Jocks Lagoon Ramsar site Ecological Character Description
for
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
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About the document
An Ecological Character Description describes the ecological character of a wetland at the time of its listing as a Wetland of International Importance. The Ecological Character Description is a fundamental management tool for site managers, forming the basis of management planning and action as well as including guidance on site monitoring requirements to detect changes in the ecological character of the site.
Jocks Lagoon Ramsar Site is situated on the north-east coast of Tasmania, approximately five kilometres south-east of the town of St Helens. Jocks Lagoon is a small, coastal freshwater lagoon lying mostly on privately owned land and partly in the southern tip of the St Helens Point Conservation Area. The site is in near natural condition, with minimal disturbance. It is one of a chain of lagoons, swamps and wetlands occurring along St Helens Point providing a freshwater resource in an otherwise dry coastal area.
This ecological character description describes the critical components, processes and services identified for the Jocks Lagoon Ramsar site, which include hydrology, water quality, wetland vegetation habitat, rare plant species and provision of a fresh water resource. The site is considered important as it supports a range of representative wetland types, regionally rare or threatened species and biodiversity, including important bird habitat.
The description identifies limits of acceptable change which describe the range of variation through which key aspects of the ecology of the site may vary without representing a change in ecological character. Limits of acceptable change for Jocks Lagoon have been proposed for all critical components, processes and benefits and services based on existing data.
The document also describes the current Ramsar listing criteria met by the site, and the key threats and knowledge gaps. Recommended monitoring needs and communication messages are also provided.
Further information on what Ecological Character Descriptions are and how critical components, processes and services are identified is available in the National Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Australian Ramsar Wetlands – Module 2 of the National Guidelines for Ramsar Wetlands – Implementing the Ramsar Convention in Australia.