National Recovery Plan for the Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti

Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2004
ISBN: 0 642 55078 6

Objectives, performance criteria and actions

In the longer time frame it may be possible to downlist this species, but by definition, it will at best be classed as Vulnerable (Criterion D - a population that is characterised by an acute restriction in its area of occupancy, typically less than 100 km² or in less than 5 locations). Human-induced threats, particularly the destruction of breeding habitat, have long been implicated in the reduction of Abbotts booby to one breeding population, which has also been reduced in numbers. Alleviation of these threats is the only means to secure the recovery of the species. This concept is reflected in the overall objective.

Overall Objective and Criteria
To minimise or eliminate human induced threats to long-term stability or increase in the Abbotts booby population in the wild
Attainment of this objective will be achieved when:
- all human induced threats to the Abbotts booby population have been minimised or eliminated; and
- the breeding population ceases to decline, and stabilises or exhibits a sustained increase in size

Specific recovery objectives and criteria

The specific objectives of this recovery plan are achievable within the next five years, and are ordered according to subject matter more than importance:

Protect, restore and enhance the breeding habitat
Manage any threats posed by the crazy ant to ecosystem function in areas of infestation
Ensure activities associated with construction and operation of Immigration Reception and Processing Centre do not impede recovery
Ensure activities associated with the construction and operation of the Asia Pacific Space Centre do not impede recovery
Identify feeding habitat of adults and juveniles and develop appropriate management responses to any threats identified
Establish a population monitoring program
Develop a wind turbulence model to guide and evaluate the CIRRP in restoration of breeding habitat
Monitor and assess the likely impact of developing fisheries in the Christmas Island
Assess and revise the Recovery Plan as necessary

Population estimates indicate that the population may be stable and demographic models indicate that recruitment may be adequate to maintain the current population. These estimates are in need of refinement and confirmation. Nevertheless, on present evidence, maximisation of the area and quality of breeding habitat is the most pressing issue for the conservation of Abbotts booby. Maintenance of the integrity of existing habitat and restoration of forest structure to major mined areas within the National Park are vital to the recovery of the species.

The actions listed below are grouped according to subject matter and not according to order of significance or impact.

