Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Approved Conservation Advice (including listing advice) for the Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt

1. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) was established under the EPBC Act and has obligations to present advice to the Minister for the Environment (the Minister) in relation to the listing and conservation of threatened ecological communities, including under sections 189, 194N and 266B of the EPBC Act. 2. The Committee provided its advice on the Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt ecological community to the Minister as a draft of this conservation advice. In 2015, the Minister accepted the Committee’s advice, and adopted this document as the approved conservation advice. 3. The Minister amended the list of threatened ecological communities under section 184 of the EPBC Act to include the Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt ecological community in the critically endangered category. It is noted that Western Australia lists components of this ecological community as threatened. 4. A draft conservation advice for this ecological community was made available for expert and public comment for a minimum of 30 business days. The Committee and Minister had regard to all public and expert comment that was relevant to the consideration of the ecological community. 5. This approved conservation advice has been developed based on the best available information at the time it was approved; this includes scientific literature, advice from consultations, and existing plans, records or management prescriptions for this ecological community.

Salmon gum woodland at Korrelocking Nature Reserve, near Wyalcatchem. Photo credit: Matt White

Conservation Advice approved: 26 November 2015 Listing effective: 4 December 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. CONSERVATION OBJECTIVE 4 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY 5 2.1. Name of the ecological community 5 2.2. Location and physical environment 5 2.3. Vegetative components 10 2.3.1. Canopy layer 10 2.3.2. Understorey (mid and ground) layers 15 2.4. Faunal components 17 3. GUIDANCE FOR DETERMINING WHEN THE NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY PROTECTED UNDER THE EPBC ACT IS PRESENT 19 3.1 Introduction 19 3.2. Key diagnostic characteristics of the ecological community 19 3.2.1. Contra-indicators 20 3.2.2. General notes on the diagnostic characteristics of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland 21 3.3. Condition thresholds for the ecological community 22 3.4. Further information to assist in determining the presence of the ecological community and significant impacts 24 3.5. Area critical to the survival of the ecological community 26 3.6. Corresponding vegetation/mapping units 26 3.6.1 Caveat 26 3.6.2. Western Australian vegetation units 26 4. NATIONAL CONTEXT AND EXISTING PROTECTION 34 4.1. Land tenure 34 4.2. Threatened ecological communities recognised in WA 36 4.3. Level of protection in reserves 36 5. SUMMARY OF KEY THREATS 38 6. SUMMARY OF ELIGIBILITY FOR LISTING AGAINST EPBC ACT CRITERIA 39 7. PRIORITY RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS 41 7.1. Research and monitoring priorities 41 7.2. Priority recovery and threat abatement actions 42 7.3. Existing plans/management prescriptions ant are relevant to the ecological community 44 7.4. Recovery plan decision 46 BIBLIOGRAPHY 47

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APPENDICES

APPENDIX A – LISTS OF KEY KNOWN SPECIES FROM THE ECOLOGICAL A1 COMMUNITY A1 Key native plant species of the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community A2 A2 Native birds from the wheatbelt region of WA A8 A3 Native vertebrates, other than birds, from the wheatbelt region of WA A13 A4 Environmental weeds likely to be present in the ecological community A17 APPENDIX B – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ECOLOGICAL A20 COMMUNITY B1 Relationships to other listed Matters of National Environmental Significance A20 B2 Relationships to State-listed ecological communities A24 B3 Relationships to national and State vegetation systems A25 B4 Woodland and vegetation types NOT part of the ecological community A33 B5 Other levels of protection A35 B6 Indigenous knowledge A40 APPENDIX C – DESCRIPTION OF KEY THREATS A44 C1 Land clearing and impacts associated with fragmentation A45 C2 Land management practices (fertiliser addition and grazing by livestock) A49 C3 Invasive flora (weeds) A50 C4 Pest animals A50 C5 Altered hydrological regimes, including salinity and waterlogging A51 C6 Soil Acidification A54 C7 Altered fire regimes A54 C8 Dieback due to plant pathogens A56 C9 Climate change A57 C10 Nationally-listed key threatening processes A58 APPENDIX D – DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF ELIGIBILITY FOR LISTING AGAINST THE EPBC ACT CRITERIA A59 D1 Criterion 1 - Decline in geographic distribution A59 D2 Criterion 2 - Restricted geographic distribution coupled with demonstrable threat A65 D3 Criterion 3 - Loss or decline of functionally important species A68 D4 Criterion 4 - Reduction in community integrity A68 D5 Criterion 5 - Rate of continuing detrimental change A78 D6 Criterion 6 - Quantitative analysis showing probability of extinction A80

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1. CONSERVATION OBJECTIVE

To mitigate the risk of extinction of the Eucalypt Woodlands of the WA Wheatbelt ecological community, and maintain its biodiversity and function, through the protections provided under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and through the implementation of priority conservation actions (see section 7, below).

The objective of this conservation advice is consistent with the principles and objectives outlined in key planning and administrative documents, available as at June 2015:  Department of Parks and Wildlife WA. Strategic objectives: Parks and Wildlife will ensure that our plants and animals are conserved and protected by approved legislation and emphasise actions to protect our rare and threatened plant and animal species by focusing science and conservation programmes to deliver on-ground conservation outcomes. Working in partnership with the community, other organisations and traditional owners, we will undertake landscape-scale restoration and reintroduction programmes. We will mitigate threats to our plants and animals from diseases, feral animals and weeds.  Department of Main Roads WA. Principles: Protecting and enhancing the environmental values of road reserves; and Minimising the impact on the natural environment of roads and road use. Objective: Apply an approach of “avoid, minimise and mitigate” in order of preference, to the management of environmental impacts associated with road construction projects.  WA Planning Commission (WAPC, 2011a, p9). Wheatbelt environment principle: Identify and protect the Wheatbelt’s natural assets and deliver enhanced environmental outcomes, recognising the region’s fragmented landscape and international biodiversity values.  WA Planning Commission (WAPC, 2014, p41). Valued natural amenity objective: Environmental and natural values that support the social, cultural and economic development of the region and are managed for current and future generations.  Wheatbelt NRM (2013). 20-30 year objective: All of the community contributing to the improved management of the natural environment on both private and public land.  Wheatbelt NRM (2014). Healthy environment objective SO 01 To deliver NRM programmes that protect and enhance the wheatbelt environment.

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2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY The ecological community defined and assessed in this conservation advice is composed of eucalypt woodlands that formerly were the most common type of vegetation across the wheatbelt landscape of south-western Western Australia (WA), i.e. inland between the Darling Range and western edge of the goldfields. The woodlands are dominated by a complex mosaic of eucalypt species with a tree or mallet1 form over an understorey that is highly variable in structure and composition. Woodlands dominated by mallee forms or vegetation with a very sparse eucalypt tree canopy are not part of the ecological community. 2.1. Name of the ecological community This advice follows the assessment of a public nomination to list the ‘Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt’ as a threatened ecological community under the EPBC Act. The nominated name is appropriate for the national ecological community because it adequately captures the type of vegetation and region covered by this ecological community. ‘Eucalypt woodlands’ distinguishes the ecological community as having an open tree canopy dominated by eucalypt species with a single trunk. They are distinct from woodlands dominated by mallee eucalypts or non-eucalypt tree species, and vegetation in which eucalypt trees may be present as sparse, scattered emergents and do not form a distinct canopy. ‘Wheatbelt’ is a widely recognised and used geographic term for the region between the Darling Range and the goldfields. The national ecological community includes component ecological communities that are recognised as threatened in Western Australia. The name of the ecological community is hereafter abbreviated to the ‘WA Wheatbelt Woodlands’ or ‘the ecological community’. 2.2. Location and physical environment The WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community is endemic to south-western WA. It occupies a transitional zone between the wetter forests associated with the Darling Range and the southwest coast, and the low woodlands, mallee and shrublands of the semi-arid to arid interior. The vegetation that occurs east of the agricultural clearing line, primarily in the Coolgardie and Eastern Mallee bioregions, is generally known as the Great Western Woodlands. The Great Western Woodlands are not part of the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community except the westernmost extent that overlaps into the bioregional boundaries outlined in the next paragraph. The ecological community generally lies within the Transitional Rainfall Biological Province of southwest Australia (Hopper and Gioia, 2004). The wheatbelt region where the ecological community occurs mostly encompasses three IBRA2 subregions:  Avon Wheatbelt subregion AVW01 Merredin;  Avon Wheatbelt subregion AVW02 Katanning; and  Mallee subregion MAL02 Western Mallee. Some outlying patches of the ecological community may extend into adjacent areas south and east of the primary wheatbelt bioregions, in the easternmost parts of the Jarrah Forest bioregion. These outlier patches generally occur south of Northam, extending around the vicinity of

1 A tree habit here refers to a eucalypt with an erect, single-stemmed trunk and variable crown form. A mallet habit refers to a eucalypt with a single, slender trunk and steep-angled branches that give rise to a dense crown. A mallee habit is characterised by multiple stems of similar size arising at or near ground level. Mallees have a basal lignotuber –an underground swelling with buds that allows regeneration after damage. Mallets typically lack a lignotuber (Brooker et al., 2002). 2 Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation of Australia version 7. IBRA regions are large geographically distinct areas of similar climate, geology, landform, vegetation and animal communities. Version 7 divides Australia into 89 bioregions and 419 subregions, including offshore islands.

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localities such as Wandering, Williams, Kojonup and Mount Barker, and are limited to areas that are not on the Darling range, receive less than 600 mm mean annual rainfall and overlie the Yilgarn Craton geology. As these outliers occur under similar patterns of rainfall, landscape and species distribution to the main wheatbelt subregions, they are therefore included as part of the ecological community, where they meet the other definitional characteristics. Some other communities dominated by trees, such as Eucalyptus salmonophloia, E. salubris and E. longicornis, occur to the east in the adjacent Coolgardie IBRA region. These typically receive less than 300mm rainfall and are not included in the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community. The landscape of the WA wheatbelt and their associated bioregions has been described by Bamford (1995), WA CALM (2002) and McQuoid (2014). Figure 1 (Bamford, 1995; McQuoid, 2014) summarises the relationships between vegetation structure, soils and topography across the wheatbelt. The wheatbelt as defined here occurs entirely within the Yilgarn Craton, a very ancient and extensive geological formation that dominates south-western Australia east of Perth and Geraldton and roughly north from the Stirling Ranges. The landscape is generally of flat to undulating relief that is occasionally broken by granite or other rock outcrops and higher elevation sites, and chains of saline wetlands and salt lakes. The ecological community is generally associated with the flatter, undulating relief, including drainage lines and saline areas. It does not typically occur on granite outcrops or hills of lateritic gravel but may extend to the base of outcrops, where they are replaced by non-eucalypt woodlands or shrublands (Figure 1) In the eastern and southern wheatbelt, the drainage is ancient and disconnected or occluded, comprising salt lake systems that only function during very wet seasons (WA CALM, 2002). Further west, the drainage patterns are rejuvenated and include stream channels that flow in most years. Much of the ecological community lies within the Avon River Basin (Basin no. 615) that covers the central and eastern wheatbelt but also extends into the Goldfields region. Other river basins that overlap into the wheatbelt include the Moore-Hill Rivers (Basin no. 617) and Yarra Yarra Lakes (Basin no. 618) in the northern wheatbelt; the Blackwood River (Basin no. 609) and Murray River (WA) (Basin no. 614) in the western wheatbelt; and the Albany Coast (Basin no. 602) and Frankland River (Basin no. 605) in the southern wheatbelt. The wheatbelt region is now dominated by agricultural land uses, principally cereal cropping or grazing, and is extensively cleared of native vegetation.

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Figure 1. Relationships between vegetation, topography and soil type in the WA wheatbelt. 1a) Typical positions for various vegetation types in the western and eastern wheatbelt. Source: Bamford (1995), reproduced with permission of the author.

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1b) Typical landscape positions for key eucalypt woodland types in the wheatbelt. Table 2a lists the scientific and common names of the key ecualypt species. Source: McQuoid (2014), diagram reproduced with permission of the author and publisher. Photo credits: Matt White and John Vranjic, Australian Government Department of the Environment.

1. Watercourses, wetlands & 3. Breakaways and gravel rises. granite sands. Eucalypts include: various Eucalypts include: York gum, Mallets, Wheatbelt wandoo. Flooded gum, Flat-topped yate.

Silver mallet (Eucalyptus falcata)

2. Salt lakes / surrounds. Eucalypts include: Kondinin blackbutt, Lake mallets, Swamp mallets, Salt River gum, Salt salmon gum.

York gum (Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba)

Salt gum (Eucalyptus salicola) 4. Plains and valley floors. Eucalypts include: Salmon gum, Red Approved conservation advice – Eucalypt Woodlands of the Western Australian Wheatbelt 8 morrel, Gimlet, Merrit, Wandoo.

