Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00138:reg:5:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00138
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 5 (pt 1/6)
Character Range: 47220–50453

5     Coordinate, review and report on recovery progress

     Chapter 5

     Actions to achieve the specific objectives

   Actions identified for the recovery of Australasian Bittern are described below. It should be noted that some of the objectives are long-term and may not be achieved prior to the scheduled five-year review of the Recovery Plan. Priorities assigned to actions should be interpreted as follows:

            Priority 1: Taking prompt action is necessary in order to mitigate the key threats to Australasian Bittern and also provide valuable information to help identify long-term population trends.

            Priority 2: Action would provide a more informed basis for the long-term management and recovery of Australasian Bittern.

            Priority 3: Action is desirable, but not critical to the recovery of Australasian Bittern or assessment of trends in that recovery.

     Chapter 6

     Duration and cost of the recovery process

   It is anticipated that the recovery process will not be achieved prior to the scheduled five-year review of the Recovery Plan. The cost of implementation of this plan should be incorporated into the core business expenditure of the affected organisations, and through additional funds obtained for the explicit purpose of implementing this
   Recovery Plan. It is expected that Commonwealth and state agencies will use this plan to prioritise actions to protect the species and enhance its recovery, and that projects will be undertaken according to agency priorities and available resources. All actions are considered important steps towards ensuring the long-term survival of the species. The indicative cost of recovery plans actions was derived from expert elicitation and public comments received in 2020.

               Chapter 7

Effects on other native species and biodiversity benefits

             The Recovery Plan focuses on the management, protection, restoration and creation of freshwater and coastal wetlands, the principal breeding habitat for Australasian Bittern. Australia has a diverse waterbird fauna adapted to these wetlands, many of which are unpredictable in their availability and habitats (Kingsford and Norman 2002). Many waterbird species exploit the high productivity of those wetlands that dry out after being inundated temporarily (Taylor 2003). Consequently, appropriate management of these wetlands will benefit many plant and animal species, as well as associated ecological communities.

             The wide distribution and unpredictable nature of freshwater and coastal wetlands makes it difficult to identify population trends of species within them.
             Other threatened species occur in these habitats, such as the Australian Painted Snipe (Rostratula australis), which can have conflicting habitat requirements for targeted management (Herring and Silcocks, 2014; Herring et al. 2019a). The Australasian Bittern, an unusually attractive and enigmatic resident waterbird, may be of value as a flagship species to highlight the importance of conserving these habitats.

     Chapter 8

     Social and economic considerations

   Wetlands are a vital element of national and global