Australian Capital Territory

Nature Conservation (Threatened Ecological Communities Eligibility) Criteria 2016*

Disallowable instrument DI2016—255

made under the

Nature Conservation Act 2014, s 71 (Threatened ecological communities list—eligibility criteria)

1	Name of instrument
This instrument is the Nature Conservation (Threatened Ecological Communities Eligibility) Criteria 2016.
2	Commencement
This instrument commences on the day after it is notified.
3	Details of instrument
I declare that:
a)	the threatened ecological communities list eligibility criteria are those set out in the schedule; and
b)	the definitions in the schedule are part of this instrument.
4	Non-application of s47(5) of the Legislation Act
The Legislation Act 2001, section 47(5) does not apply in relation to instruments applied, adopted or incorporated in the schedule.
Note Instruments applied, adopted or incorporated in the schedule do not need to be notified under the Legislation Act because s47(5) does not apply (see Legislation Act s47(7)). Relevant instruments can be found on the internet – see relevant websites in the schedule.

Simon Corbell
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change
5 September 2016

SCHEDULE
(see section 3)

THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES – ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1	Criteria for Listing a Collapsed Ecological Community

To be recommended to be listed as collapsed, an ecological community must meet all of the following criteria:

(a)	The natural range of variation must be explicitly defined; and
(b)	there must be a transformation of community identity outside this natural range:
(i)	including a loss of defining features; and
(ii)	replacement by another and essentially different ecosystem type.

2	Criteria for Listing a Critically Endangered Ecological Community

To be recommended to be listed as critically endangered, an ecological community must meet at least one of the IUCN criteria for listing an ecosystem in the critically endangered category as listed in IUCN (2016). Guidelines for the Application of IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria, Version 1.0. Bland, L.M., Keith, D.A., Murray, N.J., and Rodríguez, J.P. (eds.). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. (http://iucnrle.org/static/media/uploads/references/key-documents/bland-etal-2016-iucn-rle-guidelines-v1-en.pdf)

3	Criteria for Listing an Endangered Ecological Community

To be recommended to be listed as endangered, an ecological community must meet at least one of the IUCN criteria for listing an ecosystem in the endangered category as listed in IUCN (2016). Guidelines for the Application of IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria, Version 1.0. Bland, L.M., Keith, D.A., Murray, N.J., and Rodríguez, J.P. (eds.). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. (http://iucnrle.org/static/media/uploads/references/key-documents/bland-etal-2016-iucn-rle-guidelines-v1-en.pdf)

4	Criteria for Listing a Vulnerable Ecological Community

To be recommended to be listed as vulnerable, an ecological community must meet at least one of the IUCN criteria for listing an ecosystem in the vulnerable category as listed in IUCN (2016). Guidelines for the Application of IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria, Version 1.0. Bland, L.M., Keith, D.A., Murray, N.J., and Rodríguez, J.P. (eds.). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.  (http://iucnrle.org/static/media/uploads/references/key-documents/bland-etal-2016-iucn-rle-guidelines-v1-en.pdf)

5	Criteria for Listing a Provisional Ecological Community 
To be recommended to be listed in this category, an ecological community must meet at least one of these criteria

(a)	The ecological community has been subject to sudden reduction in size, scale, structure, composition, characteristic native biota, geographic distribution, or ecological function.
(b)	The ecological community is known to occur in the ACT and is already recognised as threatened in another jurisdiction.

(c)	The ecological community is likely to meet the criteria for listing as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable but more time is required to gather data to demonstrate eligibility for listing in the ACT.

DEFINITIONS - General

ACT Region is the ACT and surrounding bioregions. Bioregions are not strictly defined but as a guide, the Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) and Development of Version 7 (Environment Australia, September 2012) recognises that the ACT falls within two bioregions – the Australian Alps and South Eastern Highlands.

To be eligible for listing under the Nature Conservation Act 2014, ecological communities must occur within the ACT.  However, the conservation status of items that meet this requirement will be assessed at the national scale first, then at the bioregional scale.

Ecological community is defined under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 and equates to the definition ‘ecosystem’ under the IUCN. 

Reduction is a decline in the number of mature individuals of at least the amount (%) stated under the criterion over the time period (years) specified, although the decline need not be continuing.  A reduction should not be interpreted as part of a fluctuation unless there is good evidence for this.  The downward phase of a fluctuation will not normally count as a reduction.

DEFINITIONS – IUCN RED LIST OF ECOSYSTEMS 
The following definitions are defined in IUCN (2016). Guidelines for the Application of IUCN Red List of Ecosystems Categories and Criteria, Version 1.0. Bland, L.M., Keith, D.A., Murray, N.J., and Rodríguez, J.P. (eds.). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. ( http://iucnrle.org/static/media/uploads/references/key-documents/bland-etal-2016-iucn-rle-guidelines-v1-en.pdf)  
Characteristic native biota 
Distribution 
Ecosystem