Salmon gum (Eucalyptus salmonophloia) The climate of the wheatbelt region is in a transition zone that varies from a wetter warm Mediterranean to dry semi-arid (WA CALM, 2002). Rainfall shows a pattern of higher rainfall from late autumn through winter (Figure 2). Annual rainfall isohyets show a gradient of increasing aridity from south-west to north-east – i.e. with increasing distance inland from the coast and ranges. The wheatbelt region varies from about 600 mm/year rainfall closer to the coast to about 300 mm/year at its eastern edge. The agro-climatic classification system of Hutchinson et al. (2005) has been applied to IBRA bioregions across Australia. The WA wheatbelt region falls entirely within Category E ‘Warm seasonally wet/dry’, characterised by long, hot summers and mild winters with significant moisture limits on growth, and that broadly corresponds to a ‘Mediterranean’ climate. Two climate classes within this category apply to the wheatbelt:  E1 Classic ‘Mediterranean’ climate with peaks of growth in winter and spring. The Jarrah Forests bioregion and Katanning subregion (AVW01) fall into this class.  E2 ‘Mediterranean’ climate with drier, cooler winters and less growth than for E1. The Merredin (AVW02) and Western Mallee (MAL02) fall into this class. These classes of ‘Mediterranean’ climate also can be found on the Eyre Peninsula, south- eastern South Australia, northwestern Victoria and southern NSW, all of which are other areas of southern Australia with a significant proportion of eucalypt (and also mallee) woodlands. Climate data for five localities across the extent of the ecological community are summarised in Figure 2 (monthly rainfall) and Table 1 (temperatures). The climate of the region has become drier over recent decades - see Appendix C – Key threats for further detail.

Table 1. Mean maximum and minimum temperatures and annual rainfall for five localities across the WA wheatbelt. Based on data collected during the period 1981 to 2010.

Locality (IBRA) Mean summer Mean winter minimum Mean annual maximum temperature temperature rainfall (mm) (monthly range oC) (monthly range oC) Morawa (AVW01) 34.5 – 36.8 6.6 – 7.9 323.1 Northam (AVW02) 32.0 – 34.4 5.2 – 6.1 410.8 Merredin (AVW01) 31.7 – 33.9 5.5 – 6.7 321.4 Kojonup (JAF02) 27.3 – 29.5 5.8 - 6.4 474.7 Newdegate (MAL02) 29.1 – 30.7 4.0 – 5.0 342.6 Source: BoM (2014).

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Figure 2. Monthly rainfall (mm) for five localities across the WA wheatbelt. Data are means for the period 1981 to 2010. Morawa, Northam and Merredin are in the Avon Wheatbelt bioregion, Kojonup is in the eastern Jarrah Forests bioregion and Newdegate is in the Western Mallee subregion. A pattern of winter dominant rainfall is consistent for all localities.

80

60 Morawa Northam 40 Merredin Kojonup 20 Newdegate

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Source: BoM (2014).

2.3. Vegetative components The WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community is a woodland in which the trees typically are spaced and the canopy is relatively open. The understorey is highly variable in structure and composition. There can be localised variation in vegetation structure as a consequence of disturbance, for instance fire, or change in site characteristics that allows for gaps in tree canopy cover, a higher density of trees e.g. dense sapling regrowth, or change in the nature of the understorey. While many responses to disturbance may be temporary, some may persist for years before the typical woodland structure re-establishes. For instance, recovery from severe fires involving fire-sensitive eucalypts, such as gimlet or salmon gums that are killed by fire, requires many years, as disturbed woodlands need to pass through a cycle of seedling germination, sapling establishment and thinning, and tree maturity. Fire may induce a complete change in the type of vegetation, an example being the report by Hopkins and Robinson (1981) that a single fire converted eucalypt woodland into mallee heath, a situation that persisted for at least forty years. 2.3.1. Canopy layer The WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community has a tree canopy dominated by eucalypt species. French (2012) identified 158 species and subspecies of Eucalyptus that are present in the wheatbelt region3, of which about 50 species are entirely or mostly restricted to the wheatbelt. Eucalypts occur as a complex mosaic of species across the wheatbelt region, with the mix of species present at a particular site depending on inter-relationships among climate, soils, landform and hydrology.

3 French’s delineation of the wheatbelt is broader than the IBRA bioregions defined here, stretching from south of Kalbarri to Jerramungup, and east of the Darling Ranges to Southern Cross, so includes elements of the Geraldton Sandplain and Coolgardie bioregions.

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However, not all wheatbelt eucalypt species are characteristic of the ecological community. Some are excluded from the ecological community for one or more reasons, as follows.  Taxa that typically have a mallee growth form, and where these are a dominant component of the tree canopy. Examples include woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus sheathiana (ribbon-barked mallee) or E. flocktoniae subsp. flocktoniae (Flockton’s mallee) both of which are common throughout the wheatbelt.  Taxa limited to landscapes that are not part of the ecological community, for instance eucalypts that are restricted to granite outcrops, lateritic gravel hills and other rocky rises.  Taxa that have their main distribution outside the wheatbelt, so that occurrences in the wheatbelt represent only a minor part of their natural distribution. Examples include: - Eucalyptus camaldulensis subsp. arida (river red gum) that mostly occurs well north of the wheatbelt but extends into the northern area of the wheatbelt; - E. marginata (jarrah) that predominantly occurs on the Darling Range but extends downslope into the western wheatbelt sites, where it forms occasional dominant stands; - E. transcontinentalis (redwood) which is prominent in the Great Western Woodlands but is absent, or at best uncommon, in the wheatbelt. - Mallet species such as E. clivicola (green mallet), E. polita (Parker Range mallet), E. prolixa (square-fruited mallet) and E. vittata (ribbon-barked mallet) that have their main distribution either further south or east of the wheatbelt bioregions. The species that dominate or co-dominate4 the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community are based on the floristic classification of wheatbelt woodlands by Harvey and Keighery (2012) and are identified in Table 2a. This floristic classification is largely based on terrestrial and wetland vegetation surveys carried out as part of the Biodiversity Survey of the Western Australian Agricultural Zone by the (then) Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), from 1997 to 2001 funded by the Salinity Action Plan (SAP) (Gibson et al. 2004, Lyons et al. 2004) and the WWF Woodland Watch project surveys from 2000 to 2008, funded and organised though the WA Branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF 2001-2008). These species have a tree or mallet habit and many are considered iconic within the wheatbelt landscape; for instance, species such as Eucalyptus salmonophloia (salmon gum), E. loxophleba subsp. loxophleba (York gum), E. salubris (gimlet), E. wandoo (wandoo) and the mallet group of species. Some species were not recognised as a distinct community by Harvey and Keighery (2012). It is likely they were not present in the data then available. The following eucalypt species were added to Table 2a on the basis of advice received and information about their occurrence in French (2012).  Eucalyptus aequioperta (Welcome Hill gum). This species is widespread through the central-eastern wheatbelt and extends further east. It is superficially similar to other rough- barked eucalypts in the area: E. longicornis, E. melanoxylon and E. myriadena; and may be mistaken for them.  Eucalyptus goniocarpa (Lake King mallet). This species has a restricted distribution, limited to the Lake King district in the southeastern part of the wheatbelt.  Eucalyptus mimica (Newdegate mallet; hooded mallet). There are two subspecies of E. mimica, both of which are limited to the western Mallee subregion and have a restricted

4 Dominant generally refers to a species that is most prevalent within an ecological community and influences the biotic conditions of the community. Co-dominant generally refers to a situation where more than one species are of equivalent prevalence and influence in a community. For the tree canopy layer, the relevant measure is the tree canopy cover of individual canopy species. Dominance by a particular eucalypt species, therefore, implies this species has a higher tree canopy cover than the other tree canopy species present.

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distribution (French, 2012). The subspecies have priority 1 and 3 conservation status as poorly known taxa in WA. The distributions of many species in Table 2a are not restricted to the wheatbelt region but extend into adjacent bioregions. Where this occurs, they may be associated with other canopy and/or understorey species that are not typical of the wheatbelt and serve to distinguish the WA Wheatbelt Woodland from other vegetation types. Many other eucalypt species may be present in association with the key species, depending on location and local site influences, but do not occur as dominant or co-dominant species in the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community (Table 2b). In some instances, these associated species may occur as a lower subcanopy, particularly in the case of mallees. A mallee subcanopy may comprise one or more species, with those most likely to be present noted in Table 2b. Where the associated species occur individually or collectively as the dominant or co-dominant species, then this represents a different vegetation type to the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community. For instance a dominant cover of mallee species is properly regarded as a separate mallee woodland. Non-eucalypt species may extend into the tree canopy at some sites, for instance where eucalypt woodland intergrades with acacia or sheoak woodlands or shrublands. Non-eucalypt species that may be present in a tree canopy include: Acacia acuminata (jam) [which commonly co-occurs in a canopy with York gum], Allocasuarina huegeliana (rock sheoak) [which may co-occur in a canopy with York gum or wandoo], Callitris columellaris (white cypress pine), Casuarina obesa (swamp sheoak) and some of the larger Melaleuca species e.g. M. rhaphiophylla (swamp paperbark). Where these species become sufficiently abundant and tall to form a distinct and dominant tree canopy, then this represents a shift in vegetation type away from eucalypt woodlands to other, non-eucalypt woodlands or tall shrublands that are not part of the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community.

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Table 2. Tree canopy species of the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community. Within a given patch of the ecological community, one or more of these species are dominant or co- dominant. Note that some taxa may occur both as a tree or mallee form (see notes below Table 2b). 2a) Key eucalypt species. One or more of these species are dominant or co-dominant within a given patch of the ecological community. Scientific name Common name/s Eucalyptus accedens powder-bark; powder-bark wandoo Eucalyptus aequioperta Welcome Hill gum Eucalyptus alipes Hyden mallet Eucalyptus astringens subsp. astringens brown mallet Eucalyptus capillosa wheatbelt wandoo Eucalyptus densa subsp. densa narrow-leaved blue mallet Eucalyptus extensa yellow mallet Eucalyptus falcata silver mallet Eucalyptus gardneri subsp. gardneri blue mallet Eucalyptus goniocarpa Lake King mallet Eucalyptus kondininensis Kondinin blackbutt Eucalyptus longicornis red morrel Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba York gum Eucalyptus melanoxylon black morrel Eucalyptus mimica subsp. continens hooded mallet Eucalyptus mimica subsp. mimica Newdegate mallet Eucalyptus myriadena small-fruited gum; blackbutt Eucalyptus occidentalis flat-topped yate Eucalyptus ornata ornamental silver mallet; ornate mallet Eucalyptus recta Mt Yule silver mallet; Cadoux mallet Eucalyptus rudis subsp. rudis flooded gum Eucalyptus salicola salt gum; salt salmon gum Eucalyptus salmonophloia salmon gum Eucalyptus salubris gimlet Eucalyptus sargentii subsp. sargentii salt river gum Eucalyptus singularis ridge-top mallet Eucalyptus spathulata subsp. spathulata swamp mallet Eucalyptus spathulata subsp. salina Salt River mallet Eucalyptus urna merrit Eucalyptus wandoo subsp. pulverea wandoo Eucalyptus wandoo subsp. wandoo wandoo

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2b) Associated canopy species that may be present within the ecological community but are not dominant or co-dominant. The list is not comprehensive and presents the more common taxa encountered. Scientific name Common name/s Acacia acuminata jam Allocasuarina huegeliana rock sheoak Corymbia calophylla marri Eucalyptus annulata prickly-fruited mallee Eucalyptus arachnaea subsp. arachnaea black-stemmed mallee Eucalyptus arachnaea subsp. arrecta black-stemmed mallet Eucalyptus armillata flanged mallee Eucalyptus calycogona subsp. calycogona square-fruited mallee Eucalyptus camaldulensis subsp. arida river red gum Eucalyptus celastroides subsp. virella wheatbelt mallee Eucalyptus cylindriflora Goldfields white mallee Eucalyptus decipiens redheart; moit Eucalyptus drummondii Drummond's mallee Eucalyptus eremophila sand mallee Eucalyptus erythronema subsp. erythronema red-flowered mallee Eucalyptus erythronema subsp. inornata yellow-flowered mallee Eucalyptus eudesmioides Kalbarri mallee Eucalyptus flocktoniae subsp. flocktoniae Flockton's mallee Eucalyptus gittinsii subsp. illucida northern sandplain mallee Eucalyptus incrassata ridge-fruited mallee Eucalyptus kochii subsp. plenissima Trayning mallee Eucalyptus leptopoda subsp. leptopoda Merredin mallee; Tammin mallee Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. gratiae Lake Grace mallee Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. lissophloia smooth-barked York gum Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. supralaevis blackbutt York gum Eucalyptus macrocarpa mottlecah Eucalyptus marginata jarrah Eucalyptus moderata redwood mallee Eucalyptus obtusiflora Dongara mallee Eucalyptus olivina olive-leaved mallee Eucalyptus orthostemon diverse mallee Eucalyptus perangusta fine-leaved mallee Eucalyptus phaenophylla common southern mallee Eucalyptus phenax subsp. phenax white mallee Eucalyptus pileata capped mallee Eucalyptus platypus subsp. platypus moort Eucalyptus polita Parker Range mallet Eucalyptus sheathiana ribbon-barked mallee Eucalyptus sporadica Burngup mallee Eucalyptus subangusta subsp. subangusta grey mallee

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Eucalyptus tenera glazed mallee Eucalyptus tephroclada Holleton mallee Eucalyptus thamnoides brown mallee Eucalyptus transcontinentalis redwood Eucalyptus vegrandis Ongerup mallee; Cranbrook mallee Eucalyptus wubinensis Wubin mallee Eucalyptus yilgarnensis yorrel

Sources: Based on woodland floristic community descriptions in Harvey and Keighery (2012) supplemented by accompanying online factsheets (WA DEC, 2007-) and relevant descriptions from the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS). Scientific and common names follow those in French (2012) and WA Herbarium (1998-) and are current to August 2014.

Notes: Where tree and mallee forms are recognised as separate subspecies (e.g. York gum), only the ‘tree’ subspecies are included as key species in Table 2a. Where there is no taxonomic distinction between tree and mallee forms, the ecological community is present where the tree form of a key species occurs as a dominant component of the canopy or is co-dominant with other key species. In the case of E. arachnaea subsp. arrecta (black-stemmed mallet), it is presently not clear whether it truly has a mallet form or is a variant of the mallee E. arachnaea subsp arachnaea (French, 2012). Hence, both subspecies are included as associated canopy taxa in Table 2b.

2.3.2. Understorey (mid and ground) layers The understorey beneath the woodland tree canopy is highly variable in both structure and composition across the wheatbelt. Fox (2001) undertook comparative surveys of the understoreys beneath wandoo, salmon gum and York gum woodlands across the wheatbelt and into adjacent areas of the arid zone, and noted an extremely high degree of floristic variation below the tree canopy. More than half the plant species noted in her survey were only recorded at single sites and no two understoreys were more than 30% alike. Despite this variation, some general trends were apparent. Wandoo woodlands generally had a higher diversity of shrubs, with greater representation of the plant families Papillionaceae (peas), Proteaceae (hakeas, grevilleas, banksias) and Myrtaceae (tea-trees, bottle-brushes). Salmon and York gum woodlands tend to have more similar understoreys, in which Chenopodiaceae (saltbushes) and Asteraceae (daisies) are more prominent. These differences are partly related to soil differences and also to differences in water use and competitiveness for soil moisture by tree canopy species, which influences development of the understorey. The analysis carried out by Gibson et al. (2004) based on presence or absence of a species, not the relevant dominance, highlighted the similarity in the understorey of many sites which have a range of eucalypt tree species present and also considerable variation in understorey species present under the same tree species. For example, woodlands in the Western mallee subregion that are dominated by Eucalyptus longicornis, E. kondininensis or E. salmonophloia had chenopods as a common component of the understorey, with Sclerolaena diacantha and Atriplex vesicaria the most typical species, and generally lacking many of the herbs. However, the Eucalyptus salmonophloia, E. longicornis, E. occidentalis or E. astringens group, widespread in the central wheatbelt, generally lacks the chenopod understorey of the previous group. Harvey (2014) also found three E. salmonophloia sub communities based on understorey composition present in the wheatbelt. Two of these the differed from the ones found in the adjacent Coolgardie Bioregion (also known as the Great Western Woodlands) and one, dominated by Melaleuca pauperiflora, was transitional across both regions. Gibson et al. (2004) also identified a group of woodlands of Eucalyptus salubris, some E. salmonophloia having two subspecies of Melaleuca pauperiflora restricted to the Mallee bioregion.

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The subcommunities identified by Harvey and Keighery (2002) are partly based on the variability of understorey structure, in addition to other canopy species that commonly co-occur with the dominant tree species. The main understorey structures are outlined below, noting there is considerable diversity and variation in composition within each broad understorey structural category.  Bare to sparse understorey (e.g. under some mallet woodlands). The understorey is bare to mostly bare, with leaf litter and sparse to scattered shrubs, grasses and/or sedges.  Herbaceous understorey (e.g. under some York gum, wandoo or wheatbelt wandoo woodlands). The understorey comprises a ground layer of forbs and/or graminoids though a few, scattered shrubs may be present. Some sites are floristically diverse and herb-rich.  Scrub or heath understorey (e.g. under some York gum, salmon gum, wandoo woodlands). The understorey comprises a mixture of shrubs from several genera and species. The shrub layer can vary in height, from dwarf to tall, and in cover from open to dense. The nature of the scrub may be influenced by time since disturbance (e.g. fire or grazing), as well as site factors or proximity of adjacent shrublands from which shrubs may intrude into the woodlands. A ground layer of herbs and grasses is present to variable extent, typically being less developed as shrub cover increases, due to shading.  Chenopod-dominated (e.g. under some red morrel, salmon gum, Kondinin blackbutt woodlands). The understorey is a subset of the scrub category in which the prominent species present are saltbushes, bluebushes and related taxa. They include members of the genera Atriplex, Enchylaena, Maireana, Rhagodia and Sclerolaena. Other, non-chenopod shrubs and herbaceous species may be interspersed amongst the chenopod plants.  Thickets (e.g. under some red morrel, salmon gum, York gum woodlands). Some taller shrub species may form thickets beneath the tree canopy. This mainly applies to taller Melaleuca species, several of which may which form a tall, dense shrub layer, often in moist conditions. The species present in thickets include: Melaleuca pauperiflora, M. acuminata, M. uncinata group, M. lanceolata, M. sheathiana, M. adnata, M. cucullata and/or M. lateriflora. Tammar thickets which are characterised by Allocasuarina campestris and Melaleuca hamata or M. scalena also may occur beneath wandoo woodlands. A range of other shrub and ground layer species may occur among or below the thickets.  Saline areas (e.g. under some York gum, Salt River gum, salt salmon gum woodlands) The understorey flora includes a range of salt tolerant species that dominate the understorey in locations that are more saline. Some patches may have a cover of samphire (Tecticornia spp.). While some areas may be naturally saline, in many cases increased salinity has arisen as a consequence of disturbance and is now a major threat, as noted in Appendix C Threats. The highly biodiverse nature of the wheatbelt landscape, where the composition of plant species can vary markedly from patch to patch, means it is difficult to prepare a comprehensive list of plant species for the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community. However, a list of the key species based on the subcommunity descriptions of Harvey and Keighery (2012) plus corresponding NVIS descriptions has been collated at Table A1 of Appendix A.

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2.4. Faunal components Given its broad extent across south-western WA, and the highly diverse and complex nature of the vegetation, the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community provides habitat and resources to a large number of animal species (Bamford, 1995). One of the key and better-known faunal groups are woodland birds. Intact woodlands provide a haven for several bird guilds (Olsen et al., 2005) from ground-foragers that generally inhabit the lower understorey to birds of prey, nectar-feeders and large foliage gleaners that typically occupy parts of the tree canopy. The diversity of woodland canopy tree species and understorey structures that characterises the WA Wheatbelt Woodland community contributes to the diversity of the bird fauna. A list of bird species observed in the wheatbelt and likely to occur in the ecological community is at Table A2 of Appendix A. Iconic bird species that occur in the ecological community include the black cockatoos and the malleefowl. At least four species of black cockatoos occur in the wheatbelt, to some extent depending on the kinds of trees they prefer. Calyptorhynchus latirostris (Carnaby’s black cockatoo) extends furthest into the wheatbelt, where it forages in eucalypt woodlands and kwongkan heath, and nests in the hollows of large trees, primarily salmon gum and wandoo (Garnett et al., 2011). Calyptorhynchus baudinii (Baudin’s black cockatoo) and C. banksii naso (red-tailed black cockatoo (south-western)) both prefer the denser, wetter forests of jarrah, marri and karri but may extend into other woodlands, e.g. of wandoo or flooded gum, in parts of the wheatbelt near to the jarrah-marri forests. These three black cockatoo taxa are listed as threatened under national and Western Australian environmental legislation due to continued decline of populations and loss of habitat (Garnett et al., 2011; DoE, 2014c, d). The inland red- tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii samueli) also occurs in the north-eastern Wheatbelt in the vicinity of Wongan Hills, Merredin and Southern Cross. It nests in eucalypt woodlands, like the other species. Leipoa ocellata (malleefowl) typically inhabit low woodlands and shrublands dominated by mallee eucalypts but can also occur in other vegetation types where the soil is sandy and there is abundant litter for building nesting mounds, such as eucalypt woodlands dominated by wandoo, mallets, York gum and gimlet (DoE, 2014d). The malleefowl also is listed as threatened under national and Western Australian environmental legislation due to continued decline of populations and loss of habitat (Garnett et al., 2011; DoE, 2014c, d). The loss and degradation of woodlands, as well as other types of native vegetation, has led to a decline in the range and abundance of about two-thirds of the bird species in the wheatbelt (Burbidge and Gole, 2005). Passerine birds appear to be particularly affected with about 75% of taxa in decline. For instance, Ptilotula ornatus (yellow-plumed honeyeater) was formerly the most common honeyeater present in the woodlands and mallee of southwestern WA. It has since largely disappeared from the central wheatbelt, the most heavily cleared area, likely due to the loss of older trees that once provided an abundant source of nectar. Climacteris rufa (rufous treecreeper) also has contracted in range, away from the eastern wheatbelt, largely due to clearing of wandoo and powderbark wandoo woodlands (Brooker and Brooker, 2005). Even where it persists in the western wheatbelt, the declining quality of habitat is impacting on the reproductive success of this bird. Conversely, a few bird species appear to benefit from clearing and the provision of water and alternative food sources from agriculture (Burbidge and Gole, 2005). These include Corvus coronoides (Australian raven), Barnardius zonarius (Australian ringneck), Eolophus roseicapillus (galah), Cacatua sanguinea (little corella) and Ocyphaps lophotes (crested pigeon), some of which have colonised the cleared sites from other, more open areas within and

Approved conservation advice – Eucalypt woodlands of the WA wheatbelt 17 outside of the wheatbelt. Revegetation projects can contribute to recovery of the woodland bird fauna (Smith, 2010). However, higher diversity and abundances of birds occur where revegetation projects improve the quality of a site, not just the extent of native vegetation. For instance, by planting a mixture of plant species that have a range of habitat values, rather than monocultures of the key shrub or canopy plant species. The wheatbelt region provides, or provided, habitat for other terrestrial vertebrate species, including 19 frogs, 107 lizards, 33 snakes, nine bats and 49 other mammals (Burbidge et al., 2004). Some of these species may occupy vegetation types other than the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community. A systematic survey of the ground-dwelling vertebrates across the wheatbelt identified some landscape-level patterns (Burbidge et al., 2004). The highest levels of vertebrate species richness were evident in valley floors, where woodlands typically occur, while saline sites showed lowest vertebrate diversity. There were two distinct faunal assemblages, one concentrated in the more semi-arid northern and inland wheatbelt, while the second was centred on the wetter southern and south-eastern wheatbelt. A list of terrestrial vertebrate species other than birds is at Table A3 in Appendix A. Sixteen mammal species are now considered to be extinct, or locally extinct within the wheatbelt region, including Macrotis lagotis (bilby) which primarily declined as a consequence of fox predation, though habitat loss, trapping and baiting for rabbits also contributed to its loss (Abbott, 2001). Extinctions are discussed in more detail in Appendix D (see the assessment against Criterion 4). The invertebrate fauna of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community – and the wheatbelt region generally – are poorly known. It is also likely, however to show a high degree of endemism, given the complex and mosaic nature of soils and vegetation. The large number of endemic plant species and the low level of vertebrate pollinators implies a high degree of endemism for arthropod pollinators as a group. For instance, the many endemic orchid species are each pollinated by specific wasp species (Abensberg-Traun et al., 2000). The spider fauna is relatively well known. Surveys of ground –dwelling araneomorph spiders identified more than 700 species across the wheatbelt, with a marked diversity of species in the spider families: Salticidae (jumping spiders), Zodariidae (ant spiders), Theridiidae (cobweb weavers), Lycosidae (wolf spiders), Oonopidae (goblin spiders) and Lamponidae (white-tailed spiders) (Harvey et al., 2004). The survey for salticid spiders identified 121 taxa, of which 106 were undescribed, with high levels of local endemism (Guthrie and Waldock, 2004). Similarly, the survey of ground-dwelling zodariid spiders across the wheatbelt identified 117 taxa, of which a high proportion were short-range endemic species (Durrant, 2004). A characteristic and unique spider assemblage in the wheatbelt is the trapdoor and related spiders (Araneae: Mygalomorphae). Trapdoor spiders build distinctive burrows, sometimes with twiglines surrounding the burrow entrance, often in eucalypt woodlands. About 25% of species are endemic or near-endemic to the region (Abensperg-Traun et al., 2000), for instance, Kwonkan eboracum (Yorkrakine trapdoor spider) and Aganippe castellum (tree stem trapdoor spider). A number of species, including the two previously mentioned, are listed as threatened under Western Australian legislation (Anon., undated). One species, Idiosoma nigrum (shield- backed trapdoor spider) also is listed as a nationally vulnerable species under the EPBC Act.

