Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet (24830)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, B2, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2018
National site name: Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet
Central coordinates: Latitude: -43.1428, Longitude: 145.9142
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 771
Area of KBA (km2): 2183.42403
Protected area coverage (%): 99.98
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA encompasses the entire known breeding range of the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot as mapped in the Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Plan. The IBA comprises a mosaic of eucalypt forest, rainforest, and moorland and sedgeland plains, extending throughout coastal and near-coastal areas from Birchs Inlet to Louisa Bay in south-west Tasmania. Most of the IBA has a rugged topography with extensive coastal lowland plains rising to rocky mountains. The IBA overlaps with Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Southwest Conservation Area and Southwest National Park. The islands of the Muttonbird, Swainson and Trumpeter groups, which lie offshore from the Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet IBA, and support globally significant numbers of one congregatory waterbird and three congregatory seabird species, comprise the separate Port Davey Islands IBA.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2018): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2015-2018). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2016 Red List.
Additional biodiversity: The buttongrass plains within the IBA support significant numbers of Ground Parrots. The restricted-range Tasmanian Native-hen and Yellow Wattlebird may occur in the IBA but no confirmed records are cited in Thomas (1979) or were submitted to the Atlas of Australian Birds for the period 1998 to 2008 (Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Other site values: Tasmanian State Government and managed by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Secure adequate resourcing to facilitate ongoing research and management of Orange-bellied Parrot breeding sites. Maintain current regime of fire management, which accounts for habitat requirements of Orange-bellied Parrots. Control or minimise spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi and control or eradicate other invasive plants and animals.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Brothers, N., Pemberton, D. Pryor, H. and Halley, V. (2001) Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. Commonwealth of Australia (2005) Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Plan. Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra. Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Team (1998) Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Plan 1998-2002. Orange-bellied Parrot Recovery Team, Parks and Wildlife Service: Hobart. Schultz, M. (1990) Repeat Survey of the Waders of South-West Tasmania. Stilt 16: 52-54. Schultz, M. and Kristensen, K. (1993) A Survey of Shorebirds of Western Tasmania, Part Two, North Head, Port Davey to Cape Sorell. Stilt 23: 26-29. Skira, I.J., Brothers, N. P. and Pemberton, D. (1996) Distribution, abundance and conservation status of Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris in Tasmania, Australia. Marine Ornithology 24:1-14. Parks and Wildlife Service (1999) Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan. Parks and Wildlife Service: Hobart. Thomas, D. Tasmanian Bird Atlas. Fauna of Tasmania Handbook No. 2. University of Tasmania: Hobart.
Contributors: Thanks to Eric Woehler as compiler.