Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2009L02536:reg:4:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2009L02536
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 2/2)
Character Range: 38553–40726

with deadlines identified by jurisdictions according to their respective capacities and priorities. Annual costs for the eradication actions will vary depending on the size and location of islands from millions of dollars for large remote islands to a few thousands of dollars on small accessible islands – and the budgets of funding agencies will need flexibility to meet such circumstances.

Costs for sustained control and ongoing routine quarantine would need to be maintained within base-line budgets, although perhaps at a declining level as eradications succeed and efficiencies improve.

Tasmania and New South Wales have committed to two large eradication projects (Macquarie and Lord Howe islands respectively) and other jurisdictions might begin or recommence by selecting smaller islands where benefits would be clear and on which to develop planning and operational expertise. This proportion of the costs should fall as success removes islands from the list.

Traditionally, most funding for island eradications has come directly from relevant government agencies. However, increasingly around the world funding is being made available for one-off projects, such as eradication, from non-government and private donors and from industries paying to mitigate adverse effects of their actions. Eradication of rats to increase nesting success of seabirds has been funded from levies on commercial fisheries responsible for deaths of the adult birds, and industrial users of islands have offered to remit some of the conservation loss they cause by funding conservation projects.

4.3                   Evaluating progress
Under the EPBC Act (s.279 [2]) a threat abatement plan must be reviewed by the Minister at intervals of not longer that five years.

The number of islands where exotic rodents are eradicated or effectively controlled and the trend in islands invaded will form short- and long-term proximal measures of the success of the plan. However, the real benefit of the plan will be measured by monitoring and evaluating improvements in the biodiversity condition of the islands, including improved conservation status for key island endemic species.