R5 Research Foraging habitat restoration or creation programs should contain a During the planning of a foraging Recreated foraging habitat is used by monitoring component to identify when foraging GHFF begin use of these site rehabilitation or creation foraging GHFF. sites. Monitoring should occur to demonstrate that use of these sites project, incorporation of monitoring occurs. Any monitoring should be published as a minimum in the ABS requirements to establish when newsletter, but preferably in a publically-accessible journal, and made foraging begins, and possibly its freely available on the internet where possible. frequency. H1 Health Investigate the potential physical and mental health impacts to humans of Can be done anytime. Comprehensive impacts to health are living in close proximity to a flying-fox camp. considered in management plans Broaden the understanding of the mental and emotional impacts of living prepared for problematic flying-fox adjacent to flying-fox camps to provide improved information to support camps. camp management plans and residents. H2 Health Ensure horses on properties within flying-fox distributions are vaccinated Should be undertaken soon to Transfer of Hendra from flying-fox to as per relevant guidelines. This action should be followed by a campaign capitalise on vaccination release. horse and horse to human does not to inform landholders with horses about actions to take to minimise risks of occur. transmitting Hendra (e.g. keep feed and water under cover or away from trees and temporarily remove stock from paddocks containing flowering trees). H3 Health Ensure school programs are provided in Lower Hunter schools that equip Should occur at an appropriate Children are equipped with correct children with factual knowledge about bats and health risks. age, so that the risks and information about bat diseases, and management of these risks are can make appropriate choices of action readily understood. when near flying-foxes.
R5 Research Foraging habitat restoration or creation programs should contain a monitoring component to identify when foraging GHFF begin use of these sites. Monitoring should occur to demonstrate that use of these sites occurs. Any monitoring should be published as a minimum in the ABS newsletter, but preferably in a publically-accessible journal, and made freely available on the internet where possible. During the planning of a foraging site rehabilitation or creation project, incorporation of monitoring requirements to establish when foraging begins, and possibly its frequency. Recreated foraging habitat is used by foraging GHFF. H1 Health Investigate the potential physical and mental health impacts to humans of living in close proximity to a flying-fox camp. Broaden the understanding of the mental and emotional impacts of living adjacent to flying-fox camps to provide improved information to support camp management plans and residents. Can be done anytime. Comprehensive impacts to health are considered in management plans prepared for problematic flying-fox camps. H2 Health Ensure horses on properties within flying-fox distributions are vaccinated as per relevant guidelines. This action should be followed by a campaign to inform landholders with horses about actions to take to minimise risks of transmitting Hendra (e.g. keep feed and water under cover or away from trees and temporarily remove stock from paddocks containing flowering trees). Should be undertaken soon to capitalise on vaccination release. Transfer of Hendra from flying-fox to horse and horse to human does not occur. H3 Health Ensure school programs are provided in Lower Hunter schools that equip children with factual knowledge about bats and health risks. Should occur at an appropriate age, so that the risks and management of these risks are readily understood. Children are equipped with correct information about bat diseases, and can make appropriate choices of action when near flying-foxes.
flying-fox.docx