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The Sunshine Coast compensatory habitat project
Abstract   Peer reviewed

The Sunshine Coast compensatory habitat project

Alison Shapcott, B McDonald, C Deane, A Nankervis, M Olsen, J Warren, Neil W Tindale and P McDonald
Proceedings of the 2005 International Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration, p.250
International Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER): Ecological Restoration - A Global Challenge, 2005 (Zaragosa, Spain, 12-Sep-2005–18-Sep-2005)
2005
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Abstract

Plant Biology compensatory habitat habitat fragmentation threatened species performance objectives coastal heath
Australia's coastal heath contains many endangered, vulnerable or rare (EVR) plant species but is rapidly being lost due to coastal urban expansion and human population growth. Developers are now being required to compensate for this loss. An innovative collaboration between local council, property developer and University attempted to take a comprehensive and scientific approach to minimise the loss and ensure the best compensatory habitat created. The development site contained heath and wetland habitat for several rare animals and populations of five EVR plant species. Thus species assemblages present on the site that were known to provide habitat for the rare animals were required to be compensated for as well as the habitat and populations of the EVR plant species. A rehabilitation code was developed which specified measurable performance objectives, a compensatory habitat plan was developed to outline the methodology and on site works and additional studies are being undertaken on the population genetics and ecology of the EVR plant species that were poorly known. The project will translocate entire intact turf's (soil plus vegetation) from the development site to a nearby previously cleared site located on the USC campus and will be oriented to capture the EVR species and reflect the original proximity and landscape/topographic position and thus translocating whole populations including soil stored seed banks. Supplementary seed and cutting collections were made from the EVR populations to enable the translocated populations to be supplemented if required. The approach taken ensured success would be measurable and ecologically based.

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