Cumberland Subregion BIO Map Biodiversity Corridors of Regional Significance 20150804

## **Abstract** 

This data and its metadata statement were supplied to the Bioregional Assessment Programme by a third party and are represented here as originally supplied.



Abstract:   The Biodiversity Investment Opportunities Map (BIO Map) is a key deliverable of the NSW Government's $40 million Green Corridors program, a Government priority action identified in NSW 2021: A Plan to make NSW number one. The map was prepared with funding provided by the NSW Environmental Trust. BIO Map has been prepared for the Cumberland subregion, a 275 693-hectare area containing the Cumberland Plain, a broad shale basin in Western Sydney. The areas identified for investment are termed priority investment areas, and include core areasand biodiversity corridors of regional significance(this layer). Mapping criteria were used to identify and map priority investment areas, and targeted stakeholder consultation was conducted to inform the outputs of the project. Stakeholders consulted included the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, six state government authorities, 16 local councils and eight non-government organisations. The final Cumberland subregion BIO Map identifies a network of 87 core areas and 27 regional biodiversity corridors within the Cumberland subregion. The 87 core areas include all of the Priority Conservation Lands identified by the Cumberland Plain Recovery Plan. The total area represented within the mapped priority investment areas is 42,124 hectares. Mapped regional corridors make up 17,727 hectares(excluding areas mapped as both regional corridors and core areas). The BIO Map project aims to achieve better biodiversity outcomes by directing biodiversity investment funding to the strategic locations of greatest benefit. A landholder's right to carry out agricultural and developmental activities on their land are not altered by their property being identified as a priority investment area on the BIO Map. The BIO Map identifies areas where landowners have more opportunities to receive funding to protect their bushland. Any involvement by a landowner in such programs is entirely voluntary.

## **Purpose** 

The BIO Map project aims to achieve better biodiversity outcomes by directing biodiversity investment funding to the strategic locations of greatest benefit

## **Dataset History** 

This data and its metadata statement were supplied to the Bioregional Assessment Programme by a third party and are represented here as originally supplied.



Lineage:   State and regional biodiversity corridors are linear areas that link core areas and play a crucial role in maintaining connections between animal and plant populations that would otherwise be isolated and at greater risk of local extinction. Biodiversity corridors include: \*State biodiversity corridors: key linkages of native vegetation identified through state-wide analysis and provide connectivity between IBRA regions and subregions. \*Regional biodiversity corridors: key linkages of native vegetation within an IBRA subregion, between IBRA subregions or between significant biodiversity features. Combined with core areas, the areas are termed Priority Investment Areas (PIAs). Regional biodiversity corridors were mapped for the Cumberland subregion. Based on the criteria applied no state biodiversity corridors were identified. The process of identifying regional corridors within the Cumberland subregion involved a number of tasks. Several existing layers were incorporated directly into the regional biodiversity corridors layer for the Cumberland subregion, including: \* Western Sydney Parklands bushland corridor (Western Sydney Parklands Trust 2013); \* Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment regional biodiversity corridors (Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority 2008); \* lands zoned 7(d1) Environmental Protection (Scenic) in the Campbelltown LEP - District 8 (Central Hills Lands) (Campbelltown Council 2008) \* a small area of land identified on the Natural Resources Sensitivity Land Map in the Penrith LEP (Penrith Council 2010). Regional corridors were also identified by using the results of the Spatial Links Tool (SLT), aerial photo interpretation and vegetation mapping. Each potential corridor was reviewed for continuity, width and land use to ensure that the area included: \* predominantly continuous native canopy vegetation cover \* an average minimum width of 100 metres \* to the greatest extent feasible, land unlikely to be subject to a development outcome (areas of current or proposed development were not included in regional biodiversity corridors). Riparian corridors were identified first. The boundaries of these corridors were identified by using the larger/wider extent of the following layers: \* riparian buffer (consistent with the Water Management Act 2000 (DPI 2012)), or \* lands zoned for environmental protection (e.g. E2 (Environmental Conservation) under standard instruments, or equivalent zones in older instruments), or \* contiguous extant native canopy vegetation in suitable locations. As a general rule, land zoned residential (e.g. R1 to R4 under a standard LEP, or equivalent), industrial (e.g. IN1 to IN4) or business (e.g. B1 to B7) was removed from regional biodiversity corridors. Non-riparian corridors were identified predominantly through stakeholder consultation, and include large contiguous areas with complementary zoning (e.g. the Scenic Hills area of Campbelltown LGA), areas of likely native grasslands, or areas with distinct landscape features (e.g. ridgelines). In total the 27 regional biodiveristy corridors were identified, occupying approxiamtely 17,927 hectares (excluding core areas). 42 124 hectares are mapped as PIAs when both core areas and corridors are considered . This represents approximately 15% of the Cumberland subregion, or approximately 61% of all mapped vegetation within the subregion. Positional accuracy: Digitising was conducted at a scale of approximately 1:10,000-1:15,000. Attribute accuracy: All attributes have been checked. Completeness: The layer is complete. The layer will require periodic updating to account for any clearing or vegtetation change resulting from future landuse activites.

## **Dataset Citation** 

NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (2015) Cumberland Subregion BIO Map Biodiversity Corridors of Regional Significance 20150804. Bioregional Assessment Source Dataset. Viewed 18 June 2018, http://data.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/dataset/223e1f69-2da8-40e3-bdb5-433df6de650c.

Tags: New South Wales, Sydney Basin bioregion, biota, environment
Organization: Bioregional Assessment Program