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3. GUIDANCE FOR DETERMINING WHEN THE WA WHEATBELT WOODLANDS ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY PROTECTED UNDER THE EPBC ACT IS PRESENT 3.1. Introduction National listings complement State vegetation laws by enhancing the protection of those components of Australia’s biodiversity most at risk of extinction. With regards to ecological communities, national listings focus legal protection on patches that remain in relatively good condition, and retain their natural composition and ecological function to a large degree. The WA Wheatbelt Woodlands exhibits considerable local variation in its natural floristic composition, as well as varying degrees of disturbance and degradation that have influenced the quality of a patch. Notably, the ecological community occurs in the most heavily cleared and modified landscape of Western Australia. Both the natural variation and influence of degradation have been taken into account in developing the key diagnostic characteristics and condition thresholds for the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands. The key diagnostic characteristics summarise the main features that characterise the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands and are intended to help people identify when the ecological community is likely to be present, noting that a broader description is provided above. Condition categories recognise that patches of an ecological community can differ in their quality, and that some patches have undergone sufficient degradation. Condition thresholds provide guidance on when a patch of an ecological community retains sufficient conservation values to be considered a ‘Matter of National Environmental Significance’, as defined under the EPBC Act. Patches that do not meet the minimum condition thresholds, therefore, are excluded from full national protection, and this effectively means that the referral, assessment and compliance provisions of the EPBC Act are focussed on the most valuable elements of the ecological community. Although very degraded or modified patches of an ecological community are not protected under the EPBC Act, it is recognised that some patches can still retain some important natural values that may be crucial for certain species or habitats. Such sites may also be protected through State and local laws or schemes. Therefore, these patches should not be excluded from recovery and other management actions. Suitable recovery and management actions may improve some of these patches to the point that they may be regarded as part of the ecological community fully protected under the EPBC Act. Management actions should, where feasible, also aim to restore patches to meet any high quality condition thresholds where these are outlined. For EPBC Act referral, assessment and compliance purposes, the national ecological community is limited to patches that meet the key diagnostic characteristics in section 3.2. PLUS the condition thresholds in section 3.3. The additional factors noted in section 3.4. and critical areas noted in section 3.5. also should be taken into consideration.

3.2. Key diagnostic characteristics for the ecological community A patch of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland must show the following key diagnostic characteristics:  The distribution of the ecological community is limited to these IBRA bioregions and subregions: o Avon Wheatbelt - subregions AVW01 Merredin and AVW02 Katanning; o Mallee - MAL02 Western Mallee only; and o Jarrah Forest – outlying patches in the eastern parts of JAF01 Northern Jarrah Forests and JAF02 Jarrah Forests adjacent to the Avon Wheatbelt, that are off the Darling Range, and receive less than 600 mm mean annual rainfall. They are effectively an extension of the

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Avon Wheatbelt landscape in that they comprise areas subject to similar climate, landscape and threats.  The structure of the ecological community is a woodland in which the minimum crown cover of the tree canopy in a mature woodland is 10% (crowns measured as if they are opaque). Notes: The maximum tree canopy cover usually is up to 40%. It may be higher in certain circumstances, for instance: trees with a mallet growth form may be more densely spaced; or disturbances such as fire may result in an increased cover of canopy species during regeneration. Recent disturbances, such as fire, may cause the loss of a mature tree canopy and a shift to a different, regenerative state for a woodland. Under these circumstances, the loss of a tree canopy is likely to be a temporary phenomenon, if natural regeneration is not interrupted. There should be evidence that: (1) the key eucalypt species typical of the ecological community were formerly present at a site by the presence of stumps, logs, photos, past surveys/knowledge; and (2) that the tree canopy will regenerate from seedlings, saplings or epicormic regrowth. Some wheatbelt woodland eucalypts, including the mallets, gimlet and salmon gum, are killed by fire and regenerate from seeds only, so it may take decades for a mature woodland structure to re-establish (Gosper et al, 2013a). This temporary regenerative state is included as part of the ecological community where seedling and sapling eucalypts are clearly present and the other diagnostic features and condition thresholds are met.  The key species of the tree canopy are species of Eucalyptus as identified in Table 2a, above. These are species that typically have a single trunk. o One or more of the tree species in Table 2a are dominant or co-dominant within a patch of the ecological community. If other species are present in the tree canopy (e.g. species in Table 2b or other taxa) then these collectively do not occur as dominants in the tree canopy. Note: Some woodlands may have a lower tree layer of mallee or non-eucalypt tree species. In this case, the upper tree canopy must comprise mainly of key woodland species in Table 2a and have an upper canopy cover of 10% or more. This helps distinguish woodland with a mallee subcanopy from true mallee communities which may have woodland trees as sparse or occasional emergents.  A native understorey is present but is of variable composition, being a combination of grasses, other herbs and shrubs, as specified in section 2.3.2 and in Table A1 of Appendix A. 3.2.1. Contra-indicators The presence of the following features in the vegetation indicates that the ecological community is not likely to be present.  A dominant presence of eucalypts with a mallee growth form. However, mallee species can occur as an understorey or minor canopy component of the ecological community, as noted in the diagnostic features, above.  A dominant presence of non-eucalypt species in the tree canopy, for instance Acacia acuminata (jam) or Allocasuarina huegeliana (rock sheoak). However, these non-eucalypt species can be present as an understorey or minor canopy component of the ecological community.  Shrublands or herblands in which the tree canopy layer is very sparse to absent, either naturally or maintained so through long-term disturbance. Native vegetation where a tree canopy was formerly present is often referred to as ‘derived’ or ‘secondary’ vegetation. These sites would fall below the 10 per cent minimum canopy cover threshold for a woodland, noted in the diagnostic features, above.  Woodlands that have the same key eucalypt species but occur in adjacent bioregions, notably the Coolgardie, Esperance Sandplains, Yalgloo and Geraldton Sandplains bioregions. These are not part of the national ecological community. All woodlands that occur in bioregions

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outside the wheatbelt, as defined in this conservation advice, are not part of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community.  Woodlands dominated by eucalypts that are restricted to granite outcrops and rocky rises, for instance Eucalyptus caesia (caesia or gungurru). However, some woodlands occur on the base around rock outcrops, but not on the actual outcrop, and these may be part of the ecological community, for instance York gum – jam woodlands. 3.2.2. General notes on the diagnostic characteristics of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland The distribution of the ecological community generally aligns with several landscape-level patterns.  The IBRA bioregional distribution of the ecological community is described in section 1b and under the key diagnostic features, above.  It generally falls within the 300 to 600 mm average annual rainfall isohyets. The isohyets based on the latest 30-year average between 1976 to 2005 are most applicable to the current climatic regime.  The ecological community mostly falls within the Transitional Rainfall biological province of Hopper and Gioia (2004) with only a minor proportion extending into adjacent biological provinces.  Most of the ecological community lies within the intensive land use zone of south-western WA (Shepherd et al., 2002). The agricultural clearing line presently (as of December 2014) demarcates the intensive and extensive land use zones. The extensive, largely uncleared vegetation east of the agricultural clearing line, is known as the Great Western Woodlands. The agricultural clearing line, the eastern boundaries for the Avon Wheatbelt and Mallee IBRA bioregions, and the eastern boundary for the Transitional Rainfall Province all generally occur in parallel (noting exceptions such as the Lake Hope district). Each of these could be used to delineate the eastern extent of the ecological community. However, the IBRA bioregional boundaries intrude least into the Great Western Woodlands, so focus on the cleared wheatbelt landscape in the intensive land use zone. IBRA boundaries also are generally well recognised as natural administrative boundaries. Based on these patterns, the distribution of the ecological community is most simply delineated as follows:  The boundary of the ecological community generally follows that of the Avon Wheatbelt bioregion and western Mallee IBRA subregion, except in the west where the ecological community intersects with the Jarrah Forest bioregion.  Within the Jarrah Forest bioregion, the ecological community occurs on landscapes that fall below the 600 mm isohyet, are off the Darling Range, associated with the Yilgarn Craton geology and are generally heavily cleared. This covers the eastern to southeastern-most parts of the bioregion. The southern boundary of the 600 mm isohyet roughly corresponds to Mount Barker, and extends east to intersect with the northwestern western edge of the Esperance Sandplains bioregion. The Esperance Sandplains boundary runs northwest to the Avon Wheatbelt along the western boundary of the Stirling Ranges. This captures the cleared area that is an extension of the intensive land use typical of the Avon Wheatbelt.

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3.3. Condition thresholds for the ecological community The WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community occurs in one of the most intensively cleared regions of Australia. Those woodland patches that remain are typically small, highly fragmented and have been disturbed to some extent. It is intended that the condition thresholds will exclude degraded patches from any requirement for protection, for instance:  isolated paddock trees on farms;  small or narrow stands of trees that serve as windbreaks or shelterbelts on farms and other properties; or  roadside and other woodland remnants that are too small and narrow, or where the tree canopy has become too patchy and discontinuous (effectively <10% cover), or the understorey has lost considerable elements of its native structure and diversity. In developing the condition thresholds for the ecological community the following considerations are acknowledged.  Large and intact patches are now relatively uncommon in this landscape.  Smaller patches that are otherwise relatively intact can still have conservation value, despite their size.  Only a small proportion of the ecological community is protected in formal conservation reserves.  Older, mature trees are particularly important for the variety of habitats and resources that large trees provide to species in the ecological community, particularly animals that require nest hollows.  Vegetation condition scales have been developed in WA. These may provide a useful basis for the condition thresholds recommended here for the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community. Two of the more widely known condition scales from WA include Keighery (1994) and the Roadside Conservation Committee of Western Australia (RCC, 2014), both of which are described in detail in Appendix B.

Where native vegetation meets the description and key diagnostic characteristics of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community, above, the condition thresholds and considerations in Table 3 apply.

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Table 3. Minimum condition for patches of the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community. For each category, both the weed cover and mature tree presence criteria must apply plus one of either patch size or patch width, depending on whether the patch is a roadside remnant or not. Cover of exotic plants (weeds) Mature trees 1 AND Minimum patch Minimum patch AND size (non-roadside width (roadsides patches)2 OR only) 3 Category A: Patches likely to correspond to a condition of Pristine / Excellent / Very good (Keighery, 1994) or a High RCV (RCC, 2014). Exotic plant species account for 0 to 30% of total vegetation cover in the Mature trees may be 2 hectares or more 5 metres or more understorey layers (i.e. below the present or absent. tree canopy). Category B: Patches likely to correspond to a condition of Good (Keighery, 1994) or a Medium-High RCV (RCC, 2014), AND retains important habitat features. Exotic plant species account for Mature trees are present more than 30, to 50% of total with at least 5 trees per 0.5 2 hectares or more 5 metres or more vegetation cover in the understorey ha. layers (i.e. below the tree canopy) Category C: Patches likely to correspond to a condition of Good (Keighery, 1994) or a Medium-High RCV (RCC, 2014). Exotic plant species account for Mature trees either absent more than 30, to 50% of total or less than 5 trees per 0.5 5 hectares or more 5 metres or more vegetation cover in the understorey ha are present. layers (i.e. below the tree canopy). Category D: Patches likely to correspond to a condition of Degraded to Good (Keighery, 1994) or a Medium-Low to Medium-High RCV (RCC, 2014) BUT retains important habitat features. Exotic plant species account for more Mature trees are present than 50 to 70% of total vegetation with at least 5 trees per 0.5 5 hectares or more 5 metres or more cover in the understorey layers (i.e. ha. below the tree canopy).

1 Mature trees have a diameter at breast height (dbh) of 30 cm or above. Trunk diameter varies among eucalypt species, for instance gimlet and mallets tend to have slender trunks (Gosper et al., 2013b).The dbh for mature trees aligns with the EPBC referral guidelines for the breeding habitat of threatened black cockatoo species (DSEWPaC, 2012). These note that, for salmon gum and wandoo trees, suitable nest hollows can develop in trees with a dbh of 30 cm or more. Note that larger trees may be killed by factors such as intense fire or flood but the patch may still be in reasonable condition if there are immature trees regenerating. 2 The minimum patch size thresholds apply to native vegetation remnants that do not occur along roadsides. 3 Minimum patch width applies only to vegetation remnants along roadsides and tend to be long but narrow. This criterion recognises the importance of native vegetation remnants along road verges, e.g their value as wildlife corridors particularly if linking to other non-roadside remnants, habitat for threatened species and other reasons as detailed by Jackson (2002) and RCC (2015). The width here is based on the native understorey component rather than width of the tree canopy. Some allowance must be made for small breaks or variations in native species cover along linear patches. Given the generally open nature of the tree canopy and some understorey structures, a break in the continuity of native vegetation cover of 50 metres or more, is likely to indicate that separate patches are present. An exception is for main, often bitumen-covered, roads that bisect otherwise continuous vegetation; most local government roads in the wheatbelt have a road reserve of 20 metres. In these cases, native vegetation along either side of the road is considered to be a separate patch.

