Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00384:body:0:p15
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00384
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 37617–40412

seasons tend to coincide with the El Niño effect in the Pacific (CofA 2002), and these events may be increasing in frequency and severity.

Confident assessment of the impact of stochastic events (as for other potential impacts) requires further study of the life cycle, longevity and regeneration requirements of the species - information which is currently not available (Reddell pers. comm.).

However, applying the precautionary principle, it is reasonable to expect that Asplenium listeri could be affected by severe rainfall events through scouring and transport of soils and mulch from rock crevices to expose the rhizome, and/or by severe dry seasons through desiccation.

In view of the exposed nature of the species' cliff-top habitat, such events have the potential to be significant factors in limiting its occurrence and potentially in threatening its continued survival.  These events were seen as the most concerning threat at the time of initial listing (TSSC 2002).

C.2.8 Fire

Fire is not currently seen as an issue on Christmas Island (Claussen pers. comm; Reddell pers. comm.), however it is noted that a fire did occur in the terrace rainforests during the long dry of 1994 and again in September 1997 (GHD 2002a).  If dry seasons become more severe more frequently, then impact from fires may become an issue for many species that are not adapted to such events.

C.3 Areas and populations under threat

In view of uncertainty about the factors that have restricted distribution, the degree of threat to any particular area or population is difficult to estimate.

No populations are known to be threatened by current or proposed mining or construction, and there is no imminent concern about weed invasion, the impact of exotic fauna, or unauthorised collecting.

Some of the known populations may be less likely to face these types of threats because they are located within the Christmas Island National Park.  These include:
    * Population 1 - Gannet Hill
    * Population 3 - Aldrich Hill; and
    * Population 4 - Sydney's Dale.

It is also notable that The Dales area, being a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, is a matter of national environmental significance under the EPBC Act.

The Plan of Management for the National Park noted a number of proposed extensions to the park, including:
     * an area on the east coast between Margaret Knoll and Ross Hill (excluding mining fields) and taking in Gannet Hill (excluding mining fields); and
     * an area on the east coast south of the Ross Hill section around South Point (excluding mining fields) to join the existing Park boundary.

These extensions may afford a higher degree of protection from development to Population 2 and some of the areas likely to contain potential