Forests of the NSW South Coast Region, Showing Bushfire Severity of the 2019-20 Bushfires

Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report Summary of outcomes from the regional co-design workshop 16 September 2020 Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

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ISBN 978-1-76003-353-8

This publication is available at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/bushfire-recovery/regional-delivery- program

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 Telephone 1800 900 090 Web awe.gov.au

The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying on any of the information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Acknowledgements

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment wants to thank workshop participants for their input. Thanks to Hannah Fraser, Kelly de Bie and Libby Rumpff for their workshop facilitation and for compiling this report.

Cover photo credits: Bushfire Landscape, Beyond Coal & Gas Image Library CC BY-NC 2.0. Long-nosed Potoroo, Alamy.

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Contents

1 Executive summary...... 1 2 Background ...... 2 2.1 Regional bushfire recovery funding ...... 2 2.2 Workshop approach ...... 5 3 Workshop findings ...... 6 Appendix A: Forests of the New South Wales south region workshop agenda...... 1 Appendix B: Participating organisations ...... 1 Appendix C: Regional Profile for the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region .... 4

Tables Table 1 Proposed budget breakdown for bushfire recovery actions for south coast NSW workshop with an indicative budget of $15 million...... 1

Maps Map 1 A map of the seven bushfire affected regions that are the focus of regional investment ...... 2 Map 2 A map of the Forests of the NSW south coast region, showing bushfire severity of the 2019-20 bushfires ...... 4

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1 Executive summary

The Australian Government is investing $110 million to provide strategic on-ground support for the most impacted native species, ecological communities and natural assets across seven bushfire affected regions. A series of co-design workshops were held with regional stakeholders across the seven regions to guide the Australian Government's continued investment in bushfire recovery.

The aim of each workshop was to engage and collaborate with regional stakeholders to:

1) identify priorities amongst species, ecological communities and natural assets, identified as high priorities for urgent management intervention, that require additional funding to secure their recovery following the devastating 2019-20 summer bushfires 2) identify an action plan to guide the allocation of additional funds from the Australian Government to maximise the chances of recovery of those priority species, communities, and assets, and to build on existing planning and recovery work. This action plan can also act as a guide for other investors. The New South Wales (NSW) south coast stakeholder workshop was held on 16 September 2020. With an indicative budget of $15 million, participants proposed investing substantially in cultural landscape management led by traditional owners, as well as erosion control, weed control and pest control. The management plan also included identifying and managing refugia, conducting species specific actions targeted at priority aquatic and bird species, developing seed collections and a seed orchard for priority species and, community outreach and engagement.

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2 Background 2.1 Regional bushfire recovery funding

The Australian Government is investing $110 million to provide strategic on-ground support for the most impacted native species, ecological communities and natural assets, such as World Heritage Areas and Ramsar listed wetlands, across seven bushfire affected regions: Rainforests of south-east Queensland, Rainforests of the NSW north coast and tablelands, The Greater Blue Mountains and World Heritage Area, Forests of the NSW south coast, Australian alpine environment, Forests and coastal ecosystems of East Gippsland, and Kangaroo Island (Map 1).

Map 1 A map of the seven bushfire affected regions that are the focus of regional investment

A series of co-design workshops were held across the seven bushfire affected regions. The broad aim of these workshops was to engage and collaborate with regional stakeholders to inform Australian Government investment in on-ground bushfire recovery, targeted at medium-term recovery of priority species.

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The workshops were designed to build on existing recovery planning work for each region, by sharing and consolidating knowledge of existing and proposed efforts and identifying a plan for action that targets gaps in investment. Specifically, the workshops aimed to:

1) identify priorities amongst the large number of species, ecological communities and natural assets which have been identified as high priorities for urgent management intervention and that require additional funding to secure their recovery following the devastating 2019-20 summer bushfires 2) identify an action plan to guide the allocation of additional funds from the Australian Government to maximise the chances of recovery of those priority species, communities, and assets, and to build on existing planning and recovery work. The NSW south coast region (Map 2) has been allocated an indicative amount of $15 million to support on-ground recovery action. The agenda and list of attendees are found in Appendix A and B, and the regional profile, which outlines the priority species, priority actions and works underway or planned is found in Appendix C. This was provided to workshop participants before the workshop, to inform discussions.

The Australian Government will use the action plans developed at this workshop to guide investment across the seven bushfire affected regions. Action plans will be reviewed by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and some aspects will be further explored with targeted stakeholders to identify key actions that can be delivered for priority environmental matters by June 2022. Investment decisions will also take into account community capacity and existing funding and recovery actions underway in the region. These investments will primarily be administered through existing delivery arrangements, for example with NRM regions and/or state governments. This will include developing or continuing formal and informal partnerships with other organisations and community groups where this will enhance recovery outcomes.

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Map 2 A map of the Forests of the NSW south coast region, showing bushfire severity of the 2019-20 bushfires

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2.2 Workshop approach

During the regional workshop for the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region, the following steps were taken.

1) Participants heard perspectives from the Australian and NSW Governments and representatives from the South East Local Land Services on the: a) impacts of the 2019-2020 fires, and the shared list of draft priority matters (which are species, ecological communities and natural assets) and actions b) existing management and planning efforts within the region, relevant to the priority matters c) perceived gaps in investment (from the regional stakeholders). 2) After a short discussion on actions and priorities, participants were split into three groups to review the information in the regional profile (Appendix 3) and to develop an action plan that maximises the chances of recovery of priority matters by 2030. An indicative budget for the action plans were defined, and participants were informed the budget should be spent by June 2022. Action plans were designed to provide high level detail on discrete actions (e.g. pest management, weed control), including the locations within the regions that actions are to be implemented, the priority matters targeted by each action, and the approximate budget allocated to each action. Participants in each group were also asked to discuss how they would allocate an additional $2 million of funding if it became available. Participants were asked to assume that: a) monitoring was included in each action (and to budget accordingly) b) budget was likely to be available to continue actions beyond 2022, not from this source of funding but as part of ‘business-as-usual’ biodiversity conservation efforts by all levels of government and non-government sources. 3) Participants were also asked to focus on action focused plans. Surveillance efforts could be included where addressing uncertainty is critical but should be accompanied with on- ground action. It was also noted that action plans should be developed given best available knowledge at the time of the workshop, noting that there will be flexibility to later refine and adapt details of the actions identified in the plan, if significant new information justified these changes. 4) Each group then presented their strategy to the larger group and other participants were asked to qualitatively evaluate each strategy, to provide a basis for discussion around preferred actions. Similarities and differences across plans were discussed as a group, to identify the actions that had achieved a consensus. The output for the workshop was one action plan, created based on these whole of group discussions,

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3 Workshop findings

Participants broadly agreed a strategy for the indicative budget of $15 million, however, some actions were not fully discussed due to time limitations. The consensus strategy dedicated most of the budget towards traditional owner-led management, weed control, pest control and riparian management (including erosion control) (see Table 1). Funding was also allocated to species/threatened ecological community-specific actions, capacity building and community engagement and refugia protection. 3.1 Proposed management actions

Cultural Landscape Management

It was agreed that funding was required for traditional owner led planning and holistic land management across the region and in collaboration with other land management agencies. The actions could comprise training and capacity building, as well as implementing actions such as cultural fire management, weed control and pest control.

Only some of the traditional owner groups for the region were able to attend the workshop; planning for holistic land management led by traditional owners will need to consider the appropriate traditional owners for different parts of the region.

Weed control

Participants proposed an integrated approach to weed control, targeted at refugia and sites with priority assets, regardless of land tenure. Some specific locations were proposed, but more planning and analysis is required to identify priority sites. It was noted during the workshop that the South East Weeds Action Program has mapped priority environmental assets across south east NSW, specifically sites with threatened species and ecological communities that have weed invasion identified as a key threat.

In addition to weed spraying and removal, integrated weed control includes surveillance and monitoring as well as targeted planting of climate ready species in buffer regions around rainforests to suppress post-fire weed growth and protect rainforest regrowth. Planned weed control could aid in the recovery of priority threatened ecological communities, priority plant species and healing of country.

Pest animal control

Pest animal control was allocated 20-30 per cent of the budget and further discussion is required to determine how to allocate the funds across herbivore, predator and exotic fish control. Participants agreed that pest control activities should take place on private and public land. However, this will require community outreach and capacity building with landholders (discussed below).

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Herbivore control

Deer, pigs and goats were identified as focus pest species for investment. Participants suggested that control of pest species requires continuation of both aerial and ground based targeted shooting. Herbivore control should be targeted towards burnt regions to promote regrowth and the protection of vegetation in refugia and rainforest buffer regions.

Predator control

Participants suggested that continuation of predator control programs was necessary, using both aerial baiting and aerial shooting. Predator control was discussed generally, with foxes and dogs mentioned. Cats were acknowledged as a threat, although further research is required to identify the most effective cat control methods. Predator control was considered highly beneficial for ground dwelling priority animals.

Further discussion is required to scope this action according to the needs of the priority species and to ensure that cultural considerations are integrated into activities.

Exotic fish control

Exotic fish species (e.g. trout and redfin) pose a substantial threat to priority species and this was considered important. Participants suggested control actions (e.g. installation of trout barriers) targeted in rivers where priority and exotic species are known to co-occur.

Erosion control

Participants expressed concern about erosion and sediment run-off post-fire. Discussions identified the need for the installation of erosion/sediment control measures in strategic fire- affected locations in conjunction with planting along, and reducing stock access to the riparian areas. Reducing stock access will require some fencing and engagement with landholders.

Capacity Building

Seed collection and developing seed orchards The intensity of fire and post-fire erosion has led to a loss of seedbank in some locations. It is necessary to gather seed and develop seed orchards for priority plant species that have been lost from areas of the landscape. Seed collection, propagation and planting should be conducted for priority plant species across the region. The need to focus on ‘climate-ready’ planting was also highlighted.

Landholder engagement, education and implementation Many of the actions specified in this plan are most effective if conducted across public and private land tenures. Participants requested funding be allocated to support engagement with landholders, provide education on ecologically sensitive farming practices, and support implementation of actions. The capacity building of small area private landholders to better understand the impact of bushfire; identify significant environmental assets and plan for future activities that protect and/or enhance environmental assets was discussed by participants. This may comprise the provision of advice and support as a form of capacity building to small area private landholders rather than financial assistance alternatives.

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Species specific actions

Participants suggested that actions could be targeted at priority aquatic species (including the Australian Grayling, Stocky Galaxias, Short-tailed galaxias and priority crayfish species). This could include, for example, the creation of alternative refuge sites and the installation of snags and riparian revegetation to prepare habitat for the release of fish that were rescued from the fires. The Spiny crayfish project, led by Nature Glenelg Trust using existing Australian Government bushfire funding, is currently in progress (due in 2021) that will specify the management actions most beneficial to priority freshwater crayfish species. Participants suggested funding could be sought to implement these actions identified in the report.

Participants also discussed funding existing recovery plans for the Eastern Bristlebird and the Ground Parrot. However, participants were uncertain if relevant actions were already sufficiently funded until June 2022.

