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State party report on the state of conservation


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1.6. Decision 34 COM 8B.46 paragraph 6 Augment specialist capacity for management of cultural heritage both within the property and immediately outside the boundaries

Decision 34 COM 8B.46: paragraph 6: Also recommends that the State Party augment its staff with cultural heritage specialists in order to ensure the adequate protection and management of cultural sites both within the property and immediately outside the boundaries.

State Party’s response

Australia continues to provide resources for Aboriginal cultural heritage within and around the property despite an overall climate of fiscal restraint.

The level of baseline funding directed to management of Aboriginal cultural values has been maintained and additional special project funds have been provided including for: the completion of the Melaleuca Aboriginal Walk which interprets and celebrates the culture of the Needwonnee people and other people who have lived in the area; and for monitoring of World Heritage cave art within the property.



An amount of $A40,000 has been allocated annually from the Tasmanian Wilderness baseline funding agreement under the agreed annual work program to assist with management of Aboriginal cultural values. The baseline funds are provided by both the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.

The Australian Government’s Jobs Fund stimulus package provided $A382,500 for Aboriginal heritage protection and interpretation in the South Coast–Melaleuca area. The funding achieved the completion of the Melaleuca Aboriginal Walk which interprets and celebrates the culture of the Needwonnee people and other people who have lived in the area.

The Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative through the Working on Country Program also provided $A1,309,562 over four years commencing 2009–10 for an Aboriginal trainee ranger program, providing for placement of five Aboriginal trainees in Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service field operations for four years.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Land & Sea Council (TALSC) received $A33,300 from Working on Country Funds for 2010–11 toward visiting and monitoring important art in caves in the Tasmanian Wilderness property with World Heritage status: Ballawinne, Kuti Kina and Wargata Mina.

An $A265,000 Jobs fund project has addressed high priority maintenance tasks including high priority track and toilet upgrades on the South Coast track. In addition, field aspects of laser scanning of Aboriginal art in a cave near the South Coast Track were completed in 2010–11. A final product is under development (though there have been technical difficulties). Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania have been working closely with the consultants, supplying additional material and being trained to operate the software. The project is ongoing.

1.7. Decision 34 COM 7B 38 paragraph 8 Updated report by 1 February 2012 on State of Conservation

Decision 34 COM 8B.46: paragraph 8:

Updated report by 1 February 2012 on state of conservation, especially on outcomes of monitoring arrangements on impact of logging operations and road construction on outstanding universal values of the property.

State Party’s response

This document is the progress report requested in paragraph 6 of the committee’s Decision 34 COM 8B.46. This updated report on the state of conservation of the property is provided for examination by the committee at its 36th session in 2012.

2. OTHER CURRENT CONSERVATION ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE PARTY



This section of the report provides an update of issues identified in the 2010 State of Conservation report.

This section of the report provides an update of issues identified in the 2010 State of Conservation report.

Potential threats are addressed through national and Tasmanian recovery programs and the adaptive management arrangements for the property.

Addressing identified key threats to the outstanding natural values of state-managed World Heritage areas and to achieve on-ground outcomes is a current target for World Heritage areas under business planning arrangements for the Australian Government Caring for our Country initiative. This initiative provides substantial additional funding support to the Tasmanian Government for management of this state managed World Heritage property.

As part of adaptive management of the property, a limited review of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan has been undertaken and will be completed during 2011–12, a full review of this management plan is scheduled for 2015.


2.1. Review of management plan

The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service is finalising the limited review of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan 1999. This review was designed to update under-performing aspects of the management plan and take on relevant emerging issues. While a technical legal issue has delayed completion of the plan this issue is close to resolution and the plan is expected to be completed this financial year (2011–12). The next review of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan is scheduled for 2015.

More information is available on the mid-term management plan review at: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=702

2.2. Environmental impact assessment

The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service continues to upgrade its impact assessment process – the reserve activity assessment system. The revised four level system is more thorough, has increased accountability, greater transparency and offers significantly improved assessment of environmental, social and economic impacts.

