50Matters to be included in biodiversity project reports

50 Matters to be included in biodiversity project reports

Note: Division 2 of Part 9 of the Act requires the project proponent to provide the regulator with biodiversity project reports, in accordance with the Rules. This section specifies particular information to be included in such a report (see paragraph 45((3)(c) of the Act).

Monitoring report—ecosystem condition (1) A biodiversity project report for a replanting project must include a report on the results of the monitoring assessment for the reporting period. (2) The report must be prepared by the suitably qualified person who undertook the monitoring assessment. (3) The report must include the following: (a) the name, qualifications and experience of the suitably qualified person who conducted the monitoring assessment and prepared the monitoring report; (b) a map of the project area that includes a map of the activity areas and the location of each permanent sampling plot in each activity area; (c) the reference ecosystems for each activity area; (d) the starting ecosystem condition state for each activity area; (e) the benchmark values for the reference ecosystems in each activity area; (f) the starting values for each indicator for ecosystem condition in each activity area; (g) details of the permanent sampling plots in each activity area, including: (i) the location of each sampling plot and the reference ecosystem that applies to it; and (ii) the location of the permanent markers for each sampling plot; and (iii) the location of the centre line for each sampling plot; and (iv) a description of how the plots were determined; (h) details of all species planted during the reporting period and the method of planting; (i) a summary of all plant species recorded during monitoring; (j) details of any natural regeneration that has occurred or is occurring in each activity area during the reporting period; (k) the monitoring data obtained during the reporting period (in accordance with the processes set out above) from each permanent sampling plot, provided in data tables appended to the report; (l) an analysis, based on the monitoring data, of the progress of each indicator for ecosystem condition against the restoration target for that indicator for each activity area; (m) an analysis, based on the monitoring data, of the progress of each indicator for ecosystem condition against the threshold value for each activity area (for issuing a certificate); (n) certification that the sampling plots located in each activity area are representative of at least 90% of the activity area in which they are located, in terms of composition and condition, at the time of monitoring; (o) details of any significant absences or mortality in plantings for each activity area; (p) for each activity area, details of the potential threats to the likelihood of achieving the project outcome identified during the reporting period; (q) for each activity area, details of the threatened species and ecological communities that were identified as occurring, or likely to occur, within the activity area and in the surrounding landscape during the reporting period; (r) details of any fires that have occurred in an activity area during the reporting period, including: (i) the dates the fires started and ended; and (ii) the location of the fire; and (iii) the cause of the fire (if known); and (iv) the proportion of each activity area, and the project area overall, that was affected by the fire; and (v) the percentage of trees and shrubs killed by the fire; (s) the photographs taken during the reporting period in accordance with the photo survey requirements; (t) an assessment of observations from such photographs, including general project progress and evidence of disturbance and plant mortality; (u) an assessment of the implementation of the project during the reporting period, including in relation to: (i) plantings undertaken – covering the quantity of seedlings or seed planted, the species planted and method of planting; and (ii) natural regeneration; and (iii) any remedial plantings undertaken – covering the quantity of seedlings or seed planted, the species planted, the timing and location of the plantings, and the extent of plant mortality (where relevant); and (iv) any livestock exclusion from the activity areas; and (v) any weed management activities undertaken, including the methods used, the species targeted, the timing of the weed management activities, the type and quantity of chemicals used (if any) and the labour hours for each method used; and (vi) any pest management activities undertaken, including the methods used, the species targeted, the timing of the activities, the number of labour hours for each method used and, where animals are shot or trapped, the number and species of the animals killed; (v) details of whether, and how, seed collection has been conducted in accordance with relevant best practice guidelines; (w) details of any engagement with Aboriginal persons or Torres Strait Islanders during the reporting period in relation to the implementation of the project, including any changes made to the implementation of the project as a result of such engagement; (x) details of how any Indigenous data used during the reporting period in relation to the implementation of the project was collected, used and stored in a culturally appropriate way, including in accordance with any consent obtained for the collection, use or storage of the data. Monitoring report—culturally significant entities (4) A biodiversity project report for a replanting project that has 1 or more culturally significant entities must include: (a) if the relevant persons for the project area have consented to the inclusion of such information in the biodiversity project report—information on progress of the project toward the threshold value and nominated restoration target for each indicator for each culturally significant entity during the reporting period for the report; or (b) otherwise—a statement as to whether or not the relevant persons have verified the progress of the project towards the threshold value and nominated restoration target for each indicator for the each culturally significant entity during the reporting period for the report. Achievement of threshold values (5) If the project proponent is satisfied that the threshold value for an indicator for ecosystem condition that is relevant to the project has been met, each biodiversity project report for the project must include: (a) a statement to that effect; and (b) evidence supporting that statement. (6) If the project proponent is satisfied that the threshold value for a culturally significant entity that is relevant to the project has been met, each biodiversity project report for the project must include: (a) a statement to that effect; and (b) evidence that the relevant persons have verified that the threshold value has been met; and (c) if the relevant persons have consented to including such information—evidence supporting the statement that the threshold value has been met. (7) The data in a biodiversity project report, and its presentation, must be consistent with the Data Submission Guidelines.