Further discussion and clarity are required.

Refugia

Participants discussed the need to identify, enhance, create and link refugia in the landscape. In some case, identifying refugia could require a desktop survey and on-ground validation. Participants discussed if specific funding is required for refugia, or if it would be better to ensure that all other specified actions were conducted in refugia. However, participants suggested that planning and identification work may be necessary, and that there may be gaps in actions that require funding (i.e. revegetation). 3.2 Other actions not included in the strategy

Fire Management

Participants discussed creating a plan to change fire management in the region to protect environmental assets; incorporate cultural burning and reduce the likelihood of catastrophic bushfires.

Fencing regrowth

Some participants suggested funding may be required for fencing important assets (threatened ecological communities, and priority plants).

Developing a consolidated database

Participants raised the idea of conducting a post-fire baseline assessment of priority species and, separately, the requirement for a consolidated database of all monitoring and management actions occurring in the region to facilitate data sharing and decision making.

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3.3 Additional budget More discussion is required to determine where an additional $2 million could be spent. However, participants discussed (co-)funding a project to create corridors for koalas (depending on funding gaps), conservation fencing to protect priority species (although it was noted that there are issues with capacity to deal with ongoing maintenance costs), and funding additional assessments of priority assets and threats to facilitate identification of cost-effective action. One group mentioned the creation of a new foraging/roosting habitat for Grey-headed Flying-foxes away from urban areas.

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Table 1 Proposed budget breakdown for bushfire recovery actions for south coast NSW workshop with an indicative budget of $15 million Note: monitoring is assumed to accompany all actions.

Action class Action Location Assets targeted Approximate budget (per cent (%) of total allocation)

Weed control Integrated weed surveillance, Prioritising refugia and sites with priority assets (tenure Focus on Threatened Ecological 20-30% management and monitoring, including blind). Locations discussed: Milton rainforest, Milton- Communities, Aboriginal land, priority revegetation where appropriate (with Ulladulla rainforest, Montane bog, coastal grassy forest, plants climate ready species) south-east coast, other priority sites identified through planning

Pest control Herbivore control Prioritising refugia and sites with priority assets (tenure Ground dwelling mammals and birds, 20-30% blind). Locations discussed: forests west of Cobargo, frogs. Priority plants and Threatened -Aerial shooting Tantawangalo, Nadgee, southern highlands, Illawarra Ecological Communities, including -Ground-based shooting coastal wetlands, rainforest

Predator control -Aerial bating -Aerial shooting

Exotic fish control Snowy-River catchment, Murrumbidgee Priority fish – Stocky galaxias, Short- tailed galaxias -install trout barriers

Riparian -Planting including with Geotech Main tributaries and refugia sites in the Eurobodall- Australian Grayling, Stocky Galaxias, 15-30% management and materials Bega Region, e.g. Clyde River, forests priority Crayfish erosion control west of Cobargo, Tantawangalo, Hanging -Fencing riparian areas swamp, Eurobodalla-Bega, Murrumbidgee Tuross River, -Landholder communication (grazing Deua river, Nadgee, Brogo, Desert creek management)

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Action class Action Location Assets targeted Approximate budget (per cent (%) of total allocation)

Cultural landscape Wholistic tenure blind landscape approach for healing and recovery of the land. Led by traditional owners, working in collaboration with 30% management other land management agencies. The actions undertaken would include training and capacity building and implementation of actions, including cultural fire management practices and other actions indicated in this table.

Capacity Building Seed collection and developing seed Entire region. Locations discussed: Milton-Ulladulla sub- Priority plant species 10% orchards tropical rainforest

Landholder engagement, education and Entire region All 5% implementation of management on private land

Species specific Multiple actions, including creation of Snowy River, upper regions of Tuross catchment, Clyde Priority aquatic species <5% actions alternative refuge sites, installation of River (upper regions), Hanging swamp (?), other sites in trout barriers, snags, revegetation, Eurobodalla-Bega region, Murrumbidgee captive breeding and translocation etc

Refugia Identifying, creating and linking refugia Entire region where relevant 5-10%

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Appendix A: Forests of the New South Wales south region workshop agenda

Wednesday 16 September 2020

Purpose: to build on existing recovery planning work being undertaken in this region, by sharing and consolidating knowledge of existing and proposed efforts and identifying a plan for action that targets gaps in investment.

The workshop aims to:

1) work with regional partners to identify the regional priorities amongst the species, ecological communities, natural assets and heritage values that have been identified as high priorities for urgent management intervention, but require additional funding to secure their recovery following the devastating and unprecedented 2019–20 summer bushfires 2) identify an action plan for allocating additional funds from the Australian Government to maximise the chances of recovery of those priority species, communities, assets and values. The workshop will focus on sharing information between participants to get a clear understanding of the current state of knowledge of:

• the impact of these wildfires on the relevant priority species and ecological communities • the key threats facing the priority species • the key management actions to address these threats, including their effectiveness and feasibility • the recent, current and confirmed future management actions underway, with an understanding of where and when actions have been implemented • the gaps in investment for species/communities that if resolved, could result in maximising the chances of recovery. The workshop will be facilitated by Dr Libby Rumpff, University of Melbourne and will focus on a structured elicitation of potential on ground actions for priority species and ecological communities that require additional funding to best maximise the chance of recovery. Potential actions will be explored to try and arrive at a consensus.

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Table 1 Detailed workshop agenda

Time (AEST)

10:00am Videoconference begins Welcome – Dr Fiona Fraser, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

10:15am Facilitator will outline plan for the workshop – Dr Libby Rumpff

• aims, approach, outputs

10:30am What do we know so far?

• Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment - Dr Fiona Fraser • NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment - Graham Bush • South East NSW Local Land Services – Anthony Marshall and Rebecca Bradley • Questions

11:10am Short break

11:20am Participants will break into groups to develop conservation strategies

• Groups will be given a funding envelope and be asked to allocate the funding to consolidate gaps in investment and maximise the chances of recovery for priority species/communities by 2030. Groups will be asked to identify where funding should be directed spatially using a worksheet mapping attachment. • The allocation of participants to each discussion group will be provided in the outlook invitation (to follow

12:50pm Groups will come back together The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for the Environment, to provide brief remarks.

12.55pm Lunch break

1:15pm Groups will present their conservation strategies. Participants will provide feedback and vote on strategies (via Mentimeter) based on:

• Estimated benefit – short/long term

2.00pm Facilitator will lead the discussion on strategies to determine if there is a preferred way forward or a consensus strategy asking:

• Where are the similarities and differences? • Can we iterate and combine elements? • Are differences about values, uncertainty, or something else? • Candidates for adaptive management?

3:20pm Facilitator will outline next steps

3.30pm Workshop ends

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Appendix B: Participating organisations

Participants

Bega Valley Shire Council

Birdlife Australia

Bush Heritage

Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel

Eurobodalla Shire Council

NRM Regions Australia

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust

NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

NSW Department of Primary Industries

NSW Landcare

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council

Snowy Monaro Regional Council

Snowy River Interstate Landcare Committee

South East Local Land Services

Ulladulla Aboriginal Land Council

WWF

Observers

Minister for Environment, the Hon Sussan Ley MP

Office of the Minister for Environment, the Hon Sussan Ley MP

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

National Bushfire Recovery Agency

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Appendix C: Regional Profile for the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region

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2019-20 bushfires recovery planning regional profile Forests of the New South Wales south coast

September 2020

This regional profile draws from multiple sources of information and planning processes, including those undertaken by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, the New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, and the Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel.

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Note: minor edits have been to the regional profile which was provided to workshop participants (14 September 2020) to allow for publication

Photo credit: Beyond Coal & Gas Image Library CC BY 2.0

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Executive Summary

The Australian Government is investing $110 million over two years to provide strategic on- ground support for the most impacted native species, ecological communities and natural assets, such as World Heritage Areas and Ramsar listed wetlands, across seven bushfire affected regions. The forests of the New South Wales south coast has been identified as one of these regions.

• An indicative allocation of $15 million will be used for discussion about how to direct investment in the Forests of the New South Wales south coast bushfire region. • Recovery activities can occur on public and private land and must be completed by June 2022. • Funds can be spent anywhere within the region and directed to all impacted ecosystems, funding is not confined to forests. • Actions must be focused on supporting the recovery of a species, ecological community or natural asset impacted by the recent fires, but does not necessarily need to occur within the fire scar. It can focus on protecting unburnt areas where these species or assets persist. A broad analysis of available data, including burnt area, fire severity and impact on assets is summarised below.

• Based on a national analysis by the Australian Government the following matters have been identified as priorities for investment: − Littlejohn's Tree Frog, Mustard-bellied Snake, Stocky Galaxias, Tianjara Crayfish, three species of land snail (Bendathera Pinwheel Snail, Bermagui Bristle Snail and Merimbula Woodland Snail), and two beetles (Temognatha rufocyanea and Lissapterus grammicus) − 19 plant species − four threatened ecological communities (Upland Basalt Eucalypt Forests of the Sydney Basin Bioregion, Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens, Illawarra and South Coast Lowland Forest and Woodland and Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion). • Finer grained analysis by the NSW government, taking into account further information on fire impacts, has identified additional ecological communities and species as priorities for investment. The following matters have been identified as illustrative of species significantly impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires and facing cumulative threats to post-fire recovery. − Southern Brown Bandicoot (eastern), Long-nosed Potoroo, Greater glider, Eastern Bristlebird, Striated Fieldwren, Glossy black cockatoo and large forest owls (masked, sooty, powerful) − 10 plant species − four threatened ecological communities (Milton Ulladulla Subtropical Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion, Dry Rainforest of the South East Forests in the South East Corner Bioregion, Brogo Wet Vine Forest in the South East Corner Bioregion and Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast, the Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions).

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• Protection of unburnt areas and refugia, feral predator and herbivore control minimising impacts from human activities; translocation and germplasm collection (plants), and weed, erosion and sedimentation control are identified as key actions for these priority matters. • There is existing funding on species surveying, mapping and monitoring protocols. These will not be a focus of this Australian Government funding; actions that survey or monitor species must be directly connected to on ground recovery actions. • The Australian and NSW Governments are aware that traditional owners of the Forests of the New South Wales south coast bushfire region are interested in cultural burning practices and culturally important species as priorities for bushfire recovery and are interested in being engaged in the recovery of these matters. The purpose of the workshop will be to:

1) test and validate or edit the priority matters and actions for the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region, 2) discuss where in the region recovery efforts should be focused. The region

The forests of the New South Wales south coast region is defined by the boundaries of the South East New South Wales natural resource management region and covers 5,554,342 hectares.

The region contains one Ramsar wetland: Blue Lake Ramsar wetland in Kosciuszko National Park.

Traditional owners

The South Coast region includes 15 Local Aboriginal Land Councils and the South Coast native title claim covers about half of this region.

Indigenous Land Use Agreements in the region include Twofold Bay and small sections of the Gundungurra Area Agreement. Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council manages 403 hectares of land in the Jervis Bay Territory.

