of Agriculture South Australian Farmers Federation Greening Australia SA Conservation Council of South Australia Nature Conservation Society of SA Threatened Plant Action Group Trees for Life Specialist non-government organisations and groups (e.g. Birds SA; SA Herpetology Group; Butterfly Conservation SA) Mining and wind energy industries Flinders University of South Australia University of Adelaide University of South Australia General public

Regional Stakeholders: Land owners and managers, including private landholders, local councils and Airservices Australia Northern and Yorke NRM Board SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board Agricultural Bureau Branches (Men’s and Women’s) Mid North Grasslands Working Group Native Grass Resources Group Northern and Yorke Grassy Habitats Recovery Team Local governments:- Alexandrina Council, The Barossa Council, District Council of Barunga West, Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council, Coorong District Council, Goyder Regional Council, Light Regional Council, District Council of Mallala, Mid Murray Council, District Council of Mount Remarkable, The Rural City of Murray Bridge, Northern Areas Council, District Council of Orroroo-Carrieton, District Council of Peterborough, Wakefield Regional Council Central Local Government Region of SA Threatened species recovery teams (Spiny Daisy, Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard) Friends of Burra Parks Eastern Hills and Murray Plains Catchment Group