Priority Species, Communities, Ecosystems, and Threats

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Priority Species, Communities, Ecosystems, and Threats East Gippsland Regional Catchment Strategy 2015/2016 1.

1 Priority Species, Communities, Ecosystems, and Threats East Gippsland Regional Catchment Strategy 2015/ Objective This document aims to assist in the preparation of project applications for Victorian Landcare Grant funding by providing summary information from the Regional Catchment Strategy on the priority species, and ecosystems, as well as emerging threats to the region. 2.0 East Gippsland Regional Catchment Strategy The RCS adopts 5 Programs based upon geographic boundaries across East Gippsland as displayed in Figure 1. Priority species, and ecosystems, and principal threats and emerging threats details are provided in tables 1-8 for each program across the East Gippsland region. However, for information relevant to your application it is acceptable to review priorities and threats specific to your program area. 1. Region-wide (RW) encompassing the entire East Gippsland region. 2. Gippsland Lakes and Hinterlands (GLH) 3. Gippsland Lakes Upper Catchment (GLUC) 4. East Coast (EC) and 5. Far East Catchments (FEC). Figure One: East Gippsland RCS program areas. Depicted are the GLH, GLUC, FEC and EC program areas. The region wide program area incorporates all of these program areas. 1 P a g e D

2 2.1 Summary of Priority Species, Communities and Ecosystems, and Threats to RCS Program Areas Gippsland Lakes and Hinterland priority species, and ecosystems, and principal threats and emerging threats Table One: GLH priority species, and ecosystems Significant Criteria Type of Feature Description and locations species, and ecosystems species Significant ecological vegetation classes EPBC listed critically endangered ecological : Gippsland Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Associated Native Grassland ecological community Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets. Recorded in the Gippsland Lakes and Hinterland area: 10 endangered and 19 vulnerable species on the DSE Victorian advisory list 4 endangered and 6 vulnerable EPBC listed species 17 FFG 2 listed species. 5 critically endangered, 22 endangered and 37 4 endangered and 16 vulnerable EPBC listed species 56 FFG listed species. Approximately 20% (~40,950 ha) of the Gippsland Lakes and Hinterland area is covered by EVC 3 s with a bioregional conservation status of rare, endangered, depleted or vulnerable, of which 0.4% is rare (~890 ha), 6.1% is endangered (~12,670 ha), 5.8% is depleted (~12,020 ha), and 7.4% is vulnerable (~15,380 ha) based on modelled state data. Note 2 : Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act ( Note 3: Ecological Vegetation Class Table Two: GLH principal and emerging threats Invasive plants and animals (particularly to threatened species and ecological ) Increasing salinity in estuaries and wetlands Degraded water quality (nutrients and sediment) Effects of grazing stock on riparian and wetland vegetation More variable freshwater inflows and their effect on vegetation (wetlands) and significant fauna Soil compaction, salinity and erosion Acid sulfate soils Disturbance from recreational activities 2 P a g e D

3 Loss of native vegetation remnants Development and population growth Coastal erosion. Priority emerging threats with the potential to significantly affect environmental and land production values Effects of climate change on sea level rise Reductions in freshwater flows Spread and increasing populations of invasive animals (particularly deer) Continued change in salinity levels in the Gippsland Lakes and its effect on Ecological, particularly in wetland and estuarine environments Gippsland Lakes Upper Catchment priority species, and ecosystems, and principal threats and emerging threats. Table Three: GLUC priority species, and ecosystems Significant Criteria Type of feature Description and locations species, and ecosystems species Significant EVCs EPBC listed critically endangered ecological : White Box Yellow Box Blakely s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland. EPBC listed endangered ecological : Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens Silurian Limestone Pomaderris Shrubland of the South East Corner and Australian Alps Bioregion. Recorded in the Gippsland Lakes Upper Catchment area: 1 presumed extinct, 10 endangered and 55 vulnerable species on the DSE Victorian advisory list 1 endangered and 16 vulnerable EPBC listed species 33 FFG 2 listed species. 9 critically endangered, 8 endangered and 21 vulnerable species on the DSE Victorian advisory list 7 endangered and 7 vulnerable EPBC listed species 37 FFG listed species. Approximately 7.9% (~55,350 ha) of the Gippsland Lakes Upper Catchment area is covered by EVCs with a bioregional conservation status of rare, endangered, depleted or vulnerable, of which 1.6% is rare (~11,020 ha), 0.2% is endangered (~1,150 ha), 4.2% is depleted (~28,960 ha), and 2.0% is vulnerable (~14,210 ha) based on modelled state data. Note 2 : Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act ( Table Four: GLUC principal and emerging threats Soil erosion 3 P a g e D

