Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01712:body:0:p37
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01712
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 121251–124112

healthy resilient populations can bounce back after poor seasons. If a population continues to decline
 in successive years, even after an improvement in climatic conditions, we might need to change our management practices.

 Monitoring data that show improvement in a species status provides encouragement and motivation for managers to continue their hard work, and evidence that can be shared with other land managers to inspire them to try a similar approach to management.

 More strategic monitoring can address specific research questions about which habitat is best for the species, and how the population responds to fire or different management regimes. To answer specific research questions a more complex experimental design may be required with randomized site selection and adequate replicates and controls.

 At key sites such as Yulara, UKTNP, Katiti Petermann IPA, Punmu, Kiwirrkurra, rangers are conducting annual monitoring surveys to determine subpopulation trends. Regular monitoring is also conducted at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary with the frequency of these surveys increased after significant impact, such as wildfire. The number of active burrows in an area is used as an index of abundance for subpopulations because this is a non-invasive, rapid method of quantitative monitoring that builds on the good tracking skills of Indigenous rangers. The large multi-entranced burrows, usually with an obvious latrine, are conspicuous and easily identifiable to a trained observer.

 Monitoring surveys usually count the number of active (inhabited) burrows in a designated area, or along a defined transect. The presence of Tjakura tracks and fresh scats in the communal latrine can confirm that
 a burrow is inhabited by one or more Tjakura and the size of the scats indicates the different age-classes

 of Tjakura living in that burrow, and whether it is a breeding burrow. Information can also be collected on any disturbance evident at the burrow such as if it's been affected by fire, predators (including people), trampling by feral herbivores, run over by vehicles, or infested with weeds.

 To detect whether a population is changing from year to year it is necessary to apply consistent monitoring effort, i.e. searching exactly the same area, for approximately the same time period, in the same month of the year, ideally with the same number of people, and making sure experienced people are always present to teach other people what to look for. Monitoring should be conducted when skinks are active (October- March), as its necessary to be able to see the fresh tracks and scats to get an accurate burrow count for that site.

 Number and size of monitoring plots will depend on how extensive a population is and how much effort can be put into it. Ideally plots will be small enough that they can be searched comprehensively