Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00346:reg:400:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00346
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 400 (pt 2/12)
Character Range: 302695–313979

a State-wide database will enable a comprehensive review of the site status that will better inform conservation priority for each known site – see the note in Appendix Table 1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 * Target populations accurately mapped.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     * In addition, another 67 sites recorded from herbarium collections, i.e., Australian Virtual Herbarium (AVH) and the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas (VBA) remain to be assessed for possible addition to this database although it is likely that some of these, including data from historical herbarium specimens, represent populations that are extirpated (Foreman 2012).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                * Further systematic searches, especially on potentially suitable private land throughout the species range.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             * Population monitoring at Skipton Common by Ballarat Environment Network in 2017- 2020 suggests that population size of Spiny Rice-flower has declined by as much as 30% over the past 20 years and is likely to experience a similar decline over the next 10–20 years and therefore, the conservation status of the Spiny Rice-flower remains as Critically Endangered.
2.1         Accurately survey known habitat and collect floristic and environmental information describing community ecology and condition.                                                                                                                                      * Requirements for completion of essential life history stages, recruitment and dispersal identified at known sites.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        * A comprehensive habitat assessment has not been completed for all known sites.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             * Undertaking targeted searches based on Victorian Biodiversity Atlas (VBA), the Australasian Virtual Herbarium (AVH) and other records to locate potential or new sites.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 * Habitat critical to the survival of the species is mapped.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                * The State-wide database remains incomplete. The spatial coverage/extent of all sites has not been accurately mapped (see Action 1.1 for further details).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  * (Re-) assessing all known populations using standard census and monitoring methods including accurate mapping of population extent and critical habitat, and accordingly, identify current and potential involvement of the local community groups.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             * In 2019, the Ballarat Environment Network undertook a comprehensive survey of all the Spiny Rice-flower sites within Skipton Common.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       * Establishing responsibilities and protocols for on-going update and curation of the Spiny Rice-flower State-wide database.

2.2         Identify and survey potential habitat, using ecological and bioclimatic information indicating habitat preference.                                                                                                                                                   * Predictive model for potential habitat developed and tested.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              * The majority of sites found since 2006 have been located in grassland remnants within the known range of the species, with many being found on the Keilor Plains in the outer west of Melbourne.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           * Currently all sites are referenced as single or multiple points and it is difficult to know with any confidence where populations and critical habitat begins and ends. Therefore, accurate mapping of population/critical habitat extent as polygons needs to be established because it will be vitally important for long term conservation of the species.                                                                                                                                                                                     2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             * Critical habitat in