Since the 2010 State of Conservation report the first process audit of the reserve activity assessment system has been completed. Most parts of the system proved to be functioning well with a Tasmania wide overall compliance rating of 82.4 per cent. The audit report is available on request. An electronic register which allows all assessments to be tracked has been completed and staff trained in its use. The second audit of the system is currently underway. This continues the initial process audit approach, but also reviews projects as they are implemented on the ground (to see if controls were adequately enforced) and also examines the final outcome of projects, to see whether the project’s objectives were achieved.

2.3. Lake Fidler

Lake Fidler is one of three meromictic lakes located in the Gordon River system, all of which are subject to disturbance related to the operation of the Middle Gordon Power Scheme which pre-dates the World Heritage listing of the property in 1982.

As reported during the 1989 renomination process, Lake Fidler was the only one of the three to retain its meromixis at the time of the extension. Following the loss of meromixis in Lake Fidler in 2003, Hydro Tasmania had partial success in restoring the meromixis through a saline recharge in 2004. The 2008 State of Conservation report noted that following that recharge, the meromictic state of Lake Fidler continued to decline gradually.

In April 2008, it appears recharge occurred, assisted by minimal power station discharge from mid-April, low tributary inflows and a series of high tides. This resulted in a wedge of salt water reaching far enough upstream to naturally recharge the meromixis of Lake Fidler. The meromixis continues to be monitored, but at a lower level.



2.4. Basslink

As reported in the 2008 State of Conservation report, the installation of the Basslink undersea power cable connecting Tasmania to mainland Australia resulted in a changed operational regime for the Gordon River Power Station. Prior to the commissioning of the cable, research during the assessment process indicated that the operation of Basslink could potentially cause changed conditions downstream along the Gordon River system in the south west of the World Heritage property.

Hydro Tasmania conducted monitoring for close to five years prior to Basslink commissioning in April 2006 and will continue to monitor the effects of Basslink operations on the middle Gordon River. Monitoring examines the following aspects:

hydrology

water quality

fluvial geomorphology

karst geomorphology

riparian vegetation

benthic macro-invertebrates

benthic algae

fish

Comparison of pre and post Basslink monitoring results has been confounded by operational differences unrelated to Basslink. Drought and the subsequent rebuilding of water storage has dominated the pattern of power station water release in recent years. That period has seen some improvement in bank vegetation cover and little geomorphic change. However an expected return to higher volume and more sustained discharge in 2011 is predicted to reverse those trends.



The environmental flow appears to be of benefit to the macro invertebrate communities. The ramp rule has been found ineffective in reducing seepage erosion and has been subject to detailed review. Hydro Tasmania proposed a revised rule in October 2011 and this is now being considered.

Further information on this issue including the latest Gordon River Basslink Monitoring Annual Report is available online at: http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Our+Environment/Water/Basslink+Environmental+Studies/Gordon.htm



2.5. Climate change

As noted in the 2010 State of Conservation report (page 22), addressing the committee’s decision in relation to climate change risks to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, received a consultant’s report entitled “Monitoring the impact of climate change on the flora and vegetation values of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area: A Review”.http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/LJEM-8AE3AT?open

Following on from this paper, and other studies, a 10-year program to monitor the impacts of climate change on flora values has been developed. The data from the ongoing monitoring will provide crucial information on the status of Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area flora values, and will inform management actions that are needed to document and mitigate against the adverse effects of climate change on floral assets in the World Heritage property.

A workshop was held in October 2009 to develop priority projects. Discussions have also been held with universities to encourage research programs in identified priority areas. A Climate Watch citizen science collaboration has been established between the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology for king billy pine (Athrotaxis selaginoides), pencil pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides) and deciduous beech trees (Nothofagus gunnii). http://www.climatewatch.org.au/species/search?speciestype=6®ion=30&period=All

In 2011 a position paper on potential climate change impacts on geodiversity in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area was completed (Sharples, 2011). Potential climate change impacts on geodiversity in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area: A management response position paper. RMC, DPIPWE, Hobart. Nature Conservation Report Series 11/02). The report uses a risk management framework to prioritise consideration of potential impacts to geodiversity values.

Climate change risk assessments for fauna remain a priority to be undertaken.



