Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain: a Nationally Protected Ecological Community

BanksiaWoodlandsoftheSwanCoastalPlain:anationally

protectedecologicalcommunity

Thisguideisdesignedtoassistlandmanagers,ownersandoccupiers,aswellasenvironmentalassessmentofficersandconsultants,toidentify,assessandmanagetheBanksia WoodlandsoftheSwanCoastalPlainecologicalcommunity;athreatenedecologicalcommunity,listedasendangeredundertheEnvironmentProtection andBiodiversityConservationAct1999(EPBC Act),Australia’snational environmentlaw.

ThisguideisacompaniondocumenttotheapprovedConservationAdvice,whichcanbefoundontheAustralianGovernment’sspeciesprofileandthreats(SPRAT)databaseat: publiclookupcommunities.pl.Onthiswebpage,clickonthedetailslink—alongsidetheecologicalcommunityname—todownloadthedocumentsandthemapforthelistedecologicalcommunity.

©CommonwealthofAustralia,2016.

BanksiaWoodlandsoftheSwanCoastalPlain:anationallyprotectedecologicalcommunityislicensedbytheCommonwealthofAustraliaforuseunderaCreativeCommonsAttribution4.0InternationallicencewiththeexceptionoftheCoatofArmsoftheCommonwealthofAustralia,thelogooftheagencyresponsibleforpublishingthereport,contentsuppliedbythirdparties,andanyimagesdepictingpeople.Forlicenceconditionssee:

Thisguideshouldbeattributedas‘BanksiaWoodlandsoftheSwanCoastalPlain:anationally-protectedecologicalcommunity,CommonwealthofAustralia2016’.

TheCommonwealthofAustraliahasmadeallreasonableeffortstoidentifycontentsuppliedbythirdpartiesusingthefollowingformat‘©Copyright,[nameofthirdparty]’.

Disclaimer

TheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthispublicationarethoseoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyreflectthoseoftheAustralianGovernmentortheMinisterfortheEnvironmentandEnergy.

Whilereasonableeffortshavebeenmadetoensurethatthecontentsofthispublicationarefactuallycorrect,theCommonwealthdoesnotacceptresponsibilityfortheaccuracyorcompletenessofthecontents,andshallnotbeliableforanylossordamagethatmaybeoccasioneddirectlyorindirectlythroughtheuseof,orrelianceon,thecontentsofthispublication.

Images

Frontcover—BanksiaWoodlandsoftheSwanCoastalPlain©RobDavis.

Backcover—BanksiaWoodlandsoftheSwanCoastalPlain,CardupNatureReserve©DepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergy.

TheBanksiaWoodlandsoftheSwanCoastalPlainecologicalcommunity—Whatitis?

Whyitisthreatened?Whatdoesnationalprotectionmeanforpeopleintheregion?

•Theuniquecollectionofplantsandanimals thatmakeupthisBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunityareonlyfoundtogetheraroundtheSwanCoastalPlainofWesternAustralia,withintheSouthwestAustraliaglobalbiodiversityhotspot.

•TheecologicalcommunitywaslistedasendangeredunderAustralia’snationalenvironmentlaw,theEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999(EPBCAct),on16September2016.

•ThenationalThreatenedSpeciesScientificCommitteeclassifiedtheecologicalcommunityas Endangered as its extent hasdeclinedsignificantly.ItwasoncecommonandformedalmostacontinuousbandoflargebushlandpatchesaroundPerthandothernearcoastalareas,butithasbeenlostbyabout60percentoverall,withmostremainingpatchessmall

insize.Thisfragmentationisleadingtothedeclineofmanyplants,animalsandecosystemfunctions.Thereforeitisveryimportanttoprotect,manageandrestorethebestsurvivingremnantsforfuturegenerations.

•NationallistingisanimportantstepinsecuringthefutureoftheBanksiaWoodlandsby:

–raisingawarenessoftheecologicalcommunityandpriorityactionstocombatthreats

–requiringconsiderationoftheimpactofnewdevelopmentsonthebestqualitywoodlands

–encouragingprioritysupportforconservationandrecoveryefforts,includingthroughAustralianGovernmentfundinginitiatives.

•Theecologicalcommunitytypicallyhasaprominenttreelayerof Banksiasometimeswithscatteredeucalyptsandothertreespecieswithin

orabovetheBanksiacanopy.Theunderstoreyisspeciesrichwithmanywildflowers, includingsclerophyllousshrubs,sedgesandherbs.

•BanksiaWoodlandsvaryintheirstructure(height,cover,density)andspeciescompositionacross the Swan CoastalPlain.These variationscanoccuroversmalldistances,butthewoodlands areunited byhaving agenerallydominantBanksiacomponent,whichincludesatleastoneoffourkeyspecies—Banksiaattenuata(candlestickbanksia),B.menziesii(firewoodbanksia),B.prionotes(acornbanksia)and/or

B.ilicifolia(holly-leavedbanksia).

•Thelistingcoversanumberofsub-communities.Thesehavebeencombinedintoasinglenationally-significantecologicalcommunitybecausetheyaresimilar,adjacentand/orintergradeandsharekeythreatsthatbenefitfromcomplementary management.

•BanksiaWoodlandsprovidevitalhabitatforover 20nationallythreatened speciessuchasCarnaby’sandforestred-tailedblackcockatoos,chuditch(westernquoll)andwesternringtailpossum;as well asmanywildflowers uniqueto

thesouth-westandotheranimalsthatdependonthem,suchasthehoneypossum.

