Biodiversity

Threatened species

Draft Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan

Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, September 2009
ISBN 978 1 74232 012 0

The Draft Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan is presented in two parts — the main plan, and several appendices and maps that provide more expansive background information.

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Invitation to contribute

This draft plan has been placed on a statutory three-month public consultation period by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Comments are encouraged and should be made by written submission. All submissions, except those made in confidence, will be available for public inspection.

Submissions should be forwarded to:

Mail:
Director Recovery, Planning and Implementation Section
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601

Email: recoveryplans@environment.gov.au

Fax: 02 6274 2875

The public comment period closes 4 January 2010.

Summary

The Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan (‘the plan’) has been prepared by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (DECCW) and supported by the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA). It has been funded by the Australian Government as a pilot regional recovery and threat abatement plan.

The plan covers the Northern Rivers Region (‘the region’), an area from Tweed Heads in the north, south to Laurieton, and west to Walcha and the Queensland border north-east of Tenterfield. Whilst this area is biologically very diverse, many areas have experienced significant change since European settlement. This has left some parts of the region as fragmented landscapes where vegetation is often degraded or occurs as isolated remnants.

The plan constitutes the formal national recovery plan for federally listed threatened species and ecological communities, having been prepared in accordance with the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It also meets the requirements of NSW recovery planning for threatened species, populations and ecological communities. The plan addresses 298 threatened entities listed on Commonwealth and state legislation, including 273 species, 5 populations and 20 ecological communities.

A detailed threat analysis identifies the threats acting on biodiversity at both the regional level and for each of the four broad landscape units delineated for the region: coastal plains, midland hills, escarpment ranges and tablelands. Threats are assessed, grouped into categories and then ranked. Additionally, biodiversity conservation and restoration priority areas are identified using a wide range of spatial data and techniques, including the Biodiversity Forecasting Tool, fauna habitat modelling and expert opinion. Regional, landscape, local and specific recovery actions address the identified threats at the most appropriate geographic or biological scale and location.

Community consultation and engagement was undertaken through provision of a number of newsletters; undertaking a number of expert technical workshops; and establishing a website to provide project information and call for expressions of interest and contributions. The preparation of the plan was also guided by the Project Steering Committee which includes government, non-government and community members.

The plan is intended to guide investment planning and biodiversity management by DECCW, the Northern Rivers CMA and other environmental managers, non-government organisations, councils and planners. It is intended that the plan will be implemented over a ten-year period.

See also

Cover page of plan

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