❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses concerns regarding the public availability, accuracy, and completeness of the Biodiversity Audit II database, particularly concerning threatened species data and mitigation strategies for anthropogenic threats. The Minister's response defends the database's accessibility and accuracy, while acknowledging limitations and outlining existing conservation strategies.
AnsweredQoN 840Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to question on notice No. 362 of 1 November, 2017, the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC stated that "the Biodiversity Audit II database has been publicly available in the Conservation Science Library and DBCA offices since September 2015". The Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations Hearing on 10 December (three months after the aforementioned publication date) revealed that the database was not yet publicly available and it wasn't anticipated to make it publicly available at that point in time: (a) does the Minister wish to correct the public record about when Audit II's database was made publicly available; and (b) if no to (a), why not? (2) There is a large proportion of data missing from the online version of the Audit, specifically regarding details of threats faced by flora, fauna, and communities, and conservation statuses for many species throughout Western Australia. An article for WA Today called "Buried audit shows WA species plunging into extinction" (Emma Young, 2017), claims that the results in the Audit are inaccurate, outdated, and/or knowingly misleading. For example, it suggests that five species of flora have become extinct, but remain listed as "critically endangered" or "threatened": (a) would the Minister like to comment on the data missing from the Audit; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) would the Minister like to comment on the claim of inaccurate, outdated, and/or misleading data in the Audit; (d) if no to (c), why not; and (e) if the Minister has indicated the existence of inaccurate data in (c), what has been done, or what will be done, to correct this? (3) The Minister was asked, question on notice No. 362, whether the findings of Biodiversity Audit II were publicly available, not whether the database was available. The Minister also confirmed in question on notice No. 362 that he has been briefed on these findings: (a) does the Minister wish to share these findings with the Council; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) will the Minister table these findings; (d) if no to (c), why not; (e) with respect to the Minister's response to part (2), if the Minister has confirmed the existence of inaccurate data, would the Minister like to provide additional comments on how a briefing of findings was possible with the presence of inaccurate data; and (f) if no to (e), why not? (4) In the online version of the Audit, the green, hawksbill, flatback and loggerhead species of turtle were all accompanied with the comment "Turtles not yet done by Audit II": (a) what is the reason for incomplete data accompanying these species of turtle in Audit II; and (b) if the Minister cannot provide this, why not? (5) Most future threats faced by fauna, flora, and communities outlined in the Audit are anthropogenic, and these threats include land clearing and climate change. There is very little information in the Audit database as to which specific strategies will be implemented, are being implemented, or are recommended to mitigate these threats: (a) have any strategies been outlined to mitigate the effects of human activity, including climate change, on the species communities in Western Australia; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) if yes to (a), will the Minister table or otherwise provide specific information on these strategies; (d) if no to (c), why not; (e) if yes to (a), will the Audit database be updated to include this information; and (f) if no to (e), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 April 2018
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
9 days
(1)(a) The Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations Hearing on 10 December 2015 included information that, while the Biodiversity Audit II database was primarily for the use of staff of the former Department of Parks and Wildlife, requests for the data could be made by third parties. These requests for access to information in the database were responded to either by providing the relevant data or by advising that the database could be viewed by visiting the Conservation Science Library or a Departmental office. As such, the statement that the audit database has been publicly available through the library and Departmental offices since September 2015 is correct.
(b) Not applicable
(2)(a) The knowledge of biodiversity condition and threats is incomplete for many of Western Australia’s threatened species and this is reflected in the data available in the Biodiversity Audit II database. The conservation status of threatened flora and fauna is publicly available in the notice published in the Government Gazette and can be downloaded from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ website.
(b) Not applicable
(c) Determining if a species is extinct is partly based on knowledge of the species biology, which may include life cycle stages where no live plants are present. As outlined in the article, two of the five species are maintained in soil-stored seed, one is in the live collection at Kings Park, two have been translocated to secure sites to establish new wild populations, and one is rare in Western Australia but occurs in Victoria and New South Wales. As such, none of the species meets the internationally accepted criteria to be listed as extinct.
(d) Not applicable
(e) Not applicable
(3)(a) Information I received in briefings on Biodiversity Audit II included the project’s aims and outputs, cost, data collected, limitations of the data and development of the database. This information is on the public record through hearings of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations and questions asked in both Houses of Parliament.
(b) Not applicable
(c) No
(d) The information is already on the public record.
(e) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has advised me that all reasonable efforts were made to verify and quality check the data in the database. Any inaccuracies that the database may contain are inadvertent. The briefings I received acknowledged the limitations of the data collected.
(f) Not applicable
(4)(a) As stated on the Biodiversity Audit II web portal, the audit did not assess the condition of, or threats to, marine species. However, some data is provided on these species. For example, data is provided for the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy for green, hawksbill, flatback and loggerhead turtles.
(b) Not applicable
(5)(a-d) A range of strategies are implemented to respond to anthropogenic impacts to Western Australia’s native flora, fauna and ecological communities, including revegetation and rehabilitation of native vegetation; protecting remnant vegetation including through working with landholders to manage bushland for conservation; controlling pest animals, weeds and plant diseases; seed and tissue banking; translocations and ecosystem restoration; and research. More information on projects that contribute to these strategies can be found in the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ annual report, published papers and other fora, such as Landscope magazine.
(e) No
(f) It is not intended to update the Biodiversity Audit II database as it provides a snapshot in time.
(b) Not applicable
(2)(a) The knowledge of biodiversity condition and threats is incomplete for many of Western Australia’s threatened species and this is reflected in the data available in the Biodiversity Audit II database. The conservation status of threatened flora and fauna is publicly available in the notice published in the Government Gazette and can be downloaded from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ website.
(b) Not applicable
(c) Determining if a species is extinct is partly based on knowledge of the species biology, which may include life cycle stages where no live plants are present. As outlined in the article, two of the five species are maintained in soil-stored seed, one is in the live collection at Kings Park, two have been translocated to secure sites to establish new wild populations, and one is rare in Western Australia but occurs in Victoria and New South Wales. As such, none of the species meets the internationally accepted criteria to be listed as extinct.
(d) Not applicable
(e) Not applicable
(3)(a) Information I received in briefings on Biodiversity Audit II included the project’s aims and outputs, cost, data collected, limitations of the data and development of the database. This information is on the public record through hearings of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations and questions asked in both Houses of Parliament.
(b) Not applicable
(c) No
(d) The information is already on the public record.
(e) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has advised me that all reasonable efforts were made to verify and quality check the data in the database. Any inaccuracies that the database may contain are inadvertent. The briefings I received acknowledged the limitations of the data collected.
(f) Not applicable
(4)(a) As stated on the Biodiversity Audit II web portal, the audit did not assess the condition of, or threats to, marine species. However, some data is provided on these species. For example, data is provided for the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy for green, hawksbill, flatback and loggerhead turtles.
(b) Not applicable
(5)(a-d) A range of strategies are implemented to respond to anthropogenic impacts to Western Australia’s native flora, fauna and ecological communities, including revegetation and rehabilitation of native vegetation; protecting remnant vegetation including through working with landholders to manage bushland for conservation; controlling pest animals, weeds and plant diseases; seed and tissue banking; translocations and ecosystem restoration; and research. More information on projects that contribute to these strategies can be found in the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ annual report, published papers and other fora, such as Landscope magazine.
(e) No
(f) It is not intended to update the Biodiversity Audit II database as it provides a snapshot in time.
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