Recovery actions and performance criteria
Action	Description	Performance Criteria
Specific objective 1- Protect, restore and enhance the breeding habitat of Abbotts booby
1.1	Manage the removal/mining of phosphate stockpiles in and adjacent to the Park in accordance with the mining lease and Third Christmas Island National Park Management Plan, to ensure this activity does not have a significant environmental impact on breeding habitat. Agency responsible: PAN	Removal of stockpiles proceeds in accordance with the CINPMP. Breeding habitat is not compromised by removal of stockpiles.
1.2	Implement the Christmas Island Rainforest Rehabilitation Program, giving priorities for to mining fields detailed in Table 2 of the Third Christmas Island National Park Management Plan (Page 94, Environment Australia 2002) with consideration of land tenure and long term success of the rehabilitation. Agency responsible: PAN; DOTARS	Mining fields rehabilitated in accordance with priorities in CINPMP. Extent to which mining fields are rehabilitated. Breeding success and survival of Abbotts booby nesting adjacent to mining fields increased to levels observed in good (non-turbulent) habitat.
1.3	Continue to implement the Christmas Island weed management strategy. Agency responsible: PAN	Extent to which the actions and priorities of the CI weed management are implemented.
1.4	Accurately map critical breeding habitat inside and outside the Park. The wind turbulence model (Action 7) will help to determine and assess potential breeding habitat. Agency responsible: PAN	Habitat critical to survival is mapped.
Specific objective 2- Manage any threats posed by the crazy ant to ecosystem function in areas of infestation
2.1	Continue control of crazy ants as a high priority action to preserve ecosystem integrity and hence protect breeding habitat. Agency responsible: PAN	Control program is maintained at, or increased above, current (2002) levels. Crazy ants reduced to a level where ecosystem function is re-established in affected areas. Crazy ant control has no negative impact on Abbotts booby.
Specific objective 3- Ensure activities associated with construction and operation of Immigration Reception and Processing Centre do not impede recovery
3.1	Closely supervise construction of the IRPC to ensure environmental impacts are minimised, in particular, design and siting of the Centre to minimise: wind-turbulence effects on adjacent Abbotts booby nests; and removal of revegetation within the designated site. Agency responsible : Department of Finance and Administration (DoFA)	Removal of vegetation on site is minimised. Wherever possible, revegetation is undertaken on parts of the site. Development of the Centre is contained within the site Breeding success and survival of Abbotts booby nesting adjacent to the Centre is not reduced.
3.2	Closely supervise road upgrading and infrastructure construction along Murrays Road during development of the IRPC, to ensure environmental impacts are minimised. In particular: rainforest clearing should be minimised if not prevented; waste treatment and other services should be laid close together on the same side of the road; minor road re-alignments should be considered to prevent destruction of nesting trees. Agency responsible : DoFA	Wind-shear effects on nests along Murrays Road are not increased. Breeding success and survival of Abbotts booby nesting along Murrays Road is not reduced.
3.3	The day-to-day operational activities of the IRPC are managed to ensure that environmental impacts are minimised. In particular, breeding of Abbotts booby pairs nesting adjacent to the site should not be compromised by the Centres operational activities. Agency responsible: DIMIA	Breeding success and survival of boobies nesting adjacent to the Centre is not reduced as a result of routine operation of the facility.
3.4	Establish and implement a monitoring program for construction and operational activities of the IRPC which: establishes baseline data; and rapidly detects any adverse impacts on Abbotts booby (both short and long-term). Agency responsible : DoFA	Monitoring program is established, preferably one that is integrated with the regular monitoring program (objective 7).
Specific objective 4- Ensure activities associated with the construction and operation of the Asia Pacific Space Centre do not impede recovery
4.1	Establish a monitoring program of construction and operational activities of the APSC which: collects baseline data for at least 3 years prior to the first launch; and detects any significant impacts on Abbotts booby. Agency responsible : APSC	Monitoring program is established, preferably one that contributes to the regular monitoring program (objective 7).
4.2	If a significant impact is detected, any satellite launch regime should be suspended immediately and a review conducted. Any detrimental activity should not re-commence until the cause of the impact has been rectified.	APSC activities suspended if an adverse impact identified. APSC activities not resumed until the adverse situation has been rectified and Abbotts booby conservation assured.
Note: this objective and associated actions and criteria have been developed as a precautionary measure. Abbotts booby nesting sites are located more than 5km from the APSC site, hence, the impact of satellite launches is unlikely to be a major threat. However, there is no data to support this assumption and monitoring of the situation is warranted, at least in the short to medium term, given the conservation status of Abbotts booby. This should be coordinated with the regular monitoring program.
Specific objective 5- Identify feeding habitat of adults and juveniles and develop appropriate management responses to any threats identified
5.1	Investigate at-sea distribution of Abbotts booby through the use of satellite telemetry to: determine foraging range and potential overlap with threatening processes - e.g., fishing and hunting. Studies need to resolve at-sea range both spatially and temporally and account for sex, age class, season and breeding status; resolve/define marine habitat critical to survival. Agency responsible : PAN	Satellite telemetry studies completed. Marine habitat critical to survival (if any), and potential threats to this habitat, identified.
Specific objective 6- Establish a population monitoring program
6.1	Develop and trial sampling techniques for use in monitoring program.	Techniques for monitoring developed and trailed.
6.2	Develop and implement a cost-effective monitoring program for Abbotts booby to: detect changes in population with high precision; monitor effectiveness of mine site rehabilitation on adjacent nesting Abbotts boobies to ascertain whether population size, distribution and breeding success are increased; estimate total population size with low to medium precision; and where possible, allow monitoring of other potential threats, such as from APSC and IRPC. Agency responsible : PAN; APSC; DOTARS; DIMIA	A regular monitoring program is implemented within two years. Results of the monitoring program are reported immediately to assist in management and recovery. Results of the monitoring program used to evaluate and guide CIRRP.
6.3	Upgrade existing monitoring data and ensure that the coding system is documented.	Historical database upgraded and keyed.
Specific objective 7- Develop a wind turbulence model to guide and evaluate the CIRRP in restoration of Abbotts booby breeding habitat
7.1	Appraise effectiveness of mine site rehabilitation in ameliorating wind turbulence upwind of breeding sites through use of GIS and computer modelling. Use model to determine at what stage wind turbulence upwind of clearings is ameliorated to an extent that breeding success and survival of Abbotts booby is not compromised, and to improve guidelines for rehabilitation, including stockpile removal, in consultation with DOTARS and PRL. Agency responsible : PAN	Refined wind turbulence model for Abbotts booby breeding habitat developed. Effectiveness of existing mine rehabilitation in improving habitat assessed. Rehabilitation priorities and prescriptions of CIRRP are re-evaluated.
Specific objective 8 - Monitor and assess the likely impact of developing fisheries in the Christmas Island area
8.1	In the event of a fishery developing in the area, ensure observer coverage to identify whether bycatch is occurring; develop appropriate measures to eliminate any problem. Agency responsible : PAN; Australian Fisheries Management Authority	As necessary, assessment of risk and development of preventative procedures.
Specific objective 9- Assess and revise the Recovery Plan as necessary
9.1	Form Recovery Team and implement Recovery Plan. Team should include experts and stakeholder representatives and communicate via email and telephone conferencing. Agency responsible : PAN	Recovery Team formed and Plan implemented.
9.2	Prepare and submit nomination to TSSC for listing as Critically Endangered. Agency responsible : PAN	Consistency across National and International threatened species lists.

