Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00253:clause:2_2:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00253
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 2 cl 2 (pt 1/3)
Character Range: 131520–134277

2  Dealing with unidentified species
 (1) If a step in the process below requires the species of a plant to be identified and recorded, but the plant cannot be identified to the species level, the assessor must:
 (a) record the reasons why identification to the species level was not possible; and
 (b) identify the plant to the genus level; and
 (c) record the observable plant characteristic or, if a categorisation has been developed, the category of the plant.
 (2) If it appears that the unidentifiable plants can be categorised into possible species based on observable plant characteristics and life form, the assessor must:
 (a) make the categorisation; and
 (b) record the reasons for, and the basis of, the categorisation.

The process for establishing benchmark values

Step 1—Selecting survey sites
 (1) Select at least 3 benchmark survey sites outside the project area that satisfy the following:
 (a) subject to subsection (2)—the site is in the same eligible region as the activity area or sub-area and has a similar aspect and slope;
 (b) the site consists of mature remnant vegetation of at least 5 hectares that:
 (i)  is from the reference ecosystem of the activity area or sub-area; and
 (ii)  has a canopy layer that is at least 50 years old;
 (c) there is minimal evidence of disturbance to the remnant vegetation on the site, including from clearing, harvesting, disease, natural disturbances (such as fire or floods) or invasive species.
 (2) If the reference ecosystem of the activity area or sub-area was determined, in reliance on subsection 46(11), as being a native vegetation type that no longer occurs within the relevant eligible region, but does occur in an adjacent IBRA subregion—the 3 benchmark survey sites may be selected in that adjacent IBRA subregion.

Step 2—Selecting survey plots
  In each benchmark survey site, select at least 1 survey plot as follows:
 (a) divide the survey site into rectangular portions that are 50m by 10m;
 (b) exclude any portions that are not:
 (i) entirely within the survey site; and
 (ii) at least 50 metres from any road, track, fence or man-made water feature;
 (c) select 1 or more survey plots from among the remaining rectangular portions, using a random process that discards any selection that is less than 2 kilometres from a previously selected survey plot (whether or not in the same survey site).

Step 3—Applying the point intercept method to the survey plots
 (1) In each survey plot, apply the point intercept method to assess the number of plant species, the proportion of ground area covered by each groundcover category and (where appropriate) subcategory, and the crown cover provided by native and non-native plant species in the canopy and mid-storey layers in the