Biamanga National Park is an Aboriginal owned park, vested in Bega and Merimans Local Aboriginal Land Councils and managed by the Biamanga National Park Board of Management. The Board of Management has a majority of registered Aboriginal owners.

Gulaga National Park is an Aboriginal owned park managed, vested in Merimans and Wagonga Local Aboriginal Land Councils and managed by the Gulaga National Park Board of Management. The Board of Management has a majority of registered Aboriginal owners.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has two Memoranda of Understanding with Aboriginal communities over parks in the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Southern Ranges Branch. The Southern Snowy Mountains Aboriginal community Memorandum of Understanding includes the southern part of Kosciuszko National Park and the nature reserves from around Cooma to the Victorian border. The Yala Ngurumbang Yindyamarra Memorandum of Understanding includes the northern part of Kosciuszko National Park and all reserves within the Tumut Brungle Local Aboriginal Land Council Area.

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2019-20 fire extent and severity

Approximately 21 per cent of the region was burnt in the 2019-20 bushfires, with 79 per cent (917,095 hectares) of the fire scar occurring on public land. A summary of fire impact and severity in the region is shown in Table 1 and a fire severity map is at Map 1.

Table 1 Fire impact and severity of the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region

Region Total hectares Total hectares Per cent (%) Fire Per cent (%) burnt of total Severity burnt at high or hectares Index very high severity burnt Forests of the New 5,554,342 1,157,895 21% 54 / 100 61% South Wales south coast

Note: Three classes of fire severity have been mapped (GEEBAM) with the most severe being “very high”. The fire severity index (max of 100) weights the three different classes of severity, with higher weights to more severe classes. This index is used in the calculation of the spatial priority index (SPI) discussed below. The “per cent burnt at high or very high severity” figure gives an alternative, complementary view of how severe the 2019-20 fires were. For context, the most severely burnt NRM had a figure of 83 per cent for high and very high severity, and a severity index score of 76.

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Map 1 Fire severity map of the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region

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Priority matters impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires

The Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel has released provisional lists of species known or presumed to have been severely impacted by the

2019-20 bushfires and which are considered the highest priority for management intervention – referred to below as ‘priority matters.’

The potential impact of the 2019-20 fires on matters of national environmental significance (listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) together with priority non-listed species identified by the Expert Panel has been further analysed using spatial data on the known and likely distributions of these species. Using currently available mapping, the following matters have been identified within the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region:

• 41 priority vertebrate species • 46 priority invertebrate species • 126 priority plant species • 12 priority Threatened Ecological Communities (note: an ecological community is a naturally occurring group of native plants, animals and other organisms that are interacting in a unique habitat. Some are listed as Threatened Ecological Communities under national environment law). A full list of these matters including hectares burnt, fire severity and a spatial priority index score, where available, is provided in Appendix 1.

A spatial priority index (SPI) has been developed by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment as a relative value score for the potential degree of consequence of the 2019-20 bushfires for species and other natural values. The score is out of 100. High SPI matters are likely to have smaller, and therefore entirely burnt, ranges with a large proportion of high severity fire. The SPI is used by Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment as a broad guide to understand and compare bushfire impacts at a national scale. Finer grained data and ecological information is required to provide a more comprehensive understanding of environmental impacts and management responses for particular ecological communities or species, including information on fire history and species response to fire (for example even low severity fire can have significant impact on rainforest species). Further information on the SPI is at Appendix 2. Areas of focus for recovery investment

Based on a review of the national data, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment suggests the priorities, listed below, for investment in the forests and coastal ecosystems of Forests of the New South Wales south coast region. The priorities, particularly the species lists,

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will continue to be revised as our knowledge base grows and further information from field impact assessments becomes available. Priority vertebrate species

• Littlejohn's Tree Frog – listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act, this species has 59 per cent of its range in the region, of which 56 per cent was burnt, 65 per cent at high or very high severity. • Mustard-bellied Snake – this priority reptile has 75 per cent of its range in the region, of which 36 per cent was burnt, 65 per cent at high or very high severity. • Stocky Galaxias – this priority fish species has 100 per cent of its range in the region, of which 56 per cent was burnt, 37 per cent at high or very high severity. The following additional animal species have been identified by the NSW government as illustrative of the breadth of taxa included as priorities for investment. A full list is available at Appendix 1. The following species illustrate the significance of loss of ground cover, canopies, tree hollows and extensive areas of heath burnt in the 2019-20 bushfire season.

• Southern Brown Bandicoot (eastern) – listed as Endangered (EPBC & NSW BC Acts). • Long-nosed Potoroo – listed as Vulnerable (EPBC & BC Acts), with more than 50 per cent of its distribution burnt and vulnerable to predation. • Greater glider – listed as Vulnerable (EPBC Act) and considered candidate for listing under BC Act. More than 60 per cent of its distribution burnt. It is hollow and canopy dependent and at risk from logging. • Eastern Bristlebird and Striated Fieldwren – listed as Endangered (EPBC & BC Acts). Approximately 20 per cent of the Bristlebird’s distribution burnt, including key populations in south east NSW. More than 50 per cent of the Fieldwren distribution burnt and it is vulnerable to predation. • Glossy black cockatoo – listed as Vulnerable (BC Act). Almost 50 per cent of its distribution burnt. It is at risk from high-frequency fire, is tree-hollow dependent and has a critical dependence on food in the mid-storey. • Large forest owls (masked, sooty, powerful) – all three are listed as Vulnerable (BC Act). More than 30 per cent of their distribution burnt. All three are dependent on tree hollows and two are dependent on mammalian prey considered at high risk of decline following the interaction of the 2019-20 fires with other co-existing threats. Priority invertebrate species

• Tianjara Crayfish – this species has 100 per cent of its range in the region, of which 91 per cent was burnt, 81 per cent at high or very high severity. • Three species of land snail (Bendathera Pinwheel Snail, Bermagui Bristle Snail and Merimbula Woodland Snail) – these species have between 97-100 per cent of their range within the region, of which between 52 to 100 per cent was burnt, between 67 to 98 per cent at high or very high severity.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 19 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

• Two beetles (Temognatha rufocyanea and Lissapterus grammicus) – these species have 100 per cent of their range within this region, of which between 86 to 100 per cent was burnt, between 34 to 95 per cent at high or very high severity.

Priority plant species

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has identified 19 plant species as a focus for investment.

Table 2 Priority plant species in the Forests of NSW south coast region

Matter Range within Range burnt Per cent (%) of range region within region burnt at high/very (Scientific name) high severity

Leionema ceratogynum 100% 88% 89%

Grevillea irrasa subsp. didymochiton 100% 89% 92%

Leptospermum crassifolium 100% 94% 84%

Darwinia taxifolia subsp. macrolaena 100% 89% 88%

Budawangs Bushpea 100% 94% 90% Pultenaea baeuerlenii

Grevillea baueri subsp. asperula 100% 83% 86%

Wadbilliga Sticky Boronia 100% 82% 86% Boronia anemonifolia subsp. wadbilligensis

Leionema coxii 100% 84% 73%

Ettrema Mallee 100% 87% 75% Eucalyptus sturgissiana

Boronia subulifolia 100% 83% 74%

Budawangs Cliffheath 100% 94% 77% Budawangia gnidioides

Leptospermum subglabratum 100% 91% 69%

Jillaga Ash 97% 87% 80% Eucalyptus stenostoma

Woila Gum 96% 84% 85% Eucalyptus olsenii

Boronia imlayensis 100% 100% 91%

Olsen’s Wattle 83% 91% 90% Acacia olsenii

Pigeon House Ash, Three-flowered Ash 97% 82% 79% Eucalyptus triflora

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 20 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Matter Range within Range burnt Per cent (%) of range region within region burnt at high/very (Scientific name) high severity

Zieria caducibracteata 92% 82% 76%

Grevillea epicroca 100% 81% 66%

There are a significant number of additional plants that have more than 90 per cent of their modelled habitat within the region and of which between 38-94 per cent of this was burnt, many at more than 65 per cent high or very high severity. These species are listed in Appendix 2.

The following threatened flora species have been identified by the NSW Government as illustrative of species that were significantly impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires and are facing additional cumulative threats to post-fire recovery. A full list of the additional flora species identified is in Appendix 3.

Table 3 Flora species identified by the NSW Government as significantly impacted by the bushfires and risk dirvers

Matters Predicted risk drivers identified in the Commonwealth and NSW reports Eucalyptus imlayensis Drought / Disease Genoplesium plumosum Other threats Gentiana bredboensis Herbivory / Dormancy constraints Hibbertia circinata Drought / Disease Pimelea bracteata Herbivory / Disease / Cumulative fire risk Plinthanthesis rodwayi Drought / Herbivory / Erosion Prasophyllum innubum Herbivory Drought / High fire frequency / Herbivory / Fire severity Pterostylis oreophila / Weeds Pultenaea elusa Drought / Herbivory / Cumulative fire risk Drought / High fire frequency / Herbivory / Disease / Zieria adenophora Fire severity / Weeds / Dormancy constraints / Fire sensitivity / Erosion / Cumulative fire risk

Priority Threatened Ecological Communities

• Upland Basalt Eucalypt Forests of the Sydney Basin Bioregion - listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and identified by the Expert Panel as a very high priority for recovery action in the South East NRM region. Approximately 53 per cent of its estimated distribution within the region was burnt. This community is also listed under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 as Robertson Basalt Tall Open-forest in the Sydney Basin and South Eastern Highlands Bioregions. • Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens - listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and identified by the Expert Panel as a very high priority for recovery action in the South East

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 21 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

NRM region. Approximately 27 per cent of its extent occurs within this region, of which 19 per cent was burnt. • Illawarra and South Coast Lowland Forest and Woodland - listed as Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act and identified by the Expert Panel as a high priority for recovery action in the South East NRM region. Around 100 per cent of its extent occurs within this region, of which around 17 per cent was burnt. • Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion - listed as Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act and identified by the Expert Panel as a high priority for recovery action in the South East NRM region. Around 100 per cent of its extent occurs within this region, of which around 25 per cent was burnt. Distribution models for these Threatened Ecological Communities are at Appendix 4.

The following additional ecological communities have been identified by The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment as requiring management action.

Table 4 Additional ecological communities identified by The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment as requiring management action, including conservation listing and percentage of range burnt

Matter EPBC Act listing NSW Per cent of Biodiversity range (%) Conservation burnt Act listing Milton Ulladulla Subtropical Rainforest in the Sydney Basin X X 60% Bioregion. This community is listed under the EPBC Act as the Illawarra Shoalhaven Sub-tropical Rainforest threatened ecological community Dry Rainforest of the South East Forests in the South East Corner X 45% Bioregion Brogo Wet Vine Forest in the South East Corner Bioregion X 45% Freshwater Wetlands on Coastal Floodplains of the New South X Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions

Priority Actions for Recovery

The Expert Panel has provided advice on the kinds of actions that can best support recovery and avoid the extinction of priority species or ecological communities. These actions apply specifically to matters on the Expert Panel’s published list of priority matters. Drawing on this advice, Department understands the following high-level recovery actions as priorities for investment to assist the recovery of animals and plants identified as target areas of focus (above) in the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region. Actions such as rapid assessment and emergency salvage are not included in the list below given the focus of the funding on longer term recovery efforts. It is recognised that targeting and refinement of these actions is required, in particular areas and for particular species.

