Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy ministers
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Australian Energy Employment Report survey

    Share insights to help the energy workforce plan for the future

    Find out more

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Our science strategy
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Parks and heritage
  3. National Parks
  4. Welcome to Christmas Island National Park
  5. Christmas Island Publications
  6. Interim report | Christmas Island Expert Working Group

Sidebar first - EN - National parks

  • Christmas Island National Park
    • Culture and history
    • Natural environment
      • Geology
      • Habitats
      • Native animals
      • Marine life
      • Plants
    • Management and conservation
      • Park management
      • Conservation projects
      • Expert Working Group
    • Permits, licences and leases
      • For media and artists
      • For tourism operators
      • For events and other commercial activities
      • For other activities
      • For researchers
      • For long-term use of a site to conduct an activity
    • Publications
    • Media Centre

Interim report | Christmas Island Expert Working Group

2009

Parks Australia July 2009

Download
Interim report | Christmas Island Expert Working Group | 2009 (PDF 1.3MB)
Interim report | List of appendices (PDF 309.1KB)
  • The FINAL report, released in September 2010 can be found here

Executive Summary | Introduction

The Expert Working Group was formed in February 2009 in response to growing concern about the decline of the Christmas Island pipistrelle (the island's only insectivorous bat) and, in particular, the report to DEWHA by Lumsden and Schulz (2009). The working group came quickly to the realisation that, to meet its brief, its focus would have to be both wide and deep, encompassing the ecology of the whole island and its surrounds. This report reflects that approach.

The working group notes that resolution of biodiversity conservation issues on Christmas Island has been an ongoing concern, expressed previously by Inquiries by the House of Representatives Committee on Environment and Conservation (1974) and the Senate Committee of Science, Technology and the Environment (1983).

There is a major difference in focus between previous reviews and ours. The earlier reviews sought resolution of classical but simple conflicts between resource utilisation (specifically, phosphate mining) and biodiversity conservation (specifically, the breeding sites of seabirds) through the judicious allocation of lands, either to National Parks or to mining.

We realised that this approach has been inadequate: the conservation problems on Christmas Island are pervasive, chronic and increasing and, unfortunately, will not have simple solutions.

Despite the majority of its land being in a national park, Christmas Island has suffered extinctions of three vertebrate species and is witnessing rapid decline to probable extinction of its few remaining endemic reptile species and its only insectivorous bat. It is also probable that seven plant species may be extinct.

In addition Christmas Island is suffering dramatic losses of the Red crab. The Red crab is not only its most conspicuous and remarkable species, but also the pivot of the island's unique ecology, which is of international significance. There are also concerns for the island's remarkable stygofauna. These facts imply a deep ecological malaise.

Our assessment reflects recognition of the more pervasive effects of the many pressures on the Christmas Island ecosystem, and the enormous challenge that these pose for implementing appropriate management responses on the island.

Our conclusion is that long-term and substantial changes will be required in the management of Christmas Island and its surrounding seas as a single ecological entity. Otherwise management will fail.

The working group's recommendations include some which are broad-ranging and long-term. We are recommending changes that will reduce the probability of further extinctions and reverse the decline in the island's endemic species and ecological processes. We are recommending changes that must be maintained to ensure the future of the extraordinary national asset that is Christmas Island's biodiversity.

Recognising that the need for some actions is very urgent, we present this report, grounded in the terms of reference provided by the Minister on 16 February 2009. The report will be refined over the coming months as there are a number of outstanding assessments that require time. The most significant of these are the possible disease loads of the Christmas Island pipistrelles and the ecological impact of Fipronil. Findings in these areas could influence our final recommendations and future management.

Expert Working Group members

Associate Professor Bob Beeton (Chair)
Dr Andrew Burbidge
Professor Gordon Grigg
Dr Ric How
Mr Norm McKenzie
Dr John Woinarski
Secretariat
Ms Anne-Marie Delahunt
Ms Kerry Cameron
Ms Meryl Triggs

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 03 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.