19 – Parks Australia monitoring for threatened species^259fulfil obligations of the EPBC Act. Consequently, a second prioritisation tool (this
time focusing on monitoring decisions) is being developed collaboratively with the
National Environmental Science Programme. For jointly managed parks, these
decisions must also be based on a consensus between Traditional Owners and the
reserve staff.
Until the monitoring prioritisation tool is fully developed and implemented,
decisions about what to monitor are based on the following considerations.
● (^) Some species are the target of attention in either the DNP corporate plan or a
high-profile conservation program (e.g. the Priority Species of the
Commonwealth’s Threatened Species Strategy). The Norfolk Island boobook
owl Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata and the Alligator River subspecies of the
yellow chat Epthianura crocea tunneyi are examples of species prioritised for
monitoring because of their inclusion in the Threatened Species Strategy.
● (^) Species particularly at risk of extinction or that are extremely rare, will often be
a priority for monitoring. The Eastern bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus at
Booderee National Park has been monitored for many years because it is
extremely rare and localised.
● (^) Long-term datasets are highly valued due to the interrogation options available
with such data for answering multiple questions. In the case of the Eastern
bristlebird at Booderee, this has included the response of the species to fire
regimes.
● (^) Long-term partnerships with individual researchers and/or research
organisations, who bring in external funding and expertise, can facilitate
ongoing monitoring of a threatened species. The Australian National
University has worked in Booderee National Park for many years, primarily
concentrating on the ecological aspects of fire. The monitoring associated with
this program has documented the status of several threatened species,
including the greater glider Petauroides volans (which declined to local
extinction in the park), and reintroduced populations of long-nosed potoroos
Potorous tridactylus and southern brown bandicoots Isoodon obesulus.
Similarly, a long-term research partnership with several institutions including
Wildmob and Massey University has helped to conduct the monitoring of
green parrots Cyanoramphus cookii on Norfolk Island for many years.
Parks Australia threatened species monitoring programs
Multi-species surveillance monitoring
Some monitoring in Commonwealth reserves involves multi-species surveillance
programs whose primary objective is not threatened species monitoring but which
may include some threatened taxa where they occur within the study area