•Theecologicalcommunityalsoprovidesecosystemservicesandcontributestothehealthandwellbeingoflocalresidents.Forexample,thewoodlandshelpcooltemperaturesinthesurroundingregion;storecarbon;filterandmaintainaquifers,includingthosesupplyingdrinkingwaterforPerth;mitigatelocalflooding,

soilloss,andpollution;and,provideamenityandrecreationsuchasscenicareasforbushwalking.Theecologicalcommunityalsocansupportsoilhealth,croppollinationandpestmanagement.

•AnationalConservationAdviceidentifiescurrentthreatstotheecologicalcommunity,includinglandclearingfordevelopment,miningforbasicrawmaterialsandassociatedfragmentation,diebackdiseases(e.g.Phytophthora),invasiveweedsand

feralanimals,changestofireregimes,hydrologicaldegradation(includingchangestogroundwater),climatechangeandotherdisturbancestoremainingpatches.Giventhegreatextentofpastdamagetotheecologicalcommunity,thesethreatsarelikelytolead

tothelossofmanyspeciesandecosystemfunctions,unlessitisprotectedandrestored.

•Listing the Banksia Woodlands ecologicalcommunityundertheEPBCActmeansthatanactivitythatislikelytohave asignificantimpactontheecologicalcommunityneedsto

beconsideredandapprovedatthenationallevelbefore proceeding—activitiessuchasmajornewdevelopments,worksorinfrastructure.

Forexample, clearinglarge areasof intact andhigh-qualitynativevegetationforminingorresidentialsubdivision.Theseactivitieswillneedtonowavoidormitigateimpactsonhighestqualitywoodlands.

•TheConservationAdviceincludesminimumconditionthresholdstohelpidentifywhennationalconsiderationmaybenecessary.Degraded,lowqualitypatchesbelowthesethresholdsdonotneednationalapproval.

•Routinepropertymaintenanceandotherestablishedpractices(e.g.mostfarmingactivitiesandroutineroadworks)—particularlyifcarriedoutinlinewithstatelawscoveringnativevegetation—donottypicallyrequireconsiderationundernationalenvironmentallaw.

•ActivitieswithEPBCActapprovalprior tothelistingofthisecologicalcommunity,alsodonotneedtoseekfurtherapproval.

•The Conservation Adviceoutlines arange ofpriorityresearchandmanagementactions thatprovideguidanceonhowtoprotect,manageandrestoretheecologicalcommunity.Itencourageslocalactionsandaco-ordinated,ecosystem-scaleapproachtothreat

abatementintheregionandforthemanythreatenedspeciesthatarefoundwithintheecologicalcommunity.

Photo:(fromleft)Nativeviolet(Hybanthuscalycinus)iscommonacrosstherangeofBanksiawoodlandsandunlikemostvioletrelativesisasmallsub-shrub(CopyrightKDixon).WattlebirdsareaggressivedefendersofthenectarsourcesinBanksiaWoodlandsandwillactivelydefendnectarresources,sometimestothe detrimentof otherhoneyeater species(CopyrightB Knott).Carouselspider orchid(Caladeniaarenicola) isfoundthroughBanksia Woodlands andwithitsspecialistsexuallydeceptivesystemofpollinationrequireshighqualitywoodlandstoensurepollinatorpresence(CopyrightKDixon).

Nationalecologicalcommunities

Australia’snationalenvironmentlaw,theEPBCAct,providesalegalframeworktoprotectandmanageMattersofNationalEnvironmentalSignificance(MNES),whichincludenationallythreatenedspeciesandecologicalcommunities.

TheEPBCActdefinesanecologicalcommunityasanassemblageofnativespecieswhichinhabitsa

particularareainnature.Inotherwords,ecologicalcommunitiesaregroupsofnativeplants,animalsandotherorganismsthatnaturallyoccurtogether

andinteractinauniquehabitat.Theyincludeforests,grasslands,shrublands,wetlands,woodlands,groundsprings,caveandmarinecommunities.

Thenativeplantsandanimalsinanecologicalcommunityhavedifferentrolesandrelationshipsthat,together,contributetoahealthyfunctioningnatural environment.

Listedecologicalcommunitiesmaybecomeextinct,throughlossofextent,lossofcharacteristicspecies,and/orlossofnaturalfunction,unlessthreatsareremovedorbettermanaged.However,remnantsretainimportantnaturalvaluesandhavethepotentialtoprovidemorehabitatandecosystemservices,ifthreatsareeliminatedormanagedtoreducetheirimpacts,andthenaturalcompositionandfunctionoftheecologicalcommunitiesarerestored.

Protectingecologicalcommunitiesalsoprotectsecosystemservicessuchascleanair,healthysoilsandwater.Thesebenefitpeopleandsocietybothwithinandbeyondthelocalareaandareessentialtothegreaterproductivityofourlandandwater.

National(EPBCAct)protectioncomplementsotherconservationmeasuresandisparticularlyvitalforecologicalcommunitiessuchastheBanksiaWoodlands,asonlyalowproportionofremnantsareprotectedinconservationreserves.

WhatistheBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunity?

