National recovery plan for the Golden Bandicoot Isoodon auratus and Golden-backed Tree-rat Mesembriomys macrurus 2004 - 2009

Palmer, C. Taylor, R. and Burbidge, A.
Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, 2003
ISBN: 190277226X

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Specific objectives

Develop and implement cooperative management arrangements between relevant agencies, land managers and land owners (Commonwealth, State, Territory and regional level).
Convene a multiple species recovery team (collaborating across jurisdictions) to address the issue of faunal decline in northern Australia.
Monitor both species to determine population trends.
In the NT translocate Golden Bandicoots from Marchinbar Island to two other suitable islands and follow-up with ongoing monitoring of source and translocated populations. Investigate recent possible sightings/records of Golden-backed Tree-rat.
Identify key threatening processes affecting critical weight range mammals in the tropical savannas generally and initiate management to ameliorate threats.
Develop appropriate educational and communication materials targeted at the diverse range of stakeholders.
Inform and involve the community and all stakeholders in the recovery process.

Table 2. Recovery objectives, actions and performance criteria
Objectives	Actions	Performance criteria	Stakeholders	$ contributed	$ needed
1. Develop and implement cooperative management arrangements between relevant agencies, land managers and land owners (Commonwealth, State, Territory and regional level)	1.1 Establish cooperative management processes and procedures between various Government agencies (CALM, EA, Defence, PWCNT) and relevant Aboriginal landowners	Across border distribution data base and research portfolio set-up and maintained. Number of management agreements brokered with land owners or managers.	EA, PWCNT, CALM, Defence, Land Councils		$10K per year
	1.2 Establish process and procedures for engagement of Traditional Owners and other stakeholders in Recovery Plan	Number of consultations undertaken with Traditional owners and other stakeholders Number of stakeholder groups involved in management on an on-going basis.	EA, CALM, PWCNT, Defence, Land Councils and representative bodies		$10K per year
2. Convene a multiple species recovery team (collaborating across jurisdictions) to address the issue of faunal decline in northern Australia.	2.1 Form northern Australian multiple species recovery group, collaborate across jurisdictions via multiple species recovery group	By 2009 group has met at least 5 times	EA, CALM, PWCNT, Defence, TSM-CRC, Land Councils		$20K per year
3. Monitor both species to determine population trends.	3.1 Establish population monitoring sites at two WA mainland sites (Mitchell Plateau and Yampi Sound Training Area)	By 2006 population estimates determined monitored annually	EA, CALM, PWCNT, Wunambal-Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation		$12K per year
	3.2 Determine population estimates for Uwins Island and establish monitoring sites	By 2006 population estimates determined monitored once every 2 year	EA, CALM, Wunambal-Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation		$12K bi-annual
	3.3 Continue monitoring program on Barrow Island	Population monitored annually or bi-annually	CALM	$31K
	3.4 Determine current status of Golden Bandicoot population on Marchinbar Island	By 2005 population estimates determined	EA, PWCNT, NLC	$10K	$15K
4. In the NT translocate Golden Bandicoots from Marchinbar Island to two other suitable islands and follow-up with ongoing monitoring of source and translocated populations. Investigate recent possible sightings/records of Golden-backed Tree-rat.	4.1 Translocate Golden bandicoot populations on at least two other suitable islands in the Wessel or English Company Island groups of northeastern Arnhem Land	Populations translocated, viable and increasing. Annual monitoring of Marchinbar Island and translocated populations for 2 years after translocation.	EA, PWCNT, NLC	$60K	$12K per year
	4.2 Determine whether Golden Bandicoot still extant on the Napier Peninsula.	By 2007 presence clarified and if applicable population estimates determined	EA, PWCNT, NLC	$5K	$5K
	4.3 Clarify status of Golden-backed Tree-rat on Marchinbar Island	By 2005 presence clarified and if applicable population estimates determined	EA, PWCNT, NLC	$5K	$5K
	4.4 Sample historic locations of Golden-backed Tree-rat to determine if populations persist.	By 2006 presence clarified and if applicable population estimates determined	EA, PWCNT	$10K	$5K
5. Identify key threatening processes affecting critical weight range mammals in the tropical savannas generally and initiate management to ameliorate threats.	5.1 Identify factors that are driving the decline in critical weight mammals through a landscape scale experiment based in the NT.	By 2008 factors determined and management effort focussed on halting decline at a number of key areas and for a number of critical weight range mammals	EA, PWCNT, Cobourg Board	$65K	$330K
6. Develop appropriate educational and communication materials targeted at the diverse range of stakeholders	6.1 Develop and disseminate educational and communication materials concerning fire and the introduction of feral animals, particularly cats, onto islands where the Golden Bandicoot and Golden-backed Tree-rat survives	By 2007 video and A3 booklets produced and distributed	EA, CALM, PWCNT, Aboriginal organisations, Land Councils, Tourism Organisations,		$20K per year
	6.2 Develop contingency plan in case of feral animal introduction onto islands	By 2005 policy and procedures manual produced and distributed to relevant organisations	EA, CALM, PWCNT		$5K
7. Inform and involve the community and all stakeholders in the recovery process	7.1 Produce educational packages and communication material on the Recovery Plan for all stakeholder groups in the region	Stakeholder groups informed and involved in implementation of the recovery plan	CALM, PWCNT, relevant Aboriginal people, Defence Force, shire Councils		$10K per year
	7.2 “Cat-watch Patrol” local people with tracking skills employed to undertake tracking transects on Uwins, Augustus and Marchinbar Islands to monitor presence/absence of cats, rats, dogs	By 2005 tracking transects established on islands visited once every 6 months to undertake feral animal tracking transects	CALM, PWCNT, relevant Aboriginal people, Defence Force (Norforce), Quarantine		$15K per year

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