Priority, feasibility, duration and estimated costs of recovery actions
Action	Description	Priority	Feasibility	Yr 1	2	3	4	5	Total
1.1	Manage removal of phosphate stockpiles	High	High	5,000	5,000	5,000	5,000	5 000	25 000
1.2	Christmas Island Rainforest Rehabilitation Program	High	High	750,000¹	750,000¹	750,000¹	750,000¹	750,000¹
1.3	Christmas Island weed management strategy	Medium	Medium	Included in PAN budget
1.4	Accurately map critical breeding habitat: Inside Park Outside Park	Low High	Medium Medium					15 000	15 000
2.1	Yellow crazy ant control program	High	Medium	Included in PAN budget
3.1	Supervise construction of the IRPC facility	High	Medium	20 000					20 000
3.2	Supervise upgrading of roadworks	High	Medium	20 000					20 000
3.3	Manage the day-to-day operational activities	High	Medium	5 000	5 000	5 000	5 000	5 000	25 000
3.5	Monitoring for impact of IRPC on booby	High	Medium	Included in actions 7.1 and 7.2
4.1	Establish an APSC monitoring program	Medium	Medium			Short-term monitoring³
4.2	Conduct review in event of impact	High	Medium	Dependent on impacts
5.1	Satellite tracking of Abbotts booby	High	Medium			70 000⁴	50 000⁴		120 000
6.1	Develop and trial booby monitoring techniques	High	High	15 000					15 000
6.2	Implement population monitoring program	High	High		10 000	10 000	10 000	10 000	40 000
6.3	Upgrade historical database	Moderate	High	2 000					2 000
7.1	Assess rehabilitation effectiveness via wind model	High	Medium	15 000					15 000
8.1	Monitor fisheries, as needed	Low	High	c. 5 000 to oversee; costs borne largely by AFMA⁵
9.1	Recovery group	Low	High	5 000⁶	5 000⁶	5 000⁶	5 000⁶	5 000⁶	20 000
9.2	Re-evaluation of conservation status	Low	High	1 000					1 000

¹Conservation levy paid by Phosphate Resources Ltd to DOTARS for mine site rehabilitation program, total dependant on phosphate production; ³Shorterm monitoring during launches: watches at nests with nightscopes or video cameras; ⁴Costs for transmitters, capturing, fitting and monitoring ten birds each in Years 3 and 4, and removal of tags after monitoring; ⁵Australian Fisheries Management Authority; ⁶Phone hook-up conferences; review monitoring techniques and data; prepare short annual report.

Resource allocation

The most critical conservation problem facing Abbotts booby is habitat loss and degradation. Actions to remedy this problem will benefit a whole range of the islands fauna and flora, threatened and otherwise. Many of the actions relating to this (actions 1-3) are actions prescribed in the Christmas Island National Park Management Plan. There is also scope for the involvement of volunteers, residents and tourists, in forest regeneration and weeding projects.

Monitoring of the population is a necessary action to gauge and guide the recovery effort. Ideally this work should be carried out by a member of Parks North staff dedicated to seabird monitoring programs on the island. A cost-effective sampling program should be designed with the aid of a statistician. Economies of scale can be achieved by ensuring that the needs of the various monitoring actions recommended (actions 3.5, 4.1 and 7.1) are catered for in the routine Abbotts booby monitoring program (action 6.1).

Management practices

Protection and restoration of habitat is the main objective of this plan. This includes the management of threats from development in or near booby habitat, weed control and control of crazy ant. Broad management approaches are outlined in the relevant sections above. More detailed management prescriptions have been developed and are being implemented under the Christmas Island National Park Management Plan, Christmas Island Rainforest Rehabilitation Plan, Christmas Island Weed Management Strategy and the Invasive Ants on Christmas Island Action Plan. Some of the recommended actions described above, such as development of a wind turbulence model and monitoring of breeding boobies, will allow monitoring and refinement of existing management practices. The issue of greenhouse gas emissions is being addressed through implementation of Australias National Greenhouse Strategy to ensure net greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, thus minimising the impact of this key threatening process on Abbotts booby.

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