4 Cleared riparian zones Invasive plants and animals particularly predators (dogs, foxes) and hard hooved grazers (horses, deer, cattle, pigs and goats) Soil acidity and compaction. Priority emerging threats with the potential to significantly affect environmental and land production values Emergence of new pest plant and animal species East Coast priority species, and ecosystems, and principal threats and emerging threats Table Five: EC priority species, and ecosystems Significant Criteria Type of feature Description and locations species, and ecosystems EPBC listed critically endangered ecological : Littoral Rainforest and Coastal Vine Thickets. species Significant EVCs Recorded in the East Coast area: 1 presumed extinct, 9 endangered and 38 vulnerable species on the DSE Victorian advisory list 1 endangered and 4 vulnerable EPBC listed species 17 FFG 2 listed species. 6 critically endangered, 18 endangered, and 42 1 critically endangered, 8 endangered and 13 vulnerable EPBC listed species 61 FFG listed species. Approximately 14.1% (~9,300 ha) of the East Coast area is covered by EVCs with a bioregional conservation status of rare, depleted or vulnerable, of which 1.2% is rare (~820 ha), 4.6% is depleted (~3,040 ha), and 8.2% is vulnerable (~5,430 ha) based on modelled state data. Note 2 : Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act ( Table Six: EC principal and emerging threats Invasive plants and animals Elevated sediment levels in the Cann and Genoa rivers Altered flow regime and increasing salinity in the Lower Snowy River Disturbance from recreational activities Coastal erosion 4 P a g e D

5 Introduction of marine pests. Priority emerging threats with the potential to significantly affect environmental and land production values Introduction and establishment of new pest plant and animal species (either from interstate or with changing climatic conditions) Effects of climate change on sea level rise Threats from coastal development and uncontrolled access to the coast Threats from acid sulfate soils Threats of accelerated coastal erosion on susceptible ecological Far East Catchment priority species, and ecosystems, and principal threats and emerging threats Table Seven: FEC priority species, and ecosystems Significant Criteria Type of feature Description and locations species, and ecosystems species Significant EVCs EPBC listed critically endangered ecological : White Box Yellow Box Blakely s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland. EPBC listed endangered ecological : Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens Natural Temperate Grasslands of the Southern Tablelands of NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. Recorded in the Far East Catchments area: 2 presumed extinct, 35 endangered and endangered and 15 vulnerable EPBC listed species 61 FFG 2 listed species. 6 critically endangered, 20 endangered and 39 8 endangered, and 12 vulnerable EPBC listed species 65 FFG listed species. Approximately 7.9% (~88,920 ha) of the area of native vegetation in the Far East Catchments area is covered by EVCs with a bioregional conservation status of rare, depleted or vulnerable, of which 1.3% is rare (~15,030 ha), 5.1% is depleted (~57,720 ha), and 1.4% is vulnerable (~15,860 ha) based on modelled state data. Note 2 : Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act ( Table Eight: FEC principal and emerging threats Soil erosion Cleared riparian zone 5 P a g e D

6 Invasive plants and animals particularly predators (dogs, foxes) and hard hooved grazers (horses, deer, cattle, pigs and goats). Priority emerging threats with the potential to significantly affect environmental and land production values Emergence of new pest plant and animal species. 3.0 EGCMA Contact Details Further information If you have any questions or queries please contact: Amanda Bartkowski Regional Landcare Coordinator East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Phone: (03) P a g e D

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