Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01082:reg:1:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01082
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1 (pt 3/30)
Character Range: 11381–14666

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). In recent years, significant declines in numbers of plains-wanderers have been recorded in the species core locations. Monitoring across the New South Wales Riverina between 2010 and 2014 detected a decline in numbers of 84%. This decline was preceded by significant fluctuations in numbers across the region from 2001 onwards, with an overall decline of 93% across the region over the period from 2001 to 2014 (Wilson et al., 2014). Monitoring and annual surveys, which have been conducted across the Patho Plains of Victoria since 2009 (Antos, 2015), indicated a decline in numbers of approximately 95% between 2010 and 2014 (Baker‑Gabb, 2014). The current number of plains-wanderers is estimated to be somewhere between 250 and 1000 birds, representing a record low for the species (Baker-Gabb, 2015; OEH, 2015).
Over longer timeframes the primary threats to the survival of the plains-wanderer have been identified as habitat loss, primarily through the expansion of agriculture, and inappropriate grazing regimes. However, while recent declines in Victorian populations of plains-wanderers have been largely attributed to widespread flooding and inundation of habitat (Antos, 2015), there is uncertainty regarding the cause of the unprecedented recent declines in numbers across the species entire range. For this reason, one of the key focuses of this recovery plan is to identify the cause of recent declines, and mitigate any threats that have been found to be impacting upon the survival of the species.
The overall goal of this recovery plan is to achieve a viable, self-sustaining wild population capable of persisting through extended poor breeding seasons, and to put in place long-term management arrangements that ensure key plains-wanderer habitat is appropriately managed. To achieve this goal a range of strategies will be employed, including the development and implementation of a robust, targeted conservation breeding program and projects to facilitate management of grazing and burning regimes to maintain suitable habitat.
An accompanying Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT) page provides background information on the biology, population status and threats to the plains-wanderer. The SPRAT page is available from:
7TUhttp://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.plU7T

2.1 Conservation status
The plains-wanderer is listed as threatened under the EPBC Act as well as state and territory legislation across its range.
The plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) was transferred from the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 to the vulnerable list of the EPBC Act when it came into force in July 2000.

Table 1: International, national and state conservation status of the plains-wanderer.

Legislation                                                               Conservation Status
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)  Critically Endangered
Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995                                  Endangered
(New South Wales)
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland)                                 Vulnerable
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (South Australia)                    Endangered
Flora and