There are a number of offset methodologies In the absence of good scientific knowledge, interim available, but none specifically refers to G. parviflora objectives for the species within Lake Macquarie LGA subsp. parviflora and in practice, offsets are generally are appropriate to support consistent decision-making. negotiated. The NSW BioBanking Assessment Methodology is applied extensively as a benchmark The Lower Hunter Regional Conservation for determining offset ratios. Plan (Department of Environment and Climate Change 2009) applies the agreed national and state For G. parviflora subsp. parviflora two issues arise JANIS (Commonwealth of Australia 1997) targets for in the use of this method: forested environments to the Lower Hunter as follows: 1. Counting of stems of clonal plants cannot A general principle of 15% reservation of the pre- differentiate plants and no accurate • 1750 distribution of each forest ecosystem. indication of separate plants can be derived to provide a reasonable basis for calculating Where forest ecosystems are recognised as • offsets. vulnerable, then at least 60% of their remaining extent should be reserved (e.g. endangered 2. The methodology assumes that the number of ecological communities listed under the TSC plants can be increased by management actions. Act This assumption appears incorrect in relation to 1995). G. parviflora subsp. parviflora management actions will stop loss of plants, All remaining occurrences of rare (geographic • but will not increase plant numbers. range of <10,000 ha, total area of <1,000 ha in region or path sizes of generally <100 ha), It is therefore recommended that the Office of endangered and vulnerable (approaching 70% Environment and Heritage review the credit reduction in area) forest ecosystems should be calculator for G. parviflora subsp. parviflora, the reserved or protected by other means as far as is appropriate survey methods to be used, and the practicable. species credits that can be achieved by certain management actions. 5.6 Implementation mechanisms 5.5 Regional Strategic planning objectives Mechanisms for planning implementation include biodiversity offsets, acquisition of conservation Planning objectives document and provide the reserves, recovery plans, legal basis for implementation of planning measures. conservation/planning agreements, development Objectives are helpful for clarifying desired assessment requirements, and management outcomes and for incorporating in strategic frameworks (including monitoring). planning documents. 19 Interim Lake Macquarie Grevillea par viflora subsp. par viflora Planning and Management Guidelines June 2013 –
There are a number of offset methodologies available, but none specifically refers to G. parviflora subsp. parviflora and in practice, offsets are generally negotiated. The NSW BioBanking Assessment Methodology is applied extensively as a benchmark for determining offset ratios. For G. parviflora subsp. parviflora two issues arise in the use of this method: 1. Counting of stems of clonal plants cannot differentiate plants and no accurate indication of separate plants can be derived to provide a reasonable basis for calculating offsets. 2. The methodology assumes that the number of plants can be increased by management actions. This assumption appears incorrect in relation to G. parviflora subsp. parviflora management actions will stop loss of plants, but will not increase plant numbers. It is therefore recommended that the Office of Environment and Heritage review the credit calculator for G. parviflora subsp. parviflora, the appropriate survey methods to be used, and the species credits that can be achieved by certain management actions. 5.5 Regional Strategic planning objectives Planning objectives document and provide the basis for implementation of planning measures. Objectives are helpful for clarifying desired outcomes and for incorporating in strategic planning documents. In the absence of good scientific knowledge, interim objectives for the species within Lake Macquarie LGA are appropriate to support consistent decision-making. The Lower Hunter Regional Conservation Plan (Department of Environment and Climate Change 2009) applies the agreed national and state JANIS (Commonwealth of Australia 1997) targets for forested environments to the Lower Hunter as follows: • A general principle of 15% reservation of the pre- 1750 distribution of each forest ecosystem. • Where forest ecosystems are recognised as vulnerable, then at least 60% of their remaining extent should be reserved (e.g. endangered ecological communities listed under the TSC Act 1995). • All remaining occurrences of rare (geographic range of <10,000 ha, total area of <1,000 ha in region or path sizes of generally <100 ha), endangered and vulnerable (approaching 70% reduction in area) forest ecosystems should be reserved or protected by other means as far as is practicable. 5.6 Implementation mechanisms Mechanisms for planning implementation include biodiversity offsets, acquisition of conservation reserves, recovery plans, legal conservation/planning agreements, development assessment requirements, and management frameworks (including monitoring). Interim Lake Macquarie Grevillea par viflora subsp. par viflora Planning and Management Guidelines – June 2013 19
grevillea-parviflora-guidelines.docx