Additional and/or more specific recovery actions identified by the NSW Government are indicated in italics below. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 22 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Actions for priority animal species

• protecting unburnt areas within or adjacent to recently burnt ground that provide refuges • predator and herbivore control to reduce the pressure on native species • exclude predators and herbivores from unburnt and regenerating vegetation • a range of species – specific management actions including on-ground assessments, fire planning, erosion, disease mitigation, etc • fencing and barrier installation • post-fire monitoring and assessment for fire planning and management.

Actions for priority plant species

Immediate actions:

• germplasm collection • exclude forestry/silvicultural impacts and minimising development impacts and habitat disturbance from human activities • alleviate herbivory • post-fire monitoring and assessment for fire planning and management. Medium term actions:

• carefully planned translocation • weed control • exclude prescribed fire (although noting prescribed fire may be used to protect critical refugia from subsequent wildfire) • rapid response to wildfire • alleviate pollinator competition from feral bees and European wasp • post-fire monitoring and assessment for fire planning and management. Actions for Threatened Ecological Communities

Note these are general for all priority Threatened Ecological Communities.

• supporting fauna (including through controlling introduced predators) • weed, erosion and sedimentation control • minimising grazing and trampling pressure on recovering vegetation (including fencing), followed by assisted revegetation in key areas if needed. For some fire-affected species recovery actions may not yet be well understood, and additional research may be needed to guide recovery and develop recovery strategies. A list of the recovery

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 23 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

actions identified by the Expert Panel relevant to priority animal and plant species in the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region is at Appendix 5. Currently funded recovery actions

Australian Government

As part of the Australian Government’s initial $50 million Wildlife and Habitat Bushfire Recovery program, funding has been directed to recovery projects in the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region:

• $750,000 has been allocated to the South East Local Land Services for recovery actions including pest animal control, weed management, fencing and revegetation, sediment control, cultural burning and some emergency interventions to prevent species extinctions. • $4.56 million has been allocated to the New South Wales Government for work on pests and threatened species recovery. Of this, $216,500 has been allocated to targeted interventions directly in the south coast region, including the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, Koala, Pygmy Cypress Pine (Callitris oblonga) and Bega Wattle (Acacia georgensis); and $455,000 has been allocated to the Smoky Mouse and Paddys River Box, Camden Woollybutt (Eucalyptus macarthurii) whose range occurs partly in the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region. A further $3.8 million has been granted for projects where some activities are being undertaken in, or are relevant to, the Forests of the New South Wales south coast region. This includes partnerships between The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and Birdlife Australia for Eastern Bristlebird and Eastern Ground Parrot.

Appendix 6 provides information on known funding and project activities. New South Wales Government

The New South Wales Government’s Saving our Species program allocated $23 million to protecting 450 threatened species and ecological communities in 2018–19. The existing Saving our Species funding supported emergency fire response actions and assessment during the fires and in the immediate post-fire response.

Activities include:

• developed innovative mapping products to define burnt areas and fire severity – information that underpins knowledge about impacts and bushfire recovery priorities • providing immediate support for the wildlife rehabilitation and care sector including $1m in emergency bushfire funding, $500k of this funding was made available as grants to wildlife rehabilitation sector through the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife • rapidly establishing a program of supplementary feeding for important populations of key threatened species including Koalas, Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies, and Mountain Pygmy Possums

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 24 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

• seed collection for several threatened plant species • aerial shooting program – largest program undertaken on national parks and reserves in NSW to remove feral predators and herbivores • post-fire weed control activities in national parks and reserve • undertaking site assessments for species and communities identified by the Commonwealth Government as those most in need of urgent management intervention to assess the recovery of key species and ecological communities.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 25 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Caveats

The information presented in this document is largely drawn from the Bushfire Recovery Environmental Analysis Decision Support (BREADS) tool, version 20_05. It was prepared by the Geospatial and Information Analytics (ERIN) Branch, Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment.

The BREADS tool has been developed to synthesise existing available environmental information to support broad level Natural Resource Management decision making needs in the context of the 2019-2020 bushfires. It includes a spatial priority index (SPI) which ranks a set of given Management Units (for example Regional Land Partnerships Management Units) by weighting and combining their potentially fire-affected environmental values, taking into account both their burnt and unburnt areas, as well as the size of their overall distribution.

The tool is being continuously improved in parallel with work across the portfolio on a national response to the environmental impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires. It is likely to evolve as new information and insight on priority setting for investments comes to bear. The BREADS tool uses outputs of a complex geospatial intersection across datasets for fire severity, fire history environmental values, tenure and management units.

Data inputs:

• Fire History Index derived from MODIS MCD64A1 v006 (monthly, 500m, since 2000). • The severity data is GEEBAM July 2020. Search "GEEBAM" on: http://www.environment.gov.au/fed/catalog/main/home.page • Preliminary Analysis Area (PAA) comprising IBRA regions in southern and eastern Australia, as displayed at: http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/a8d10ce5-6a49-4fc2- b94d-575d6d11c547/files/preliminary-analysis-area-19-jan-2020.pdf • The Database of Species of National Environmental Significance stores maps and point distribution information about Species of National Environmental Significance as listed in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. • NRM regions 2017. • Expert Panel list of priority matters and recommended recovery actions.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 26 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Appendix 1: The Spatial Priority Index

This index:

• is intended to indicate the degree of consequences of fire for species persistence, with species near the top having smaller, more severely burnt ranges.

• should be taken as a broad guide only, and not used as is for determining priorities for action. It has not been scientifically peer reviewed.

• was developed by bushfire analysts within the Department of Agriculture, Water and Evironment, as part of development of the BREADS tool.

• is derived from overlapping the fire severity data with the known and likely (red and yellow areas in Figures 2 to 5) areas for each matter in a region.

• is weighted by the degree to which a matter has been burnt across its whole range.

• is weighted by the species distribution model total known and likely area, so large ranging species are treated equivalently to narrow endemics.

• takes in account the importance of unburnt areas for highly impacted species.

• includes fire severity using an index which weights ‘very high’ severity as five times that of ‘low/moderate’ severity and 1.7 times that of ‘high’ severity.

• includes a fire history index for the last twenty years derived from MODIS MCD64A1 v006 (monthly, 500m, since 2000). Class "Low" combines unburnt areas with areas burnt only once and so in this version has a weight set of zero. Class 2 and Class 3 reflect increasing numbers of fires and decreasing of intervals between fires. Weights applied to fire history are currently set at about half those of fire severity. This reflects the less developed nature of our fire history index, uncertainty around the ecological consequences of fire history as it plays out across different ecosystems, and that the bushfire response efforts currently underway are more driven by perceived impacts of the 2019/20 fire season than fire history.

• Could be added to in the future to incorporate a range of other criteria relevant to decision making for bushfire recovery.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 27 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Appendix 2: Priority matters with fire extent and severity information

Vertebrate species

Priority animals were identified by the Expert Panel based on the extent to which their range has potentially been burnt, how imperiled they were before the fires (for example, whether they were already listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered), and the physical, behavioural and ecological traits which influence their vulnerability to fire. Most of these animals have had at least 30per cent of their range burnt, and many substantially more. The framework and methods used to determine the priority species is described in the report available on the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website. The analysis includes animals in bioregions that have been impacted by fires from south-west Western Australia, southern South Australia, Victoria, southern and eastern New South Wales, south-eastern Queensland and Tasmania.

Table 1 National priority vertebrate species impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires

Per cent Per cent Range Range Per cent (%) (%) of (%) of burnt Fire Spatial Range states Species total within of range range Matter Scientific name EPBC listing range within severity Priority /territories range region burnt within burnt at within region index Index region high and (ha) region (ha) very high

FROGS

Littlejohn's Tree Litoria littlejohni NSW, Vic Vulnerable 1,432,628 838,627 59% 468,936 56% 58 65% 23 Frog, Heath Frog

Giant Burrowing Heleioporus NSW, Vic Vulnerable 1,498,696 533,485 36% 200,601 38% 58 65% 7 Frog australiacus

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 28 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Stuttering Frog, Mixophyes balbus NSW, Qld, Vic Vulnerable 4,864,913 889,307 18% 532,240 60% 61 68% 5 Southern Barred Frog (in Victoria)

Northern Pseudophryne ACT, NSW Critically 40,395 7,463 18% 982 13% 41 47% 1 Corroboree Frog pengilleyi Endangered

Southern Pseudophryne NSW Critically 5,998 867 14% 42 5% 83 94% 1 Corroboree Frog corroboree Endangered

REPTILES

Mustard-bellied Drysdalia 2,595,511 1,945,983 75% 698,877 36% 58 65% 14 Snake rhodogaster

Broad-headed Hoplocephalus NSW Vulnerable 1,008,120 357,259 35% 175,773 49% 64 74% 8 Snake bungaroides

Guthega Skink Liopholis guthega NSW, Vic Endangered 59,180 31,042 52% 9 0% 79 85% 3

Alpine She-oak Cyclodomorphus NSW, Vic Endangered 106,191 43,276 41% 1,031 2% 68 80% 3 Skink praealtus

Southern Water- Eulamprus NSW, SA, Vic 24,352,389 4,026,289 17% 907,051 23% 58 64% 2 skink tympanum

Glossy Grass Skink, Pseudemoia ACT, NSW, 13,268,674 1,552,446 12% 171,964 11% 57 65% 1 Swampland Cool- rawlinsoni VIC, Tas, SA skink, Rawlinson's Window-eyed Skink

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 29 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Southern Leaf- Phyllurus platurus NSW 891,706 76,133 9% 3,617 5% 45 53% 0 Tailed Gecko, Broad-tailed Gecko

FISH

Stocky Galaxias Galaxias NSW 180 180 100% 65 36% 38 37% 14 tantangara

Roundsnout Galaxias terenasus NSW, Vic 488,966 372,081 76% 87,538 24% 47 53% 9 Galaxias

Non-parasitic Mordacia praecox NSW, Qld, Vic 820,600 256,568 31% 174,498 68% 52 56% 8 Lamprey

Macquarie Perch Macquaria ACT, NSW, Vic Endangered 3,021,051 889,735 29% 67,759 8% 50 56% 2 (Murray-Darling australasica 'MDB Basin taxa) taxa'

Blue Mountains Macquaria sp. nov. NSW Endangered 1,336,383 144,491 11% 29,482 20% 46 55% 1 Perch 'hawkesbury taxon'

BIRDS

Pilotbird Pycnoptilus ACT, NSW, Vic 7,808,416 2,182,151 28% 1,028,878 47% 59 66% 6 floccosus

Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis NSW, Qld, Vic Endangered 369,597 255,700 69% 61,194 24% 41 44% 6 brachypterus

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 30 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Superb Lyrebird Menura ACT, NSW, 14,784,281 2,938,009 20% 1,109,336 38% 59 66% 4 novaehollandiae Qld, Vic

Eastern Ground Pezoporus wallicus NSW, Qld, Vic 4,389,980 509,265 12% 230,939 45% 63 72% 3 Parrot wallicus

Origma, Origma solitaria NSW 2,538,019 466,207 18% 165,349 35% 61 70% 3 Rockwarbler

Gang-gang Callocephalon SA, Vic, NSW, 15,497,484 4,416,287 28% 1,157,520 26% 58 65% 3 Cockatoo fimbriatum ACT

Red-browed Climacteris ACT, NSW, 17,105,059 2,775,605 16% 1,108,709 40% 59 66% 3 Treecreeper erythrops Qld, Vic

Regent Honeyeater Anthochaera ACT, NSW, Critically 23,988,334 2,523,601 11% 616,068 24% 54 60% 2 phrygia Qld, SA, Vic Endangered

Black-faced Monarcha NSW, Qld, Vic Migratory 67,599,486 4,877,309 7% 1,137,673 23% 58 65% 1 Monarch melanopsis

Glossy Black- Calyptorhynchus Vic, NSW, 48,312,651 3,475,911 7% 1,016,946 29% 59 65% 1 Cockatoo (eastern) lathami lathami ACT, Qld

MAMMALS

Dusky Antechinus Antechinus mimetes Vic, NSW, ACT 9,881,659 2,484,690 25% 1,070,926 43% 59 66% 4

Long-footed Potorous longipes NSW, Vic Endangered 582,294 51,522 9% 39,478 77% 49 59% 4 Potoroo

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 31 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Long-nosed Potorous NSW, Qld, SA, Vulnerable 8,087,787 1,319,262 16% 663,232 50% 56 62% 3 Potoroo (SE tridactylus Vic Mainland) tridactylus

Brush-tailed Rock- Petrogale NSW, Qld, Vic Vulnerable 11,897,065 1,340,000 11% 704,343 53% 62 69% 2 wallaby penicillata

Greater Glider Petauroides volans ACT, NSW< Vulnerable 24,997,159 2,850,063 11% 1,070,378 38% 59 66% 2 Qld, Vic

Yellow-bellied Petaurus australis NSW, Qld, SA, 22,190,938 2,527,104 11% 1,054,983 42% 59 66% 2 Glider Vic

Spot-tailed Quoll, Dasyurus ACT, NSW, Endangered 26,144,091 4,235,202 16% 1,157,538 27% 58 65% 2 Spotted-tail Quoll, maculatus Qld, Vic Tiger Quoll maculatus (southeastern mainland population)

Smoky Mouse, Pseudomys fumeus ACT, NSW, Vic Endangered 2,762,881 407,446 15% 152,261 37% 52 61% 2 Konoom

Golden-tipped Bat Phoniscus NSW 39,956,791 1,629,136 4% 757,078 46% 60 67% 1 papuensis

Platypus Ornithorhynchus ACT, NSW, 38,351,206 4,143,760 11% 1,137,301 27% 59 66% 1 anatinus Qld, SA, Tas, Vic

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 32 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Koala (combined Phascolarctos ACT, NSW, Vulnerable 42,031,620 3,077,948 7% 934,799 30% 59 66% 1 populations of Qld, cinereus (combined Qld NSW and the ACT) populations of Qld, NSW, ACT)

Grey-headed Pteropus ACT, NSW, Vulnerable 27,577,551 2,551,279 9% 959,696 38% 58 65% 1 Flying-fox poliocephalus Qld, SA, Vic

Broad-toothed Rat Mastacomys fuscus ACT, NSW, Vic Vulnerable 2,770,138 308,260 11% 95,459 31% 58 64% 1 (mainland), mordicus Tooarrana

New Holland Pseudomys NSW, Qld, Tas, Vulnerable 9,941,275 263,185 3% 41,598 16% 63 73% 0 Mouse, Pookila novaehollandiae Vic

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 33 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Invertebrate species

The Expert Panel identified invertebrate species known or presumed to have been severely affected by the 2019-20 fires. The prioritisation is based mostly on spatial analysis of the extent of overlap between species’ distributional range and fire, with such analysis considering the following groups of Australian invertebrate species:

• approximately 700 invertebrate species listed as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or equivalent state and territory legislation or on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species • invertebrate species considered to be of concern by state and territory agencies and by some experts, because of fire impacts • some taxonomic groups likely to contain many fire-affected species. Susceptibility of invertebrate species to fire was considered where available, notably for a set of Kangaroo Island invertebrate species. Comparable information was not readily available for most invertebrate species. The main criterion for inclusion here is that the fires affected at least 30 per cent of the range of invertebrate species listed as threatened by any jurisdiction or the IUCN or 50 per cent of the range of species not presently listed.

Table 2 National priority invertebrate species impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires

Tianjara Crayfish Euastacus NSW 18,073 18,073 100% 16,459 91% 72 81% 84 guwinus Sutton's Crayfish Euastacus suttoni NSW, Qld 2,595,511 1,945,983 75% 698,877 36% 58 65% 14

Riek's Crayfish Euastacus rieki NSW 280,292 276,121 99% 18,092 7% 58 67% 10

Calyton's Crayfish Euastacus NSW, Vic 746,730 646,265 87% 117,568 18% 56 64% 9 claytoni

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 34 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Per cent Per cent Range Range Per cent (%) (%) of (%) of Fire Spatial Range states Species total within burnt of range range Matter Scientific name EPBC listing range severity Priority /territories range region within burnt within burnt at within index Index region (ha) region high and (ha) region very high Bidawal Crayfish, East Euastacus Vic 361,510 73,727 20% 51,732 70% 46 50% 8 Gippsland Spiny Crayfish bidawalus Alpine Crayfish Euastacus ACT, NSW, Vic 660,201 164,566 25% 43,401 26% 66 73% 3 crassus Orbost Spiny Crayfish Euastacus Vic 687,674 35,025 5% 999 3% 33 27% 0 diversus LAND SNAILS

Bendathera Pinwheel Egilodonta NSW 320 320 100% 320 100% 88 98% 51 Snail bendethera Bermagui Bristle Snail Austrochloritis NSW 14,451 14,451 100% 7,894 55% 63 71% 20 abrotonus Merimbula Woodland Pommerhelix NSW, Vic 10,560 10,246 97% 5,348 52% 59 67% 18 Snail mastersi Wyanbene Pinwheel Egilodonta NSW 314 314 100% 163 52% 39 37% 13 Snail wyanbenensis Jervis Bay Forest Snail Meridolum NSW 14,883 12,880 87% 5,291 41% 55 59% 7 jervisensis Lakes Entrance Diphyoropa NSW, Vic 5,026 2,296 46% 584 25% 59 72% 3 Pinwheel Snail illustra Koscuiszko Carnivorous Austrorhytida NSW, Vic, ACT 12,310 3,521 29% 913 26% 40 37% 1 Snail glaciamans Prickle Pinhead Snail Paralaoma NSW, Vic, ACT 14,330 2,175 15% 588 27% 63 73% 1 annabelli Jenolan Caves Bristle Austrochloritis NSW 17,565 1,044 6% 450 43% 67 84% 1 Snail kanangra Koscuiszko Bristle Snail Austrochloritis NSW, Vic, ACT 12,427 3,143 25% - 0% 0 0% 0 kosciuszkoensis

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 35 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Jewel beetle Temognatha 376 376 100% 375 100% 82 95% 47 rufocyanea Beetle Lissapterus NSW 314 314 100% 270 86% 35 34% 25 grammicus Beetle Aulacopris NSW, Vic 7,434 3,947 53% 2,071 52% 70 77% 7 reichei Jewel beetle Castiarina 1,256 616 49% 282 46% 78 91% 6 flavoviridis Depressed Mussel; Hyridella NSW, Qld, Vic 6,911 2,513 36% 1,730 69% 41 38% 4 Knife-shaped Mussel depressa Beetle Matthewsius NSW 2,960 2,332 79% 167 7% 56 63% 3 illawarrensis Venatrix NSW, Qld 8,995 2,010 22% 1,002 50% 73 83% 3 australiensis Eastern Freshwater Australatya NSW, Qld, Vic 32,508 6,829 21% 4,009 59% 50 53% 2 Shrimp striolata Large Riverdamsel Caliagrion NSW, Qld, Vic 4,113 785 19% 253 32% 52 67% 2 billinghursti Asteron grayi NSW, Qld, Vic 6,596 628 10% 622 99% 89 93% 2

Jewel beetle Castiarina klugii 9,051 314 3% 267 85% 43 54% 1

Jewel beetle Temognatha 6,416 314 5% 307 98% 83 94% 1 rufocyanea

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 36 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Per cent Per cent Range Range Per cent (%) (%) of (%) of Fire Spatial Range states Species total within burnt of range range Matter Scientific name EPBC listing range severity Priority /territories range region within burnt within burnt at within index Index region (ha) region high and (ha) region very high Small Alpine Xenica Oreixenica NSW, Vic, ACT 3,837 2,597 68% - 0% 0 0% 1 latialis latialis Storenosoma NSW, Qld, Vic, 18,604 5,132 28% 1,192 23% 45 48% 1 terraneum ACT Giant Dragonfly Petalura NSW 46,505 5,819 13% 352 6% 46 57% 1 gigantea Lampona fife NSW 4,250 314 7% 220 70% 36 40% 1

Spider, harvestman or Molycria NSW, Qld 14,262 628 4% 607 97% 76 89% 1 pseudoscorpion mammosa Jewel beetle Castiarina 942 942 100% - 0% 0 0% 0 montigena Mount Kosciusko Leptoperla NSW 628 433 69% - 0% 0 0% 0 Wingless Stonefly cacuminis Fly Pelecorhynchus NSW 1,571 942 60% - 0% 0 0% 0 rubidus Fly Pelecorhynchus NSW 1,057 628 59% - 0% 0 0% 0 flavipennis Spotted Alpine Xenica Oreixenica NSW, Vic, ACT 8,198 2,926 36% 127 4% 50 57% 0 orichora orichora Alpine Darner Austroaeschna NSW, Vic 5,443 1,593 29% - 0% 0 0% 0 flavomaculata Glistening Pencil-blue; Candalides NSW, Vic 1,186 326 27% - 0% 0 0% 0 Common Pencilled-blue absimilis edwardsi Orange Alpine Xenica; Oreixenica NSW, Vic, ACT 11,792 2,667 23% - 0% 0 0% 0 Correa Brown correae Thylacine Darner Acanthaeschna NSW, Qld, Vic 4,655 633 14% - 0% 0 0% 0 victoria

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 37 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Per cent Per cent Range Range Per cent (%) (%) of (%) of Fire Spatial Range states Species total within burnt of range range Matter Scientific name EPBC listing range severity Priority /territories range region within burnt within burnt at within index Index region (ha) region high and (ha) region very high Waterfall Redspot (191 Austropetalia NSW, Vic 3,307 213 6% - 0% 0 0% 0 group) patricia Green Carpenter Bee, Xylocopa aeratus NSW, Qld, SA, 6,962 86 1% 21 24% 22 5% 0 Metallic Green Vic Carpenter Bee, Southern Green Carpenter Bee

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 38 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Plant species

The initial national provisional prioritisation was undertaken to assess 19,004 plant species against a set of eleven criteria which combine the proportion of the geographic range that burned, species fire response traits, and the interactive effects of other stressors such as drought, herbivory, disease, weed invasion and erosion. Further assessment has almost been completed to consider an additional 7,058 plant taxa, new data on species traits and revised spatial analysis for several criteria. This has identified 427 priority species: these taxa had more than 80 per cent of their range burnt, or were listed as Endangered or Critically endangered under the EPBC Act or state/territory listings, or were listed as HIGH risk under two or more of the criteria assessed. This additional assessment is reflected in the data below.

