Action item 8.6
Progress
Complete.
Approved by decision makers.
Recommendation implemented.
That as part of a SREBA, a study be undertaken to determine if any threatened species are likely to be affected by the cumulative effects of vegetation and habitat loss, and if so, that there be ongoing monitoring of the populations of these species.
If monitoring reveals a decline in populations (compared with predevelopment baselines), management plans aimed at mitigating these declines must be developed and implemented.
Completed
Action item update
Implementation
The Terrestrial Ecosystems baseline studies of the Beetaloo Strategic Regional Environmental and Baseline Assessment (SREBA) have been completed and are on the DEPWS website.
Only 2 threatened plant species were recorded in the study area. Four other plant species were considered significant as they have restricted ranges within their total distribution. The wetland habitat of most of these significant species reinforces the high conservation value of these restricted parts of the landscape.
Nine birds, one invertebrate, 6 mammals and 4 reptile species that occur in the study region are listed as threatened, and 20 species are listed as migratory under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth).
Targeted surveys were undertaken for the threatened Crested Shrike-tit, Gouldian Finch, Greater Bilby, Ghost Bat and Plains Death Adder; and Northern Brushtail Possum, Mertens’ Water Monitor, Mitchell’s Water Monitor and Yellow-spotted Monitor were also sampled during regional surveys.
Sufficient data were collated to develop spatial distribution models for the Gouldian Finch, Crested Shrike-tit, Greater Bilby and Yellow-spotted Monitor, and potential Ghost Bat roosting habitat was also mapped. There is extensive habitat for the Gouldian Finch, Crested Shrike-tit and Yellow-spotted Monitor in the Sub-basin, although likely nesting habitat for the Gouldian Finch is far more spatially restricted.
Potential risks to the biodiversity values identified in the study area were identified and evaluated.
The SREBA studies have enabled habitats with high ecological value to be identified and mapped throughout the study area. Habitat degradation, fragmentation and loss associated with clearing of native vegetation within these habitats can be minimised through the application of measures outlined the NT Land Clearing Guidelines and Code of Practice for Onshore Petroleum Activities in the Northern Territory. The guidelines and Code are on the DEPWS website.
The cumulative effects of clearing and fragmentation can be precisely calculated at the scale of broad vegetation groups that have been mapped within the study area, potentially allowing thresholds for acceptable change to be implemented.
The potential to effectively monitor the potential impacts arising from the development of an onshore gas industry on the various terrestrial ecological values in the study area was evaluated. Monitoring was assessed as being effective and feasible for:
- the spatial extent of high and moderate-value broad vegetation groups
- the condition of waterbird habitat
- bird fauna of riparian and swamp habitats
- landscape-scale fire regimes
- vegetation clearing and fragmentation.
There are established methods for monitoring these attributes that would be likely to provide sufficient data for monitoring of change over time in relation to potential impacts from onshore gas development.