2.6. Orange-bellied Parrot

The Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) is a world heritage value of the property and is listed as critically endangered under Australian and Tasmanian threatened species legislation. The species is only known to breed at one site, Melaleuca, which is within the area proposed for inclusion in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (refer to sections 1.2 and 1.3).

A series of actions including habitat management, captive breeding, and monitoring have been established as part of the recovery plan for the species. These actions are adaptively managed by a recovery team.

In 2010 the Orange-bellied Parrot recovery team estimated that, based on the current population trajectory, and without successful intervention, the species would be extinct in the wild by 2015. The Action Plan for the Orange-bellied Parrot, prepared in March 2010, outlined a set of emergency actions to respond to this imminent risk. These included augmenting the captive population to improve its effectiveness as an insurance population, implementing key actions within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area; providing supplementary food during breeding, undertaking habitat management burns, improving the availability of nest boxes, and managing competitors.

It is hoped that these actions will slow the decline of the wild population and provide the best opportunity for the future recovery of the species.

In 2008, Australia reported that some birds held in captivity outside of the property, as part of this program, had contracted Psittacine circoviral disease. The disease is listed as a key threatening process under national legislation. It is unclear whether the disease occurs within wild populations of Orange-bellied Parrot.

Indications of the disease have been detected within captive populations of the Orange-bellied Parrot. The Recovery Team’s Captive Management Group is adaptively managing the risks to both the captive population, the wild population, and to other species through disease-management protocols.

A volunteer group assisting with Orange-bellied Parrot conservation work is coordinated by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service with financial support from the Australian Government. Teams of two to four volunteers spent fortnightly shifts observing Orange-bellied Parrots at Birchs Inlet (inside the World Heritage property) and at Melaleuca (outside the World Heritage property in the area now proposed for addition – refer sections 1.2 and 1.3) between October 2008 and March 2011.



2.7. Biosecurity issues

As reported in 2008, and reiterated in 2010, a number of biosecurity issues have emerged in Tasmania, some of which may threaten world heritage values. These emerging issues have been acknowledged in the interim review of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan and are being addressed as priorities.

In partnership with Natural Resource Management South, the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment was successful in 2011 in procuring funds to establish the Caring for Our Country biosecurity program which aims to reduce the spread of chytrid fungus, mucor fungus, phytophthora, didymo and terrestrial weeds into and within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The first aim is to provide an education and biosecurity program targeting land management agencies and recreational park users. The second aim is to assess the effectiveness of biosecurity actions and monitor the impact of disease on the highly susceptible Tasmanian tree frog.

Specific biosecurity issues with updates since the last State of Conservation report are discussed further below.

Amphibian chytrid fungus

Chytridiomycosis is an infectious disease affecting amphibians worldwide. The disease has been recorded in other regions of mainland Australia and now Tasmania. Some species of endemic frogs are amongst the world heritage values of the property. As reported to the committee in 2008, a national threat abatement plan for this disease is in place. In August 2007, researchers reported to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Consultative Committee that the disease had been detected in frogs in many areas across Tasmania, including the margins of the property.

In conjunction with Natural Resource Management South, the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment has developed draft hygiene protocols for use by land management agencies and recreational park users. Existing biosecurity infrastructure will be augmented and accompanied by an education program. Research and management efforts continue in the development of effective biosecurity measures to contain the amphibian chytrid fungus, root-rot Phytophthora cinnamomi (another pathogen found in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area) and platypus mucor fungus.

No further spread of chytrid into the World Heritage property or loss of frog populations within the property has been detected since the last State of Conservation report in 2010.

More information on these issues is available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/ktp/frog-fungus.html http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/phytophthora/index.html

Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD)

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is considered a World Heritage value, and is one of the marsupial carnivores for which the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is a stronghold. The species is found across Tasmania. In 1996 a devastating disease, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), was detected in Tasmanian devils and has spread rapidly through most of the devil population. The disease, always fatal, is passed from devil to devil through biting. To date no cure or vaccine has been found.