Note: The full list of criteria are contained Gallagher, R 2020 Interim national prioritisation of Australian plants affected by the 2019-2020 bushfire season, prepared for the Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel.

Table 3 National priority plant species impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires

Per cent Per cent Per cent Range Range (%) of (%) of (%) of burnt Fire Spatial Range states Total range within range range Matter Scientific name EPBC listing range within severity Priority /territories region burnt burnt at (ha) within region Index Index (ha) within high and region (ha) region very high Leionema NSW 2,951 2,951 100% 2,588 88% 84 89% 51 ceratogynum Grevillea irrasa NSW 6,536 6,536 100% 5,820 89% 85 92% 50 subsp. didymochiton Leptospermum NSW 2,689 2,689 100% 2,529 94% 73 84% 49 crassifolium Darwinia taxifolia NSW 7,376 7,376 100% 6,558 89% 78 88% 49 subsp. macrolaena Budawangs Bushpea Pultenaea NSW Vulnerable 13,800 13,800 100% 12,978 94% 80 90% 48 baeuerlenii Grevillea baueri NSW 17,483 17,483 100% 14,596 83% 76 86% 47 subsp. asperula

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 39 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Ettrema Mallee Eucalyptus NSW 10,767 10,767 100% 9,370 87% 67 75% 44 sturgissiana Boronia subulifolia NSW 9,471 9,471 100% 7,843 83% 66 74% 44

Budawangs Budawangia NSW Vulnerable 11,368 11,368 100% 10,677 94% 67 77% 42 Cliffheath gnidioides Leptospermum NSW 6,427 6,427 100% 5,840 91% 61 69% 42 subglabratum Jillaga Ash Eucalyptus NSW 11,873 11,559 97% 10,093 87% 75 80% 42 stenostoma Woila Gum Eucalyptus olsenii NSW 7,597 7,283 96% 6,104 84% 79 85% 42

Boronia imlayensis NSW 1,266 1,266 100% 1,264 100% 69 91% 41

Olsen’s Wattle Acacia olsenii NSW 3,677 3,049 83% 2,785 91% 87 90% 40

Pigeon House Ash, Eucalyptus triflora Vic 12,541 12,227 97% 10,087 82% 69 79% 40 Three-flowered Ash Zieria NSW 16,627 15,373 92% 12,549 82% 68 76% 40 caducibracteata Grevillea epicroca NSW 2,806 2,806 100% 2,274 81% 63 66% 40

Leptospermum NSW 3,485 3,485 100% 3,158 91% 57 62% 39 deuense

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 40 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Grey Deua Pomaderris NSW Vulnerable 1,602 1,602 100% 1,475 92% 56 59% 38 Pomaderris gilmourii var. cana Monga Tea-tree Leptospermum NSW Vulnerable 6,393 6,393 100% 5,188 81% 68 80% 37 thompsonii Styphelia psiloclada NSW 4,510 4,510 100% 3,038 67% 74 81% 31

Mongamulla Mallee Eucalyptus NSW 1,971 1,971 100% 1,784 91% 42 40% 30 deuaensis Small-leaved Gum Eucalyptus parvula Vic, NSW Vulnerable 90,776 90,776 100% 34,338 38% 69 79% 30

Philotheca scabra NSW 15,069 15,069 100% 11,298 75% 73 83% 29 subsp. latifolia Persoonia mollis NSW 16,332 16,332 100% 10,780 66% 72 81% 29 subsp. leptophylla Blay's Wattle Acacia blayana NSW 3,132 3,132 100% 2,213 71% 80 86% 28

Grevillea NSW 628 450 72% 403 89% 59 72% 27 aspleniifolia Wadbilliga Ash Eucalyptus NSW 4,745 4,431 93% 3,550 80% 83 89% 27 paliformis Persoonia mollis NSW 10,775 10,775 100% 8,317 77% 65 73% 27 subsp. budawangensis Scented Bitter-pea Daviesia suaveolens NSW 7,485 7,485 100% 5,575 74% 68 72% 27

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 41 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Hibbertia NSW 942 942 100% 530 56% 67 71% 27 praemorsa Nematolepis NSW 6,757 6,129 91% 4,563 74% 78 86% 26 elliptica Prostanthera NSW 2,617 2,617 100% 1,886 72% 63 73% 26 tallowa Bog Grevillea Grevillea NSW Endangered 7,838 7,838 100% 3,320 42% 55 60% 26 acanthifolia subsp. paludosa Budawang's Plinthanthesis NSW Vulnerable 1,410 1,410 100% 1,177 83% 45 45% 25 Wallaby-grass rodwayi Blue Bush, Acacia covenyi NSW 3,457 3,143 91% 2,457 78% 73 83% 25 Bluebush, Bendethera Wattle Monga Waratah, Telopea mongaensis NSW 11,590 11,276 97% 8,103 72% 66 77% 25 Braidwood Waratah Pygmy Cypress Pine Callitris oblonga NSW 2,303 2,303 100% 1,387 60% 62 75% 25 subsp. corangensis Elusive Bush-pea Pultenaea elusa NSW Endangered 2,175 2,175 100% 961 44% 55 65% 25

Dillwynia stipulifera NSW 6,512 3,074 47% 2,686 87% 80 91% 24

Persoonia asperula NSW, Vic 16,466 14,970 91% 8,193 55% 80 88% 24

Bursaria calcicola NSW 1,123 1,123 100% 494 44% 55 62% 24

Superb Midgeorchid Genoplesium NSW 1,256 942 75% 322 34% 85 95% 24 superbum

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 42 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Per cent Per cent Per cent Range Range (%) of (%) of (%) of burnt Fire Spatial Range states Total range within range range Matter Scientific name EPBC listing range within severity Priority /territories region burnt burnt at (ha) within region Index Index (ha) within high and region (ha) region very high Woolly-bear Wattle, Acacia lucasii NSW, Vic 8,384 5,773 69% 3,824 66% 79 87% 22 Lucas's Wattle Nowra Heathmyrtle Triplarina NSW Endangered 8,610 8,610 100% 2,727 32% 53 64% 22 nowraensis Pultenaea rodwayi NSW 3,067 3,067 100% 2,438 79% 47 52% 21

White Mountain Eucalyptus NSW, Vic 29,539 27,972 95% 19,404 69% 68 77% 21 Ash, White Ash fraxinoides East Lynne Genoplesium vernale NSW Vulnerable 3,141 3,141 100% 2,616 83% 43 45% 20 Midgeorchid Leptospermum NSW 32,513 31,216 96% 17,272 55% 70 79% 20 rotundifolium Velvet Zieria Zieria murphyi NSW Vulnerable 29,835 23,580 79% 16,469 70% 64 73% 19

Persoonia brevifolia NSW, Vic 4,170 3,623 87% 2,470 68% 52 57% 19

Hibbertia circinata NSW 1,021 707 69% 705 100% 71 93% 18

Schoenus evansianus NSW 2,982 1,980 66% 1,856 94% 70 81% 18

Philotheca NSW, Vic 4,218 3,590 85% 3,041 85% 63 70% 18 myoporoides subsp. brevipedunculata Narrabarba Wattle Acacia constablei NSW Vulnerable 9,940 9,940 100% 6,829 69% 45 49% 18

Jones Wattle Acacia jonesii NSW 9,263 7,224 78% 4,278 59% 68 77% 18

Cotoneaster Pomaderris NSW, Vic Endangered 783,338 658,583 84% 312,482 47% 60 69% 18 Pomaderris cotoneaster Kydra Dampiera Dampiera fusca ACT, NSW, 6,604 4,085 62% 1,649 40% 75 83% 18 Vic

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 43 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Per cent Per cent Per cent Range Range (%) of (%) of (%) of burnt Fire Spatial Range states Total range within range range Matter Scientific name EPBC listing range within severity Priority /territories region burnt burnt at (ha) within region Index Index (ha) within high and region (ha) region very high Bredbo Gentian Gentiana NSW Critically 796 796 100% 315 40% 43 49% 17 bredboensis Endangered Woolly Wattle, Acacia lanigera var. NSW, Vic 3,613 1,496 41% 1,292 86% 57 71% 16 Hairy Wattle gracilipes Prostanthera NSW 8,382 5,092 61% 4,294 84% 72 82% 16 saxicola var. montana Asterolasia rivularis NSW 2,303 1,675 73% 1,154 69% 51 62% 16

Microlaena stipoides NSW 2,427 2,113 87% 1,420 67% 59 68% 16 var. breviseta Macrae's Hakea Hakea macraeana NSW, Vic 27,382 26,754 98% 14,395 54% 60 66% 16

Hamilton's Wattle Acacia hamiltoniana NSW 28,828 15,734 55% 12,857 82% 77 88% 15

Bantam Bush-pea Pultenaea parrisiae NSW,Vic Vulnerable 3,071 1,375 45% 1,094 80% 64 76% 15

Hibbertia NSW 942 314 33% 238 76% 76 93% 15 acaulothrix Dwarf Bottlebrush Callistemon NSW,Vic 20,543 14,409 70% 9,722 67% 55 64% 15 subulatus Nematolepis NSW Vulnerable 930 930 100% 462 50% 40 45% 15 rhytidophylla Genoa Grevillea Grevillea parvula NSW,Vic 12,967 9,565 74% 7,171 75% 54 60% 14

Trailing Monotoca Monotoca NSW,Vic 3,814 1,896 50% 1,374 72% 73 84% 13 rotundifolia Wolgan Snow Gum Eucalyptus NSW 15,144 6,676 44% 4,697 70% 70 81% 13 gregsoniana

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 44 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Wiry Flannelflower Actinotus forsythii NSW,Vic 10,162 4,169 41% 3,452 83% 77 85% 12

Dillwynia brunioides NSW 24,553 12,499 51% 8,490 68% 71 82% 12

Lemon-scented Zieria citriodora NSW,Vic Vulnerable 23,333 12,066 52% 3,117 26% 59 74% 12 Zieria Imlay Mallee, Mount Eucalyptus NSW Endangered 702 354 50% 351 99% 76 95% 11 Imlay Mallee imlayensis Forrester's Callistemon NSW,Vic Vulnerable 4,639 1,288 28% 1,264 98% 68 79% 10 Bottlebrush forresterae Deane's Boronia Boronia deanei NSW Vulnerable 138,004 60,530 44% 35,437 59% 61 67% 10

