Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01397:body:0:p14
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01397
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 40950–46075

prevent additional amphibian species from going extinct due to the impacts of chytrid fungus. It also aims to identify and prioritise the particularly sensitive geographical areas and populations at all levels (Commonwealth, state and territory, regional and local) where management activities need to be focused, such as world heritage areas.

Monitoring and management activities also need to be conducted in a coordinated manner to maximise limited resources and achieve effective outcomes. This includes sharing information, coordinating activities across jurisdictions, and applying coordinated, scientifically-based management to high-priority areas that contain threatened species. The Australian Government has a responsibility to manage the impacts of chytrid fungus on Commonwealth land and to protect matters of national environmental significance, such as the contribution of existing amphibian species and populations to World Heritage values under the EPBC Act.

A number of guidelines and protocols are required for the successful coordination of management activities to reduce the impact of chytrid fungus. Although many state governments have developed policy documents that contain management strategies, there is a lack of coordination between states in their application and implementation. Linking chytrid management strategies to threatened species recovery plans and relevant habitat management and conservation plans would help to coordinate conservation efforts and maintain awareness of any listed species or ecological communities potentially affected by management actions. The EPBC Act listed Threatened Ecological Community — "Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens" is of particular interest due to the presence of many listed threatened frog species. The National Recovery Plan for the Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens can be found at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/alpine-sphagnum-bogs-associated-fens

Action                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Priority/        Outcome/output
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          timeframe
Action 2.1: Identify species at high risk from chytrid fungus for priority management (this links to Action 1.1: understanding the impacts of chytrid fungus on priority species, and to Action 2.3 below)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                High priority    Priority species identified for protection.
Continue risk assessments to identify priority native amphibian species that are threatened or particularly vulnerable to chytrid fungus (see Table A for species currently considered to be under immediate threat from chytrid (Skerratt et al., 2016) and their listing status under the EPBC Act). Species not currently listed under the EPBC Act but considered to have the potential to become threatened due to the spread and subsequent impacts of chytrid fungus need to be further assessed e.g. the Tasmanian Tree Frog Litoria burrowsae.   Years 1–2
State environment departments, biodiversity conservation managers and researchers to lead monitoring and surveillance of the identified high priority species of amphibians to inform risk assessments and subsequent management decisions (links to Trigger Action Response Plan in Action 3.6).

Action 2.2: Implement biosecurity measures around high priority areas and identify any additional chytrid-free areas for protection                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       High priority    Key areas identified