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Director of National Parks Annual Report 2013-14

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Director of National Parks Annual Report 2013-14 7 Appendices Appendix A: Agency Resourcing Statement 2013–14 1 The Agency Resourcing Statement was introduced to Portfolio Budget Statements in 2008–09 to provide information about the various funding sources that the Director of National Parks may draw upon during the year. The Director of National Parks is required to publish the Agency Resourcing Statement in the annual report that reconciles to cash reserves in the financial statements. Actual available Payments Balance appropriation made remaining 2013–14 2013–14 2013–14 Source $’000 $’000 $’000 Opening balance/Reserves at bank 42,847 – 42,847 REVENUE FROM GOVERNMENT Ordinary annual services¹ Outcome 1 – – – Total ordinary annual services – – – Other services Non-operating – – – Total other services – – – Total annual appropriations – – – Payments from related entities2 Amounts from the portfolio department 41,389 41,389 – Total 41,389 41,389 – Total funds from Government 41,389 41,389 – FUNDS FROM OTHER SOURCES Interest 1,085 1,085 – Sale of goods and services 24,918 24,918 – Other 2,397 2,397 1,810 Total 28,400 28,400 1,810 Total net resourcing for DNP 112,636 69,789 44,657 All figures are GST exclusive. As per the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Section 514S, DSEWPaC is directly appropriated the Director of National Parks (DNP) appropriations, which is then allocated to the DNP by the Secretary. 7 1 Appropriation Bill (No.1) 2 Funding provided by a Government body that is not specified within the annual appropriation bills as a payment to the CAC Act body. 110 Director of National Parks | Annual Report 2013–14 Appendix B: Portfolio Budget Statements reporting 2012–13 1 KEY RESULT AREA 1—NATURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PBS target—Viable populations of selected significant species maintained Park managers nominated 43 species across the six terrestrial reserves to determine whether viable populations of these significant species have been maintained in those reserves. Of the selected species, the wild populations of the estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), the Norfolk Island green parrot (Cyanoramphus cookii) and the captive bred populations of the blue-tailed skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) and Lister’s gecko (Lepidodactylus listeri) are increasing, 16 species remain steady, 13 are decreasing, one may be extinct, and population data are deficient for nine species. Booderee National Park Species EPBC Act Monitoring Actions Trend status Eastern bristlebird Endangered Early morning survey Ongoing fox control; Numbers steady (Dasyornis brachypterus) (calls and sightings). mosaic burning. Sooty oystercatcher Not listed Boat-based 3 monthly No specific actions. Numbers steady (Haemotopus fuliginosus) surveys of Jervis Bay. Pied oystercatcher Not listed Boat-based monthly Ongoing fox control; Numbers steady (Haematopus surveys of Jervis Bay; education of Wreck Bay longirostris) beach surveys. Community members about bird-friendly beach use provided by Indigenous staff. Little penguin Marine Night counts at No specific actions. Numbers steady (Eudyptula minor) landing beach. Long-nosed bandicoot Not listed Trapping at sites across Ongoing fox control. Numbers falling (Perameles nasuta) the park. Slight decline measured in 2014 Giant burrowing frog Vulnerable Monitoring has ceased. No specific actions. ? Data deficient (Heleioporus australiacus) Common brushtail Not listed Trapping at sites across Ongoing fox control. Numbers falling possum the park. (Trichosurus vulpecula) Hooded plover Marine; Beach counts; nesting Ongoing fox control; Numbers steady (Thinornis rubricollis) nominated for sites and breeding education of Wreck Bay Vulnerable success. Community members about status bird-friendly beach use provided by Indigenous staff; consider options for reducing impact from commercial beach- 7 haul activities. Eastern chestnut mouse Not listed Trapping at sites across Ongoing fox control; Numbers steady (Pseudomys the park. mosaic burning. gracilicaudatus) 7 | Appendices 111 Christmas Island National Park Species EPBC Act Monitoring Actions Trend status 1 Christmas Island Critically Survey of fixed sites on roads/ Commencement of Numbers falling flying-fox Endangered tracks conducted island-wide biological control Monitoring indicates (Pteropus in 2006, 2012 and 2013; survey programme for yellow crazy that there has been melanotus natalis) will be repeated in 2014. ants in July 2013. approximately 41% Quarterly monitoring of known Investigate likely causes of decline in detection campsites and emergence. decline in structural at fixed points decision making workshop. since 2006 Christmas Island Vulnerable Passive monitoring