Mountain Banksia Banksia canei NSW,Vic 31,107 12,618 41% 5,789 46% 77 84% 10

Pomaderris NSW 1,256 628 50% 589 94% 42 44% 9 gilmourii Swamp Banksia Banksia paludosa NSW 2,578 1,287 50% 1,099 85% 40 46% 9 subsp. astrolux Grevillea imberbis NSW 3,237 942 29% 147 16% 40 43% 8

Pultenaea vrolandii NSW,Vic 12,273 4,093 33% 1,778 43% 69 81% 7

Bent Pomaderris Pomaderris sericea NSW,Vic Vulnerable 18,070 5,051 28% 3,916 78% 62 75% 6

Howe Guineaflower Hibbertia notabilis NSW,Vic 628 222 35% 114 51% 26 13% 6

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 45 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Per cent Per cent Per cent Range Range (%) of (%) of (%) of burnt Fire Spatial Range states Total range within range range Matter Scientific name EPBC listing range within severity Priority /territories region burnt burnt at (ha) within region Index Index (ha) within high and region (ha) region very high Blue-tongue Pterostylis oreophila NSW, ACT Critically 1,088,418 262,993 24% 59,175 23% 64 71% 6 Greenhood Endangered Jervis Bay Grevillea Grevillea NSW 9,862 9,548 97% 1,866 20% 64 74% 6 macleayana Leafless Pinkbells Tetratheca NSW, Vic 15,638 3,338 21% 2,033 61% 66 80% 5 subaphylla Mueller’s Cypress Callitris muelleri NSW 14,762 3,550 24% 1,697 48% 57 69% 5

Olinda Box Eucalyptus corticosa NSW 6,249 628 10% 616 98% 71 84% 4

Haloragodendron NSW 2,164 314 15% 151 48% 41 51% 4 gibsonii Hakea constablei NSW 5,968 1,009 17% 459 46% 52 69% 4

Tiny Spyridium Spyridium cinereum NSW, Vic 5,621 1,913 34% 713 37% 38 35% 4

Camden Woollybutt, Eucalyptus NSW Endangered 254,588 178,164 70% 22,857 13% 59 68% 4 Paddys River Box macarthurii Tawny Leekorchid, Prasophyllum NSW Vulnerable 21,324 4,195 20% - 0% 0% 0% 4 Slaty Leekorchid fuscum Genoa River Correa Correa lawrenceana NSW, Vic Endangered 3,942 559 14% 555 99% 71 86% 3 var. genoensis Blotchy Mintbush Prostanthera NSW, Vic 9,631 1,412 15% 965 68% 63 76% 3 walteri Hakea pachyphylla NSW 8,278 887 11% 517 58% 51 56% 3

Chalker's Wattle Acacia chalkeri NSW 2,364 1,434 61% 670 47% 46 55% 3

Hibbertia saligna NSW 8,500 670 8% 650 97% 69 81% 2

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 46 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Narrow-leaf Bower Acacia subporosa NSW, Vic 10,838 8,482 78% 1,898 22% 33 27% 2 Wattle, Sticky Bower Wattle, River Wattle, Bower Wattle Spyridium NSW 3,791 602 16% 132 22% 35 36% 2 burragorang Almaleea incurvata NSW 12,987 314 2% 314 100% 92 99% 1

Kowmung Hakea Hakea dohertyi NSW Endangered 14,847 346 2% 340 98% 69 87% 1

Epacris NSW 7,806 517 7% 422 82% 46 49% 1 purpurascens var. onosmiflora Cliff Mallee Ash Eucalyptus NSW 9,397 629 7% 325 52% 52 66% 1 cunninghamii Persoonia mollis NSW 14,710 628 4% 283 45% 32 26% 1 subsp. Mollis Deyeuxia talariata NSW, Vic 1,789 314 18% 125 40% 36 35% 1

Rufous Pomaderris Pomaderris brunnea NSW, Vic 694,162 50,300 7% 15,971 32% 47 59% 1

Banksia penicillata NSW 10,975 314 3% 273 87% 35 35% 0

Smooth Tea-tree Leptospermum Vic 9,873 80 1% 1 2% 33 31% 0 glabrescens

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 47 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Threatened Ecological Communities

Table 4 National priority Threatened Ecological Communities impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires

Matters Range states/ EPBC listing Expert Total Total Per cent Hectares Per cent Per cent territories Panel – hectares hectares (%) within within fire (%) (%) within regional nationally within region extent within within fire fire extent priority region region extent in nationally region Upland Basalt Eucalypt Forests of the NSW Endangered Very High 4,175 1,963 47% 1,046 53% 78% Sydney Basin Bioregion Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated ACT, NSW, Endangered Very High 15,778 4,317 27% 799 19% 20% Fens Tas, Vic Illawarra Shoalhaven Subtropical NSW Critically Very High 7,546 7,437 99% 485 7% 6% Rainforest Endangered Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Qld, NSW, Vic Critically Very High 36,499 711 2% 69 10% 0.5% Thickets of Eastern Australia Endangered Robertson Rainforest in the Sydney Basin NSW Critically Very High 615 615 100% 34 6% 6% Bioregion Endangered Coastal Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca) Qld, NSW Endangered Very High 40,317 7,387 18% 2,340 32% 20% Forest of New South Wales and South East Queensland Shale Sandstone Transition Forest of the NSW Critically Very High 9,630 12 0% 5 42% 5% Sydney Basin Bioregion Endangered Turpentine - Ironbark Forest in the Sydney NSW Critically Very High 2,497 136 5% 51 38% 24% Basin Bioregion Endangered Illawarra and South Coast Lowland Forest NSW Critically High 4,049 4,050 100% 693 17% 17% and Woodland Endangered Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South NSW, Vic Critically High 13,446 13,446 100% 3,381 25% 25% East Corner Bioregion Endangered Southern Highlands Shale Forest and NSW Critically Medium 7,303 7,303 100% 686 9% 9% Woodland of the Sydney Basin Bioregion Endangered Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Qld, NSW, Vic, Vulnerable Medium 211,319 1,816 1% 168 9% 1% Saltmarsh Tas, SA, WA

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 48 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Appendix 3: Additional plants identified as priority species by NSW Government

Table 1 plants identified by the NSW Government as additional priorities for investment

Scientific Name Predicted risk drivers identified in the Commonwealth and NSW reports Acacia blayana High fire frequency / Herbivory / Fire severity / Cumulative fire risk Acacia constablei Drought / Cumulative fire risk Acacia georgensis Cumulative fire risk Astrotricha sp. Wallagaraugh Drought / Cumulative fire risk Boronia anemonifolia subsp. Herbivory / Fire severity wadbilligensis Boronia imlayensis Drought / Disease Bursaria calcicola Drought / Erosion / Other threats Darwinia taxifolia Cumulative fire risk Eucalyptus imlayensis Drought / Disease Galium roddii Drought / Herbivory / Weeds / Dormancy constraints Genoplesium plumosum Other threats Gentiana bredboensis Herbivory / Dormancy constraints Grevillea acanthifolia High fire frequency Grevillea aspleniifolia Drought / Herbivory / Cumulative fire risk Grevillea irrasa subsp. irrasa Cumulative fire risk Grevillea rhyolitica Drought Hibbertia circinata Drought / Disease Hibbertia praemorsa Drought / Erosion Juncus laeviusculus Drought Leionema ceratogynum Fire severity Leptospermum crassifolium Drought / High fire frequency / Fire severity Nematolepis rhytidophylla Drought / Disease Pimelea bracteata Herbivory / Disease / Cumulative fire risk Plinthanthesis rodwayi Drought / Herbivory / Erosion Pomaderris gilmourii Fire severity Prasophyllum innubum Herbivory Pterostylis oreophila Drought / High fire frequency / Herbivory / Fire severity / Weeds Pultenaea elusa Drought / Herbivory / Cumulative fire risk Thismia clavarioides Drought / Erosion Drought / High fire frequency / Herbivory / Disease / Fire severity / Weeds / Zieria adenophora Dormancy constraints / Fire sensitivity / Erosion / Cumulative fire risk Zieria citriodora Cumulative fire risk

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 49 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Appendix 4: Maps showing fire severity in relation to priority Threatened

Ecological Communities

Note: maps are produced using data held by Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

Map 1 showing indicative distribution for Upland Basalt Eucalypt Forests of the Sydney Basin Bioregion

Note: this map shows a broad envelope of known or potential distribution for this threatened ecological community.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 50 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Map2 showing indicative distribution for Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens

Note: this map shows a broad envelope of known or potential distribution for this threatened ecological community.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 51 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Map 3 showing indicative distribution for Illawarra and South Coast Lowland Forest and Woodland

Note: this map shows a broad envelope of known or potential distribution for this threatened ecological community

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 52 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Map 4 Map showing indicative distribution for Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion

Note: this map shows a broad envelope of known or potential distribution for this threatened ecological community.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 53 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Appendix 5: Specific recovery actions identified by the Expert Panel for priority species

Priority animal species

Picture 1 Recovery actions for priority animal species (as identified as a key focus area above)

Matter Ecological traits Rapid on-ground Protecting Emergency salvage of plant and animal species for ex-situ conservation Provision of Feral predator and herbivore control to Additional actions assessment: unburnt areas or wild-to-wild translocation. supplementary reduce the pressure on native species establish extent shelter, food, where appropriate of population loss and water & baseline for Salvage/capture into ex situ Salvage/translocate to nearby Exclude Control introduced monitoring (careful risk assessment unburnt habitat or havens herbivores from predators required) unburnt and regenerating vegetation

Littlejohn's Tree Assessment of chytrid levels at burnt verses Frog, Heath Frog yes yes No No No Maybe Unknown unburnt sites. Assessment of genetic Litoria littlejohni diversity to identify potential bottlenecking.

