BIODIVERSITY PROGRAM Annual report summary

13/14 Sarah Munks (Manager), Tim Leaman, Anne Chuter

Amy Koch , Jason Wiersma

Dydee Mann, Lisa Cawthen

The Bio Team

Activities in 13/14 • Advisory work – input to FPP

planning, strategic planning and compliance work

• Policy, Planning tools and strategic projects

• Training, education and communication

• Research and monitoring • Consultancies

Consultancies • Provision of advice to DIER Environment and Heritage • Eagle nest surveys and training • Review of PNG logging Code of Practice – ‘train the

trainer’ course • Review of the proposed approach for the NSW threatened

species licence part of the coastal IFOAs

Advisory work – Requests for advice

Requests for advice -Threatened species

Low Foraging

Moderate Foraging

High Foraging

Policy, planning tools and strategic projects

Guiding Policy (FPA 2014) ‘Forest practices will be conducted in a manner

that recognises and complements the contribution of the reserve system to the maintenance of biological diversity, ecological function and evolutionary processes through the maintenance of viable breeding populations and habitat for all species’.

Procedures for the management of threatened species

4.3 ‘…Where a FPO seeks further advice…The FPA will notify DPIPWE in cases where agreed management recommendations have been modified to comply with duty of care thresholds in the Code’

Update on Policy

• Biodiversity Evaluation Sheet

• Biodiversity Values Database (Locality data, Range maps, Habitat maps)

• Threatened Fauna Adviser 2014 (endorsed in March)

• Technical Notes (GFC, WTE, SP habitat ID, Culvert, Devil and quoll)

• Tasmanian Bat guide

New and revised planning tools

Threatened Flora Adviser

• To deliver advice to planners on the management of threatened flora species.

• To assist planners to determine areas or

species which are a priority for conservation management.

Managing for multiple species in the PTPZ – An alternative approach

Training and communication

• Tasmanian devil, quoll and goshawk field days in the NW,NE and SE in August 2013.

• Field days – devil in plantation • Briefings for FPOs on revised

ThFA • Briefings for DPIPWE and NGOs • Presentations for students, Utas • ABARES conference - BLPG • Publications and FPNews articles

Reviews, Research and Monitoring Implementation monitoring (13/14) • Compliance program audit (approx 10% of FPPs) indicates that biodiversity provisions are implemented. •Of the 55 investigations, only two related to threatened species – partial harvesting on private property without a plan. • Strategic recommendations currently being reported on in a State forest block (Hodge et al., in prep) •Thematic implementation monitoring – Eagle recommendations

Reviews, Research and Monitoring

•The Biodiversity Program’s staff contributed to 10 research and monitoring projects in 2013–14

Strategic management plan for the keeled snail (Tasmaphena lamproides) 1992 – 2013. Maintain at least 30% of potential habitat (forest > 30 years) as a connected network.

Monitoring

• 31 sites surveyed in Togari in 1992 and 2013.

• Snails present but slight reduction in population size overall.

• Occurrence lowest in young regrowth post burn.

• Regeneration burn may limit occurrence of keeled snails in young regrowth.

• Snails found in young plantation. • Conclusion – current management

plan maintaining population

1992 2013

Site (n) Snails (n)

Site (n) Snails (n)

Mature (12)

22 Mature (12) 23

Regen (3)

3 Older Regen (3)

2

Mature (4)

10 Plantation (4)

7

Mature (2)

7 Recent harvest (no burn)

5

Mature (5)

24 Regen (5)

1

Eagle Nest Monitoring Project 2007-13

Annual monitoring of 100+ nests to assess – • Relationship between nest site characteristics (including degree of disturbance and protection measures) and nest success. • Assess timing of breeding events between years.

Nest success 2007-13

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

% n

ests

with

chi

ck

YEAR

•Nest success varies each year •Nests can be used again after many unsuccessful years

Nests were more likely to be successful: – in some years more than others

Breeding success was lower following wetter springs and where nest density in a 3 km radius (an estimated territory size) was high.

Bill

Factors influencing nest success - Further study (T. O’Sullivan et al.2014)

Timing of breeding- Further study (T. O’Sullivan et

al.2014)

• Varies between years

• September checks are risky and unreliable

• Tierney’s honours project found breeding seasons tend to be later following colder winters or wet springs.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1/06

/200

7

1/07

/200

7

1/08

/200

7

1/09

/200

7

1/10

/200

7

1/11

/200

7

1/12

/200

7

1/01

/200

8

1/02

/200

8

1/03

/200

8

1/04

/200

8

1/05

/200

8

Num

ber o

f nes

ts Courtship

Incubation

Hatchling

NestDependence

Nest checks

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1/06

/200

8

1/07

/200

8

1/08

/200

8

1/09

/200

8

1/10

/200

8

1/11

/200

8

1/12

/200

8

1/01

/200

9

1/02

/200

9

1/03

/200

9

1/04

/200

9

1/05

/200

9

Num

ber o

f nes

ts Courtship

Incubation

Hatchling

NestDependence

Nest checks

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1/06

/200

9

1/07

/200

9

1/08

/200

9

1/09

/200

9

1/10

/200

9

1/11

/200

9

1/12

/200

9

1/01

/201

0

1/02

/201

0

1/03

/201

0

1/04

/201

0

1/05

/201

0

Num

ber o

f nes

ts Courtship

Incubation

Hatchling

NestDependence

Nest checks

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1/06

/201

0

1/07

/201

0

1/08

/201

0

1/09

/201

0

1/10

/201

0

1/11

/201

0

1/12

/201

0

1/01

/201

1

1/02

/201

1

1/03

/201

1

1/04

/201

1

1/05

/201

1

Num

ber o

f nes

ts Courtship

Incubation

Hatchling

NestDependence

Nest checks

Research and monitoring results continue to inform forest

management planning • Keeled snail – strategic plan for PTPZ is effective • Masked owl – CRC PhD results used to define

core range and significant habitat • Spotted-Tailed Quoll –CRC PhD used to define

range and significant habitat • Wedge-tailed eagle – monitoring results found no

evidence that management actions were not effective

• Wedge-tailed eagle – results used to refine areas that need searching and predict timing of season

Biodiversity Goals – 2014/15 • Maintain standard of advice to planners and others

• Maintain planning tools for planners

• Threatened Flora Adviser

• Education and training days (flora and fauna I and II, giant freshwater crayfish, hybrids, frogs, eagles, masked owls, swift parrot)

• Monitor and report on implementation and effectiveness of biodiversity provisions

• Development of forest block/multi-species management plans with FT

• Consultancies

Thanks and Questions?