Draft Conservation Advice Including Draft Listing Advice Tuart (Eucalyptus Gomphocephala) Woodlands and Forests of the Swan Coas
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TUART (EUCALYPTUS GOMPHOCEPHALA) WOODLANDS AND FORESTS OF THE SWAN COASTAL PLAIN ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY DRAFT CONSERVATION ADVICE INCLUDING DRAFT LISTING ADVICE OCTOBER 2017 Table of Contents 1. CONSERVATION OBJECTIVE ............................................................................. 4 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY ..................................... 4 2.1. Name of the ecological community .......................................................................... 4 2.2. Location and physical environment .......................................................................... 4 2.2.1. Geology, landscape and soils ................................................................................ 5 2.2.2. Climate .................................................................................................................. 6 2.3. Vegetation ................................................................................................................. 7 2.3.1. Tree canopy ........................................................................................................... 8 2.3.2. Understorey ........................................................................................................... 9 2.4. Faunal components of the ecological community ................................................... 11 2.4.1. Mammals ............................................................................................................. 11 2.4.2. Reptiles ................................................................................................................ 12 2.4.3. Amphibians ......................................................................................................... 12 2.4.4. Birds .................................................................................................................... 12 2.4.5. Invertebrates ........................................................................................................ 13 2.5. Key diagnostic characteristics ................................................................................. 14 2.5.1. Other diagnostic considerations .......................................................................... 15 2.5.2. Relationship with other ecological communities ................................................ 15 2.6. Condition classes and thresholds ............................................................................. 16 2.7. Further information to assist in determining the presence of the ecological community ............................................................................................................... 19 2.7.1. Guidance for impact assessment and mitigation ................................................. 22 2.8. Area critical to the survival of the ecological community ...................................... 23 2.9. Relationship with other vegetation classification systems ...................................... 24 2.10. Existing protection .................................................................................................. 24 3. DESCRIPTION OF THREATS .............................................................................. 28 3.1. Vegetation condition ............................................................................................... 29 3.1.1. Patch size and distribution ................................................................................... 30 3.2. Known threats ......................................................................................................... 31 3.2.1. Clearing and fragmentation of vegetation ........................................................... 32 3.2.2. Weeds .................................................................................................................. 35 3.2.3. Invasive animals .................................................................................................. 35 3.2.4. Fire ...................................................................................................................... 36 3.2.5. Tree dieback and pathogens ................................................................................ 37 3.2.6. Invertebrate pests ................................................................................................. 38 3.2.7. Climate change .................................................................................................... 38 3.2.8. Water extraction and other hydrological change ................................................. 39 3.2.9. Loss of fauna supporting key ecological processes. ........................................... 40 3.3. Key Threatening Processes ..................................................................................... 40 4. SUMMARY OF ELIGIBILITY FOR LISTING AGAINST EPBC ACT CRITERIA .............................................................................................................. 41 4.1. Criterion 1 – Decline in geographic distribution ..................................................... 41 4.2. Criterion 2 – Limited geographic distribution coupled with demonstrable threat .. 41 4.3. Criterion 3 – Loss or decline of functionally important species ............................. 42 4.4. Criterion 4 – Reduction in community integrity ..................................................... 43 4.5. Criterion 5 – Rate of continuing detrimental change .............................................. 44 4.6. Criterion 6 – Quantitative analysis showing probability of extinction ................... 44 5. PRIORITY RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS ............................ 44 5.1. Principles and standards of protection and restoration ............................................ 44 5.2. Priority conservation actions ................................................................................... 45 5.3. Research and monitoring priorities ......................................................................... 53 2 5.4. Restoration of degraded areas ................................................................................. 55 5.5. Offsets ..................................................................................................................... 55 5.6. Existing plans/management prescriptions ............................................................... 56 6. Recovery Plan Recommendation ............................................................................ 57 7. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 58 Appendix A – Species lists.................................................................................................. 70 Flora 70 Fauna 89 Appendix B- Nyoongar indigenous culture and traditional life in the tuart woodlands and forests of the swan coastal plain .............................................................................. 94 Living in the landscape of the Swan Coastal Plain ............................................................. 94 Nyoongar people, ecological knowledge and language ...................................................... 94 The importance of seasons .................................................................................................. 94 Traditional livelihoods in the tuart woodlands and forests ................................................. 96 Physical and cultural landscape features ............................................................................. 98 Fire 98 Appendix C- Additional information on landscape, corresponding vegetation units, ecology and biology and management .................................................................... 99 Geology ............................................................................................................................... 99 Relationship with other vegetation classification systems .................................................. 99 Relationship with other threatened ecological communities ............................................. 104 Further information on existing protection and management within reserve tenure. ....... 105 Appendix D– Additional information on threats ............................................................... 106 Additional weeds within the range of the ecological community ..................................... 107 Appendix E – Eligibility for listing against EPBC Act criteria ........................................ 111 Criterion 1. Decline in geographic distribution ............................................................ 111 Criterion 2. Limited geographic distribution coupled with demonstrable threat .......... 112 Criterion 3 – Loss or decline of functionally important species ....................................... 115 Criterion 4 – Reduction in community integrity ............................................................... 117 Criterion 5 – Rate of continuing detrimental change ........................................................ 120 Criterion 6 – Quantitative analysis showing probability of extinction ............................. 121 List of tables Table 1 Mean annual rainfall for sites across the range of the ecological community ......... 7 Table 2 Condition classes for patches of Tuart woodlands and forests .............................. 18 Table 3 Threatened and priority flora and fauna that may occur in the ecological community ..........................................................................................................................