Mustard-bellied Fire mortality could be Develop new advice and guideline Snake high, and prefers long yes yes Unlikely Unlikely No Maybe Maybe documents which has previously assumed Drysdalia unburnt habitat fire does not penetrate this habitat rhodogaster

Maybe; only if Stocky Galaxias No; salvage already conducted. predators (Trout) No; suitable translocation sites need to No salmonid stockings in entire Tantangara Galaxias yes yes Captive breeding, and establishing No yes; horses have invaded be located first. Creek catchment. tantangara new populations, is a priority. upstream into galaxiid population

No, but maybe later; has a very small Maybe pigs; foxes Tianjara Crayfish range, extent of fire overlap needs to Consistent conservation assessment (e.g. plus other crayfish Euastacus yes yes Yes; emergency rescue to ex-situ be resolved with on ground survey No Yes; horses, pigs SEAP) across crayfish, including the priority (e.g. yabbies) out of guwinus before feasibility of translocation can species their natural range be considered

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 54 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Priority actions for plant species

Table 1 recovery action criteria for priority plant species

Species common name Species scientific name Recovery action criteria

Leionema ceratogynum D, E Grevillea irrasa subsp. didymochiton D, E, J Leptospermum crassifolium A, B, D, E, I Darwinia taxifolia subsp. macrolaena A, D, J Budawangs Bushpea Pultenaea baeuerlenii A, D, J Grevillea baueri subsp. asperula A, D, J Wadbilliga Sticky Boronia Boronia anemonifolia subsp. wadbilligensis D Leionema coxii D, E, I Ettrema Mallee Eucalyptus sturgissiana A,B, D Boronia subulifolia A, D, E, J Budawangs Cliffheath Budawangia gnidioides A, E, J Leptospermum subglabratum A, D, E

Jillaga Ash Eucalyptus stenostoma D, J Woila Gum Eucalyptus olsenii D, I Boronia imlayensis A, D Olsen’s Wattle Acacia olsenii D, E, I, J Pigeon House Ash, Three-flowered Ash Eucalyptus triflora A, D Zieria caducibracteata A Grevillea epicroca D, I

Criteria for recovery actions:

A. Interactive effects of fire and drought

B. Short fire intervals (impacts of high fire frequency)

C. Post-fire herbivore impacts

D. Fire-disease interactions

E. High fire severity

F. Weed invasion

G. Elevated winter temperatures or changed temperature regimes

H. Fire sensitivity

I. Post-fire erosion

J. Cumulative exposure to high risks

K. Other plausible threats or expert-driven nominations

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 55 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Picture 2 Suggested management actions for high priority plant species.

Criteria[1] Management Action A B C D E F G H I J Urgency of action[2]

Field inspections – damage and x x x x x Immediate threats

Germplasm collection x x X Immediate

Field inspections - resprouting x x x Immediate assessment

Field inspections - seedling x x x X Immediate emergence assessment

Disease – field assessments and x Immediate emergency germplasm collection of cuttings where resprouting is affected

Exclude forestry/silvicultural x x x x X Immediate impacts

Alleviate herbivory x x X Immediate

Field inspections - recovery x Medium-term assessment

Irrigation x Medium-term

Carefully planned translocation x x x x x x x x X Medium-term

Weed control x x X Medium-term Exclude prescribed fire x x x x x x x x x X Medium-term Rapid response to wildfire x x x x x x x x x X Medium-term Minimise development impacts x x x x x x x x x X Ongoing Alleviate pollinator competition x x x X Medium-term / from feral bees and European Ongoing wasp Prevent illegal collecting or over- x x x x x x x x x X Ongoing collecting of germplasm or plants Minimise habitat disturbance x x x x x x x x x X Ongoing from human activities

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 56 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Appendix 6: Funding investment

Table 1 investment in predator and herbivore animal control /habitat restoration and protection

Funder Title Description Recipient Timing Amount Australian Support to RLP NC The impacts of pest animals, weeds and erosion of bare South East 2019-20 $750,000 Government (NSW) Service ground following fires challenge the protection and Local Land to 2020- Providers for recovery of Threatened Ecological Communities and Services 21 Emergency Pest threatened species. This project aims to stabilise Mitigation and threatened species populations and habitat via strategic Habitat Protection management of pest animals, weed management, fencing and revegetation, cultural burning, undertaking emergency interventions to prevent species extinctions, habitat augmentation, and use of low-cost sediment control techniques to protect significant aquatic resources within South East NSW. Australian Post Fire Immediate Extensive pest animal control to protect native species NSW 2019-20 $2.25 Government* Action Pest Animal and their habitat. This includes aerial shooting targeting Government to 2020- million Control Programs feral pigs, goats and deer (using ground based methods), 21 as well as aerial baiting with 1080 to significantly reduce the impacts of foxes in both burnt areas and adjacent unburnt refuge areas. Australian Habitat Repair and Project will help secure habitat recovery on four reserves The Trustee for 2019-20 $297,040 Government * Species Recovery that were very heavily impacted by the bushfires and South to 2020- on six South protect the habitat values of two less affected reserves Endeavour 21 Endeavour Trust directly adjacent to heavily burnt bushland. Trust reserves - GA- 2000108 Australian Releasing This project will undertake restoration of 20km of Landcare 2019-20 $384,550 Government * Macquarie Perch riparian habitat impacted by bushfires to improve Australia Ltd to 2020- and Restoring Fish habitat for turtle, fish and crayfish. The project will also Partners: 21 Habitat in Bushfire collect mature Macquarie Perch to be used in a release Native Fish Affected Areas - GA- breeding program at Buffalo River. Australia, 2000364 OzFish * Note: Project activities (and investment) not confined to Forests of the NSW south coast region

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 57 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Table 2 investment in species-specific recovery actions

Funder Title Description Recipient Timing Amount Australian Targeted Targeted interventions to stabilise and maintain populations NSW 2019- $671,500 Government* interventions for of various fire affected species across NSW. Actions relevant Government 20 to threatened species to the south coast include those targeted at: 2020- • Smoky Mouse 21 • Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby • Koala • Paddys River Box, Camden Woollybutt (Eucalyptus macarthurii) • Pygmy Cypress Pine (Callitris oblonga) • Bega Wattle (Acacia georgensis) Australian Securing threatened Focusing on nine priority frog species, the project aims to University of 2019- $751,982 Government * frogs from bushfire assess the damage to habitat, implement mitigation works to Newcastle 20 to impact - GA- support frog populations, and establish ‘biobanks’ for species 2020- 2000241 at risk of extinction. 21 Australian Securing the future This project seeks to build species resilience of the Fitzroy South East 2018- $1,001,241 Government - of the Critically Falls Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus dharawalus) by re-instating Local Land 19 to National Endangered Fitzroy vital riparian vegetation, working with landholders to protect Services 2022- Landcare Falls Spiny Crayfish habitat, acting to reduce competition and predation from 23 Program - invasive species and to undertake essential new surveys and Regional Land research to better understand the species and its needs for Partnerships survival. Australian Reaching for This project, in partnership with NSW Department of Primary South East 2018- $1,145,000 Government - recovery for the Industries Fisheries, will develop a detailed regional action Local Land 19 to National Endangered and monitoring plan to guide efforts toward long-term Services 2022- Landcare Macquarie Perch in population stability for the Macquarie Perch in South East 23 Program - South East NSW NSW. In accordance with the plan, targeted works in the Regional Land upper Murrumbidgee and Mongarlowe rivers will be Partnerships undertaken, including community driven habitat and threat assessments, a genetic rescue program to add diversity to isolated populations and annual 'Young of the Year' monitoring to signal breeding success or otherwise. Land management agreements and funds to assist landholders control livestock access to waterways and targeted weed and revegetation works. Pest species will be targeted and community inclusion and engagement will be paramount to

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 58 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Funder Title Description Recipient Timing Amount reducing threats impacting on important habitat for the Macquarie Perch. Australian Climate proofing This project aims to extend previous activities to protect and South East 2019- $1,120,000 Government - subtropical and rehabilitate coastal saltmarsh through working with private Local Land 20 to National temperate coastal land managers on the south coast with a focus on the Services 2022- Landcare saltmarsh of South Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla coastal areas. 23 Program - East NSW (Coastal Regional Land Saltmarsh) Partnerships * Note: Project activities (and investment) not confined to Forests of the NSW south coast region

Table 3 Knowledge projects (e.g. research and assessments)

Funder Title Description Recipient Timing Amount Australian Fire and rust – the Assessment of the susceptibility and impact of myrtle rust on University 30/5/2020- $120,000 Government impact of myrtle Myrtaceae species regenerating after bushfire in fire affected of 30/11/2020 * rust on fire regions in NSW and Qld. Queensland regeneration Australian Building capacity A large-scale project that aims to develop adaptive fire University 2019-20 to $723,811 Government for resilience & management strategies to improve prospects for 8 priority of New 2020-21 * recovery of ecological communities and 7 animal species, by integrating South threatened remote sensing, ground survey and citizen science with Wales ecological management. communities - GA- 2000224 Australian Bushfire recovery A comprehensive, national assessment of fire-affected BirdLife 2019-20 to $170,200 Government of cryptic Mainland Ground Parrots and Eastern Bristlebirds across their Australia 2020-21 * threatened birds in known ranges to identify critical gaps in bushfire recovery the eastern efforts. heathlands - GA- 2000318 Australian Assessing fire This project will assess how the fire impacted habitat for Western 2019-20 to $246,900 Government impacts on golden- forest microbats, with a focus on the golden-tipped bat. Radio- Sydney 2020-21 * tipped bats and tracking will be used to investigate how fire affects use of University other microbats - foraging and roosting habitat features and test the benefits of GA-2000355 roost supplementation.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 59 Forests of the New South Wales south coast regional bushfire recovery workshop report

Funder Title Description Recipient Timing Amount Australian Saving the spinys: The project will support the recovery of the 22 priority The Trustee 2019-20 to $654,500 Government urgent actions to Euastacus species (freshwater crayfish) affected by the for Nature 2020-21 * conserve the bushfires, by identifying critical populations, exploring the Glenelg Euastacus feasibility of conservation translocations, and determining Trust freshwater crayfish how to best conserve each species. - GA-2000463 Australian Determining This project will assess impacts of the recent bushfires on Monash 2019-20 to $255,060 Government landscape-scale freshwater biodiversity and 14 Priority Matters across south- University 2020-21 * impacts of fire on eastern Australia using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. biodiversity using This project will enable the identification of species and areas eDNA - GA- in urgent need of management 2000488 Australian Impacts of severe Focussed on reptiles and the broad-toothed rat, the project Deakin 2019-20 to $328,131 Government and extensive fire will examine how fire and large feral herbivores impact on University 2020-21 * and interactions these populations and inform whether translocations and/or with feral feral animal management could be needed. herbivores - GA- 2000607 Australian Mongarlowe Mallee This project will focus on field surveys for the Mongarlowe South East 2018-19 to $150,000 Government Mallee, with the aim of identifying additional plants in the Local Land 2022-23 - National wild, along with the implementation of an ex-situ propagation Services Landcare program, using unique and specialised collection and Program - propagation techniques to assist in securing this species in Regional cultivation, mitigating the risk of complete extinction for one Land of Australia’s rarest trees. Partnerships Australian Securing This project aims firstly to discover new populations of the South East 2020-21 to $60,000 Government populations of the Magenta Lilly Pilly in the wild south of Sydney by surveying Local Land 2021-22 - National Magenta Lilly Pilly new sites with suitable habitat. Secondly, it will examine how Services Landcare in southern NSW this plant with edible fruit has been used and spread by Program - Aboriginal and other Australians over time. The Magenta Lilly Regional Pilly has limited recruitment in the wild, maybe humans are Land the key. Thirdly, it will help secure the species into the future Partnerships by supporting botanic gardens to establish living collections that represent the genetic diversity of wild plants. * Note: Project activities (and investment) not confined to Forests of the NSW south coast region

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