The ecological community is a woodlandassociatedwiththeSwanCoastalPlain(andsomeadjacentareas)of southwestWesternAustralia.It typicallyhasa prominenttreelayer ofBanksiasometimeswithscattered eucalyptsandothertreespeciespresentwithinorabovetheBanksiacanopy.Theunderstoreyisspeciesrichandhasmanywildflowers,includingsclerophyllousshrubs,sedgesandherbs.

Theecologicalcommunitycanbeidentifiedbythesegeneralfeatures:

•Ittypicallyoccursonwelldrained,lownutrientsoilsinsandsofdunelandforms,inparticulardeepBassendeanandSpearwoodsands,oroccasionallyonQuindalupsands.Itisalsocommonon

sandycolluviumandaeolian(wind-blown)sandsoftheRidgeHillShelf,WhicherScarpandDandaraganPlateau.

•BanksiaWoodlandsvaryintheirstructure(height,cover, density)andspeciescompositionacross

theregionwheretheyoccur.Thesevariationscanoccuroversmalldistances,butthewoodlandsareunitedbyhavingagenerallydominantBanksiacomponent,whichincludesatleastoneoffourkeyspecies—Banksiaattenuata(candlestickbanksia),

B.menziesii(firewoodbanksia),B.prionotes(acornbanksia)and/orB.ilicifolia(holly-leavedbanksia).

Photo:BanksiaattenuataorcandleBanksiaisadominant,summerfloweringtreeofwoodlandcommunitiesacrosstheirrange(CopyrightKDixon)

Photo:(fromleft)Honey-eatersdependupontheabundantnectarresourcesandseasonalfloweringofBanksiaspeciesinthewoodlandcommunities—withfloweringinBanksiaprionotes(acornBanksia)providingimportantfoodinthesparseautumn flowering period(CopyrightBKnott).AflagshipspeciesofBanksiaWoodlandsis

BanksiamenziesiiorfirewoodBanksia,so-calledasitwasafavouredwoodforburningbysettlers(CopyrightKDixon).Banksiailicifoliaisakey‘nectar-bridging’speciesformanynectarfeedingbirdsandhoneypossumsinBanksiawoodland.Thespeciesishoweverhighlysensitivetodepletionofthewatertablethroughwaterextraction.(CopyrightDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergy).

Banksialittoralis(swampbanksia)andB.burdettii(Burdett’sbanksia)maybeco-dominantinsomeareas,butwheretheybecomedominant,theytypicallyformothercommunitiesandarenotconsideredtheBanksiaWoodlandsoftheSwanCoastalPlainecologicalcommunity.

•Othertreesofamediumheightthatmaybepresent,andmaybeco-dominantwiththeBanksiaspeciesacrossapatch,includeEucalyptustodtiana(blackbutt,pricklybark),Nuytsiafloribunda(WesternAustralianChristmastree),Allocasuarinafraseriana(westernsheoak),Callitrisarenaria(sandplaincypress),Callitrispyramidalis(swampcypress)andXylomelumoccidentale(woodypear).

•EmergenttallertreesthatcanoccurabovetheBanksiacanopymayincludeCorymbiacalophylla(marri),Eucalyptusgomphocephala(tuart)and

E.marginata(jarrah).

•KeyspeciesinthesclerophyllousshrublayerincludemembersofthefamiliesAsteraceae,Dilleniaceae,Ericaceae,Fabaceae,MyrtaceaeandProteaceae.Widespreadspeciesinclude

Adenanthoscygnorum(woollybush),Allocasuarinahumilis(dwarfsheoak),Bossiaeaeriocarpa(commonbrownpea),Conostephiumpendulum(pearlflower),Daviesiaspp.,Eremaeapauciflora,Gompholobiumtomentosum(hairy yellow pea),

Hibbertiahypericoides(yellowbuttercups),Hypolaenaexsulca,Jacksoniaspp.,Kunzeaglabrescens,Petrophilelinearis(pixiemops),Phlebocaryaciliata,Philothecaspicata(pepperandsalt),Stirlingialatifolia(blueboy)andXanthorrhoeapreissii(balga,grasstree).

•Key speciesintheherbaceousground layerincludemembersofthefamiliesCyperaceae,Droseraceae,Haemodoraceae,Orchidaceae,Restionaceaeand“lilies”fromvariousfamilies.WidespreadspeciesincludeAmphipogonturbinatus(tuftedbeardgrass),Burchardiacongesta(milkmaids),Caladeniaspp.(spiderorchids),Dasypogonbromeliifolius(pineapplebush),Desmocladusflexuosus,Droseraerythrorhiza(redinksundew),Lepidospermasquamatum

(atuftedsedge),Lomandrahermaphrodita,Lyginiabarbata(southernrush),Lyginiaimberbis,Mesomelaenapseudostygia(semaphoresedge),Patersoniaoccidentalis(purpleflag),Podolepis spp.,Stylidiumbrunonianum(pinkfountaintriggerplant),Stylidiumpiliferum(commonbutterflytriggerplant),Trachymenepilosa(dwarf

parsnip),andXanthosiahuegelii(heathxanthosia).The developmentofa groundlayermay varydependingonthedensityoftheshrublayeranddisturbancehistory.

WhyistheBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunityimportant?

TheBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunityonlyoccursonoradjacenttotheSwanCoastalPlainofWesternAustralia,whichstretchestothenorthandsouthofPerth.Thebroaderregion—SouthwestAustralia—isrecognisedasoneofonlytwoglobalbiodiversityhotspotsinAustralia.

