Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00386:body:0:p5
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00386
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 10864–13956

rainforest facing south and east has a smooth, wind-pruned canopy and tends to increase in height with increasing distance from the sea cliff. The inland cliffs and scree slopes may have no vegetation or carry a closed forest, depending on the degree of the slope. Trees such as Ficus microcarpa and Dendrocnide sinuata are common there.

Old stockpiles and cleared areas that have not been mined may support low second-growth forest of colonising trees such as Macaranga tanarius and Claoxylon indicum and an introduced tree Leucaena leucocephala generally less than 10m high. Previously mined areas tend to have very little remaining soil and on them grow dense herblands of a fern Nephrolepis multiflora to 2m high along with introduced scramblers and occasional low trees.

Habitat Critical to Survival
Identification of habitat critical to survival of the Christmas Island Goshawk is difficult due to the lack of information on specific habitat requirements. Although Christmas Island Goshawks may be generalists which forage in most habitats, it is highly likely that they require rainforest to breed as these habitat contain suitable trees. Applying the precautionary principle and using the criteria provided by the EPBC Act, habitat critical to survival of the Christmas Island Goshawks is defined as all Primary Rainforest, Marginal Rainforest (Du Puy 1993) and possibly second-growth forest suitable for nesting. Primary Rainforest and Marginal Rainforest has been identified and mapped (Figure 1). Dexter (2000) recommended mapping the ecological quality of second-growth forests outside the national park. As this has not occurred, and there is insufficient information on the habitat requirements of the Christmas Island Goshawks, suitable second-growth forest cannot be identified at this time.

Affected Interests
Commonwealth Parks Australia North (PAN), Shire of Christmas Island, Christmas Island Phosphates, Union of Christmas Island Workers, the Asia Pacific Space Centre Pty. Ltd., Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS), and the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Role and interests of indigenous people
Not applicable. Christmas Island does not have an indigenous population.

Social and economic impacts
The actions in this plan may have positive and negative social and economic impacts. Positive social impacts will arise from community education actions that will increase Christmas Islanders knowledge and interest in their own environment. The rainforest rehabilitation program provides on-island jobs, as will the goshawk monitoring program. Christmas Island endemic birds attract specialist bird watching groups each year which is high value, low-impact tourism.

Negative social and economic impacts arising from implementation of the plan could include greater restrictions due to review of the quarantine barrier, and potential economic effects of preventing illegal destruction of Christmas Island goshawks by residents. The EPBC Act already provides a regulatory framework for the protection of rainforest on