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3.4. Further information to assist in determining the presence of the ecological community and significant impacts The following information should also be taken into consideration when applying the key diagnostic characteristics and condition thresholds to assess a site that may include the ecological community and determine the potential impacts on a patch. Landuse history will influence the state in which a patch of the ecological community is expressed. The surrounding vegetation will also influence how important a patch of the ecological community is in the broader landscape. Patch A patch is defined as a discrete and mostly continuous area of the ecological community. A patch may include small-scale variations and disturbances, such as tracks or breaks, watercourses/drainage lines or localised changes in vegetation that do not act as a permanent barrier or significantly alter its overall functionality. A large break in native vegetation cover, for instance a gap dominated by non-native weed or crop species, is considered to indicate that separate patches occur. See note 1 to Table 6 for further detail. Buffer zone A buffer zone is the area that lies immediately outside the edge of a patch but is not part of the ecological community. As the risk of damage to an ecological community is usually greater for actions close to a patch, the purpose of the buffer zone is to minimise this risk by guiding land managers to be aware when the ecological community is nearby and take extra care around the edge of patches. The recommended minimum buffer zone for the ecological community is 40 metres from the edge of a patch as determined from the outer edge of the tree canopy. The buffer takes into account that the roots of several WA woodland eucalypt species, e.g. salmon gum, can spread a considerable distance from the central trunk. Where a native understorey continues beyond the edge of a tree canopy, the 40 metre buffer zone beyond the canopy edge still applies. The understorey, at this distance from a tree canopy, may be considered a different structural form, not part of the ecological community but that may have separate conservation values of its own. A larger buffer zone may be applied, where practical, to protect patches that are of particularly high conservation value, or if patches are downslope of drainage lines, a source of eutrophication or other important hydrologic feature. The buffer zone is not part of the ecological community, so is advisory only. Where the buffer on a particular property is subject to existing land uses, such as cropping, ploughing, grazing, spraying, etc., they can continue. However, in the interests of protecting adjacent patches of the ecological community, it is requested that care be exercised in the buffer zone to minimise the risk of any significant adverse impacts extending into those patches. Ocktman and Holt (2005) provide some principles for establishing buffer zones for bushland in the agricultural zone. Revegetated areas Revegetated or replanted sites or areas of regrowth are not excluded from the listed ecological community so long as the patch meets the key diagnostic characteristics and condition thresholds above. Sampling protocols Thorough and representative on-ground surveys are essential to accurately assess the extent and condition of the ecological community. Sampling should begin with a quick reconnaissance to determine the key variations in vegetation, landscape qualities and management history (where possible) across the site. The site should then be thoroughly sampled on a representative basis for vegetation cover and plant species diversity. Sampling based upon an area of at least 10m x 10m, or an equivalently sized shape (i.e. 100 m² = 0.01 ha) would be suitable. Larger and more variable areas of vegetation will need more samples or quadrats to

Approved conservation advice – Eucalypt woodlands of the WA wheatbelt 24 assess a site accurately. Recording the sampling effort (identifying the number of person hours spend per plot across the patch, along with the surveyors’ level of expertise) is recommended for referral. Timing of surveys Whilst identifying the ecological community and its condition is possible at most times of the year, consideration must be given to the role that season and disturbance history may play in an assessment. For example, flowering may be necessary to identify shrub species; native herbaceous species may not be evident in summer, autumn, or particularly dry winter and spring seasons, and active growth will indicate population sizes of annual weeds. Immediately after a fire one or more vegetation layers, or groups of species (e.g. obligate seeders), may not be evident for a time. Timing of surveys should allow for a reasonable interval after a disturbance (natural or human-induced) to allow for regeneration of species to become evident, and be timed to enable diagnostic species to be identified. At a minimum, it is important to note climate conditions and what kind of disturbance may have happened within a patch, and when that disturbance occurred, as far as possible. Surrounding environment, landscape context and other significance considerations The condition thresholds outlined above do not necessarily represent the ideal state of the ecological community. Patches that are larger, more species rich and less disturbed are likely to provide greater biodiversity value. Additionally, patches that are spatially linked, whether ecologically or by proximity, are particularly important as wildlife habitat and to the viability of those patches of the ecological community into the future. Therefore, in the context of actions that may have ‘significant impacts’ and require approval under the EPBC Act, it is important to consider the environment surrounding patches that meet the condition thresholds. Some patches that meet the condition thresholds occur in isolation and require protection, as well as priority actions, to link them with other patches. Other patches that are interconnected to other native vegetation associations that may not, in their current state, meet the condition thresholds have additional conservation value. In these instances, the following indicators should be considered when assessing the impacts of actions or proposed actions under the EPBC Act, or when considering priorities for recovery, management and funding.  Large size and/or a large area to boundary ratio – patches with larger area/boundary ratios are less exposed and more resilient to edge effect disturbances such as weed invasion and human impacts.  However, patches may occur in areas where the ecological community has been most heavily cleared and degraded, or that are at the natural edge of its range, particularly due to genetic significance or absence of some threats.

 Good faunal habitat as indicated by patches containing diversity of landscape, diversity of plant species, diversity of post-disturbance age class, mature trees (particularly those with hollows), contribution to movement corridors, logs, natural rock outcrops, watercourses, etc.;  High species richness, as shown by the variety of native plant species, or high number of native fauna species.  Presence of listed threatened species or vegetation associations regarded as the most threatened elements of the ecological community’s range.  Areas of minimal weeds and feral animals or where these can be managed efficiently.

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 Evidence of recruitment of key native plant species (including through successful assisted regeneration or management of sites). It is acknowledged, however, that the recruitment of many species may not occur unless there is some disturbance, such as a fire or flood.  Patches that meet, or are closest to, any benchmarks of ecological quality. These may be based on on-site observations or known past management history.  Connectivity to other native vegetation patches or restoration works (e.g. native plantings). In particular, a patch in an important position between (or linking) other patches in the landscape.  Unique variants of the ecological community, e.g. with a unique flora and/or fauna composition. 3.5. Area critical to the survival of the ecological community The areas considered critical to the survival of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community covers all patches that meet the key diagnostic characteristics and condition thresholds for the ecological community, plus the buffer zones, particularly where this comprises surrounding native vegetation. This is because this ecological community occurs in a landscape that has been very heavily cleared and modified, and now exists as mostly very small and highly fragmented patches. Note that additional areas that do not meet the condition thresholds may still be important for the survival of the ecological community because they could retain some biodiversity or habitat values. It is also important to consider the surrounding environment and landscape context, as noted above in Section 3.4. Certain vegetation components of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community merit consideration as critical elements to protect. Three components are recognised as threatened in their own right under WA legislation and, as such, are priorities for protection. They are detailed in Section 4.2, below, and in Appendix B. 3.6. Corresponding vegetation / mapping units 3.6.1. Caveat Ecological communities are complex to classify. Each State/Territory jurisdiction applies its own system to classify ecological communities which can cause challenges when cross-referring amongst systems. They may also vary in accuracy to the on-the-ground situation, particularly if based on maps and modelling. Any reference to vegetation and mapping units as equivalent to a national ecological community, at the time of listing, should be taken as indicative rather than definitive. A unit that is generally equivalent may include elements that do not meet the description. Conversely, areas mapped or described as units other than those referred to may sometimes meet the description. Judgement of whether an EPBC-protected ecological community is present at a particular site should focus on how an area meets the description, particularly the key diagnostic characteristics for the national ecological community. 3.6.2. Western Australian vegetation units Western Australia has a comprehensive state-wide vegetation classification system, in addition to numerous regional and local surveys across the state. As the relevant vegetation data has been widely used for planning and reporting purposes, appropriate cross-references are presented here, as part of the vegetation description. Three available vegetation classification and survey datasets that include the Western Australian wheatbelt are most pertinent to the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands assessment.

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The first is the recent floristic classification of wheatbelt eucalypt woodlands by Harvey and Keighery (2012), supplemented by online information under the under the Wheatbelt NRM Baselining Project theme on the Department of Parks and Wildlife NatureMap website (WA DPaW (2007 -). Harvey and Keighery identified 29 communities based on the key woodland eucalypt species present in the tree canopy (Table 4), though acknowledged that some woodland patches comprise an assemblage of canopy species where no clear dominant is evident. They further recognised 62 sub-communities based on associated tree species that are present and/or understorey structure. The woodland classification was largely limited to eucalypt species with a single trunk and did not comprehensively cover vegetation dominated by mallee and non- eucalypt woodland species. Some of the 29 communities identified are excluded from the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands, as shown in Table 4. Two communities represent woodlands that mostly occur outside the wheatbelt: Eucalyptus marginata (Jarrah) Woodland is more extensive on the Darling Range, well within the Jarrah Forests bioregion; and Eucalyptus polita (Parker Range Mallet) Woodland mostly occurs in the western Goldfields, east of the Avon Wheatbelt bioregion (French, 2012). Two other communities, E. moderata (Redwood Mallee) Woodland and E. yilgarnensis (Yorrell) Woodland are excluded on the basis that these species are more generally regarded as mallees (DPaW, 1998-). Eucalyptus moderata is often a common component of mallee woodlands (French, 2012); All these eucalypt species occur in the wheatbelt and may even be part of the ecological community where they are not dominant but occur in association with other character eucalypt species that dominate the patch.

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Table 4. Woodland floristic communities identified by Harvey and Keighery (2012). Woodland floristic community No. sub-communities Likely to be part of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community Eucalyptus accedens (Powderbark Wandoo) Woodland 1 Eucalyptus alipes (Mallet) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus argyphea [now E. falcata] (Silver Mallet) Woodland 2 Eucalyptus astringens (Brown Mallet) Woodland 5 Eucalyptus capillosa (Wheatbelt Wandoo) Woodland 2 Eucalyptus densa (Mallet) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus extensa (Mallet) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus gardneri (Blue Mallet) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus kondininensis (Kondinin Blackbutt) Woodland 2 Eucalyptus longicornis (Red Morrel) Woodland 10 Eucalyptus loxophleba (York Gum) Woodland 1 9 Eucalyptus melanoxylon (Black Morrel) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus myriadena (Blackbutt) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus occidentalis (Flat-topped Yate) Woodland 3 Eucalyptus ornata (Ornate Mallet) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus recta (Cadoux Mallet) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus rudis (Flooded Gum) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus salicola (Salt Salmon Gum) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus salmonophloia (Salmon Gum) Woodland 11 Eucalyptus salubris (Gimlet) Woodland 5 Eucalyptus sargentii (Salt River Gum) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus singularis (Mallet) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus spathulata (Swamp Mallet) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus urna (Merrit) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus wandoo (Wandoo) Woodland 12 Not part of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community 2 Eucalyptus marginata (Jarrah) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus moderata (Redwood Mallee) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus polita (Mallet) Woodland 0 Eucalyptus yilgarnensis (Yorrell) Woodland 0 1 Only stands dominated by subspecies loxophleba are included in the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community. Unlike most wheatbelt woodland trees, subspecies loxophleba can be multi-stemmed but is still considered a tree, rather than mallee. However, subspecies lissophloia and gratiae are recognised to have a mallee growth form, while subspecies supralaevis is limited to the far northern wheatbelt, extending into adjacent bioregions to the north and east. Stands dominated by the latter three subspecies are not part of the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community. 2 Excluded from the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community either because they represent woodland types that are more extensive outside the wheatbelt (E. marginata and E. polita), or the species more typically occur as a mallee growth form (E. moderata and E. yilgarnensis). Eucalyptus moderata is a mallee and the single- stemmed or tree form of E. yilgarnensis is uncommon (French 2012)..

The second dataset is the comprehensive state-wide vegetation classification developed by Beard at the 1:250 000 scale and, more recently, amalgamated to a broader 1:3,000,000 scale (Beard et al., 2013; DPaW, 2013 – see Appendix B for further detail). The extent values discussed below and presented in Table 4 were calculated using a remnant vegetation layer derived at a much finer scale (1:20,000) (WA DAF 2014). Beard’s vegetation mapping is at a regional scale and was not designed to be intersected by a fine scale remnant layer. Therefore, considerable further survey and ground truthing is needed.

