Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287:reg:3:p59
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00287
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 3 (pt 59/276)
Character Range: 231341–234309

rainforests globally, but its impacts are exacerbated by low levels of soil phosphorus, highlighting the link between seabirds and the island's ecosystems (NIRC 2021).
There is an ongoing and significant risk of introducing extremely dangerous plant pathogens (and serious invertebrate pests) on both legally and illegally imported plant material in the future. Surveys conducted in 2021 by Australian Government scientists confirmed the presence of the root disease Phytophthora cinnamomi on the island. This pathogen is a potentially major risk for threatened tree and shrub species.

Loss and fragmentation of native vegetation
Clearing has caused large-scale loss and fragmentation of native vegetation and dramatically changed land cover in the Norfolk Island Group (Map 11 and Map 12). Direct loss of habitat from land clearing has been implicated in the declines of the Lord Howe Island gecko and Lord Howe Island skink (Cogger et al. 1993). The clearing of remnant forest for the airport may also have contributed to the extinction of the Norfolk Island triller (Lalage leucopyga leucopyga) and the restriction of several other bird species to the national park and immediate surrounding area, including the Norfolk Island robin and Norfolk Island golden whistler (Garnett & Crowley 2000).
Although clearing has largely ceased, past clearing has a considerable legacy effect on native species and their habitats. Most of the native plant communities are now within the national park. However,  significant areas of native forest outside the national park and other reserves could be vulnerable to clearing, which would impact localised threatened species. These remnant patches are important as they provide habitat for native species outside protected areas and, if supported by significant revegetation efforts, have the potential to create a network of native forest patches connected by corridors across the island.

Loss of biotic vectors
The loss of large colonies of nesting seabirds on Mt Pitt and Mt Bates has resulted in a change in the nutrients available to remaining native vegetation in these areas. In turn, this may have negatively affected the survival of many plant species and forest dynamics generally. Loss of some other bird species such as the wood pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) may have affected seed dispersal of some native plants.

Offshore human activities
Human activities in offshore environments have the potential to negatively impact threatened seabirds. Two types of activities have been recognised as key threatening processes under the EPBC Act: incidental catch (or bycatch) of seabirds during oceanic longline fishing operations (ESSS 1995); and injury and fatality to vertebrate marine life caused by ingestion of, or entanglement in, harmful marine debris (TSSC 2003). However, based on current evidence, neither of these processes are likely to have a significant impact on threatened species in the Norfolk Island