It is a conundrum with no perfect answer.
So, what are our preferred imperfections?
One issue is that, while the boundaries are imaginary lines and do not mean anything to the birds, the jurisdictions are real and each jurisdiction makes real decisions that do mean real things for the birds.
Taken in that context, I reckon we should do our bit, preferably in concert with NSW.
Our bit should be based on our best information for each species.
The beauty of the woodland survey data is that the same rules have been applied consistently for a long time.
It is subject to error but it is better trend data than other jurisdictions have for much of their wildlife.
Typically series data for much wildlife has stops and starts.
If there is a doubt, the precautionary principle should operate and, IMO, action is usually better than inaction.
One way of looking at the Scarlet Robin is that actions taken to conserve, protect or enhance its habitat are very likely to have incidental beneficial effects for many other woodland species.
On the matter of statutory definitions and their application to approvals and the like, how long is a piece of string?
I am reminded of a British naturalist who made the observation that in Britain there was some individuals left of just about everything, but not a lot of anything left of many species.
He was mourning the loss of abundance he had experienced as a child.
Maybe we should invert the objective: we want abundant wildlife rather than trying to hang onto shards and skerricks here and there, with non-extinction being the benchmark.
This should not be taken as a general endorsement of the ACT Government's management of woodland biodiversity in the ACT about which I am in a state of irritation.
regards
Con
On 9/04/2016 2:10 PM, David Rees wrote:
Given the ACT is surrounded by NSW and the border is just a human construct I would agree with you. If the ACT contained populations of something where all or almost all of it was just in the territory then some local listing would make sense.
No bird species fits into that category, though some reptiles might. We are just a small part of greater south eastern Australia.
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