❓ A parliamentary question regarding the decline of Carnaby's black cockatoo population, habitat loss, and government protection measures. The Minister's response outlines decline estimates, contributing factors, clearing permit processes, and existing protection mechanisms.
AnsweredQoN 877Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CARNABY'S
BLACK COCKATOO
877. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to National Threatened Species Day on 7 September
2014.
(1) What is
the current rate of decline in the population of Carnaby's black
cockatoo observed in the recent study undertaken by Birdlife Australia and the
Department of Parks and Wildlife?
(2) Does the minister agree that the decline is primarily due
to the loss and fragmentation of habitat?
(3) Will the government prohibit any further clearing of
Carnaby's black cockatoo roosting sites?
(4) How will the government protect Carnaby's black
cockatoo feeding vegetation?
BLACK COCKATOO
877. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to National Threatened Species Day on 7 September
2014.
(1) What is
the current rate of decline in the population of Carnaby's black
cockatoo observed in the recent study undertaken by Birdlife Australia and the
Department of Parks and Wildlife?
(2) Does the minister agree that the decline is primarily due
to the loss and fragmentation of habitat?
(3) Will the government prohibit any further clearing of
Carnaby's black cockatoo roosting sites?
(4) How will the government protect Carnaby's black
cockatoo feeding vegetation?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) The 2014
Great Cocky Count report estimates that the current rate of decline in the
total number of Carnaby's cockatoos on the Perth–Peel coastal
plain is around 15 per cent per year. The report acknowledges that the study
covers only a part of the overall population of Carnaby's cockatoos—approximately
a quarter—and that a wider survey effort is required in order to
understand population trends across the south west of Western Australia. It
also recognises that because this species is highly mobile, it is also possible
that the birds have dispersed to locations not included in the count.
(2) Multiple
factors could potentially contribute to any decline of the Carnaby's
cockatoo, one of which is loss and fragmentation of foraging and night roost
habitat in the non-breeding parts of their range. Other factors as identified
in the Carnaby's cockatoo recovery plan 2012 include loss of breeding
habitat, including suitable hollows; collision with motor vehicles; disease;
and declining rainfall trends.
(3) Clearing
of native vegetation is only lawful when a clearing permit has been granted or
when an exemption applies. Significant habitat for fauna is considered in
principle (b) of schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 when
determining whether or not to grant a clearing permit.
(4) Carnaby's
cockatoo has been listed as a threatened species under both Western Australian
and national environmental legislation. As such, it receives special protection
and any proposal that may impact on this species or its habitat, including
feeding vegetation, must undergo environmental assessment to ensure the
conservation of this species. More than 15 000 hectares of Carnaby's
cockatoo habitat has been purchased and transferred into the conservation
estate as part of environmental offsets since 2008.
The state and commonwealth
environment ministers are developing a number of measures to avoid and mitigate
impacts to Carnaby's cockatoo as part of the strategic assessment of
the Perth and Peel regions being conducted under the commonwealth Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
(1) The 2014
Great Cocky Count report estimates that the current rate of decline in the
total number of Carnaby's cockatoos on the Perth–Peel coastal
plain is around 15 per cent per year. The report acknowledges that the study
covers only a part of the overall population of Carnaby's cockatoos—approximately
a quarter—and that a wider survey effort is required in order to
understand population trends across the south west of Western Australia. It
also recognises that because this species is highly mobile, it is also possible
that the birds have dispersed to locations not included in the count.
(2) Multiple
factors could potentially contribute to any decline of the Carnaby's
cockatoo, one of which is loss and fragmentation of foraging and night roost
habitat in the non-breeding parts of their range. Other factors as identified
in the Carnaby's cockatoo recovery plan 2012 include loss of breeding
habitat, including suitable hollows; collision with motor vehicles; disease;
and declining rainfall trends.
(3) Clearing
of native vegetation is only lawful when a clearing permit has been granted or
when an exemption applies. Significant habitat for fauna is considered in
principle (b) of schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 when
determining whether or not to grant a clearing permit.
(4) Carnaby's
cockatoo has been listed as a threatened species under both Western Australian
and national environmental legislation. As such, it receives special protection
and any proposal that may impact on this species or its habitat, including
feeding vegetation, must undergo environmental assessment to ensure the
conservation of this species. More than 15 000 hectares of Carnaby's
cockatoo habitat has been purchased and transferred into the conservation
estate as part of environmental offsets since 2008.
The state and commonwealth
environment ministers are developing a number of measures to avoid and mitigate
impacts to Carnaby's cockatoo as part of the strategic assessment of
the Perth and Peel regions being conducted under the commonwealth Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
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