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The WA Wheatbelt woodlands ecological community potentially corresponds to 45 Beard vegetation associations. The most likely equivalents are with the 37 associations that are dominant or unique within the wheatbelt regions. Table 5 lists all these associations, along with their subsequent classification under the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS). Woodland vegetation associations that originally had a very low representation in the wheatbelt, i.e. less than twenty percent of their total pre-European extent occurred in the wheatbelt, were disregarded. These vegetation associations are considered to represent intrusions of vegetation associations that are more typical of the surrounding bioregions into the wheatbelt. Twelve eucalypt woodland vegetation associations are considered to be part of the dominant associations of the wheatbelt (Table 5a). Each dominant vegetation association had an extensive pre-European extent of greater than 100 000 hectares and, collectively, accounted for at least 40% of the original pre-European extent of total native vegetation across the wheatbelt subregions. Thirty-four woodland vegetation associations considered unique to the wheatbelt region, i.e. had at least 85 percent of their original extent within the wheatbelt. Of these, nine also are dominant associations and 25 are not dominant. The latter collectively accounted for only a minor proportion of the original native vegetation, about three percent of the total original extent of native vegetation. Eight eucalypt woodland vegetation associations occur in the wheatbelt that are neither dominant or unique to the wheatbelt, but also cannot be disregarded as minor intrusions. They are, therefore, considered to potentially correspond with the ecological community. In some cases, more than 50 percent, (but less than 75 percent) of their total original extent occurred in wheatbelt bioregions (Table 5c). Again, these units collectively accounted for only a minor proportion of the total original vegetation across the wheatbelt. The third relevant data set is the vegetation mapping compiled as another component of the Wheatbelt NRMs Baselining project, a theme on the Department of Parks and Wildlife NatureMap website (WA DPAW 2007-). The Avon Native Vegetation Map (ANVM) layer represents the collation and digitising of over 450 vegetation maps for the Avon River Basin region which covers a large part of the Wheatbelt. Polygons that contained eucalypt tree species and the resulting descriptions were incorporated into the classification by Harvey and Keighery (2012). Further information on corresponding vegetation associations is presented in Appendix B.

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Table 5. Beard vegetation associations (VA) that correspond with the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community. Equivalent NVIS descriptions are shown, based on available level 6 (sub-association) descriptions. The estimated proportion of original extent present in the wheatbelt bioregions also are shown based on 2013 data. 5a) Eucalypt woodland vegetation associations that were formerly dominant1 within the wheatbelt bioregions. Beard Vegetation Association number and name Description under NVIS level 6 [sub-association] % of pre-European extent in wheatbelt3 Dominant and unique to the wheatbelt 7 - Medium woodland; York gum (E. loxophleba) & wandoo U1+ ^Eucalyptus loxophleba, Eucalyptus wandoo \^tree\7\i 80.42 131 - Mosaic: Medium woodland; salmon gum & gimlet / Shrublands; U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia \^tree\7\i; 100.0 mallee scrub, redwood & black marlock U2 Eucalyptus salubris \tree\6\i M1 Eucalyptus moderata, Eucalyptus phaenophylla \^mallee\5\i 142 - Medium woodland; York gum & salmon gum U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia \^tree\7\i; 82.48 U2 Eucalyptus loxophleba \tree\7\i 352 - Medium woodland; York gum U1+ ^Eucalyptus loxophleba, Allocasuarina huegeliana \^tree\7\i 87.48 945 - Mosaic: Medium woodland; salmon gum / Shrublands; mallee U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia \^tree\7\i 100.0 scrub, redwood & black marlock M1 Eucalyptus moderata, E. phaenophylla \^mallee\5\i 1023 - Medium woodland; York gum, wandoo & salmon gum (E. U1+ ^Eucalyptus capillosa, Eucalyptus salmonophloia, Eucalyptus loxophleba 99.07 salmonophloia) \^tree\7\i 1049 - Medium woodland; wandoo, York gum, salmon gum, morrel & U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia, Eucalyptus longicornis, Eucalyptus capillosa 100.0 gimlet \^tree\7\i; U2 Eucalyptus salubris, Eucalyptus loxophleba \tree\6\i 1057 - Mosaic: Shrublands; Medium woodland; salmon gum & gimlet / U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia \^tree\7\i; 100.0 York gum & Eucalyptus sheathiana mallee scrub U2 Eucalyptus salubris \tree\7\i M1+Eucalyptus loxophleba,+Eucalyptus sheathiana \mallee\5\i 1200 - Mosaic: Medium woodland; salmon gum & morrel / U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia, Eucalyptus longicornis \^tree\7\i 100.0 Shrublands; mallee scrub Eucalyptus eremophila & black marlock (E. M1 +Eucalyptus eremophila,+Eucalyptus phaenophylla .\mallee\5\i redunca) Dominant but NOT unique to the wheatbelt 8 - Medium woodland; salmon gum & gimlet U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia\^tree\7\i; 57.28 U2 Eucalyptus salubris\tree\6\i 141 - Medium woodland; York gum, salmon gum & gimlet U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia \^tree\7\i; 21.64 U2 Eucalyptus loxophleba, Eucalyptus salubris \tree\6\i 511 - Medium woodland; salmon gum & morrel U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia, Eucalyptus longicornis \^tree\7\i 33.71

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5b) Eucalypt woodland vegetation associations that are not dominant but are unique2 within the wheatbelt bioregions. Beard Vegetation Association number and name NVIS level 6 description % of pre-European extent in wheatbelt3 5 - Medium woodland; wandoo & powderbark (E. accedens) U1+ ^Eucalyptus wandoo, Eucalyptus accedens \^tree\7\i 36.90 [100.0] 145 - Mosaic: Medium woodland; York gum & salmon gum / U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia \^tree\7\i; 100.0 Shrublands; thicket, acacia-casuarina-melaleuca alliance U2 Eucalyptus loxophleba\tree\6\i M1 Acacia spp., Melaleuca spp., Allocasuraina spp. \shrub\3\c 494 - Medium woodland; salmon gum mixed with merrit & desert U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia \^tree\7\i; 100.0 bloodwood (Eucalyptus sp.) U2 Eucalyptus flocktoniae, Eucalyptus sp.\tree\6\i 536 - Medium woodland; morrel & rough fruited mallee (E. corrugata) U1+ ^Eucalyptus longicornis \^tree\7\i; 84.77 U2 Eucalyptus corrugata \tree mallee\6\i 939 - Succulent steppe with woodland; York gum, sparse tea-tree scrub U1+ ^Eucalyptus loxophleba \^tree\6\i 100.0 & samphire M Melaleuca sp. \shrub\4\i G Halosarcia spp. \samphire\2\c 946 - Medium woodland; wandoo U1+ ^Eucalyptus wandoo \^tree\7\i 81.37 947 - Medium woodland; powderbark & mallet U1+ ^Eucalyptus accedens, Eucalyptus sp. \^tree\7\i 99.95 948 - Medium woodland; York gum & river gum U1+ ^Eucalyptus loxophleba, Eucalyptus rudis \^tree\7\i 100.0 962 - Medium woodland; mallet (E. astringens) U1+ Eucalyptus astringens \ tree \7\i 100.0 963 - Medium woodland; yate & paperbark (Melaleuca spp.) U1+ ^Eucalyptus occidentalis \^tree\7\i 66.19 [100.0] M Melaleuca sp. \^shrub\4\i 967 - Medium woodland; wandoo & yate U1+ ^Eucalyptus wandoo, Eucalyptus occidentalis \^tree\7\i 78.30 [92.34] 974 - Medium woodland; York gum, salmon gum & morrel U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia, Eucalyptus longicornis \^tree\7\i; 100.0 U2 Eucalyptus loxophleba \tree\7\i 981 - Medium woodland; wandoo,York gum & yate U1+ ^Eucalyptus wandoo, Eucalyptus occidentalis \^tree\7\i; 100.0 U2 Eucalyptus loxophleba \tree\7\i 993 - Medium woodland; York gum & Allocasuarina huegeliana U1+ ^Eucalyptus loxophleba, ^Allocasuarina huegeliana \^tree\7\i 100.0 1025 - Mosaic: Medium woodland; York gum, salmon gum & morrel / U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia, Eucalyptus longicornis \^tree\7\i; 100.0 Succulent steppe; saltbush & samphire U2 Eucalyptus loxophleba \tree\7\i G1+Atriplex sp., Halosarcia sp.\chenopod, samphire \2\i 1059 - Mosaic: Medium woodland; salmon gum & gimlet/Shrublands; U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia \^tree\7\i; 100.0 mallee Eucalyptus longicornis & E. sheathiana scrub U2 Eucalyptus salubris \tree\6\i M1+Eucalyptus sheathiana, +Eucalyptus sp.\mallee \5\i 1065 - Mosaic: Shrublands; Medium woodland; wandoo & gimlet / U1+ ^Eucalyptus capillosa \^tree\7\i; 100.0 York gum & Eucalyptus sheathiana mallee scrub U2 Eucalyptus salubris \tree\6\i

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Beard Vegetation Association number and name NVIS level 6 description % of pre-European extent in wheatbelt3 M1+Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. lissophloia, +Eucalyptus sheathiana \mallee\5\i

1073 - Medium woodland; wandoo & mallet U1+ ^Eucalyptus wandoo, Eucalyptus sp. \^tree\7\i 76.34 [97.24]

1085 - Medium woodland; wandoo & blue mallet (E. gardneri) U1+Eucalyptus wandoo, +Eucalyptus gardneri \ tree\7\i 100.0

1087 - Medium woodland; wandoo, morrel & blue mallet U1+ ^Eucalyptus wandoo, Eucalyptus longicornis, Eucalyptus gardneri \^tree\7\i 100.0 1088 - Medium woodland; mallet & blue mallet U1+ ^Eucalyptus gardneri, Eucalyptus astringens \^tree\7\i 100.0 1092 - Medium woodland; wandoo, York gum & morrel U1+Eucalyptus wandoo,+Eucalyptus longicornis\tree\7\i; 100.0 U2 Eucalyptus loxophleba\tree\7\i 1094 - Mosaic: Medium woodland; York gum & salmon gum / U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia \^tree\7\i; 100.0 Shrublands; mallee scrub Eucalyptus eremophila & black marlock U2 Eucalyptus loxophleba \tree\7\i M1 +Eucalyptus eremophila, +Eucalyptus phaenophylla \mallee\5\i 1095 - Medium woodland; York gum, yate & salmon gum U1+ ^Eucalyptus occidentalis, Eucalyptus salmonophloia \^tree\7\i 100.0 U2 Eucalyptus loxophleba \tree\7\i 1967 - Medium woodland; wandoo, yate & river gum U1+ ^Eucalyptus wandoo, Eucalyptus occidentalis, Eucalyptus rudis \^tree\7\i 98.93

5c) Minor eucalypt woodland vegetation associations that are neither dominant or unique to the wheatbelt, but have at least 20% of their original extent present within wheatbelt bioregions. Beard Vegetation Association number and name NVIS level 6 description % of pre-European extent in wheatbelt 13 - Medium open woodland; wandoo U+ ^Eucalyptus wandoo,^Eucalyptus salmonophloia, Eucalyptus 60.88 occidentalis\^tree\7\i 686 - Medium woodland; York gum & red U1+ ^Eucalyptus loxophleba, Eucalyptus sp. \^tree, tree mallee\7\i 67.00 Mallee 931 - Medium woodland; yate U1+ ^Eucalyptus occidentalis \^tree\7\i 30.51

938 - Medium woodland; York gum & yate U1 Eucalyptus occidentalis \tree\7\r; 46.31 U2+ ^Eucalyptus loxophleba \^tree\6\i 941 - Mosaic: Medium woodland; salmon gum & morrel /Shrublands; U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia, Eucalyptus longicornis \^tree\7\i 68.40 mallee scrub, redwood M1+Eucalyptus moderata \mallee\5\i 1044 - Mosaic: Medium woodland; York gum & salmon gum / U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia \ ^tree\7\i; 56.22 Shrublands; Melaleuca thyoides thicket U2 Eucalyptus loxophleba \ tree\7\i

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M1+Melaleuca thyoides\shrub \4\c

1067 - Medium woodland; salmon gum, morrel, gimlet & rough U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia, Eucalyptus longicornis \ ^tree\7\i; 39.47 fruited mallee U2 Eucalyptus salubris, Eucalyptus corrugata \ tree, tree mallee\6\i 1068 - Medium woodland; salmon gum, morrel, gimlet & Eucalyptus U1+ ^Eucalyptus salmonophloia, Eucalyptus longicornis \^tree\7\i; 27.86 sheathiana U2 Eucalyptus salubris, Eucalyptus sheathiana \tree, tree mallee\6\i Source: Data on extent calculated from DPaW (2013). Notes to Table 6: 1 Definition of term follows that of DPaW (2014). Dominant refers to VAs that together occupied 85% of the pre-European vegetation extent in the three wheatbelt subregions, determined by rankings of pre-European extent [most to least extensive] for all wheatbelt VAs, based on data from DPaW (2013). 2 Definition of term is based on that of DPaW (2014), who defined ‘unique’ as individual VAs that had at least 85% of their total pre-European extent in a given subregion. For the purposes of this assessment, the threshold has been modified to include VAs that had 75 % or more of their original extent across the collective wheatbelt subregions. Percentages calculated from data in DPaW (2013). Some vegetation associations may be considered unique if outlier woodlands in the south-eastern part of the Jarrah Forests bioregion, adjacent to the Avon Wheatbelt, are taken into account. A revised percentage of original extent that includes outlying remnants is presented in square brackets for these units. 3 Wheatbelt generally refers to the three IBRA subregions AVW01 Merredin, AVW02 Katanning and MAL02 Western Mallee. Outlying patches may occur in the south-eastern part of the Jarrah Forests bioregion.

