Expert Opinion (Literature Review)
Redland city, located in South-East Queensland borders Brisbane City and Logan as shown in Fig.2. Made up primarily of the North Stradbroke Islands and Moreton Bay Islands, it covers a developed area of 53,700 hectares including both urban and rural areas. 17.73% of that is classified by the Redland City Council as reserve land. The council has accumulated valuable knowledge regarding the effective resource management in the area which have been dispersed into various management and planning strategies such as the Conservation Land Management Strategy 2010. According to the Redlands State of The Environment Report, Redland city is facing problems such as increasing urbanisation and tree clearings. Recently, due to increasing urbanisation, land for agriculture has been relatively scarce in the area. As stated in the Conservation Land Management Strategy 2010, the main outcomes of this conservation strategy are:
Identify and classify the Conservation Estate into discrete area types and provide principles for their management and planning.
Facilitate the development of a lifestyle; user friendly electronic system for both planning and operational management of the council’s estate.
The management frame work that Redland city will operate under is shown in Fig.1.
The Biodiversity conservation in Redland City is essential to the development of the city as a whole. According to the Conservation Land Management strategy 2010, the conservation of the area’s natural environment including its flora and fauna, the bushland and the bay. For this purpose, the Redland city council has devised another plan known as the Corporate Plan, which states that besides striving for a urban-rural balanced community, character and lifestyle, the need for creative and responsible environmental management is also essential.
“Ensure the enhancement of biodiversity including koala habitat, bushland, greenspace, waterways, catchments, air and coastal ecosystems of our unique location on Moreton Bay.”
The plan’s main aim of ecologically sustainable development is supported by a goal in which the City will be planned and managed in a way that conserves the natural environment. This will ensure that its ecosystem and biodiversity will be preserved and enhanced.
The Report also devises a few environmental policies that aims to protect and maintain:
the natural environment; the bushland and the bay
to maintain and enhance the concentration of Koalas in the area
to achieve biodiversity and maintain the habitat of animals
Prevent and protect the Redland’s waterways from pollution
Assess the ecological footprint of Redland City as a basis for more effective environmental planning and management
In regards to vegetation fragmentation, which is an environmental phenomena of considerable significance. Worldwide, much of the worlds vegetation has declines since 1981 and has only recently slowed down in 1991. In Australia, a couple of centuries of European Settlement and human modification of the landcover have managed to halve forest cover although it has since slowed down. The result is fragmented landscapes with some patches of native vegetation within landscapes with different types of land use. This often leaves vegetation patches of limited sizes and resources which may not be enough to support the species associated with a region. For example in Queensland, in particular the Redlands Area, which was formerly abundant with eucalyptus forest is now heavily fragmented with only very few patches of eucalyptus forest left and majority of the land use is real estate primarily homes.
3. Characterisation of biodiversity in the case study area
Redland City has a total of 1300 native plant species over 39 regional ecosystems which are under pressure largely due to past and present land use and urbanisation. Also the councils findings include the infestation of other flora and fauna in which the approximated number of species is 245. The city also has 575 native animal species including 29 exotic animals species which are affected by similar causes. In the Redlands State of the Environment Report and the Conservation Land Management strategy 2010, concerns regarding the severe decline of koala population and other iconic species has called for immediate action.
The council has implemented major policies and actions to protect the biodiversity. As mentioned in the expert opinion segment of this overview, the council has implemented the Redland Koala Policy which essentially protects and prevents the koala population from further diminishing. The role of this strategy is to provide a target to meet community expectations to stop the rapid decline in koala populations and take immediate action in doing so. As of 2014 the Koala Population in the Region is 5000. Also with this plan, the idea is to install the idea that the koalas are part of the Redland community as its role in the community is absolutely pivotal; integral to the environment, culture, social and economic wellbeing of the community.
The Conservation Land Management Strategy also has devised a plan to combat invasive species, monitor and track their progress and the kind of effects it has on the environment of the region. The general aim of this plan is to control these exotic and invasive species of flora and fauna.
In regards to the biodiversity of Redland city, the Council has imposed the Redland Koala Policy and Implementation Strategy 2008. This means that Redland City Council has agreed to undertake a range of actions that would essentially enhance the population of Koala’s in the region. Some of the actions are:
to introduce vegetation on cleared land with recommended species such as eucalyptus to attract Koala populations.
asses all public land to be amended to integrate Koala Species into the community
4. Conclusion
Summary of findings etc.:
17.73% of Redland City’s 53,700 hectares of developed land is classified as reserve land
Problems such as land clearing and increased urbanisation are some of the issues that Redland City faces.
The council’s plans to conserve land has 2 main outcomes which are to provide a set guideline for effective planning and management and to develop a “user friendly” electronic system lifestyle for environmental planning and management.
Aims to protect and preserve the natural ecosystem in the Redland City region
Maintain and increase the density of the population of koalas in Redland city
Plans devised to combat the increasing numbers of invasive species in Redland City area.
Introductory details
Student names: Hong Zhi Hua ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Case study area: Redland City, The Redlands ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….
Relevant Bioregion(s): Cleveland …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Purpose of this overview: To investigate the characteristics of the biodiversity in the Redlands. To investigate the impacts of fragmentation on the area of investigation.To determine different methods of planning and conservation that would help the case study area.