Ecological Assessment Report

Biodiversity and Conservation Values (3SP246584)                                                            30/03/2016 16:41:54




considered in Criterion H and brings together information on EVNT taxa using buffering of recorded sites or habitat suitability
models (HSM) where available.

Criteria B. Ecosystem value: Classifies on the basis of biodiversity status of regional ecosystems, their extent in protected
areas (presence of poorly conserved regional ecosystems), the presence of significant wetlands and intertidal zones; and
areas of national importance such as World Heritage areas and Ramsar sites. Ecosystem value is applied at a bioregional
(B1) and regional (B2) scale.

Criteria C. Tract size: Measures the relative size of tracts of vegetation in the landscape. The size of any tract is a major
indicator of ecological significance, and is also strongly correlated with the long-term viability of biodiversity values. Larger
tracts are less susceptible to ecological edge effects and are more likely to sustain viable populations of native flora and
fauna than smaller tracts.

Criteria D. Relative size of regional ecosystems: Classifies the relative size of each regional ecosystem unit within its
bioregion (D1) and its subregion (D2). Remnant units are compared with all other occurrences with the same regional
ecosystem. Large examples of a regional ecosystem are more significant than smaller examples of the same regional
ecosystem because they are more representative of the biodiversity values particular to the regional ecosystem, are more
resilient to the effects of disturbance, and constitute a significant proportion of the total area of the regional ecosystem.

Criteria F. Ecosystem diversity: Is an indicator of the number of regional ecosystems occurring within an area. An area with
high ecosystem diversity will have many regional ecosystems and ecotones relative to other areas within the bioregion.

Criteria G. Context and connection: Represents the extent to which a remnant unit incorporates, borders or buffers areas
such as significant wetlands, endangered ecosystems; and the degree to which it is connected to other vegetation.

A summary of the biodiversity status based upon the diagnostic criteria is provided in the following table.




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