Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01712:body:0:p22
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01712
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Character Range: 62415–65486

of subpopulations because the deep burrow systems provide an extremely effective buffer against temperature extremes and desiccation, and warmer outside temperatures provide more rather than less opportunities for surface activity (Moore et al. 2017).

 Other impacts of climate change may have significant impacts on Tjakura. Although the effect of climate change on desert rainfall patterns cannot be predicted with confidence, more extreme fire-weather conditions have been forecast (IPCC Interactive Atlas), meaning fire management will become increasingly important to protect Tjakura subpopulations.

Other Threats – Loss of knowledge, capacity and motivation to manage country

 A more general potential threat to the recovery of the Tjakura would be a diminished network of people within the range of the Tjakura with the knowledge, motivation and resources to find Tjakura and manage its habitat. Recognising that culture is at the heart of conservation for Aboriginal people and Traditional Ecological Knowledge about Tjakura is even more threatened than the species itself, it is crucial that we support people to continue recording and engaging with cultural sites, stories and ceremonies about Tjakura, as well as ethno-ecological information about the animal, before the knowledgeable old people pass away. Similarly, if funding for Ranger programs and IPAs is reduced, there would be diminished capacity to continue managing country, conducting surveys and
 passing on intergenerational knowledge about culturally significant species.

Population Size and Trends

  Population Size
  The number of Tjakura across Australia was estimated to be 6,250 in 2001 but it was acknowledged that this estimate had low reliability as there had been little detailed survey work outside of the UKTNP population at that time (McAlpin 2001). In 2017 it was noted that although some new populations had been detected, others had declined since 2001 and the number of individuals was believed to be less than 5000, but again confidence in the estimate was poor (Paltridge et al. 2017).

  Subsequent surveys of identified sites that obtained detailed information on burrow densities at localised sites (Sangsters Bore area of Tanami Desert, Jamieson site on Ngaanyatjarra Lands, Kiwirrkurra IPA, Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife Sanctuary and Yulara) are not incongruous with early population size estimates. The discovery of additional sites (where broad surveys are yet to be conducted) have increased our current estimate of number of mature adult Tjakura across Australia to 7,500 (Table 1).

  As Tjakura can occupy a range of different environments, the potential area of suitable habitat is extensive, but we currently have insufficient knowledge to infer how much of this habitat remains occupied. Population estimates are therefore minimums. However, as most of the remote and inaccessible unsurveyed areas between known subpopulations have been ravaged by unsuitable fire regimes, we are not overly optimistic of finding significant regional subpopulations.