TheecologicalcommunityprovideshabitatformanynativeplantsandanimalsthatrelyonBanksiaWoodlandsfortheirhomesandfood.Remainingpatchesoftheecologicalcommunityprovideimportantwildlifecorridorsandrefugesinamostlyfragmentedlandscape.

Sincethe19thcentury,theregionhasbeenheavilyclearedforagriculture,housingandassociatedinfrastructure.Intotal,about60%oftheoriginalextentoftheecologicalcommunityhasbeencleared.

Whennativevegetationiscleared,habitatwhichwasoncecontinuousbecomesdividedintosmallerseparate fragments.This makesit harderfor animals

toroamormigrateandforplantstodisperse.Manyfragmentsoftheecologicalcommunityaresmallislands—isolated from each other byroads, housesandotherdevelopments.

TheremainingpatchesoftheecologicalcommunityaretypicallysmallovermuchofitsrangebutespeciallyaroundPerth.Smallsizesmakeremnantsmorevulnerabletodisturbancessuchasinvasionbyweedsorferal animals. Theseparation between the patches alsocausesproblemsfor ecological processes thatsupportthehealthoftheecologicalcommunity,forexample,thetransferof pollenand seed across itsrange. This

caninterferewiththeregenerationoftheecologicalcommunity.Manyfaunaarealsounabletocrossgapsbetweenpatches ofsuitable habitat,or may facehazardsindoingso,forexample,birds,mammalsandreptilesarelostfromareaswherethereisnotenoughnativevegetationnearby.The smallpopulationsheldwithinpatchesarealso vulnerable tolocal extinction.

Opportunitiesexistforimprovingconnectivitybetweenpatches(e.g.throughreplantingandrestorationactivities),toimprovehabitatavailabilityforotherspeciesandecologicalfunctioningoftheBanksiaWoodlandsandothernativevegetation.

Photo:(clockwise)Splendidfairywren(Malurussplendens)(CopyrightRobDavis).Carnaby’scockatoo(Calyptorhynchuslatirostris)(CopyrightBrianFurby).Quenda(Isoodonobesulus)(CopyrightKenGlasson).

Photo:(fromleft)Quenda(Isoodonobesulus)(CopyrightSimonCherriman).Westernheathdragon(Ctenophorusadelaidensis)(CopyrightDepartmentofParksandWildlife,WA).

Manyanimalspeciesfoundintheecologicalcommunityalsobenefitfromothernativevegetationacrossthelandscape.Thegreatereffectiveareaofhabitatsupportslargerpopulationsofmanyspecies,andgreatertotaldiversity.Landscapeconnectionsmayalsoallowbetterrecoveryofpopulationstodisturbancessuchasfire,ifburntpatchescanbeeasilyre-colonised.EvensmallremnantsofBanksiaWoodlandswithinurbanareascanretainhighfloraldiversityandbeimportant“steppingstones”orpollination/dispersalroutesbetweenlargernativevegetationremnants.

Theecologicalcommunityincludesvaluablehabitatfeatures,suchasnectarproducingBanksiatrees.

Thesefoodsourcesareimportantformammalsandbirds.Atleast20nationally-threatenedanimalandplantspeciesarepresent,includingDasyurusgeoffroii(chuditch,westernquoll),Calyptorhynchuslatirostris(Carnaby’scockatoo),

Calyptorhynchusbanksiinaso(forestred-tailedblackcockatoo),nativebees,Banksiaaurantia(orangedryandra),Caladeniahuegelii(kingspider-orchid),Drakaeaelastica(glossy-leafedhammerorchid),andDrakaeamicrantha(dwarfhammerorchid).

Theecologicalcommunityalsocontributestowardthearea’sairandwaterqualityandhelpsprotectsoilsfromerosion.Thewoodlandshelpcooltemperaturesinthesurroundingregion;storecarbon;filterandmaintainaquifers,includingthosesupplyingdrinkingwater

forPerth;mitigatelocalflooding,damagingwinds,soilloss,andpollution;and,provideamenityandrecreationsuchasscenicareasforbushwalking.

Theecologicalcommunityisofgreatsignificancetomanylocals,includingtheoriginalinhabitantsofthearea,theNoongarpeople,andtheirlanguagegroups.

Itisimportanttohelppreventfurtherdeclinebypromotingrecoverythroughgovernment,landholderandcommunityefforts.Listingthisecologicalcommunityprotectsitfromfuturedamageandcreatesopportunitiesforitsmanagementandrestoration.

WheredoestheBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunityoccur?

TheBanksia WoodlandsecologicalcommunityisrestrictedtoareasinandimmediatelyadjacenttotheSwanCoastalPlainIBRAbioregion(Interim

BiogeographicRegionalisationofAustralia),includingtheDandaraganplateau.ThiscoastalplainstretchesfromaroundJurienBayinthenorth,toDunsboroughinthesouth,withadjacentareasincludingthelowerWhicherandDarlingescarpments.

TheBanksiaWoodlandsarethemostprominenttypeofbushlandaroundPerthandthesurroundingarea.Theyonceformedanalmostcontinuousbandwithamedian(mostcommon)patchsizeestimatedat146hectares.Theyarenowheavilyfragmented,withamedianpatchsizeestimatedat1.6hectares.

Thenumberofpatcheshasbeendividedfromaround132intoover12,000patches.

Thismapisavailableat: biodiversity/threatened/communities/pubs/131-ind icative-distribution-map.pdf

ThismaprepresentstheindicativepresentdistributionoftheBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunity.

