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The main categories of flora and fauna surveys are
Click each of these for more information.
Resource Assessment
The legislative requirement for environmental impact assessments
and environmental studies has increased the number of flora and
fauna surveys undertaken in recent years. This legislation requires
some form of biological assessment to occur prior to certain developments
in areas where natural ecosystems exist (e.g. mines, freeways).
Flora and fauna surveys are only one component of this type of assessment,
but are often mandatory. However, the surveys are often done by
the organisation interested in developing the area and this may
undermine the objective nature of the assessment. Private consultants
are frequently used in this work, although government agencies are
often involved in the process of collecting data.
Resource assessment surveys aim to provide information on
- distribution of communities of assemblages
- distribution of pest species such as feral animals and weeds.
Conservation management and research
The protection of native fauna and flora and management of pest
species requires information relating to their distribution, life
history, threatening processes and impact on the environment. Flora
and fauna surveys form the basis of much of this work. State governments
are primarily responsible for this activity.
The results of resource assessment surveys are integrated and used
in conservation management strategies such as reserve design.
Monitoring
Monitoring is an integral part of assessing the impact of a particular
land use on the natural environment. A well-designed monitoring
system is vital in sustainable use of natural resources. State government
agencies are the main group that undertakes monitoring studies,
although natural resource companies also carry out monitoring.
Monitoring surveys can provide data on
- degredation or recovery of ecosystems (e.g. pasture condition,
canopy cover)
- changes in the distribution of species in response to natural
or anthropogenic phenomena
- movement of mobile fauna through the landscape
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