Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00385:body:0:p5
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00385
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 13273–16826

validity of the Christmas Island Shrew being considered conspecific with C. attenuata based on morphological characteristics.

Objects of the Act
Objects of the EPBC Act have been considered in developing this recovery plan, particularly:
    a)      to provide for the protection of the environment, especially those aspects of the environment that are matters of national environmental significance;
    b)     to promote ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources;
    c)      to promote the conservation of biodiversity; and
    d)     to promote a co-operative approach to the protection and management of the environment involving governments, the community, land-holders and indigenous peoples.
Objects e) to g) are not applicable due to absence of indigenous people and the species not being listed under international fauna agreements.

International Obligations
The Christmas Island Shrew is not listed under international fauna agreements.

Affected Interests
Public authorities, private companies and other organisations with affected interests:
  Commonwealth Government, including:
       -          Dept of the Environment and Heritage DEH (including Parks Australia North, Natural Heritage Division, CI Rainforest Rehabilitation Program, Approvals and Legislation Division),
       -          Dept of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA)
       -          Dept of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS),
  Christmas Island National Park Advisory Committee,
  Shire of Christmas Island,
  CI Phosphates Pty Ltd (Phosphate Resources Ltd) (CIP),
  Union of Christmas Island Workers,
  Christmas Island Tourist Association,
  Department of Environmental Protection,
  Asia Pacific Space Centre,
  Telstra Corporation Ltd,
  Monash University, and
  Australian zoos.

Role and interests of indigenous people
Not applicable. Christmas Island was first settled in 1888; prior to this time there were no indigenous peoples inhabiting the island (Commonwealth of Australia 2002).

Benefits to other species/ecological communities
Threats identified and management actions proposed for the Christmas Island Shrew are similar to those for other threatened endemic species that are restricted to rainforest vegetation communities on the island. Actions affording protection to plateau and terrace rainforest will also provide protection for other rainforest-dependent species (Table 1).

The targeted survey for the Christmas Island Shrew may provide additional information on the current distribution, status and habitat of the poorly known Christmas Island Gecko Lepidodactylus listeri and Christmas Island Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops exocoeti. During the course of targeted field surveys for the shrew, incidental records of these poorly known reptiles should be entered into an 'Incidental Flora and Fauna Database' to be established by Parks Australia North (PAN) on Christmas Island. The database should also include records of exotic species because of their potential threats as predators and competitors to native fauna.

Table 1.  Threatened endemic fauna inhabiting primary rainforest on Christmas Island.

Species                                                                            Listing
Christmas Island Pipistrelle Pipistrellus murrayi                                  E1, E3
Christmas Island Flying-fox Pteropus melanotus natalis*                            DD3,*
Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti (listed Sula abbotti on EPBC