Ecological Consultants Association of NSW Vegetation Community Workshop and Annual Conference

The EPS Ecology team attended the Ecological Consultants Association of NSW (ECA) Vegetation Community Workshop and Annual Conference in our own backyard at Shoal Bay, Port Stephens in late July.

The theme of the conference was ‘New Legislation, Methods and Technology’ and it covered topics such as:

• Implementing the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 – reforms and offsets;
• Where does fauna fit in to the requirements of the new Biodiversity Act?
• Local Land Services Act 2013 – new framework for the management of vegetation in NSW;
• Biosecurity Act 2015 – Overview and responsibilities;
• Reducing barrier effects for Eastern Pygmy Possums;
• Ecology of invasive rodents on islands; and
• Drones their application in the consulting industry.

The Vegetation Community Workshop explored topics such as:

• Plant Community Type classification in NSW;
• Final determinations for Threatened Ecological Communities – intent and utilisation; and
• Vegetation information (data and systems).

Overall the presentations were very informative and raised many important questions regarding the current ecological consulting environment and ongoing legislation evolution in NSW.  The conference highlighted some of the challenges and opportunities associated with the recently reformed legislation, and implications moving into the future for ecological management and development projects.

EPS is highly supportive of the contribution of the ECA to ecological consulting in NSW.

For information on the ECA go to the following link http://www.ecansw.org.au/

For further information or assistance with understanding the implications for your projects resulting from recent biodiversity legislation reforms, please contact EPS.