Somemappingunitsrepresentvegetationmosaics,andarenotnecessarilyentirelytheBanksia Woodlandsecologicalcommunity.Atthisresolutionandscalemanyofdatapointsblendtogethertogiveanartificialimpressionoflargerintactareasthanactuallyremain.Inaddition,whenthequalityofthevegetationis takenintoaccount,theareasofprotectedecologicalcommunitywillbefewerandevensmaller.Thereforethelikelytooccurareasonthemapoverestimate

howmuchoftheecologicalcommunityremains.Ground-truthing(e.g.anon-groundsurvey)isrequiredtoverifyifaparticularsitemeetstherequiredkeydiagnosticcharacteristicsandminimumconditionthresholdstobethedescribedecologicalcommunity.

Minimumconditionthresholdshelpdeterminewhenapatchisconsideredtoodegradedtobeprotectedasa‘matterof national environmental significance’ undertheEPBCAct,seeAreallpatchesprotectedundertheEPBCActlisting?

Photo:BanksiaWoodlands,CardupNatureReserve(CopyrightDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergy).

Whydoestheecologicalcommunityneednationalprotection?

InSeptember2016,theAustralianGovernmentMinisterfortheEnvironmentandEnergylistedtheBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunityafterconsideringtheadviceoftheThreatenedSpeciesScientificCommittee.Arigorousassessmentofthescientificevidencesupportedlistingasendangeredasitmettheeligibilitycriteriaundernationalenvironmentlaw.

TheCommitteefoundthat:

•theecologicalcommunityhasundergoneadeclineofabout60percentinitsextent

•almostalloftheecologicalcommunitythatremains,occursashighlyfragmentedpatcheslessthan10hainsize.Itisestimatedthatover12000patchesnowexist,comparedto

132previously,withthemedian(mostcommon)patchsizenowbeingonly1.6hectares.

•it has experienced aseverereduction in itscommunityintegrityduetothecombinedeffectsofsubstantialclearingandfragmentation,dieback diseases(e.g.Phytophthora rootrotfungaldisease),invasiveweedsandferalanimals,changestofireregimes,hydrologicaldegradation(includingchangestogroundwaterlevels),climatechange,andotherdisturbancestoremainingpatches.

Thishasleadtodirectlossofpopulationsofnativespeciesinmanypartsoftherange,andassociatedlossofkeyhabitatfeaturessuchasmaturetreesandtheirfoodresources;reducedcapacitytosupportfaunawithlossofsomefaunalspecies’keyecologicalfunctions(e.g.pollination)alreadyoccurring;and,reducedresiliencetofuturedisturbance.

Theoverall aimofnationallylistingtheecologicalcommunityistopreventfurtherdeclineandsupporton-groundeffortstoensureitslong-termsurvival.

TheConservationAdvicefortheecologicalcommunityoutlinesarangeofpriorityresearchandmanagementactionsthatprovideguidanceonhowtomanage,restoreandprotectit.ThisConservationAdvicecanbefoundontheDepartment’swebsite:

Photo:Healthybanksiawoodland:NotethedominantlayerofBanksiatreesoveranativeunderstoreyofdiverseshrubsandherbs(Copyright:RobDavis)

Photo:DegradedBanksiaWoodland:SomeBanksiaWoodlandshavebeeninfectedbydiebackforover50years,andhavelostthetreecanopylayerwithmostunderstoreyshrubsspecieslost.Onlynative sedges(Cyperaceae)andrushes(Restionaceae)survivediebackdiseasehoweverthesewindpollinatedspeciesprovidefewpollenandnonectarresources(Copyright:RobDavis)

AreallpatchesprotectedundertheEPBCActlisting?

No;nationallistingsofecologicalcommunitiesspecifyconditionthresholdsthathelptoidentifypatches

thataretoodegradedforthepurposesofprotectionundernationalenvironmentlaw.Thisallowsnationalprotectiontofocusonthebestandmostintactpatchesthatremainofalistedecologicalcommunity.

Conditionthresholds

Theconditionthresholdsmeanthatsmallanddegradedpatches—suchasremnantswheretheunderstoreyhasbeenlargelyreplacedbyweeds—areexcludedfromalistedecologicalcommunityandanyactionsdonotneedtobeconsideredundertheEPBCAct.

Photo:SeasonalvisitorstoBanksiaWoodlandsincludetherainbowbee-eaterthatdependsuponpredatorfreeareasandbaresandforsupportingitsgroundnestingbehaviour(CopyrightBKnott)

ApatchshouldfirstbeidentifiedasbeingtheecologicalcommunityusingthediagnosticfeatureslistedintheConservationAdvicedocumentontheDepartment’swebsite. The conditionthresholdsareapplied—theBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunityisonlyprotectedundernationalenvironmentlawwhen it remainsin relatively good condition.The Keigheryvegetationcondition scale, whichis widely usedinsouthwesternWA,isusedtohelpdetermineconditionofapatch.Thelistedecologicalcommunityiscomprisedofall‘Pristine’conditionpatches,‘Excellent’conditionpatchesgreaterthan0.5ha,‘VeryGood’conditionpatchesover1ha,and‘Good’conditionpatches

over2ha.