Legend to symbols in NVIS descriptions: ^ identifies the dominant species and growth form in each vegetation layer. + identifies the dominant vegetation layer among Upper (U), Middle (M) and Ground (G) layers. These may be divided into taller and lower levels. \Numbers\ refer to height classes; in the case of trees \7\ refers to a height of 10-30 metres and \6\ to <10 metres. \Letters\ refer to cover characteristics for each stratum; \i\ refers to foliage cover of 10-30% and \r\ to foliage cover of <10%. Where there is an upper stratum of trees, they correspond to woodland and open woodland structural formation classes, respectively.

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4. NATIONAL CONTEXT AND EXISTING PROTECTION Prior to European settlement, the ecological community occurred extensively across the Western Australian wheatbelt, as indicated by the distribution of Major Vegetation Group 5 Eucalypt Woodlands (DEWR, 2007). The Avon Wheatbelt bioregion is one of the most heavily cleared landscapes of Australia with at least 85% of native vegetation currently estimated to be lost. The other bioregions that, in part, comprise the wheatbelt, as defined here, are relatively less cleared: both the Mallee and Jarrah Forest bioregions have lost about 46% of their original native vegetation. This is due to the retention of extensive jarrah forests and woodlands across the Darling Ranges in the JAF bioregion, and the semi-arid to arid mallee and other woodlands that are part of the Great Western Woodland in the Eastern Mallee subregion. The ecological communities in these largely uncleared areas fall outside the definition of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community. The Central and Eastern Avon Wheatbelt is regarded as one of Australia’s fifteen national biodiversity hotspots. The entire Southwest Australia Ecoregion, which includes the wheatbelt woodlands, is identified as Australia’s only international biodiversity hotspot due to the rich diversity and high endemism of species that occur there. Given the extensive range of the WA Wheatbelt Woodland, the megadiversity of this region and the high degree of threat, the ecological community intersects with other matters of national environmental significance. Notably, more than 80 native plants and animals that occur in the WA Wheatbelt Woodland are listed as nationally threatened species under the EPBC Act. Details of these are provided in Appendix B. 4.1. Land tenure Land tenure information is available generally, and also for lands on which native vegetation remnants remain (DPaW, 2014; Figure 3). Given eucalypt woodlands were a dominant component of the vegetation of the wheatbelt, it is presumed that patterns of tenure distribution are broadly similar between total native vegetation and eucalypt woodlands in the key wheatbelt bioregions. The land tenure of the wheatbelt is mostly freehold. The remainder is generally other public lands with minor amounts allocated to conservation and leasehold. With regard to tenure of native vegetation remnants, it is mostly evenly split between freehold lands and other public lands not primarily managed for conservation. The remaining quarter of remnants occurs mostly on conservation tenure with a small proportion on leasehold land.

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Figure 3. Proportion of land by broad tenure class within key wheatbelt subregions (AVW01, AVW02 and MAL02). Numbers indicate percentage of total area by tenure category. a) Distribution of all lands, including cleared and developed sites, across different tenure classes. The total area covered is 13,498,825 hectares.

4.6%

11.3% DPaW-managed 3.3% (conservation) Other public lands

Leasehold

80.8% Freehold

b) Distribution of remaining native vegetation across different tenure classes. The total area covered is 3,254 507hectares.

16.4% DPaW - managed (conservation) 37.5% Other public lands

Leasehold

37.7% Freehold

8.5%

Source: (DPaW, 2014). A minor amount of land was unable to be allocated tenure and is not shown here. It amounts to 37 ha or <0.01% of the total. The data for a) All lands were broken into more detailed categories but appropriately grouped to enable comparison between pie graphs. In particular, ‘Other public lands’ groups the categories for: unallocated crown lands; other crown reserves; Commonwealth lands; and other public lands (roads and water bodies). ‘DPaW-managed (conservation)’ groups these categories: Conservation reserves (IUCN I-VI); proposed conservation reserves; other lands managed by WA DPaW; and for a) includes State forest/timber reserves. Plantations are excluded as native vegetation remnants, hence are excluded in b).

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4.2. Threatened ecological communities recognised in WA The following ecological communities are recognised in WA as a threatened ecological community or priority ecological community for conservation. Each community may include particular elements of the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands and are listed in order of conservation and priority status. Further details on these are provided in Appendix B. Note that the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands, as nominated, is regarded as a Priority 3(iii) ecological community.  Brown mallet (Eucalyptus astringens) communities in the western Wheatbelt on alluvial flats (Priority 1).  Red Morrel woodland of the Wheatbelt (Priority 1).  Yate (Eucalyptus occidentalis) dominated alluvial claypans of the Jingalup soil system (Priority 2). 4.3. Level of protection in formal reserves The wheatbelt bioregions generally have very low levels of conservation tenure, as determined by estimates of terrestrial protected area for relevant IBRA subregions (Table 6). Overall, less than five percent of the cumulative area of these bioregions is formally protected.

Table 6. Estimates of total area protected within IBRA subregions that form the main extent of the WA wheatbelt. IBRA subregion Total area (ha) Area protected (ha) % protected AVW01 6 524 175 220 570 3.38 AVW02 2 992 929 50 045 1.67 MAL02 3 981 720 398 447 10.01 Total 13 498 824 669 062 4.96 Source: DoE (2014a).

With regard to the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community, estimates collated by WA DPaW (2013) indicate that about 76 000 hectares, or eight percent of the total current extent of the ecological community is protected to some extent within formal conservation tenure. The variability in the extent of protection among vegetation associations is discussed further in Appendix B. There also are off-reserve conservation initiatives that complement protection in formal conservation reserves. These are undertaken by State government programmes or private conservation organisations that protect parcels of remnant native vegetation. The known extent of key off-reserve conservation initiatives in the wheatbelt are summarised in Table 7. They effectively add another 219 000 ha to the conservation estate, as of 2012. However, the nature of protection for some initiatives is not permanent. For instance properties may be deregistered from some programs when they are sold and change ownership, or a programme ceases.

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Table 7. Estimated area of the WA wheatbelt covered by key off-reserve conservation. Conservation initiative IBRA subregion Total (ha) AVW01 (ha) AVW02 (ha) MAL02 (ha) Private conservation organisations’ land 1 148 844 0 0 148 844 Nature conservation covenants 2 8 104 1 671 3 222 12 997 Land for Wildlife properties 3 88 766 16 461 8 283 113 510 Subregional total 4 190 720 17 709 10 763 219 192 Source: DPaW (2014) based on data collated for 2012. Notes: 1 Includes lands held by Bush Heritage, Greening Australia and Australian Wildlife Conservancy. 2 Includes covenant programs operated by DPaW and the National Trust of Australia. 3 This programme ceased to operate from 2015. 4 Subregional totals do not add up because some properties have more than one type of conservation initiative and overlaps are taken into account. Totals therefore represent the extent of land covered by one or more conservation initiatives.

Further details about the ecological community can be found at Appendix B – Additional information about the ecological community.

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5. SUMMARY OF KEY THREATS The key threats to the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community are ongoing and outlined below.  Clearance of native vegetation.  Loss of habitat for key native species.  Fragmentation into smaller, disconnected patches.  Weed invasion.  Impacts from pest animals.  Inappropriate application of chemicals, including inorganic fertilisers to create improved pastures; or pesticide/herbicide spray drift from agricultural lands adjacent to a patch.  Grazing pressure: including inappropriate grazing regimes by domestic stock and grazing of regrowth by native fauna.  Increased salinity and waterlogging of the landscape largely due to modification of the landscape and hydrology through overclearing.  Soil acidification.  Altered fire regimes, notably altered fire frequency, but also changes to fire intensity and season, such as occurs during prescribed burning. It covers both wildfires and prescribed burning.  Potential impact of plant diseases such as Phytophthora sp. on species diversity and structure.  Potential impacts of climate change, including altered fire and flooding regimes, decline in tree health due to prolonged drought and heat stress, and poor regeneration and recruitment. Further information about the threats to the ecological community can be found at Appendix C – Description of threats.

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6. SUMMARY OF ELIGIBILITY FOR LISTING AGAINST THE EPBC ACT CRITERIA. The full assessment against the EPBC Act listing criteria can be found at Appendix D - Detailed assessment of eligibility for listing against the EPBC Act criteria. Criterion 1 - Decline in geographic distribution The Committee notes that the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community has undergone a decline in extent of about 85 percent, possibly greater if heavily degraded sites that are included in the current figures were considered to no longer meet all the key diagnostic characteristics of the ecological community. The Committee considers the decline in geographic distribution of the ecological community to be severe. Therefore, the ecological community has been demonstrated to have met the relevant elements of Criterion 1 to make it eligible for listing as endangered. Criterion 2 - Restricted geographic distribution coupled with demonstrable threat The Committee notes that the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy for the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands are substantial and do not indicate a limited or restricted geographic distribution. The ecological community formerly occurred as extensive and connected areas of woodland across the entire wheatbelt region. It has since undergone intensive fragmentation to a degree that is consistent with a very restricted geographic distribution. The dominant component vegetation associations now mostly occur as remnants less than ten hectares – and in many cases less than one hectare - in size. The nature of this geographic distribution makes the ecological community susceptible to a number of threats (e.g. salinity, declining rainfall, tree death and lack of recruitment) that could cause it to lose its characteristic biota and function across its geographic range in the immediate future1. Therefore, the ecological community has been demonstrated to have met the relevant elements of Criterion 2 to make it eligible for listing as critically endangered. Criterion 3 - Loss or decline of functionally important species The Committee concludes that the loss or decline of functionally important species either cannot be demonstrated or is unknown due to data deficiencies about the biology of most species. Therefore, the Committee considers the ecological community is not eligible for listing in any category under this criterion. Criterion 4 - Reduction in community integrity The Committee noted there is information indicating a reduction in community integrity for the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community.  Existing patches of the ecological community are typically small and show a high degree of fragmentation and disconnection across a heavily modified landscape. For instance, most roadside remnants occur as narrow, linear fragments that are less than 5 metres wide. The adjoining land use of many roadside remnants predominantly involves cleared agricultural or other modified land uses.  Many remnants are heavily impacted by weed invasion, including highly invasive environmental weeds.

1 Immediate future is defined in the Committee’s guidelines on nominating and assessing ecological communities to be within the next ten years or three generations of key long-lived species, in this case dominant eucalypt species.

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 Many patches of the ecological community, and native vegetation generally, across the wheatbelt exhibit a simplified vegetation structure, loss of native species diversity and decline in habitat features/quality such as presence of hollows, logs and flowering shrubs.  Overall, the roadside conservation status of roadside vegetation remnants indicates a significant degree of loss of integrity for eucalypt woodlands across the wheatbelt. Therefore, a combination of impacts has reduced the integrity of the ecological community across its range. Restoration of the ecological community is unlikely to be reasonably applied at the landscape level in the immediate future. The Committee considers that the change in integrity experienced by the ecological community is very severe and regeneration (in terms of restoring structural complexity, functionality and above-ground biodiversity) across the extent of the ecological community is unlikely in the immediate future. Therefore, the ecological community is eligible for listing as critically endangered under this criterion. Criterion 5 - Rate of continuing detrimental change There are some quantitative data about clearing activities in the wheatbelt and changes in extent or condition for the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community over the immediate to recent past. While the available information about changes in extent does not demonstrate any substantial detrimental change, indicative information about changes in native vegetation quality shows there has been a decline in conservation status, native flora diversity and extent of native vegetation. This has been best documented for roadside remnants. This is consistent with a gradual erosion of vegetation condition across the wheatbelt over time. Therefore, the Committee considers the ecological community is eligible for listing as vulnerable under this criterion. Criterion 6 - Quantitative analysis showing probability of extinction There are no quantitative data available to assess this ecological community under this criterion. Therefore, it is not eligible for listing under this criterion.