The species is now listed as ‘endangered’ under national environmental law. The Tasmanian devil has also been listed as ‘endangered’ on the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The disease, having been first detected in the northeast corner of the state, continues to spread west and south and now affects 75 per cent of the state. Sightings of devils in disease infected areas have generally declined by 84 per cent (2010–11) up from the 80 per cent reported in 2009–10. In the northeast sightings have declined by 97 per cent. However there have not been any local extinctions recorded with devil populations persisting at low densities in areas where the disease is established. It appears that devils in the more remote areas of the World Heritage property remain free of the disease.

The Australian Government committed $A10 million and the Tasmanian Government $A15 million over five years, commencing in 2008–09, to the Save the Tasmanian Devil program. Through the implementation of a diverse range of research and management actions, considerable progress has been made towards the Program’s overall objective of ensuring the long-term survival of devils in the wild in Tasmania. The program is monitoring the spread of the disease, undertaking research to better understand the nature of the disease, protecting and managing disease free devils in the wild and establishing a disease free, genetically robust captive insurance population. This insurance population, dispersed across a number of facilities across Australia and projected to exceed 500 animals by the end of 2011, will provide animals that can ultimately be reintroduced back into the wild once the disease is no longer a threat.

More information on the Save the Tasmanian Devil program is available at: http://www.tassiedevil.com.au

Phytophthora cinnamomi



Phytophthora cinnamomi is an introduced plant pathogen that can cause floristic and structural change in buttongrass communities below about 700m elevation in the World Heritage property. It is well established on many walking tracks in the south west and the road system within and adjacent to the property. A Phytophthora cinnamomi management plan is in place to mitigate the risk of further spread and management of the pathogen. This plan informs the current Australian Government Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage biosecurity program (refer to section 1.1 Implementing new boundaries). In 2010 a significant new infestation was detected on the Loddon Plains and trial stream monitoring was conducted on the boundary for Phytophthora species.

Myrtle rust

Myrtle rust, an introduced disease of the Myrtaceae plant family, was discovered on mainland Australia in 2010. It is not currently present in Tasmania. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area does not fall within the current modelled climatically suitable areas for its establishment in Tasmania. The Tasmanian government is taking steps to mitigate the risk of myrtle rust establishing in Tasmania. The Tasmanian risks will be better understood as the disease takes its course on the mainland over the next few years.
Devil facial tumour disease front distribution 2011

Source: Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.
2.8. Introduced species

The Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment has reviewed introduced animal management in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The review documented all introduced animals known to occur in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and their impacts. A standard risk assessment was applied to introduced animals occurring inside and outside the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area to determine priorities for management. This review will form the basis for the development of a strategy to better manage the impacts of introduced species in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The publication : ‘Review, Risk Assessment and Management of Introduced animals in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area’. Nature Conservation Report 10/01 is available from: http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/LJEM-86U4GW?open

In March 2011, a survey of introduced marine pest in the outstanding Port Davey/Bathurst Harbour marine ecosystem was completed. This survey repeated the one conducted in 2003 when a small number of New Zealand Screw Shells were found and removed. No New Zealand Screw Shells or other target invasive species was detected during the 2011 survey.

More information on introduced animals is available from: http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/ThemeNodes/LJEM-6PX4TJ?open


3. POTENTIAL MAJOR RESTORATIONS, ALTERATIONS AND/OR NEW CONSTRUCTION(S) WITHIN THE PROTECTED AREA

The following section provides an update on current and potential redevelopments within the protected area covered by the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan.

The majority of visitor facilities are provided in visitor services sites or zones. These are the locations where most visitors experience the property.

The global financial crisis and continuing financial uncertainty has impacted on tourism to Australia and to Tasmania in particular, which has resulted in some planned tourism ventures not proceeding.



3.1. Tourism redevelopment at Lake St Clair

Lake St Clair, at the edge of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, is a Visitor Services Zone provided for in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan. Since the 1930s there has been visitor accommodation at Lake St Clair.

In recent years, various redevelopment projects have been proposed, in accordance with the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, at this location. Proposals reported in 2008 are updated below:

Redevelopment of tourist facilities at Cynthia Bay In 2009, Eco-Geo International Pty Ltd bought the lease and now manages the facilities. The lessee has commenced construction, in accordance with the approved development plan and environmental management plan, of a small number of the total approved cabins this financial year, these are likely to be operational next financial year.

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