Appendix 5: Getting to know YOUR patch
Use this appendix to help you perform a desktop assessment of the values and threats in your patch. Don’t forget to
ground-truth by noting want you observe at the site as well.
ASSESSMENT TOOLS
The LIST
http://www.thelist.tas.gov.au/
The Land Information System Tasmania (LIST) brings together information from a number of sources to provide
maps, including satellite imagery, topographic and geological maps, property and land title information and natural
values (incl vegetation types, threatened species, reserves, weeds, coastal values and pressures). See Appendix 6 for
how to use the LIST.
Natural Values Atlas
https://www.naturalvaluesatlas.tas.gov.au/pls/apex/f?p=200:101:3910021562802470
The Natural Values Atlas (NVA) is the repository of information on natural values in Tasmania. You can generate a
report and map, as well as lists of vegetation communities, geoconservation sites, threatened species and species of
conservation significance for any site or area within the State. Your must be a registered user but registration is free.
Much of the NVA data is also available on the LIST.
DPIPWE
http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au
The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) website contains links to biological
and ecological information on many of the State’s threatened species and invasive species. Departmental specialists
are also available to provide advice.
Forest Practices
http://www.fpa.tas.gov.au/
Authority (FPA)
The Forest Practices Authority (FPA) website contains links to the ‘Fauna Value Database’ which has biological and
ecological notesheets on many of the State’s threatened fauna species, as well as notesheets on threatened native
vegetation communities.
WIST
http://wrt.tas.gov.au/wist/ui
The Water Information System of Tasmania (WIST) website provides access to the Conservation of Freshwater
Ecosystem Values (CFEV) database which contains information on the conservation value of all the State’s freshwater
and estuarine systems, including saltmarsh. It is a useful tool to identify high priority waterways and wetlands in
need of protection and/or restoration.
Seamap
http://seamap.imas.utas.edu.au/
Seamap developed by Institute Marine Antarctic Studies (IMAS), provides marine habitat maps for Tasmanian coastal
waters. While not all waters have yet been mapped it is an ongoing project.
Google Earth
http://www.google.com/earth/index.html
Google Earth is the best way to access the latest satellite imagery for the State.
Sources and Resources
Guidelines for Natural Values Assessments (DPIPWE 2009)
http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter-nsf/Attachments/SSKA7UM3YC/$FILE/Guidelines%20for%20Natural%20Values%20Assessments.pdf
Protecting Local Heritage Places: A guide for communities (Australian Heritage Commission 2000)
http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ahc/publications/commission/books/pubs/protecting-local-heritageplaces.pdf
AUDIT OF NATURAL VALUES
Can be used to assess the key values in your local area
Feature
Description
These are examples and the list is not complete.
Where possible historical records / knowledge should also be included.
Natural values
Important species
Native vegetation
(terrestrial and aquatic)
Native fauna (terrestrial
and aquatic)
Ecologically significant
areas
Soils
Geoconservation values
Landscape and site
features
Habitat features
Rare, endemic and threatened species
Threatened native vegetation communities
Keystone species
Migratory species
Dominant vegetation types (TASVEG communities), condition and extent
Threatened vegetation communities
Riparian vegetation
Vegetation structure / layers (e.g. groundcover, understory, midstory, canopy)
Emergence of new seedlings or water plants
Dominant species, approximate numbers and range
Diversity of fauna e.g. fish, invertebrates, frogs, mammals, reptiles, birds
Provides a buffer or protects another nearby area
Importance for the health of another ecosystem (e.g. saltmarsh provides important
ecosystem services to estuaries)
Breeding or nursery area
Source of seed or species for dispersal to other areas
Estuaries, waterways, wetlands, groundwater, springs, dams and other water
bodies
Natural areas in good or undisturbed condition
Soil types of particular value e.g. productive alluvial soils
Features of non-living environment; bedrock, landforms and soil (e.g: fossil cliffs)
Connectivity of native bush / vegetation to your site
Wildlife corridors
Presence of buffer zones
Waterways free of obstructions enabling fish movement between estuaries &
inland waters
Size of the area
Number of different community types (e.g. vegetation or wetland)
Fallen logs or woody debris (both terrestrial and aquatic)
Hollow bearing trees, dead stags
River banks, wetlands, streams, dams - riffles, pools, aquatic plants, riparian
Rocky outcrops
Natural burrows
Caves
Mud flats
Coastal waters - rocky reefs or foreshores;
unvegetated, unconsolidated substrate;
seagrass; algal beds; aquatic macrophytes
Cultural values
Aboriginal heritage
values
Social and historic
values
Recreational values
Economic Values
Landscapes and places important to Aboriginal people as part of their customary
law, developing traditions, history and current practices.
Places that provide links to past events, history or culture Places of scientific, social
or spiritual value or other special value for future and current generations
Often part of location’s special identity
Places of visual amenity or aesthetic value
Places for fishing, swimming, boating, bushwalking, bird watching, biking
Land or water for agriculture, fisheries, drinking water (incl bore water), seed bank,
medicinal flora; scientific value
AUDIT OF POTENTIAL THREATS OR THREATENING PROCESSES
Can be used to assess the key threats to values in your local area
Threatening Process
These are some common threats, other threats possibly exist.
Human use
Marine debris and pollution
Overfishing
Removal of trees, vegetation
Removal of fallen timber (for fire wood)
Vandalism
Dumping of rubbish, litter
Vehicle access
Inappropriate pedestrian access
Pests and
Weeds
disease
Soil borne disease
Introduced species
Domestic and feral cats and dogs
Land
Clearing of land and riparian vegetation
management
Soil and stream bank erosion
Land reclamation and drainage activities
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Poor grazing and agricultural practices such as stock access to streams and wetlands
Harvesting of topsoil, river gravel or sand
Lack of coordinated management or poor planning of infrastructure
Water
Effluent from septic systems and sewerage treatment plants
management
Stormwater (incl sediment, contaminants and chemicals)
Pollution from industry (agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, quarries, processing, manufacturing,
building) unsealed roads, domestic and commercial activities
Water abstraction and diversion from waterways, (for drinking water, agriculture and industry)
Dams and river regulation processes that alter flows and water levels
Structures (eg culverts) that obstruct freshwater or tidal flows and the movement of fish and
aquatic fauna between estuaries and inland waterways
Dredging in coastal waters or siltation
Ballast water
Natural
Acid sulfate soils
occurrences
Climate change, sea level rise
Bushfires
Algal blooms