November 2009
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COMMUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES Issue 11: November 2009 • Alpine Sphagnum Bogs In this issue: • Gippsland Red Gum Grassy Woodland and • The ecological community listing process Associated Grassland • Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania • Finalised Priority Assessment List • Northern and Southern Grasslands of • New listings Queensland and New South Wales • Alpine Sphagnum Bogs • Victorian Grassy Woodlands • Weeping Myall Woodlands • Weeping Myall Woodlands • Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania In this issue you’ll fi nd more detail on some of these ecological communities, including what they mean • New threatened species listed in 2009 for conservation outcomes. Articles on the others • Technical workshop will follow in the next issue. This issue also contains • Cumberland Plains Woodland updates on some of our current assessments, where you can go for more information on • News from Species Profi le and Threats threatened species and ecological communities, (SPRAT) team and the names of some of recently listed threatened species. From the Ecological Communities Section The ecological communities listing process 2009 has been a busy year for the Ecological The list of nationally threatened ecological Communities team! communities, along with nationally threatened species is updated annually via a public process The culmination of several assessments of that begins with a call for nominations. Each year prioritised nominations under Australia’s national the Environment Minister, with advice from the environmental law—the Environment Protection and Threatened Species Scientifi c Committee Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)— (the committee), sets a conservation theme for the has led to the Environment Minister announcing the annual nomination round to identify those areas listing of seven new ecological communities so far of Australia’s environment in greatest need of in 2009: protection. ISSN 1834-3481 ISSN © Commonwealth of Australia 2009 Photos: Bog pools on the northern Bogong High Plains (Arn Tolsma) Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) grassland (Tori Wright) Southern corroboree frog (Steve Wilson) | 1 Silver tussock grass (Poa labillardierei) grassland (Tori Wright) Communities for communities CS3indd.indd 1 25/11/2009 3:10:37 PM Once the committee has considered all valid Where to go for more information nominations, a Proposed Priority Assessment List The listing advice for each specifi c ecological (PPAL) of nominated communities is prepared. community is the defi nitive guide to determining Assessments are prioritised based on national whether a patch is part of the listed ecological signifi cance, level of threat, conservation status community. and effi cacy of existing protection measures. The listing advice includes a description and Based on this list, the minister establishes the species lists, and cross-refers to corresponding Finalised Priority Assessment List (FPAL) after state-listed communities and ecological vegetation considering the advice from the committee. Only classes to help identify where the ecological those ecological communities and species that community is present. It also specifi es condition are prioritised go through to assessment and thresholds that outline the minimum requirements consideration for the listing under the national for when a patch should be considered for referral environment law. under the national environment law. The listing follows an extensive assessment In addition, the conservation advice for the process. The assessment is a rigorous scientifi c ecological community outlines some priority actions investigation into the nominated community, which for its future conservation. includes consultation with stakeholders and the general public, and often a technical workshop Both of these documents, as well as a distribution involving experts on the ecological community. map for the ecological community can be accessed from: www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/ The resulting listing and conservation advice publiclookupcommunities.pl produced by the committee for each specifi c ecological community try to capture an accurate Select the Details link against each ecological description of the community, identify its major community of interest, then select View to download threats, and suggest priority actions to avoid or each document. minimise threats. These documents aim to help those who may have the ecological community on Ecological community policy statements their land or are otherwise affected by the listing to Informative brochures (policy statements) about identify it and manage it appropriately. each of the newly listed ecological communities are being developed. Finalised Priority Assessment List for threatened species, ecological communities Each policy statement aims to increase awareness, and key threatening processes explain the reasons for listing; provides advice on how to identify, assess and manage the ecological On 27 August 2009, the minister decided on the community; and highlights the implications of the Finalised Priority Assessment List for species, listing. ecological communities and key threatening processes that were nominated for listing under the national environment law, for the assessment period starting 1 October 2009. This list can be viewed at www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/ nominations-fpal.html Photos: Bog pools on the northern Bogong High Plains (Arn Tolsma) Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) grassland (Tori Wright) Southern corroboree frog (Steve Wilson) | 2 Silver tussock grass (Poa labillardierei) grassland (Tori Wright) Communities for communities CS3indd.indd 2 25/11/2009 3:10:55 PM These policy statements will be available The ecological community occurs in highly in electronic downloadable (PDF) at: fragmented, isolated pockets, in restricted areas www:environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/ of Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, and publiclookupcommunities.pl or contact the the Australian Capital Territory. Most (but not all) department to obtain a hard copy booklet. examples of the listed community are within national parks and other conservation areas. Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens The Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens ecological community was listed as endangered under the national environment law on 7 January 2009. On the basis of the available scientifi c evidence, the committee considered that the Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens ecological community eligible for listing as endangered, as it met the following criteria: Bog pools on the northern Bogong High Plains, looking towards 2) It has a restricted geographic distribution that is Mount Bogong, Victoria. Photo © Arn Tolsma under threat. The nature of its restricted distribution The Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens makes it likely that a threatening process could ecological community can usually be defi ned by cause it to be lost in the near future. the presence or absence of Sphagnum spp., even 3) The decline of functionally important species in though it is not always the dominant genus. The this ecological community is severe and that the ecological community contains several recognised restoration of the community to an intact or near- variants, changing in a predictable progression intact state is not likely to be possible in the near from the hillsides down to the valley fl oor. Bogs future are found in permanently wet areas, such as along 4) The reduction in integrity of the ecological streams, valley edges and valley fl oors, as well as community is severe across its range. on slopes where soils are waterlogged. The key to bog formation is a good supply of groundwater, The Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens and an impeded drainage system that keeps the ecological community is typically found in alpine, water table at or near the surface. Fens are semi- subalpine and montane environments. It is often permanent to permanent pools of water, typically (but not always) above the climatic treeline, which found in the wettest areas along watercourses or can vary depending on topography and local climate on valley fl oors. These conditions generally do not conditions at individual sites. This means that the favour the growth of some sphagnum species, so ecological community also occurs at sites with lower in these locations the listed community tends to be elevations, where local conditions and vegetation dominated by sedges. are equivalent to those of ‘true alpine’ sites. ‘Frost hollows’ and inverted treelines are common. Photos: Bog pools on the northern Bogong High Plains (Arn Tolsma) Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) grassland (Tori Wright) Southern corroboree frog (Steve Wilson) | 3 Silver tussock grass (Poa labillardierei) grassland (Tori Wright) Communities for communities CS3indd.indd 3 25/11/2009 3:10:58 PM Alpine vegetation is particularly susceptible to Listing the Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated change in general, and to more specifi c adverse Fens ecological community helps protect the critical impacts. This is partly due to the restricted growing ecosystem services it provides for major inland season in the alpine and subalpine regions, but also water resources. On the mainland, it includes the very fragile natures of some systems, of which the headwaters of important rivers, such as the the Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens Snowy, Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers, which ecological community is just one example. The are vital to many inland cities, towns and industries. biggest threats