using Ongoing cat and rat ? Data deficient blind snake ink-card surveys undertaken control in settled areas. (Ramphotyphlops in 2013–14. exocoeti) Lister’s gecko Critically Passive monitoring using Continue captive-breeding Wild population (Lepidodactylus Endangered ink-card surveys undertaken program for blue-tailed likely to be extinct listeri) in 2013–14. skink and Lister’s gecko. pCaptive Ongoing cat and rat populations of control in settled areas Lister’s gecko are increasing. Blue-tailed skink Critically Passive monitoring using Continue captive-breeding Wild population (Cryptoblepharus Endangered ink-card surveys undertaken program for blue-tailed likely to be extinct egeriae) in 2013–14. skink; ongoing cat and rat pCaptive control in settled areas. populations of blue-tailed skink are increasing. Forest skink Critically Passive monitoring using Likely to be extinct (Emoia nativitatis) Endangered ink-card surveys undertaken The last forest skink in 2013–14. in captivity died in May 2014. Coastal skink Not listed Passive monitoring using Ongoing cat and rat Numbers steady (Emoia ink-card surveys undertaken in control in settled areas. atrocostata) 2013–14. Giant gecko Endangered Passive monitoring using Ongoing cat and rat Numbers steady (Cyrtodactylus ink-card surveys undertaken in control in settled areas. sadleiri) 2013–14. Commencement of giant gecko PhD research in February 2014. 7 112 Director of National Parks | Annual Report 2013–14 Christmas Island National Park continued Species EPBC Act Monitoring Actions Trend status Red crab Not listed Island-wide survey to be Commencement of Numbers falling 1 (Gecarcoidea repeated in 2015–16 to biological control Approximately an natalis) monitor red crab abundance implementation program 18%–19% decline and crazy ant supercolonies. for yellow crazy ants in from 2011 to 2013 July 2013. with a population Targeted hand baiting estimate of 37–41 in 2014. million. In January Road closures during crab 2014 the largest migration. return of juvenile crabs from the sea Installation of six new occurred since the underpass crab crossings. mid 1990s. This is likely to result in increased populations in the future. Abbott’s booby Endangered; Island-wide survey to be Forest rehabilitation Numbers steady (Papasula abbotti) Marine; repeated in 2015–16 includes program and protection Migratory nesting occupancy under the EPBC Act of monitoring. nesting habitat Population surveys of chick from clearing. survival rates and breeding activity undertaken by an external researcher in 2013–14. Rehabilitation of cyclone affected birds. Christmas Island Endangered Nest recruitment monitoring Investigated reports of Numbers falling frigatebird at (known) nesting colonies nesting in new areas. Suspected decline in (Fregata andrewsi) by external researcher. some colonies or Review of 2003–2005 data. movement to new sites to nest. Christmas Island Vulnerable Survey of fixed sites on roads/ Forest rehabilitation Numbers steady hawk-owl tracks conducted island-wide program and protection (Ninox natalis) in 2012 and 2013. Survey will under the EPBC Act of be repeated in 2014. primary forest nesting habitat from clearing. Ongoing cat and rat control in settled areas. Christmas Island Endangered Biennial island-wide survey to Commencement of Numbers steady emerald dove be repeated in 2015. biological control (Chalcophaps implementation program indica natalis) for yellow crazy ants in July 2013. Forest rehabilitation program. Ongoing cat and rat control in settled areas. 7 7 | Appendices 113 Kakadu National Park Species EPBC Act Monitoring Actions Trend status 1 Northern quoll Endangered Full flora and fauna survey of Landscape unit-based fire Numbers falling (Dasyurus fire plots has been completed management to improve Awaiting results hallucatus) and together with results from habitat quality. from the 2014 fire current biodiversity hotspot Offshore species relocation plot fauna surveys. surveys will give an improved program conducted in understanding of status. Significant conjunction with Northern population decline Incidental sighting database Territory government occurred following records any sightings or agencies. the arrival of cane road kill. Program in place for toads. Reports of Ongoing NERP project is monitoring survival rates of sightings examining the impact of feral offspring of captive-bred throughout the park cats on small mammals and ‘toad smart’ quolls trained are received reptiles. Quolls have been to avoid cane toads. periodically. recorded, using remote Education by media and Monitoring since cameras, and six live quolls presentations on the December 2009 at have been trapped to date impact of dogs (particularly East Alligator which were microchipped. those that get food from Ranger Station Research now also includes humans) on quolls. shows that a health assessment
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