Download Habitat Assessment, Enhancement and Protection.

Habitat Assessment,
Enhancement and Protection.
 Project
instigated by IEAC in October 2012.
 Trial project to test incentive based
mechanisms.
 Three ‘flagship’ threatened fauna species
selected:
• Barking Owl Ninox connivens connivens.
• Squirrel Glider Petaurus norfolcensis.
• Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa
tapoatafa.
1.
2.
3.
Outline the threats faced by these species and
their habitat.
Outline a basic method of assessment for
remnant vegetation.
Outline actions for habitat protection and
enhancement on private land.
Study area
Extant
Bioregional
Conservation ha
Extant
Conservation Pre1750 Area ha (C = Cons Res + S= Private ha
Status
(a)
State Forest)
(P)
Endangered
Vulnerable
Depleted
Least Concern
Total
Total Extant Area ha
(b) – also includes
other public land
Con Res / Extant
and unknown
Extant / Pre1750 (b/a) (C+S)/b
225471
7502
51331
64724
29%
12%
14297
6826
3333
10283
71%
66%
144687
25785
49548
98080
68%
26%
73232
29787
19415
61221
83.5
48.6
457686
69900
123627
234309
51%
30%
Data from NECMA (2008)
 The
Indigo Shire supports c. 26 different
Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs). These
EVCs are known to support:
• 10 nationally and 72 state significant flora species.
• Nine nationally and 36 state significant fauna
species.
 The
three threatened species selected for
project act as ‘umbrella’ species to protect
habitat for other flora and fauna species within
the Shire.
Barking Owl





FFG-listed and Endangered in
Vic.
Large brown owl with distinctive
dog-like barking call.
Recorded from scattered
localities throughout Victoria.
Occupies open woodland and
forest habitats.
Feeds on variety of invertebrate
and vertebrate prey.
Squirrel Glider





FFG-listed and Endangered
in Vic.
Arboreal, nocturnal gliding
possum.
Patchy distribution across
Vic.
Found in River Red Gum
Forests and mixed species
dry forests and woodlands.
Feeds on invertebrates and
plant / insect exudates.
Brush-tailed Phascogale






FFG-listed and Vulnerable in Vic.
Small, arboreal, nocturnal,
carnivorous marsupial.
Black ‘bottle-brush’ tail.
Fragmented distribution in Vic.
Occurs in varied treed habitats prefers open forest with little
ground cover.
Feeds on large insects, spiders,
centipedes, nectar.
Study area
 Large
Trees.
 Hollows
in live trees
and stags.
 Logs, woody
 Leaf
litter.
debris.
 Intact
understorey.
 Large
patches and
connectivity to
accommodate large
home ranges.
 High
productivity habitat:
• Abundance of invertebrate
and plant resources.
 Clearance:
• presents greatest
threat to biodiversity.
 Incremental
loss of
scattered trees.
 Fragmentation.
 Isolation.

 Habitat
modification:
• Loss of hollow bearing
trees.
• Removal of logs /
woody debris.
• Removal and
degradation of
understorey
vegetation.
• Weed invasion.
• Habitat
modification.
 Uncontrolled stock
grazing.
 Altered fire and flood
regimes.
•
•
•
•
•
Exotic predators.
Domestic pets.
Feral Honeybees
Barbed-wire.
Site security.
1. Self assessment:
 Desktop and simplified field assessment,
collecting data for specified habitat attributes
within each remnant patch.
2. Other options:
 Environmental management in agriculture Native Biodiversity Resource Kit (DSE 2004) - (not
discussed today).
 Assessment by qualified practitioner (not
discussed today).
DEPI Interactive maps.