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7. PRIORITY RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS The Conservation Objective (see section 1 above) provides the goal and rationale for the priority actions identified here. The objective is: “To mitigate the risk of extinction of the Eucalypt Woodlands of the WA Wheatbelt ecological community, and maintain its biodiversity and function, through the protections provided under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and through the implementation of priority conservation actions.” 7.1. Research and Monitoring Priorities The following research and monitoring priorities would help to better understand how the WA Wheatbelt Woodland ecological community works and how best to manage it. Outcomes from research would inform funding and conservation activities undertaken in the future.  Improve and update the mapping of woodland associations in the wheatbelt. Good quality boundary and condition mapping, and identification of high priority remnants is a top priority research action. Mapping and focus on woodland remnants with a high probability of not being subject to future adverse hydrological change including salinity, waterlogging and acidification will also assist in determining priorities for future recovery efforts.  What are the key ecological processes and abiotic requirements (e.g. soils, hydrology) that contribute to long term resilience and maintenance of the ecological community? What role(s) do disturbances such as fire or flooding have in maintaining the ecological community?  Which component eucalypt woodland types are more threatened than others? o What are their specific requirements for assisting recovery?  How does the ecological community respond to, and recover from, fire? o How does fire response vary among individual eucalypt species, different understorey structures, and different component woodland types? Hence, what are the optimal fire management regimes to maintain or recover structure?  What are the most appropriate restoration techniques to improve the diversity and quality of the understory at sites where it has declined? Review the effectiveness of techniques currently available. o Develop manuals or brochures to help land managers understand how to restore the ecological community. Although some recent information is presently available (e.g. Fry and Hobbs, 2014) there are some areas where guidance is currently lacking.  What factors and processes are necessary to encourage the establishment of seedlings to ensure long-term maintenance of the tree canopy, given woodland tree species are not regenerating at many sites?  What are the most cost-effective methods available to manage weeds and feral animals at a site or region? o How can these best be combined for an integrated pest management approach and with regard to any threat abatement plans?  Survey which patches meet the condition thresholds for the ecological community and where threatened or other regionally significant species are present. o Where are the most intact, higher quality remnants of the ecological community that remain? – in particular sites that are west of the agricultural line and outside of any formal conservation reserves. o Monitor changes in condition, including response to management actions at key sites.

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7.2. Priority recovery and threat abatement actions In framing these priority actions, it is noted that the wheatbelt is now a heavily cleared and modified landscape where the extensive loss of native perennial woody vegetation has lead to serious problems, including rising salinity, erosion and disrupted water tables. Implementing these priority actions and support from all levels of government, regional NRM groups, private landholders and other organisations is crucial to remedy these problems. Assessments of activities that involve likely significant impacts to the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community should incorporate the relevant actions, below, when determining any recommendations. When undertaking or monitoring these priority actions, the information outlined in Section 3.4. Further information to assist in determining the presence of the ecological community and significant impacts, should be taken into consideration. These are the most critical actions and highest priorities to protect and recover the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands. AVOID OR RESTRICT the following.  Further clearance and fragmentation of the ecological community, especially of: o High quality eucalypt woodland sites (as per the condition thresholds). Do not allow such patches to be further reduced below the size thresholds specificed in section 3.2. o Components identified as particularly threatened, such as threatened and priority ecological communities recognised in WA2; and o Woodland sites known to be habitat for threatened species or species that are uncommon in the relevant IBRA subregion or catchment.  With regard to any proposals involving offsets for such a complex and diverse ecological community as the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands, the aims should be to: o increase the area, condition and ecological function of the woodlands, e.g. by improving connectivity, diversity and other habitat values; o match sites as far as this is possible, for instance the same or similar type of woodland community/sub-community as per Harvey and Keighery (2012) or similar Beard vegetation association; o extend protection to otherwise unprotected sites. This may include sites that presently fall outside the condition criteria but can reasonably be restored to a better, more intact condition; and o manage and protect offset areas in perpetuity in areas dedicated for conservation purposes.

2 As identified at the date of this conservation advice and with due regard to any additional threatened items that may be identified or listed in the future.

Approved conservation advice – Eucalypt woodlands of the WA wheatbelt 42

 Introducing grazing to intact and high quality sites of the ecological community, at least those that occur west of the agricultural clearing line. Consider opportunities to reduce existing grazing pressure, e.g. through fencing.  Extensive disturbances to native vegetation, hydrology or soil structures in and around the ecological community, especially in landscapes prone to erosion, salinity and waterlogging. For instance, apply buffer zones as per Section 3.4, control run-off and avoid significant hydrological changes and eutrophication by minimising impacts from developments and activities in and around the ecological community.  Removal of large trees that have hollows, regardless of whether trees are living or dead. SUPPORT the following, wherever possible.  Revegetate degraded patches of eucalypt woodland with appropriate native tree, shrub and ground layer species. Regularly monitor the plantings to determine the success of revegetation and adapt management techniques, as necessary.  Quick response to prevent new weed, disease or feral animal incursions identified in the wheatbelt, especially if they are likely to seriously impact upon woodlands. Use appropriate hygiene and management protocols to prevent or contain any invasive species or diseases, and aim to eradicate them. SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATE WITH agencies/groups and landholders about avoiding impacts and undertaking conservation activities.  Environmental projects operated through government agencies, conservation groups and other organisations. o Nature conservation covenant programmes. This is particularly important for larger patches that link areas of remnant native vegetation and create wildlife corridors or are habitat for threatened species. Covenant programmes also should consider recognising and protecting woodland remnants that were formerly part of the now ceased Land for Wildlife programme and are not protected by other existing covenants. o WA Government agencies responsible for surveying and managing roadside vegetation remnants. The Roadside Conservation Committee survey roadside native vegetation and identify high quality remnants through their Flora Roads programme. Main Roads WA, together with local government shires, are responsible for maintaining roads including management of the native vegetation along road verges.  Landholders, managers, and the public who have woodlands on their properties, so that they understand the values of retaining good quality woodland in the wheatbelt, and seek support for maintaining them.  Indigenous owners responsible for managing patches of the ecological community to ensure that Indigenous knowledge is included in management advice about woodlands.  Local fire brigades and agencies to engage their support if undertaking controlled burns and using fire to manage patches of the ecological community, where appropriate.  State agencies, local governments and other organisations responsible for approving developments and maintaining water, power, telecommunications and other amenities that may include patches of the ecological community.

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Additional actions and considerations that would help to protect and recover the WA Wheatbelt Woodland  Where there are likely to be potentially significant impacts to the ecological community, proposals should be explicit about the total and cumulative impacts of an activity. This is most relevant for activities planned to be undertaken in stages, or that comprise a series of related projects but are effectively one broader activity in terms of impacts. Examples include substantial road works undertaken in stages, or developments across successive lots.  Broader environmental and social benefits of conserving the ecological community, e.g. human health and wellbeing, should be taken into account, along with economic considerations.  Where fire is considered necessary, implement fire regimes appropriate to maintain the patch of vegetation affected. Take into account results from research plus Indigenous knowledge.  Ensure that fertiliser/chemical spray drift and off-target damage does not occur within or near to the ecological community.  Manage weeds, particularly during revegetation works or after disturbances to a site (e.g. burnt areas, roadworks), to maximise natural establishment of native species and minimise spread of weeds.  Do not plant (or spread) known or potential environmental weeds within or near the ecological community. Avoid potentially invasive species and select local native species when landscaping nearby.  Install significant vegetation markers or signage along roads to designate areas of high quality woodland or the presence of important populations of threatened species.  Develop education programmes and information products to help the public recognise the presence and importance of the ecological community. o Hold field days and planting projects to encourage community participation in restoration of the ecological community. o Prepare and distribute information products that help raise awareness about why these woodlands are important. These should also aim to help the public identify if the ecological community is likely to be present, as well as the legal responsibilities under the EPBC Act . 7.3. Existing plans/management prescriptions that are relevant to the ecological community These documents were current at the time of publishing. Please refer to the relevant agency’s website for any updated versions or new information that has been published. Fry, S and Hobbs, T (2014). Revegetation guide by soil type for the central and eastern wheatbelt. Australian Government Clean Energy Future Biodiversity fund in association with fifteen wheatbelt local government authorities. Available on the Internet at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxbBGvhNwSZPdGh3TWkzQUh1NWM/edit?usp=sharin g&pli=1 Gazey, C and Davies, S (2009). Soil acidity. A guide for WA farmers and consultants. Bulletin 4784. Department of Agriculture and Food, WA, Perth. Available on the Internet at: http://www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au/knowledge/soil-acidity-guide-wa-farmers-and-consultants

Jackson, K (2002). Assessing roadsides: a guide for rating conservation value. Roadside Conservation Committee, Bentley WA.

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Available on the Internet at: http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/conservation-management/off-road- conservation/rcc/assessing_roadsides.pdf Lamont, D (ed.) (2010). Handbook of environmental practice for road construction and maintenance works. Revised. Roadside Conservation Committee, Bentley WA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/conservation-management/off-road- conservation/rcc/rcc-handbook-environmental-practice_may10.pdf Main Roads Western Australia (2013). Environmental guideline: Vegetation placement within the road reserve. Document No. D12#157580. Available on the Internet at: https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Documents/Vegetation placement within the road reserve guideline.RCN-D12^23157580.DOCX Main Roads Western Australia (2015). Revegetation and landscaping. Document No: D14#67391. Available on the Internet at: https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/BuildingRoads/StandardsTechnical/RoadandTraffic Engineering/RoadsideItems/Pages/Revegetation-and-Landscaping.aspx

Ocktman, M and Holt, C (2005). Vegetation buffer zones. Farmnote 38/2000. Agriculture Western Australia Available on the Internet at: http://archive.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/lwe/vegt/rv/f03800.pdf RCC [Roadside Conservation Committee] (undated). Verge Notes – a roadside note for landholders. Factsheet. Roadside Conservation Committee Western Australia, Bentley WA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/conservation-management/off-road- conservation/rcc/A_roadside_note_for_landholders.PDF Shedley, E (2007). Fire and biodiversity guidelines for the Avon basin. Consultant report to the Avon Catchment Council and the Department of Environment and Conservation, August 2007. Available on the Internet at: http://www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au/sites/default/files/knowledge_hub/documents/FireandBio Divers-Print-6.2mb.pdf WAPC [Western Australian Planning Commission] (2011a). Wheatbelt land use planning strategy. Draft for public comment. Available on the Internet at: http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/Wheatbelt_land_use_planning_strategy_web .pdf WAPC (2011b). Wheatbelt regional profile. Background and context report to support the Wheatbelt land use planning strategy. Draft for public comment. Available on the Internet at: http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/wheatbelt_regional_profile_web.pdf WAPC (2014). Draft wheatbelt regional planning and infrastructure framework. Western Australian Planning Commission, Perth.

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Available on the Internet at: http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/Wheatbelt_Framework.pdf Wheatbelt NRM [Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management] (2013). Regional natural resource management strategy for the Avon River basin. Available on the Internet at: http://www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au/sites/default/files/basic_page/files/NRM%20Strategy%20 November%202014%20Web.pdf Wheatbelt NRM (2014). Strategic plan 2012-2015. Available on the Internet at: http://www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au/sites/default/files/basic_page/files/Strategic%20Plan%20 2012%20-2015.pdf

7.4. Recovery plan decision A recovery plan is not required for the WA Wheatbelt Woodlands ecological community and would not have a significant conservation benefit above existing information and mechanisms. Strategies, plans and other initiative are already available or under way. National listing will help to increase awareness that this landscape is heavily damaged and retaining native vegetation is important both for conservation and productivity. Listing will also lead to increased funding opportunities to support restoration initiatives.

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Garnett, O (2014). Historical rail lines in WA's wheatbelt close as CBH and Brookfield continue negotiations. ABC Rural – WA Country Hour news item, 1 July 2014. Available on the Internet at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-30/end-of-the-line-for-tier-three-rail-network/5560784 Accessed: June 2015.

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Jackson, K (2002). Assessing roadsides: a guide for rating conservation value. Roadside Conservation Committee Western Australia, Bentley WA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/conservation-management/off-road- conservation/rcc/assessing_roadsides.pdf Accessed: October 2014.

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Keighery, G, Halse, S and McKenzie, N (2001). Why wheatbelt valleys are valuable and vulnerable: The ecology of wheatbelt valleys and threats to their survival. In: McFarlane, D (Covenor) Dealing with salinity in wheatbelt valleys. Processes, prospects and practical options. Workshop papers. Available on the Internet at: http://www.water.wa.gov.au/PublicationStore/first/13841.pdf Accessed December, 2014.

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Pestsmart (2011). Feral pig (Sus scrofa). Factsheet. Invasive Animals CRC and Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra. Available on the Internet at: http://www.pestsmart.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/PSFS_feralpig.pdf Accessed June 2015.

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Prober, SM, Yuen, E, O’Connor, MH and Shultz, L (2013). Ngadju kala: Ngadju fire knowledge and contemporary fire management in the Great Western Woodlands. CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Floreat, WA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/conservation-management/off-road- conservation/gww/3513_CSIRO_Ngadju_Doc_A4_C_low.pdf Accessed April 2015.

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Stack, G, Willers, N, Fitzgerald, M and Brown, A (2006). Declared rare and poorly known flora largely restricted to the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu. Western Australian Wildlife Management Program No. 39. WA Department of Conservation and Land Management, Bentley WA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/plants-animals/threatened- species/recovery_plans/wildlife_management_plans/Wongan-Ballidu_Shire_WMP_39.pdf Accessed November 2014.

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WA DER (2015b). Environmental protection (clearing of native vegetation) regulations 2004. Website. WA DER, Perth. Available on the Internet at. http://www.der.wa.gov.au/our-work/legislative-review-regulatory-reforms/84-environmental- protection-clearing-of-native-vegetation-regulations-2004 Accessed June 2015.

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