Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389:body:0:p13
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 37346–40428

Zone:

         (a)      assigned IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)

         (b)      consisting of the terrestrial area of the park to the low water mark, including the lagoon area

    2. Marine Reserve Zone

        (a) - assigned IUCN category II (national park)

        (b) - consisting of the marine component of the park from the low water mark.

Map 1 indicates the areas covered by each zone. A description of the features of each zone and a summary of activities appropriate for each management zone appears as Appendix C.

      Map 1:      Management zones at Pulu Keeling National Park

    3.                               Natural heritage management

Objectives
    * The park's natural values are protected and conserved
    * There is a greater understanding of marine and terrestrial ecosystem diversity, processes, values and threats to inform conservation management decisions.
Performance indicators
The following indicators will be used under this plan to measure performance in natural heritage management:
    * Area of Pisonia grandis is maintained
    * Abundance of red-footed booby and the Cocos buff-banded rail is maintained
    * Yellow crazy ant and coral berry distribution is reduced
    * No new invasive species establish
    * Cover of healthy coral reef habitat in the park is maintained
    * Extent to which management plan research and monitoring priorities are implemented.

    3.1              Terrestrial ecosystems and species

Background
Values
Given the extensive modification of the vegetation of the southern atoll for coconut plantations and settlements, the vegetation of North Keeling Island is now particularly significant as the last intact remnant of the original Cocos (Keeling) Islands flora.
The forest vegetation is dominated by tall pisonia (Pisonia grandis) and coconut (Cocos nucifera) with small amounts of ironwood (Cordia subcordata) and other species. The forest is fringed on the lagoon shore by tea shrub, Pemphis acidula, and on the exposed ocean shores by octopus bush (Argusia argentea) shrubland. Each of these vegetation communities supports breeding colonies of seabirds. See also Map 4.
The island is a key breeding site for red-footed boobies, a listed migratory species under the EPBC Act, and listed under international migratory bird agreements including JAMBA and CAMBA. The environmental assessment and approval provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) apply to any actions affecting listed species.
The island is also the main refuge of the Cocos buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis andrewsi, an endemic subspecies which was listed as endangered in 1998. Monitoring of buff-banded rail populations indicated they are stable.
The key objectives of the National Recovery Plan for the Buff-banded Rail (Commonwealth of Australia. (2006)) are the establishment of a suitable habitat for a second viable population in the southern atoll and the reduction of threats to the species across the island group. In 2013 the reintroduction of