PART E. MANAGMENT PRACTICES

 

Many of the Objectives and Actions outlined in Part D are designed to identify currently undetermined threatening processes that are resulting in the decline and westward contraction of the Christmas Island Pipistrelle. Until these processes have been identified the following interim management initiatives and prescriptions are proposed. Activities that may have a significant impact on the Christmas Island Pipistrelle and would therefore trigger the requirement for environmental assessment and approval under the EPBC Act are indicated below (EPBC trigger). Note that this listing is not in order of priority.

 

 

Protecting Important Populations or Occurrences

 

      Eradicate all known Yellow Crazy Ant supercolonies.

      Conduct active ground searching for Yellow Crazy Ant supercolonies both in previously infested and unaffected areas, including away from tracks. All supercolonies located to be baited.

      No removal of rainforest within the Christmas Island National Park (EPBC trigger).

      Removal of phosphate from within the Christmas Island National Park to be assessed in terms of impact on the Christmas Island Pipistrelle as outlined in Christmas Island National Park Management Plan (Commonwealth of Australia 2002; page 93) (EPBC trigger).

      In accordance with the EPBC Act any action which is likely to have a significant impact on the Christmas Island Pipistrelle through removal of primary rainforest or secondary rainforest regrowth on vacant crown land or leasehold land must be referred to the Commonwealth Environment Minister to determine whether approval is required under the EPBC Act. Determining whether an action is likely to have a significant impact needs to include consideration of suitable roosting and foraging habitat. All areas of primary rainforest and advanced secondary rainforest regrowth (e.g. > 30 years old) require a detailed appraisal of the vegetation to determine its potential to provide roosting sites. This is to be based on the current knowledge of roosting habitat as outlined in Lumsden et al. (1999), or further information as it comes to hand. Areas supporting primary rainforest, or secondary rainforest regrowth of any age, need to be assessed for foraging habitat, by sampling with bat detectors, using the technique outlined in Appendix One.

      Conduct monitoring for the pipistrelle using the methodology as described in Appendix Two.

      Identify sections of roadways with regular night-time traffic frequently used by bats using a hand-held bat detector.

      Determine whether areas with extensive bat activity (as recorded during driving transects by Lumsden et al. 1999) have frequent night-time traffic, and establish a set of interim guidelines to minimise the risk of vehicle-related mortality.