Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L00219:body:0:p24
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L00219
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 68800–71935

for seabirds that have come to depend on bare areas of Phillip Island.

         Background
         The park and botanic garden have been subject to a long history of disturbance which has caused disruption to ecological processes, species extinctions and major reductions in the extent and quality of ecosystems.

         Much vegetation in the park and botanic garden has either been destroyed completely by introduced herbivores or has been displaced by weeds. Some specific ecological processes have been severely damaged or destroyed by past actions.

         For example, the removal of over 100,000 breeding providence petrels (Pterodroma solandri) over 100 years ago had a major impact on the nutrient status of the park. The introduction of pigs, goats and rabbits to Phillip Island from 1793 onwards commenced a devastating loss of vegetation that bound together the fragile soil, denuding the island and resulting in two centuries of substantial and irreversible erosion.

         The extent of the historical damage means that it is not feasible to aim to restore the park and botanic garden to the precise state which existed prior to the beginning of either Polynesian or European impacts. For example, it is not practical to recover the extinct species or to reclaim the huge amounts of soil and nutrients lost to sea from Phillip Island.

         However, progress can be made towards significant improvements in the state of the remaining ecosystems, the status of species, preventing the further destruction of remaining ecological processes, and re-establishing native vegetation in areas that have been totally denuded of vegetation or overrun by weeds.

         Issues
           •      Some areas of the park and botanic garden are either completely denuded of vegetation or very heavily infested with weeds.
           •      Areas cleared of weeds and areas prone to erosion require actions to prevent further erosion and to aid revegetation.
           •      Some native species have adapted to disturbed habitats.

         Actions
2.9.1          On a priority basis, revegetate denuded areas and areas cleared of weeds with native vegetation.

2.9.2          Undertake rehabilitation activities on Phillip Island to reduce invasive weeds, control erosion and enhance biodiversity.
2.9.3          Maintain native plant nurseries on Norfolk Island and Phillip Island to support landscape rehabilitation activities and to support conservation and recovery of EPBC listed threatened plants.
2.9.4          Collect seed and actively cultivate native plants to provide for landscape rehabilitation activities in the park and garden.

2.9.5          Take species-focused actions to promote recovery of listed plant species.

2.9.6          Develop and implement a rehabilitation plan for the plantation areas of the park that occurred within the Forestry Area under the previous management plan that now fall within the area of the park managed under IUCN Category II.

             2.10          Forestry Area

         Our aims
    .
           •      Provide an area for sustainable timber production for