Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00006:reg:3:p21
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00006
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 21/58)
Character Range: 59547–62700

Potential or planned release sites are
 also considered habitat critical to the survival of Eastern Bristlebirds and should be afforded the same level of protection and conservation management as known sites. Sympathetic management of areas adjoining Eastern Bristlebird habitats is important. Habitat connectivity is important for maintaining or enhancing species genetic diversity and long-term evolutionary potential.

 Habitat critical to the survival of Eastern Bristlebird occurs across a wide range of land tenures, including freehold land and reserves, defence land (e.g., Beecroft), publicly owned forests and state reserves, and national parks (e.g., Booderee NP). It is essential that the locations where the species regularly occurs is given the highest protection and conservation measures target these productive habitats.

 No Critical Habitat as defined under section 207A of the EPBC Act has been identified
 or included in the Register of Critical Habitat

                 2.9.1            Key considerations for decision makers

           Habitat critical to the survival of Eastern Bristlebirds occurs across a range of land tenures should not be destroyed or modified. Actions that have indirect impacts on habitat critical to the survival (e.g., native vegetation removal) should be avoided. Actions that compromise adult and juvenile survival should also be avoided.

           When considering developments in any part of the Eastern Bristlebird's range, including in areas where the species 'may occur', surveys for occupancy that consider detectability and are undertaken at the appropriate times of the year remain an important tool in establishing the areas of importance to the Eastern Bristlebird. In addition, it is important to note that the Eastern Bristlebird may opportunistically use areas depending on the occurrence of suitable habitat following fire. Areas that may be important habitat over time might not have birds in any given year. This pattern
           of habitat use means that recent survey data and historical records and presence of suitable habitat need to be considered when assessing the relative importance of a site or region for the Eastern Bristlebird.

           Actions that remove habitat critical to the survival will interfere with the recovery of Eastern Bristlebird and reduce the area of occupancy of the species. If removal of habitat critical to the survival cannot be avoided or mitigated, then an offset should be provided.

      3.  Threats

3.1                  Historical causes of decline

 Habitat loss, due to urbanisation, agriculture and inappropriate fire regimes, is recognised as the main process that has reduced the distribution and abundance of the Eastern Bristlebird in the last 150 years. This resulted in a dramatic reduction in the distribution of the species and the local extinction of Eastern Bristlebird populations (Baker 1997).

3.2                  Current threats

3.2.1            Threat assessment and prioritisation

 The approach to assessing current threats was taken from the Conservation Standards (CMP 2020), an internationally adopted