AECOM SKA Ecological Assessment A Square Kilometre Array Ecological Assessment Commercial-in-Confidence Appendix A Conservation Categories G:\60327857 - SKA EcologicalSurvey\8. Issued Docs\8.1 Reports\Ecological Assessment\60327857-SKA Ecological Report_Rev0.docx Revision 0 – 28-Nov-2014 Prepared for – Department of Industry – ABN: 74 599 608 295 AECOM SKA Ecological Assessment A-1 Square Kilometre Array Ecological Assessment Commercial-in-Confidence Appendix A Conservation Categories G:\60327857 - SKA EcologicalSurvey\8. Issued Docs\8.1 Reports\Ecological Assessment\60327857-SKA Ecological Report_Rev0.docx Revision 0 – 28-Nov-2014 Prepared for – Department of Industry – ABN: 74 599 608 295 Definitions of Threatened and Priority Flora Species 1 Appendix A – Conservation Categories 1.1 Western Australia Plants and animals that are considered threatened and need to be specially protected because they are under identifiable threat of extinction are listed under the Wildlife Conservation Act (WC Act). These categories are defined in Table 1. Any species identified as Threatened under the WC Act is assigned a threat category using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categories and criteria. Species that have not yet been adequately surveyed to warrant being listed under Schedule 1 or 2 are added to the Priority Flora or Fauna Lists under Priority 1, 2 or 3. Species that are adequately known, are rare but not threatened, or meet criteria for Near Threatened, or that have been recently removed from the threatened list for other than taxonomic reasons, are placed in Priority 4 and require regular monitoring. Conservation Dependent species and ecological communities are placed in Priority 5. Categories and definitions of Priority Flora and Fauna species are provided in Table 2. Table 1 Conservation codes for WA flora and fauna listed under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 Conservation Category Code T Threatened species – specially protected under the WC Act, listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice for Threatened Fauna and Wildlife Conservation (Rare Flora) Notice for Threatened Flora (which may also be referred to as Declared Rare Flora). Species* which have been adequately searched for and are deemed to be in the wild either rare, in danger of extinction, or otherwise in need of special protection, and have been gazetted as such. Threatened Fauna and Flora are further recognised by the Department according to their level of threat using IUCN Red List criteria. Critically Endangered: considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Endangered: considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Vulnerable: considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. X Presumed extinct species – specially protected under the WC Act, listed under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice for Presumed Extinct Fauna and Wildlife Conservation (Rare Flora) Notice for Presumed Extinct Flora (which may also be referred to as Declared Rare Flora). Species which have been adequately searched for and there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died, and have been gazetted as such. IA Migratory birds protected under international agreement – specially protected under the WC Act, listed under Schedule 3 of the Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice. Birds that are subject to an agreement between governments of Australia and Japan, China and The Republic of Korea relating to the protection of migratory birds and birds in danger of extinction. S Other specially protected fauna – specially protected under the WC Act, listed under Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Conservation Policy (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice. 27-Feb-2014 Definitions of Threatened and Priority Flora Species 2 Table 2 Conservation codes for WA flora and fauna P1 Priority One – Poorly Known Species Species that are known from one or a few collections or sight records (generally less than five), all on lands not managed for conservation, e.g. agricultural or pastoral lands, urban areas, Shire, Westrail and Main Roads WA road, gravel and soil reserves, and active mineral leases and under threat of habitat destruction or degradation. Species may be included if they are comparatively well known from one or more localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements and appear to be under immediate threat from known threatening processes. P2 Priority Two – Poorly Known Species Species that are known from one or a few collections or sight records, some of which are on lands not under imminent threat of habitat destruction or degradation, e.g. national parks, conservation parks, nature reserves, State forest, vacant Crown land, water reserves, etc. Species may be included if they are comparatively well known from one or more localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements and appear to be under threat from known threatening processes. P3 Priority Three – Poorly Known Species Species that are known from collections or sight records from several localities not under imminent threat, or from few but widespread localities with either large population size or significant remaining areas of apparently suitable habitat, much of it not under imminent threat. Species may be included if they are comparatively well known from several localities but do not meet adequacy of survey requirements and known threatening processes exist that could affect them. P4 Priority Four – Rare, Near Threatened and other species in need of monitoring (a) Rare. Species that are considered to have been adequately surveyed, or for which sufficient knowledge is available, and that are considered not currently threatened or in need of special protection, but could be if present circumstances change. These species are usually represented on conservation lands. (b) Near Threatened. Species that are considered to have been adequately surveyed and that do not qualify for Conservation Dependent, but that are close to qualifying for Vulnerable. (c) Species that have been removed from the list of threatened species during the past five years for reasons other than taxonomy. P5 Priority Five: Conservation Dependent species Species that are not threatened but are subject to a specific conservation program, the cessation of which would result in the species becoming threatened within five years. 27-Feb-2014 Definitions of Threatened and Priority Flora Species 3 1.2 Commonwealth The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is Australia’s central piece of environmental legislation which provides for the listing of nationally Threatened native species and ecological communities, native migratory species and marine species. Threatened fauna and flora may be listed in any one of seven categories as defined in Section 179 of the EPBC Act. These categories are defined in Table 3. Ecological communities that become threatened and are at risk of extinction are protected under the EPBC Act and are categorised as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable. These are described in Table 4. Table 3 Categories of Species Listed under Schedule 179 of the Environment, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 [Commonwealth] Conservation Code Category Extinct Taxa which at a particular time if, at that time, there is no reasonable doubt that Ex the last member of the species has died. Extinct in the Wild Taxa which is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population well outside its past range; or it has not been recorded in its ExW known and/or expected habitat, at appropriate seasons, anywhere in its past range, despite exhaustive surveys over a time frame appropriate to its life cycle and form. Critically Endangered Taxa which at a particular time if, at that time, it is facing an CE extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future, as determined in accordance with the prescribed criteria. Endangered Taxa which is not critically endangered and it is facing a very high risk of E extinction in the wild in the immediate or near future, as determined in accordance with the prescribed criteria. Vulnerable Taxa which is not critically endangered or endangered and is facing a high V risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future, as determined in accordance with the prescribed criteria. Conservation Dependent Taxa which at a particular time if, at that time: a) the species is the focus of a specific conservation program the cessation of which would result in the species becoming vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered b) the following subparagraphs are satisfied: i. the species is a species of fish ii. the species is the focus of a plan of management that provides for CD management actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of, the species so that its chances of long term survival in nature are maximised iii. the plan of management is in force under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory iv. cessation of the plan of management would adversely affect the conservation status of the species. 27-Feb-2014 Definitions of Threatened and Priority Flora Species 4 Table 4 Categories of Threatened Ecological Communities listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Conservation Category Code CE Critically Endangered If, at that time, it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction