❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo recovery plan, its success, implementation, and future plans. The Minister's response provides updates on the plan's progress, consultations, and rationale for decisions.
AnsweredQoN 5347Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo recovery plan, the recently published report '
2011 Great Cocky Count: Population estimates and the identification of roost sites for the Carnaby's Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris)
', BirdLife Australia's media release of 8 March 2012, and the Minister's media release of the same date, and I ask -
(1) Regarding the statement at page 7, that the recovery plan will be deemed successful if the species' extent of occurrence does not fall below 18,000 square kilometres and the number of breeding pairs at priority areas remains stable or increases, and the statement on the same page that the recovery plan will be deemed a failure if the rate of population decline has not slowed down within 10 years (i.e. by 2012) or population numbers have not increased within its present range and expanded into its former range -
(a) according to those criteria, has the recovery plan been a success or a failure to date; and
(b) what evidence does the Minister rely on in support of that conclusion? Please table this evidence.
(2) For each recovery action listed in the recovery plan, please provide full details -
(a) to what extent has it been implemented;
(b) what was its cost; and
(c) how much has the action insofar as it has been implemented contributed towards the criteria for success specified at page 7? Please provide full details including evidence relied on.
(3) Given the importance of benchmarking and monitoring the species' population, extent of occurrence, and number of breeding pairs to assess the effectiveness of the recovery plan -
(a) why has a new methodology been introduced for the Cocky Count at this late stage of the recovery plan;
(b) can the raw data obtained since the changed methodology was introduced be usefully compared with the data obtained prior to the change; and
(c) if yes to (3)(b), will the Minister please provide that comparison?
(4) Regarding the development of the new recovery plan -
(a) has the Department of Planning been consulted;
(b) has the Western Australian Local Government Association been consulted;
(c) who else has been consulted;
(d) what opportunity has there been for members of the public to make submissions regarding the content of the plan; and
(e) what steps have been taken to ensure that success or failure of the new recovery plan is -
(i) measurable;
(ii) able to be monitored throughout the life of the plan; and
(iii) what is the timeline for finalisation of the new recovery plan?
(5) Does the Minister support BirdLife Australia's call for a halt to all clearing of the species' remaining habitat, especially in the Perth and Peel regions?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) If yes to (5), what steps are the Minister and the Department taking?
2011 Great Cocky Count: Population estimates and the identification of roost sites for the Carnaby's Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris)
', BirdLife Australia's media release of 8 March 2012, and the Minister's media release of the same date, and I ask -
(1) Regarding the statement at page 7, that the recovery plan will be deemed successful if the species' extent of occurrence does not fall below 18,000 square kilometres and the number of breeding pairs at priority areas remains stable or increases, and the statement on the same page that the recovery plan will be deemed a failure if the rate of population decline has not slowed down within 10 years (i.e. by 2012) or population numbers have not increased within its present range and expanded into its former range -
(a) according to those criteria, has the recovery plan been a success or a failure to date; and
(b) what evidence does the Minister rely on in support of that conclusion? Please table this evidence.
(2) For each recovery action listed in the recovery plan, please provide full details -
(a) to what extent has it been implemented;
(b) what was its cost; and
(c) how much has the action insofar as it has been implemented contributed towards the criteria for success specified at page 7? Please provide full details including evidence relied on.
(3) Given the importance of benchmarking and monitoring the species' population, extent of occurrence, and number of breeding pairs to assess the effectiveness of the recovery plan -
(a) why has a new methodology been introduced for the Cocky Count at this late stage of the recovery plan;
(b) can the raw data obtained since the changed methodology was introduced be usefully compared with the data obtained prior to the change; and
(c) if yes to (3)(b), will the Minister please provide that comparison?
(4) Regarding the development of the new recovery plan -
(a) has the Department of Planning been consulted;
(b) has the Western Australian Local Government Association been consulted;
(c) who else has been consulted;
(d) what opportunity has there been for members of the public to make submissions regarding the content of the plan; and
(e) what steps have been taken to ensure that success or failure of the new recovery plan is -
(i) measurable;
(ii) able to be monitored throughout the life of the plan; and
(iii) what is the timeline for finalisation of the new recovery plan?
(5) Does the Minister support BirdLife Australia's call for a halt to all clearing of the species' remaining habitat, especially in the Perth and Peel regions?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) If yes to (5), what steps are the Minister and the Department taking?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
56 days
(1)(a)-(b) The recovery plan operates until the end of 2012 and so its term is not concluded. Based on expert opinion and advice from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the recovery team, it is considered likely that there has been a continued decline in the species population. The recovery plan success and failure criteria are being reassessed as part of the development of a new recovery plan.
(2)(a)-(c) [see tabled paper no]
(3)(a) When work by the agencies and organisations involved in the conservation of Carnaby's cockatoo indicated that synchronised roost counts could be useful in monitoring use of specific areas, this method was adopted for the Great Cocky Count. A standardised approach is now in place and has been used in 2010, 2011 and 2012. These counts do not provide an overall population estimate.
(3)(b)-(c) The methodology used for population estimates in the greater Perth region in the 2006 Birds Australia study is not directly comparable with that used for the Great Cocky Counts carried out in 2010 and 2011. The reports on the 2010 and 2011 counts are available on the DEC internet site, and include some comparative discussion in relation to the 2006 count.
(4)(a) Yes
(4)(b) No
(4)(c) The Carnaby's Cockatoo Recovery Team (including members from the WA Museum, Perth Zoo, Department of Planning, universities, BirdLife Australia and CSIRO) and the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
DEC has also drawn on the outcomes of a December 2008 symposium organised by Birdlife Australia, DEC and WWF-Australia.
(4)(d) Targeted comment has been obtained through the membership of the recovery team. It is intended that the draft recovery plan will be released for public comment as part of the proposed endorsement of it under the Commonwealth
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC Act).
(4)(e)(i)-(ii) The new recovery plan will build on the outcomes of the current plan and include the latest information on Carnaby's cockatoo and the appropriate approaches to its recovery. The inclusion of criteria that can be meaningfully and practically measured, including improved monitoring, is being pursued in the development of the new plan.
(4)(e)(iii) It is intended that the new recovery plan will be in place in 2013.
(5) No
(6) A halt to all clearing is not necessary to ensure the species persists and would have a major impact on development in the Perth and Peel regions. There are existing statutory processes to assess and approve the clearing of vegetation under planning and environmental legislation, and cockatoo habitat is considered in these processes. The State Government is also working with the Commonwealth on a strategic assessment under the EPBC Act for development impacting on matters of national environmental significance (including black cockatoos) in the Perth and Peel regions. It is anticipated that this assessment will provide improved conservation outcomes for Carnaby's cockatoos and other matters of national environmental significance, while also delivering streamlined development approvals.
(7) Not applicable
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(2)(a)-(c) [see tabled paper no]
(3)(a) When work by the agencies and organisations involved in the conservation of Carnaby's cockatoo indicated that synchronised roost counts could be useful in monitoring use of specific areas, this method was adopted for the Great Cocky Count. A standardised approach is now in place and has been used in 2010, 2011 and 2012. These counts do not provide an overall population estimate.
(3)(b)-(c) The methodology used for population estimates in the greater Perth region in the 2006 Birds Australia study is not directly comparable with that used for the Great Cocky Counts carried out in 2010 and 2011. The reports on the 2010 and 2011 counts are available on the DEC internet site, and include some comparative discussion in relation to the 2006 count.
(4)(a) Yes
(4)(b) No
(4)(c) The Carnaby's Cockatoo Recovery Team (including members from the WA Museum, Perth Zoo, Department of Planning, universities, BirdLife Australia and CSIRO) and the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
DEC has also drawn on the outcomes of a December 2008 symposium organised by Birdlife Australia, DEC and WWF-Australia.
(4)(d) Targeted comment has been obtained through the membership of the recovery team. It is intended that the draft recovery plan will be released for public comment as part of the proposed endorsement of it under the Commonwealth
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
(EPBC Act).
(4)(e)(i)-(ii) The new recovery plan will build on the outcomes of the current plan and include the latest information on Carnaby's cockatoo and the appropriate approaches to its recovery. The inclusion of criteria that can be meaningfully and practically measured, including improved monitoring, is being pursued in the development of the new plan.
(4)(e)(iii) It is intended that the new recovery plan will be in place in 2013.
(5) No
(6) A halt to all clearing is not necessary to ensure the species persists and would have a major impact on development in the Perth and Peel regions. There are existing statutory processes to assess and approve the clearing of vegetation under planning and environmental legislation, and cockatoo habitat is considered in these processes. The State Government is also working with the Commonwealth on a strategic assessment under the EPBC Act for development impacting on matters of national environmental significance (including black cockatoos) in the Perth and Peel regions. It is anticipated that this assessment will provide improved conservation outcomes for Carnaby's cockatoos and other matters of national environmental significance, while also delivering streamlined development approvals.
(7) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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