AlthoughnotpartoftheprotectedecologicalcommunitylistedundertheEPBCAct,itisrecognisedthatpatcheswhichdonotmeettheminimumconditionthresholdsfor‘Good’quality,orhigher,maystillretainimportantnaturalvalues;particularlyiftheyarenearpatcheswhichdomeettheminimumconditionthresholds.Assuch,thesepatches

shouldnotbeexcludedfromrecoveryandothermanagementactions.

Forfurtherdetailsofhowtodeterminewhetherapatchofvegetationmeetsthedefinitionandconditionthresholdsforthenationalecologicalcommunity

seetheConservationAdviceat: gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/ pubs/131-conservation-advice.pdf

Whatarethebenefitsoflistingtheecologicalcommunityasnationally threatened?

Thereare a number of benefits of listingecologicalcommunitiesunderAustralia’snationalenvironmentlaw:

•Itcanhelptoprotecttheecologicalconnectionsessentialfortheecologicalfunction,healthandbiodiversityoftheregion’slandscapes.Itcanprotecthabitatresourcescriticalforrefugeandrecruitmentofthenativespeciesoftheregion,includingthreatenedspecies,otherspeciesunderlocal pressure and speciesimportant for ecosystemfunction.Inturn,thishelpsfostertheecosystemservicesassociatedwiththeecological community.

•Ithelpsprotectecologicalcommunitiesfromfuturesignificanthumanimpactscausingfurtherdecline.Theaimofthenationalenvironmentlawistoensurethemattersofnationalenvironmentalsignificance aregivendueconsideration,alongwithbroadereconomic,socialandotherissuesintheplanningofanylargeprojects.Wherepossible,significantadverseimpactstotheenvironmentshouldbeavoided.Iftheimpactsareunavoidable,theymustbemitigated,reducedor,asalast resort,offset.

Photo:(toprow,fromleft)The Statefloralemblemfor WA,theredandgreenkangaroopaw(Anigozanthosmanglesii)isalsoacommonthoughdecliningspeciesinPerth’sBanksiaWoodlandsandanimportantnectarresourceforhoneyeaterspecies(CopyrightKDixon).Vanillalily(Sowerbaealaxiflora)isacommon lowgrowing herb through woodlands (CopyrightK Dixon).Carnaby’s cockatoo feeds upon canopy storedseed in a number of Banksia speciesinthewoodlandcommunity,seenhereonB.sessilis(CopyrightBKnott);(bottomrow,fromleft)Afterasummerfire,BanksiaWoodlandsburstintobloomwithresproutingfloweringonsmokebush(Conospermumstoechadis),withsmokefromthefirestimulatinggerminationandfloweringinredandgreenkangaroopaws(Anigozanthosmanglesii)(CopyrightKDixon).BanksiaWoodlands,Lowlandsisanexcellentexampleofprivatelyownedandmanagedwoodlandthat hasamixtureofwetinter-woodlanddamplandsanduplandwoodlandinoutstandingcondition(CopyrightDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergy).

•Itencouragesagenciesandcommunitygroupstoapplyforfundingopportunitiesforconservationandrecoveryworksthatwilladdressthreatstotheecologicalcommunity.TheAustralianGovernmenthas a variety of funding programmes to assist

landmanagerstoconservebiodiversityandecosystemservices.

•AConservationAdvice,publishedatthetimeoflisting,providesguidanceforenvironmentaldecision-making,includingpriorityresearch,

conservationmanagementandrestorationactions.

•InthecaseoftheBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunity,thelistingwill:

–providelandscape-scaleprotectionthatcomplementsexistingnationalandstate protectionforboththreatenedspeciesthatarefoundwithintheecologicalcommunityandnearbythreatenedecologicalcommunities.

–protecttheenvironmentalvalues,includingtheecosystemfunctionsandservicesassociated

withtheecologicalcommunity,contributingtothelong-termproductivityofthelandscape

–raiseawarenessabouttheecologicalcommunityandthethreatsitfaces.

Whatdoesthelistingmeanforlandholders?

Businessasusualformostroutineactivities

ItisimportanttonotethattheEPBCActisonlytriggeredifaparticularactivityhas,orwillhave,asignificantimpactonaMatterofNationalEnvironmentalSignificance—inthisinstance,

alistednationallythreatenedecologicalcommunity.

Thenormalactivitiesofindividuallandholders,residentsandcouncilswilltypicallynotbeaffectedbyalisting.Routinepropertymaintenanceandotherestablishedpracticessuchasmostfarmingactivitiesandongoingroadmaintenanceworks—particularlyifcarried out in linewith state laws covering nativevegetation—areunlikelytohaveasignificantimpactandsodonottypicallyrequirereferralorotherconsiderationundernationalenvironmentlaw.

Forinstance,thefollowingactionsareunlikelytotriggertheEPBCAct:

•continuationofgrazing,horticulturalorcroppingactivities

•maintenanceofexisting roads,fences,accesstracksandfirebreaks

•maintenanceofexistingfarmgardens,orchards,damsorwaterstorages

•maintenanceofexistingpumpsandclearingdrainagelines

•replacementandmaintenanceofsheds,otherbuildings, yardsandfences

•controlofweedsandmanagementofpestanimalsonindividualpropertiesorroadsideverges.

Inall these cases,landholders are encouragedto avoidanyimpactsonpatchesoftheecologicalcommunitywherepossibleandtohelprestoreremnants.

