2018-08-07 P&E Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 3 - Noosa Biosphere Reserve 10 Year Periodic Review

                                                               Noosa Biosphere Reserve - Periodic Review 2018




A number of peer-reviewed reports, studies and surveys have to be considered to gain a
comprehensive understanding of the overall biodiversity status of the NBR. The most recent study was
the NBAR which utilises a number of data sets and information sources to build a spatial map of
biodiversity scoring based on:
•     Conservation status
•     Under-represented REs
•     Presence of significant species
•     Stream order condition
•     Wetlands classifications
•     Threatened Ecological Communities, and
•     Vegetation connectivity.

Other reports, studies and surveys also add value to information contained in the NBAR, including:
•     Noosa Waterways Assessment report
•     Noosa Fish Passage Study
•     The Reefcheck Australia annual reports on nearshore reefs
•     Species lists gathered by local interest groups (NPA Bird Observers Group, Botany Group)
•     Wallum Aquatic Fauna (Dr Tim Howell), and
•     Specific advice from experts on frogs, birds, reptiles and mammals.

The change in conservation status of the various REs within the NBR was fully documented in the
NBAR, 2016 (pp96-104) as summarised in Table 10.

3.3   Biodiversity involved in the provision of ecosystems services

Table 10 below summarises the biodiversity elements involved in the provision of ecosystem services
and also lists the changes to these indicators that have happened over the past decade.

Table 10: Biodiversity ecosystem services and changes, NBR
INDICATOR - NBR          2007              2018               COMMENTS                 ECOSYSTEM
                     SUBMISSION        PR REPORT                                          SERVICE
Total area –        40,611 ha         40,265           122ha lost to urban          Water quality,
remnant                                                development and clearing     tourism, recreation,
vegetation                                             for agriculture;             flood mitigation, soil
                                                       224ha change due to          conservation,
                                                       improved vegetation          nutrient cycling,
                                                       mapping.                     visual, spiritual
                                                       Total change: -346ha
% remnant           50.6%             46.8%            As for row 1 above           As above
vegetation
% regrowth          7.6%              7.8%             Improved vegetation          Water quality, flood
vegetation                                             mapping and additional       mitigation, soil
                                                       regrowth.                    conservation,
                                                                                    nutrient cycling,
                                                                                    visual
Total no. of REs    60                61               Updated RE mapping
Total REs -         10                8                Upgrade of two               Water quality, flood
Endangered                                             ‘Endangered’ REs to ‘Of      mitigation, soil
                                                       Concern’ and 1 mapped        conservation,
                                                       RE removed through           nutrient cycling,
                                                       improved mapping.            visual, spiritual
Total area -        5,449 ha          4,317 ha         As above                     As above
Endangered
% remnant           13.4%             11%              As above                     As above
vegetation – RE
Endangered
Total REs – Of      24                24               Some REs up-graded,          Water quality, flood
Concern                                                some downgraded, total       mitigation, soil
                                                       number of REs is the         conservation,
                                                       same.                        nutrient cycling,
                                                                                    visual, spiritual




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