EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Instrument under section 184(1)

(Issued under the Authority of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage)

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Act) places certain obligations on the Commonwealth to protect and conserve threatened species and ecological communities, and recognise, and where possible, abate key threatening processes listed on the list of threatened species, ecological communities and key threatening processes under the Act.

The purpose of this instrument is to amend the list of threatened species under the Act in accordance with s184 by:

• adding Chalcophaps indica natalis (Emerald Dove (Christmas Island)) and Turdus poliocephalus erythropleurus (Island Thrush (Christmas Island)) to the list of endangered species,

as recommended by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee), having regard to the definition of critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species in s179 of the Act.

The Committee’s recommendations are as follows:

Chalcophaps indica natalis (Emerald Dove (Christmas Island))

The Committee judged that the Emerald Dove (Chistmas Island) is eligible for listing as endangered under the Act. The species met the criteria in the Act and EPBC Regulations (Part 7, Division 7.1 and 7.2). In particular, two of the criteria for listing as endangered have been met:

Criterion 2: Its geographic distribution is precarious for the survival of the species and is very restricted, restricted or limited.

Criterion 3: The estimated total number of mature individuals is limited to a particular degree and: (a) evidence suggests that the number will continue to decline at a particular rate; or (b) the number is likely to continue to decline and its geographic distribution is precarious for its survival.

Turdus poliocephalus erythropleurus (Island Thrush (Christmas Island))

The Committee judged that the Island Thrush (Chistmas Island) is eligible for listing as endangered under the Act. The species met the criteria in the Act and EPBC Regulations (Part 7, Division 7.1 and 7.2). In particular, one of the criteria for listing as endangered has been met:

Criterion 2: Its geographic distribution is precarious for the survival of the species and is very restricted, restricted or limited.

On this basis, the Committee recommends that the two species be listed as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

On the basis of the advice of the Committee, I am satisfied that the Emerald Dove (Christmas Island) and the Island Thrush (Christmas Island) are eligible to be included in the endangered category.

In deciding to include these species in the list, I did not consider any matter that does not relate to the survival of this species.

This instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

The instrument commenced on the day after it was registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.