Pleasenotethathumansettlementsandinfrastructurewheretheecologicalcommunityformerlyoccurreddonotformpartofthenaturalenvironmentandarethereforenotconsideredtobepartoftheprotectedecologicalcommunity.Thisalsoappliestositesthathavebeenreplacedbycropsandexoticpastures,

orwheretheecologicalcommunityexistsina

highly-degradedorunnaturalstate.TheConservationAdviceexplainsthedefinitionofpatchesaswellastheconditionthresholdsthatapplytonationalprotectionoftheecologicalcommunity.

Firemanagementactivitiesshouldseektominimiseimpactstotheecologicalcommunity.Firesmustbemanagedtoensurethatwherepossible,prevailingfireregimesdonotdisruptthelifecyclesofthecomponentspeciesoftheecologicalcommunity

(includingavoidingmanagementburninginfloweringandnestingseasons,whereverpossible),thattheysupportratherthandegradethehabitatnecessarytotheecologicalcommunity,thattheydonotpromoteinvasionofexoticspecies,andthattheydonotincreaseimpactsofotherdisturbances suchasgrazingorpredationbyferalpredators.

ActivitieswithEPBCActapprovalpriortothelistingofthisecologicalcommunity,donotneedtoseekfurtherapproval.

Referralrequiredforactionslikelytohaveasignificantimpact

TheEPBC ActistriggeredifanactionislikelytohaveasignificantimpactontheBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunity.Ifaproposedactionwouldhavesuchanimpact,itwouldrequire:

•areferraltodeterminewhethertheactionislikelytohaveasignificantimpactontheecologicalcommunity

•assessment(thescopeoftheassessmentdependsonthecomplexityoftheproposedaction

andimpacts)

Photo:Astrolomastomarrhena(redswampcranberry)oneofasuiteofEricaceae(nativeblueberryfamily)speciesthatarefundamentalnectarandpollenprovidersfornativeinvertebratesduringlaterautumnandwinterwhenfloweringplantsarescarce.Thefamilyisparticularlysensitivetohabitatchangesincludingwinter/springburning(CopyrightDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergy).

Photo:(fromleft)Banksiailicifolia(matchstickBanksia)(CopyrightDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergy).BanksiaWoodlands,BullsbrookNatureReserveisrepresentativeofwoodlanddevelopedonBassendeansands(CopyrightDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergy).

•adecisionbytheMinisteronapprovalandconditions.ThroughtheEPBCActapprovalsprocess,the Minister may alsoconsider socialandeconomicmattersrelevanttoindividual

projectsthatmayhaveasignificantimpactontheecologicalcommunity.

•Strict timeframesapplytoassessmentstoensuredecisionsaremadeasquicklyaspossible.

Thekeydiagnosticsandconditionthresholdsfortheecologicalcommunityexcludemanypatchesonpropertiesoralongroadsidevergesthatare

consideredtoodegradedforprotection.Inaddition,theEPBCActprovidesexemptionsforcontinuing(routine) useorwherelegalpermissionhas previouslybeengiven.

Theactivitythatis likelyto have asignificantimpactontheecologicalcommunityisclearinglargeorotherwiseimportantareasofintactorhigh-qualitynativevegetation.Forexample:

•mining,residential,commercialorotherindustrialdevelopment

•constructionofnewroadsorprojectstowidenexistingroads

•conversionoflarge areasintonew pasturesorcropping fields.

TohelpreducethesignificanceofactionsandreferralundertheEPBCAct,avoidanceandmitigationtoreduceclearingandassociatedimpactsisneededintheearlyplanningstage.

FurtherguidanceontheinformationrequiredtohelpdeterminesignificantimpactisavailableontheDepartment’swebsite(seeWherecanIgetfurtherinformation?).

HowhavetheBanksiaWoodlandsbeentakenintoaccountinthePerthandPeelStrategicAssessment?

In2011theAustralianGovernmentandWesternAustralianGovernmentdecidedtoundertakeaStrategicAssessmentofthePerthandPeelregionundertheEPBCAct,correspondingwiththeWesternAustralianGovernment’sdraft“PerthandPeelGreenGrowthPlanfor3.5million”releasedin2015–16.

The strategicassessment is aimedat determiningat aregionalscaleareastobeprotectedfromdevelopmentandareaswheresustainabledevelopmentcanoccur,thetypeofdevelopmentthatwillbeallowedandtheconditionsunderwhichdevelopmentmayproceed.

TheBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunitywasincludedasapotentialMatterofNationalEnvironmentalSignificanceinthedraftImpactAssessmentReportbytheWAGovernment,whichwasavailableforpubliccommentfromDecember2015toMay2016.AsatDecember

2016,submissionsreceivedarebeingconsideredbytheStateGovernmentaspartofthepreparationofthefinaldocuments.Furtherinformationcanbefoundat: StrategicAssessment/Pages/Default.aspx

Photo:(toprow,fromleft)Banksiamenziesiiasyoungtreesbeforedevelopingthemoretypicaltreeform(CopyrightDepartmentoftheEnvironmentand Energy).LongtermunburntBanksiaWoodlandscanmaintainspeciesrichnessandstructureforlongperiodswithoutfire—thiswoodlandis40yearswithoutfireandexhibitshealthytreesandavibrantunderstorey(CopyrightKDixon).(middlerow,fromleft)Bluetinsellilyor Starof Bethlehem(Calectasianarragara),iswinterfloweringandwidespreadthroughwoodlandcommunities(CopyrightKDixon).TypicalBanksiaWoodlandsnorthofPerthshowingvariousagestructuresintrees,deadtreesthatprovideimportantforaginghabitatforanimalsandregrowthfollowingafirethreeyearsearlier(CopyrightKDixon).(bottomrow,fromleft)Redcappedparrot(Purpureicephalusspurius)feedingonBanksiasessilis(CopyrightBKnott).Splendidwrens(Malurussplendens)occurinmanypartsofBanksiaWoodlands(CopyrightBKnott).

