EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Instrument under section 285
(Issued under the Authority of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage)
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Act) provides for the development and implementation of wildlife conservation plans for the purposes of the protection, conservation and management of a listed migratory, marine, cetacean or conservation dependant species.
The purpose of this instrument is to ensure a wildlife conservation plan is in force in accordance with s. 285 of the Act for the following species:
Scientific Name | Common Name |
Gallinago hardwickii | Latham's Snipe |
Gallinago stenura | Pin-tailed Snipe |
Gallinago megala | Swinhoe's Snipe |
Limosa limosa | Black-tailed Godwit |
Limosa lapponica | Bar-tailed Godwit |
Numenius minutus | Little Curlew |
Numenius phaeopus | Whimbrel |
Numenius madagascariensis | Eastern Curlew |
Tringa totanus | Common Redshank |
Tringa stagnatilis | Marsh Sandpiper |
Tringa nebularia | Common Greenshank |
Tringa glareola | Wood Sandpiper |
Xenus cinereus | Terek Sandpiper |
Actitis hypoleucos | Common Sandpiper |
Heteroscelus brevipes | Grey-tailed Tattler |
Heteroscelus incanus | Wandering Tattler |
Arenaria interpres | Ruddy Turnstone |
Limnodromus semipalmatus | Asian Dowitcher |
Calidris tenuirostris | Great Knot |
Calidris canutus | Red Knot |
Calidris alba | Sanderling |
Calidris ruficollis | Red-necked Stint |
Calidris subminuta | Long-toed Stint |
Calidris melanotos | Pectoral Sandpiper |
Calidris acuminata | Sharp-tailed Sandpiper |
Calidris ferruginea | Curlew Sandpiper |
Limicola falcinellus | Broad-billed Sandpiper |
Philomachus pugnax | Ruff |
Phalaropus lobatus | Red-necked Phalarope |
Pluvialis fulva | Pacific Golden Plover |
Pluvialis squatarola | Grey Plover |
Charadrius bicinctus | Double-banded Plover |
Charadrius mongolus | Lesser Sand Plover |
Charadrius leschenaultii | Greater Sand Plover |
Charadrius veredus | Oriental Plover |
Glareola maldivarum | Oriental Pratincole |
In accordance with s. 287 of the Act the plan includes:
- the objectives to be achieved during the life of the plan;
- criteria against which achievement of the objectives is to be measured;
- the actions needed to achieve the objectives;
- habitats of the species and the actions needed to protect those habitats;
- identify interests affected by the plans implementation and organisations/persons involved in evaluating the performance of the recovery plan;
- major benefits to migratory, marine, cetacean or conservation dependant species, other than those to which the plan relates.
The information presented in the wildlife conservation plan and supported by experts in the field enabled the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) to recommend the making of the Plans as required under s. 292 of the Act.
On the basis of the advice of the Committee, and on assessment of comments received from the public and State and Territory Governments, I am satisfied that the wildlife conservation plan for 36 species of migratory shorebirds should be made.
Consultations
The following consultation on the Wildlife Conservation Plan was undertaken:
- An issues paper was made was made available on http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/migratory/waterbirds/index.html for comment for the period 1 June to 1 August 2004;
- A series of public meetings were held in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth from May to August 2005.
- Notices inviting comment on the draft Plan were placed in the Gazette and in The Australian, and made available on http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/migratory/waterbirds/index.html from 17 August to 17 November 2005.
- The Minister for the Environment and Heritage sought comments from all state and territory governments.
All comments received were considered in revising the draft Plan. On the basis of the advice of the Committee, and on assessment of comments received from the public and state and territory governments, I am satisfied that the Wildlife Conservation Plan for 36 species of shorebirds should be made.
The wildlife conservation plan is available electronically from the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage at:
- http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/migratory/waterbirds/shorebird-plan/index.html; or
- from the Community Information Unit, Department of the Environment and Heritage, GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601
This instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
The plan was made on the day it was approved by the Minister pursuant to section 285(7) of the EPBC Act and commenced the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.