Biodiversity
This area of the program investigates how the Coastal IFOA multi-scale landscape protections and conditions are adequately protecting focal species and their habitat from forestry operations and support their occupancy and persistence in the landscape.
Monitoring species occupancy
The program will monitor trends across landscapes and regions for focal fauna species using occupancy modelling.
Data on the presence or the absence of focal species across the Coastal IFOA areas will be captured through a field-based monitoring program, mainly consisting of remote survey methods throughout coastal state forests. This will include the use of infrared cameras and acoustic devices but will also require some species-specific methods, including spotlighting for the greater glider (Petauroides volans).
Monitoring plan: Species occupancy
Monitoring specific fauna species
The species-specific fauna monitoring strategy will adopt the monitoring outlined in each of the Coastal IFOA fauna species or population management plans (both referred to as SMPs). These plans contain detailed objectives and monitoring requirements for the species or population, generally at specific locations, plus review and reporting requirements.
A process to review SMPs was developed by the Commission in collaboration with the Coastal IFOA Technical Working Group and the NSW Forest Monitoring Steering Committee’s independent expert Professor Philip Gibbons, and approved by the Steering Committee. As part of an SMP review, a Species Management Plan Review Group formed of specialists from Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW), Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)-Forest Science, review the monitoring approach for each SMP. Results from previous monitoring data collected will be analysed to inform suggested improvements.
Based on the findings of the review and monitoring data analysis, the Commission, on behalf of the Steering Committee, advise the EPA on suggested improvements to the SMPs to ensure the program can continue to improve the effectiveness of the Coastal IFOA conditions for supporting the persistence of those fauna species.
In addition to the species with SMPs, a range of focal species that are rare in the landscape, sensitive to disturbance or those that have specific habitats not covered by a broad occupancy monitoring program, will be included for species-specific monitoring, for example, the greater glider.
Monitoring plan: Species-specific fauna
Monitoring specific flora species
The species-specific flora monitoring strategy will adopt the monitoring outlined in each species management plans (SMPs). SMPs are being prepared for seven focal flora species, with two already completed and another five currently being drafted.
The SMPs will detail monitoring, review and adaptive management of the Coastal IFOA conditions for those species. Two of the flora species, native jute (Corchorus cunninghamii) and East Lynne midge orchid (Genoplesium vernale) which are currently having SMPs drafted, are already being monitored on Coastal IFOA state forests under the NSW Saving Our Species program The Saving Our Species monitoring work will be incorporated into the monitoring component of the SMP.
SMP monitoring results will be analysed in accordance with the requirements within each SMP. The analysis will be used to determine the effectiveness of the SMPs in maintaining the presence of those species and their habitats within a forested landscape.
Monitoring landscape-scale trends
The University of New England and the NSW Department of Primary Industries Forest Science Unit have delivered baselines, drivers and trends for species occupancy and distribution in NSW forests across all tenures, including Coastal IFOA state forests.
Over 15 leading scientists formed the team that undertook this work, including scientists from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment who adopted indicators and modelling from the NSW Biodiversity Indicators program as part of the work. Professor Nick Reid, University of New England lead the project and Dr. Rod Kavanagh coordinated investigators across the project.
Monitoring plan: Landscape-scale trends in environmental values
More information
Click here for information on monitoring key habitat features.