Biodiversity Survey Priorities for DECCW Reserves in the Sydney Basin Stage 2: 2009-2014 Information and Assessment Section Metropolitan Branch, Environmental Protection and Regulation Group April 2010 BBBiiiooodddiiivvveeerrrsssiiitttyyy SSSuuurrrvvveeeyyy PPPrrriiiooorrriitttiiieeesss fffooorrr DDDEEECCCCCCWWW RRReeessseeerrrvvveeesss iiinnn ttthhheee SSSyyydddnnneeeyyy BBBaaasssiiinnn Stage 2 2009 – 2014 Bioregional Data Group ISBN 978 1 74293 010 7 Information and Assessment Section DECCW 2010/945 Metropolitan Branch Environmental Protection and Regulation Group Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water NSW (DECCW) CCCooonnnttteeennntttsss CONTENTS ..................................................................................................................................I SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 1 1. THE BIODIVERSITY SURVEY PRIORITIES PROGRAM ....................................................... 2 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................2 STAGE 1: 2003 – 2009 ....................................................................................................................2 STAGE 2: 2009 – 2014 ....................................................................................................................2 STAGE 3: 2014 – ONWARDS...............................................................................................................2 2. POLICY, STRATEGIES AND PLANS..................................................................................... 3 NSW STATE PLAN............................................................................................................................3 DECCW CORPORATE PLAN.................................................................................................................3 NSW BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY ...........................................................................................................4 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT (SOE) REPORTING ......................................................................................5 DECCW REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITIES ...............................................................................................5 PARK MANAGEMENT..........................................................................................................................6 3. ASSESSMENT AREAS FOR THE SYDNEY BASIN RESERVES................................................ 7 ASSESSMENT AREA 2003-2009...........................................................................................................7 ASSESSMENT AREA 2009-2010...........................................................................................................7 4. METHODS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF BIODIVERSITY DATA ........................................... 10 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 10 RESERVE UNITS............................................................................................................................. 10 ASSESSMENT OF FAUNA DATA ADEQUACY ............................................................................................. 11 ASSESSMENT OF VEGETATION DATA ADEQUACY...................................................................................... 12 5. ACHIEVEMENTS OF STAGE 1:2003-2009......................................................................... 15 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 15 FAUNA SURVEY 2003-2009 ............................................................................................................. 15 VEGETATION MAPPING 2003-2009 .................................................................................................... 20 6. RESERVE BIODIVERSITY DATA ASSESSMENT 2010........................................................ 24 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 25 FAUNA DATA ON RESERVES IN 2010 ................................................................................................... 25 VEGETATION MAPPING DATA............................................................................................................. 29 7. SURVEY PRIORITIES FOR STAGE 2: 2009 – 2014........................................................... 33 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 33 PRIORITISATION CRITERIA FOR VEGETATION SURVEY AND MAPPING ............................................................ 36 NEW VEGETATION SURVEY AND MAPPING PRIORITIES .............................................................................. 36 PRIORITISATION CRITERIA FOR FAUNA SURVEY AND REPORTING ................................................................. 33 NEW FAUNA SURVEY PRIORITIES........................................................................................................ 33 ANNUAL PROGRAM 2010-2014 ......................................................................................................... 39 8. STAGE 3:REGION-WIDE BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION RESOURCES............................ 44 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 44 THE NATIVE VEGETATION OF THE HUNTER-CENTRAL RIVERS CMA .............................................................. 44 THE NATIVE VEGETATION OF THE GBMWHA ........................................................................................ 45 THE VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE GBMWHA ......................................................................................... 45 VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION AND MAPPING OF THE SYDNEY BASIN REGION .................................................. 46 THE FAUNA OF GREATER NORTHERN SYDNEY REGION .............................................................................. 47 APPENDIX 1: 2010 FAUNA ASSESSMENT RESULTS FOR EACH RESERVE UNIT IN THE SYDNEY BASIN BIOREGION .................................................................................................................. 48 Biodiversity Survey Priorities for DECCW Reserves in the Sydney Basin i APPENDIX 2: 2010 VEGETATION SURVEY AND MAPPING ASSESSMENT RESULTS FOR EACH RESERVE UNIT IN THE SYDNEY BASIN BIOREGION .............................................................. 55 APPENDIX 3: LIST OF REPORTS COMPLETED UNDER THE DATA PRIORITIES PROGRAM ..... 48 VEGETATION MAPPING .................................................................................................................... 48 FAUNA SURVEY.............................................................................................................................. 48 APPENDIX 4: METHODS USED TO PRIORITISE RESERVES FOR VEGETATION SURVEY & MAPPING................................................................................................................................. 63 STEP 1: SCORING ATTRIBUTES .......................................................................................................... 63 STEP 2: PRIORITY SELECTION CRITERIA AND CLASS ................................................................................ 65 STEP 3: SORTING WITHIN PRIORITY CLASS............................................................................................ 65 APPENDIX 5: METHODS USED TO PRIORITISE RESERVES FOR FAUNA SURVEY ................... 61 STEP 1: SELECTING ATTRIBUTES........................................................................................................ 61 STEP 2: PRIORITY SELECTION CRITERIA AND CLASS ................................................................................ 61 STEP 3: SORTING WITHIN PRIORITY CLASS............................................................................................ 62 APPENDIX 6: FAUNA SURVEY PRIORITISATION RESULTS..................................................... 66 APPENDIX 7: VEGETATION SURVEY AND MAPPING PRIORITISATION RESULTS.................. 72 ii Biodiversity Survey Priorities for DECCW Reserves in the Sydney Basin SSSuuummmmmmaaarrryyy Information that describes the type, distribution and status of biodiversity in NSW is required by many arms of DECCW for regulatory, conservation assessment and land management purposes. Numerous state- wide policies and plans explicitly target the need for biodiversity data to assist with decision-making processes that confront land managers and regulators. However there are few documents that assess the adequacy of currently available information or guide managers on data collection and management priorities. Investment in biodiversity information is expensive, and if it is undertaken without an overarching strategy it can result in inefficiencies, duplication and lost effort. In the Sydney Basin Bioregion over 60% of extant native vegetation occurs in DECCW reserves making it the largest individual custodian of native flora and fauna in the region. Since 2003, the former Central Branch of the Parks and Wildlife Group has funded a Biodiversity Survey Priorities Program (BSP) to address biodiversity data needs for all DECCW reserves in the branch.