Unit 3 Biodiversity Management

Biodiversity Management

How is scientific data is applied to the assessment of environmental

risk in ensuring biodiversity.

SAC 3- Outcome 3: Environmental Assessment. TASK: Written response to set of 6 questions:

1. Relative abundance (data set)2. Type I and Type II errors3. Precautionary principal4. Risk assessment – PVA5. Environmental impact conservation strategy.6. Conservation Agreements

SAC 3: Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd May 2008.Key

Knowledge and skills in:• Comprehensive use of scientific data and the application of simple

indices to assess the level of biodiversity and the assessment of threats.

• Conclusions drawn from practical activities (data sets) are relevant, accurate and based on evidence.

Biodiversity management

In Victoria an Environmental Effect Statement (EES) is prepared by the proponent (person/organisation) planning the development.

The Environmental Effect Statement addresses:The projects key objectives, description of the development

proposed, description of the existing environment and the likely environmental effects resulting from the proposal.

Safeguards that will minimise likely environmental effects.

The Environmental Effect Statement identifies potential environmental issues and proposes steps to reduce the identified environmental impacts.

Environmental impact statements often require information on biodiversity.

Information is collected using scientific methods (i.e. existing data and field surveys).

Life cycle of an Environmental Effects Statements

4. Review of information usually by a Panel (ie. VCAT, state government)

2. Environmental Effect Statement

created by proponent

3. Research & Field work, survey of the site of proposed work;

To identify the impact of project on the ecosystemID: species of importance,.

Water, air, soil, biodiversity.

1. Project proposed

5. Decision is made on the Environmental Effect Statement

Statistical techniques to evaluate management.How do we scientifically determine if a

development has an environmental impact?

Hypothesis testing.Comparison of conditions using information or data. Comparison is made between sites and within sites.

In vegetation management comparisons are made using different scientific techniques:Quadrats and line transects.Species counts to identify abundance or richness.

Hypothesis testing

A Hypothesis tests the difference between the conditions.

Null hypothesis (Ho): That there is no difference between conditions.

Alternative hypothesis (H1): That there is a difference between conditions.

Type I and Type II errors:

When making the decision to accept or reject the null hypothesis there are two types of errors that can occur.

Type I error: finding a difference between environmental conditions when there is none. Such a decision could lead to stopping development to remedy the

situation when it is not necessary to do so.

Type II error: when no difference between environmental conditions is found, when there is actually a difference. In this case the assessment would conclude that there has been no

impact on the environment when there actually has been some impact. So that the development has had an impact.

Precautionary principal

Precautionary Principal: Is careful evaluation to avoid serious or irreversible damage to the environment does not occur.

The precautionary principal is applied when scientific information insufficient.

The precautionary principal makes sure that decisions are made on a number of factors including:

Shifting the burden of proof to the proponents of the activity.

Taking preventative action in the face of uncertainty.Exploring a wide range of alternatives to the possibly

harmful actions. Is there another way of doing things?Increasing public participation in decision making.

Relative abundance:

Practical activity: You are apart of the Orange-bellied Parrot recovery team you are

required to conduct field surveys to provide biodiversity information on three sites that a new coastal housing development is proposed on. You conduct your survey using line transects . Your survey must consider the impact on food plants Beaded Glasswort (Sarcocornia quinqueflora) on the Orange-bellied Parrot population. Compare the abundance of this plant at each of the sites and make recommendations based on your findings.1. Examine the number of quadrats at each site to statistically

test the difference between sites.2. Calculate the mean species abundance of Orange-bellied

Parrot food plants beaded glasswort.

Mean (total) / No of quadrats3. Answer the question refer to the data to justify your answers.

OBP habitat survey: Beaded Glasswort plants at each site.

Transect

(10 m)

Site A

Yambuk

Site B

Killarney

Site C

Port Fairy

1 15 8 8

2 60 5 31

3 46 10 45

4 23 15 27

Total

Mean

No of quadrats

Using the data to find solutions:

1. Identify the site and transect line that has the lowest number of beaded glasswort plants? Support this with data. (Ie. Low site recorded ** number of ****).

2. Why is this site important for Orange-bellied Parrots? Support with data comparisons. (refer to ecological requirements.)

3. Suggest two management techniques to protect and enhance the diversity at the site that recorded the lowest number of Beaded Glasswort?

4. Which site would you recommend for the new coastal development? Discuss two supporting reasons for your decision, include references to the data.

5. How would your interpretation of the results and recommendations change if a type 1 error occurred?

PVA

Population Viability Assessment:Determining the threats faced by a species and

evaluating the likelihood that it will persist for a given time into the future.

PVA is used because it links planning, research and data collection, assessment of vulnerability and the ranking of management options.

A PVA includes:Ecosystems: Habitat type and availability.Breeding and longevity: Birth and death rates. Demographics; age structure of populations.External influences: weather events.

Actions for Biodiversity Conservation

Biodiversity conservation is often limited by funding actions have to prioritise actions to assist species conservation.

Vitally important in the short term.Important long term actionLeast importantData collection for monitoring programsEducation programs

How do you rate this in terms of importance for the Orange-bellied Parrot?

Strategies for protecting biodiversity

CITES – trade of speciesWorld Heritage AreasRamsar convention (1993) – significant

wetlands.JAMBA- migratory bird agreement between

Japan and Australia.Environmental Protection and Biodiversity

Conservation Act (1999)Victoria Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1999).