WhatcanIdotolookaftertheecologicalcommunity?

Tosupportthehealthandfunctionoftheecologicalcommunityitisimportanttoprotect,manageandrestorenativevegetationacrossthelandscape.Thisisbecausemanyoftheecologicalfunctionssupportingthe ecological community occur at alarger scale,

orrequirepopulationsofplantsandanimalstointeractacrossthevariousremnantsofvegetation.Forexample,transferofseedsandpollenbetweenremnantsprotectsthehealthofplantpopulationsbypromotinggeneticdiversityandgreaterresiliencetopests,diseasesand other threatssuchasclimatechange.

Youcanprotectandpromotetherecoveryofbushremnantsinyourarea.Youcan:

•avoidfurtherclearanceandfragmentationoftheecologicalcommunityandsurroundingnativevegetation,withhigh-qualityandrelativelyunmodifiedareasbeingparticularlyimportant

•minimiseunavoidableimpactsfromanydevelopmentsorotheractivitiesadjacenttotheecologicalcommunitythatmightresultin

furtherdegradation—forexample,byapplyingaminimum30mbufferzonearoundpatchesoftheecologicalcommunityandavoidinghydrologicalandnutrientenrichmentimpacts

•plantlocalnativeplantsthatoccurinlocalthreatenedecologicalcommunities

•removenon-nativespeciesfromyourpropertyanddon’tplantorspreadpotentialenvironmentalweeds(e.g.avoidnon-nativegrasses;checkwithyourlocalauthority)

•avoidfertilisersinornearbushremnants

•practiserecommendedhygieneprocedurestoavoidthespreadofdiebackdiseases(e.g.Phytophthora)

•walk,rideordriveonestablishedroadsandpaths,avoidingtheremovalortramplingofplants

•reportillegalordamagingbehaviour(e.g.unauthorisedfiresordumping)toappropriateauthorities

•support localefforts toconserve nativevegetationandwildlifeinyourarea(e.g.byjoiningorestablishingalocalorganisationsuchasaLandcareorcatchmentcaregroup,naturalhistoryora‘friendsof’group;learnabouttheecologicalcommunity,andparticipateinactivitiessuchastreeplantingandweeding)

•contactyourlocalNRMRegionbodyorCatchmentCouncilforsupportinbushmanagementactivities.

TheConservation Advicegives furtherdetailsofpriorityconservationactionsfortheecologicalcommunity.Thiscanbefoundonthe Department’swebsite: public/publiclookupcommunities.pl

Dostateorlocalenvironmentlawsalsoapply?

Yes,howeversuchstateandlocallawsdonotreplaceorstoptheoperationofthenationalenvironmentlaw.Informationaboutstate-listedcommunitiesandvegetationmanagementlawsareavailablefromtheseWestern Australianagencies:

•WADepartmentofEnvironmentRegulation:

•WADepartmentofParksandWildlife:

•WARegionalNRMgroups

–NorthernAgriculturalCatchmentsCouncil

–Perth Region NRM

–PeelHarveyCatchmentCouncil

–SouthWestCatchmentsCouncil

WherecanIgetfurtherinformation?

TheConservationAdvicefortheBanksiaWoodlandsecologicalcommunityisthedefinitivesource

ofinformationonthelistingofthisecologicalcommunity.This,andadditionalinformationontheEPBCActisavailableontheDepartment’swebsite:

•AcomprehensiveConservationAdvicefortheecologicalcommunityisontheDepartment’sspeciesprofileandthreats

(SPRAT)database,at: cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicshowcommunity.pl?id=131&status=Endangered

•EPBClisting process: threatened-species-ecological-communities

•EPBCreferral,assessmentandapproval process(includingSignificantImpactGuidelines): environment-assessments

•EPBCActenvironmentaloffsetspolicy: publications/epbc-act-environmental-offsets-policy

•AustralianGovernmentnaturalresourcemanagementinitiatives:

EnquiriescanalsobemadethroughtheDepartment’sCommunityInformationUnitbyphoneon1800803772(freecall),oremailat

IfyouneedhelptoidentifyifMattersofNationalEnvironmentalSignificancemaybepresentinyourareaofinterest:

•Checktheprotectedmatterssearchtoolat:

•Checkthespeciesprofileandthreats(SPRAT)databaseat: sprat/public/sprat.pl

•Consultwithrelevantexperts,suchasanecologicalconsultantorlocalNRMagency(e.g.catchmentgroup).Theymaybeusefultohelpidentifytheecologicalcommunityanditscondition,or

•Contactthe Department’s CommunityInformation Unit, byphoneon

1800803772(freecall),

Photo:(fromleft)OrchidsaresurprisinglyabundantanddiversethroughBanksiaWoodlands,withthepansyorchid,Diurismagnificahaving thelargestandmostcolourfulflowersofallofAustralia’sdonkeyorchids(CopyrightKDixon).Honeypossum(Tarsipesrostratus)inwoollybush(CopyrightDepartmentofParksandWildlife,WA).

environment.gov.au