Habitat LossHabitat Loss

Habitat Loss

Approximately 25% of the island’s original forests have been cleared and replaced by shrublands of ferns on minefields, Secondary Vegetation on stockpiles, and roads and housing (Environment Australia 1994). This has meant a loss of available forested habitat, although secondary vegetation growing along roadsides and on stockpiles contributes to the feeding habitat for Christmas Island Goshawks at least at some times of the year. Nonetheless, based on the decrease in available habitat, the total Christmas Island Goshawk population has probably decreased by at least 25% since settlement (Stokes 1988).

Primary forests on Christmas Island have been fragmented in places by clearing and most Primary Rainforest is dissected by roads and old mining 'grid lines' The grid line system, a series of parallel lines 120 m apart and a bulldozer blade in width was installed in the 1970's to explore the island's phosphate resources. After 25 years these are mostly overgrown with dense stands of Secondary Vegetation.

There are some major development proposals and associated infrastructure in particular the Immigration Centre, Satellite launching station, airport upgrade, and expansion of phosphate mining that have the potential to reduce the area of goshawk habitat. One development condition for the satellite launching facility is to develop and implement an environment management plan, which is currently underway. The EMP will address threatened fauna and their habitat on the sites. The immigration centre is exempt from assessment under the EPBC Act, however, the DEH is being consulted on environmental aspects of the development, including monitoring of habitat for potential impacts. The airport upgrade and phosphate mining expansion proposals are undergoing assessment for environmental impact under the EPBC Act. Survey and monitoring of the Christmas Island Goshawk will aid in determining potential impacts of these and future developments on goshawk habitat.

The Christmas Island Rainforest Rehabilitation Program (CIRRP) is a long term program to revegetate old minefields. The CIRRP is funded by a conservation levy that is collected from Phosphate Resources Limited at an indexed rate per tonne. Rehabilitation priorities are primarily determined to protect Abbott’s Booby sites, although other threatened species are also considered in determining the priority of sites. A significant additional result of CIRRP will be the reestablishment of habitat that supports other species such as the goshawk.