2016-12-12 General Committee - Attachment 1 to Item 6 - Biodiversity Assessment Report

                                                    Noosa Biodiversity Plan – Biodiversity Assessment Report




5          Biodiversity Significance and Risk Analysis
The high levels of habitat diversity, condition and extent within the shire result in Noosa being a highly
important area for the long term preservation of the flora and fauna biodiversity in the SEQ region. Its
unique assemblage of landscapes and ecosystems that retain extensive coverage and viable connectivity
also makes Noosa an important area at both a regional and global scale. The Noosa Shire therefore
provides an excellent opportunity for biodiversity conservation.

However, a number of threatening processes do exist within Noosa, which have the potential to impact
and degrade its unique values. Biodiversity conservation planning that targets key values and addresses
the relevant threats is integral to the continued preservation and maintenance of biodiversity across the
Noosa Shire.

To produce sound ecological outcomes, the approach to biodiversity conservation planning should
involve:

      1. Gaining a good understanding of the biodiversity values present
      2. Prioritising biodiversity values that are of high conservation significance
      3. Gaining thorough knowledge of the relevant threats that are impacting biodiversity values
      4. Assessing the level of risk these threats pose to biodiversity values of high biodiversity
         significance
      5. Identifying gaps in current protection measures relating to significant biodiversity values at high
         risk of impact to ensure a comprehensive system of conservation management
      6. Identify specific policies, priorities and actions for implementation.

The biodiversity values present within the Noosa Shire and the relevant threats have been detailed in
Section 2.0 and Section 3.0. The following sections present the results of a series of in-depth analyses
that have been undertaken to identify and rank areas in terms of biodiversity significance and assess a
series of key risks to these areas including climate change and development. The cross analysis of
values and risks has identified areas of conservation significance or key conservation issues and
priorities.

5.1        Bio div e r sit y s ign if i c a nc e as s es s men t and map pin g
The Noosa Shire contains a range of biodiversity values and natural landscapes within a very confined
physical area. Many of the values and landscapes are of great significance and are globally unique. As
detailed in Section 2.0, Noosa’s key biodiversity values include remnant vegetation communities,
conservation significant REs, species and habitats, lowland rainforest and saltmarsh TECs, protection
reserve system, waterways and wetlands. As demonstrated in Section 2.0, the distribution of the values
varies across the Noosa Shire. In addition to this, each value presents varying degrees of biodiversity
significance with some values recognised to be of international importance whilst others are considered
to be locally important.

To gain an understanding of the spatial distribution and extent of values and their varying degrees of
biodiversity significance, all biodiversity values within Noosa have been ranked through a scoring system
and mapped across the shire.




    © ECO LOGICAL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD                                                                      72