•
•
•
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
Identify modelled EVCs (then ground truth).
Threatened flora and fauna records.
Habitat importance maps.
Patch size.
Patch shape.
Connectivity / landscape context.
Fauna and flora records with 5 km (Victorian
Biodiversity Atlas).
•
Site of
interest
Site of
interest
Evaluation of specific habitat attributes:
1.
•
•
•
•
•
2.
•
•
•
•
3.
Trees.
Understorey.
Hollows.
Leaf litter.
Woody debris / logs.
Identification of threats / management issues:
Weeds and pest animals.
Stock grazing.
Timber and firewood collection.
Barbed wire.
Fauna observations.
Hollows
Woody debris
Hollows
 Creekline
Grassy
Woodland (BCS –
Endangered) –
important habitat
attributes (DNRE
2002)
 Retain
large trees and
stags.
 Retain logs, woody
debris and leaf litter.
 Fencing remnant
vegetation.
 Revegetate:
• Planting lists should
be sought from the
regional revegetation
guides endorsed by
DEPI or expert advice
from a botanist.
 Pest
animal and plant
control.
 Control feral
honeybees in hollows
and nest boxes.
 Responsible pet
ownership.
 Removal of barbedwire fencing.
 Establish firewood
plantation.
 Install
and monitor
nest boxes.
 Increase site security
(e.g. covenants, Land
for Wildlife).
 Get involved in your
local community.
Connectivity to core
habitat patch
Remnant
patch
Riparian
and
roadside
corridors
Scattered trees

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

DEC (2004) Trees with Hollows. Natural Resource Management
Advisory Series: Note 1 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/landholder
Notes01TreeHollows.pdf
DEPI Interactive maps - http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/aboutdepi/interactive-maps
DEPI EVC benchmarks - http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/conservationand-environment/native-vegetation-groups-forvictoria/ecological-vegetation-class-evc-benchmarks-bybioregion
DEPI EVC Threatened Species Advisory Lists http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/plants-and-animals/native-plants-andanimals/threatened-species-and-communities/threatenedspecies-advisory-lists
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DEWHA (2008a). Threat Abatement Plan for predation by the
European Red Fox. Department of the Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
DEWHA (2008b). Threat Abatement Plan for predation by feral
cats. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts,
Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
DNRE (2002) Managing your patch of bush http://www.necma.vic.gov.au/ResourceLibrary/ForLandholders.as
p
DSE (2003a) Action Statement No. 116 Flora and Fauna Guarantee
Act 1988. Barking Owl Ninox connivens. Information compiled by
Nick Clemann and Richard Loyn, Arthur Rylah Institute,
Department of Sustainability and Environment.
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DSE (2003b) Action Statement No. 79 Flora and Fauna Guarantee
Act 1988. Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa.
Information compiled by Robert Humphries and John Seebeck,
Arthur Rylah Institute, Department of Sustainability and
Environment.
DSE (2003c) Action Statement No. 166 Flora and Fauna Guarantee
Act 1988. Squirrel Glider Petaurus norfolcensis. Information
compiled by Leigh Ahern (Nature Scope). Prepared for the
Department of Sustainability and Environment, East Melbourne.
DSE (2004) Native Biodiversity Resource Kit – Environmental
Management in Agriculture http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/conservation-andenvironment/biodiversity/rural-landscapes/biodiversity-andagriculture/native-biodiversity-resource-kit-environmentalmanagement-in-agriculture
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DPCD (2013) Planning Schemes Online http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/schemes/indigo
Gibbons, P and Lindenmayer, D. (2002) Tree hollows and Wildlife
Conservation in Australia, CSIRO.
Indigo Shire Council (2009) Environment Strategy www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au/.../Environment_Strategy.pdf
Indigo Shire Weed Identification guide http://www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au/What_We_Do/Greener_living/
Pest_plants_animals/Weed_Identification_Guide
NECMA (2005) North East Native Vegetation Plan 2005. North East
Catchment Management Authority, Wodonga, Victoria http://www.necma.vic.gov.au/ResourceLibrary/StrategiesPlans/
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North East Firewood Strategy –
http://www.necma.vic.gov.au/ResourceLibrary/StrategiesPlans/i
mages/North_East_Victorian_Firewood_Strategy.pdf
North East Catchment Management Authority – Resources Library
for landowners http://www.necma.vic.gov.au/ResourceLibrary/ForLandholders.as
p
Revegetation guidelines http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/conservation-and-environment/nativevegetation-groups-for-victoria/restoration-and-revegetationguide-for-the-north-east-catchment
van der Ree (1999) Barbed wire fencing as a hazard to Wildlife.
Victorian Naturalist 116 (6), pp 210 – 217.
Victorian Biodiversity Atlas (flora and fauna records) https://vba.dse.vic.gov.au/vba/login.jsp
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Weed identification tool - http://www.weeds.org.au/vicmap.htm
Wildlife friendly fences project. Provides a summary of fencing
alternatives http://wildlifefriendlyfencing.com/WFF/FF_visibility.html