Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L00219:body:0:p22
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L00219
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 62930–66148

climate changes, the extent to which these changes may affect the natural, cultural and economic values of the park and botanic garden remains uncertain.
         Certain aspects of the park and botanic garden may require adaptive management. For example, increased incidences of prolonged dry hot periods as a result of climate change may have disproportionately high adverse impacts on park and botanic garden values because of the soil's poor moisture holding capacity.

         An increased incidence of prolonged hot dry spells may increase the probability of wildfires in the park and botanic garden. While wildfires have not happened to date the flora would be very fire sensitive and would not recover from a hot wildfire. Changes to sea level and temperature may have a profound effect on seabird numbers as marine prey species either change behaviour or change in abundance.

         Issues
           •      Climate change impacts on the park and botanic garden are not known with enough certainty to mandate specific actions at the time of preparing this plan.
           •      Adapting management actions to anticipate and respond to climate change impacts on park and botanic garden values will be important.
         Actions
2.7.1          Where feasible, adapt management priorities and programs in response to improved understanding of climate change impacts. This may include:

               (a)    Ecosystem and species management (see Section 2.6 – Managing adverse impacts of plants, animals and pathogens)

               (b)    Emergency response capacity, including wildfire management (see Section
               4.5 – Visitor safety and incident management)

               (c)     Infrastructure design, planning, development and maintenance (see Section
               4.4 – Resource use in park operations)

               (d)    Visitor management and safety (see Section 4.5 – Visitor safety and incident management).

             2.8              Landscapes, soils and water

         Our aim
         Protection of the landscape, soil and water values of the park and botanic garden.

         Background
         Landscapes

         Mount Pitt and Mount Bates, both in the park, are the highest peaks on Norfolk Island. Together with their extensive stands of Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla), they form a dominant visual element of the Norfolk Island landscape.

         Popular summit viewing areas provide panoramic views of much of the island, the surrounding sea, Nepean Island and Phillip Island. Views of the spectacular coastal scenery can be enjoyed from the Captain Cook Monument.

         Viewing areas, in particular the summits of Mount Pitt and Mount Bates and the Captain Cook Monument area, are major assets for the tourism industry.

         The degraded Phillip Island landscape is being rehabilitated to establish a cover of native vegetation.

         Soils

         Norfolk Island's volcanic soils are nutrient rich, friable and porous. They do not hold moisture well, so native vegetation is susceptible to stress during long dry periods. Large amounts of soil have been lost from Phillip Island through erosion. Stabilisation of the soil