A line of trees reflected in a lake with a cloudy, blue sky above
Lake Toolibin. Photo Val English/DBCA

Threatened ecological community report form

A report form is one of the main tools used for monitoring occurrences of threatened ecological communities (TECs) and priority ecological communities (PECs) in Western Australia. It is used predominantly by DBCA staff to collect data from occasional and repeated observations of occurrences, but can also be used by anybody, including NRM professionals, environmental consultants, nature enthusiasts and other members of the public. If you believe you have discovered a new occurrence of a TEC or would like to document a change in the condition or threat level of a known occurrence, please submit a report to DBCA.

Note that in accordance with section 49 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, it is a requirement to report threatened ecological community occurrences discovered when carrying out field work for the purposes of an assessment under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 Part IV or when complying with a requirement under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 section 51E(1)(d) in relation to an application for a clearing permit.

The report form (PDF or Word document) is available for download below, as well as a field manual designed to assist in the consistent collection and recording of data by providing explanations, examples and parameters.

Submitting a threatened ecological community occurrence report form

Report forms can be completed electronically and emailed or posted for submission.

Send report forms to:

Species and Communities Branch 
Locked Bag 104
Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 

or email to: 

communities.data@dbca.wa.gov.au

Survey and identification

The attached document outlines the survey and identification requirements for Western Australian threatened ecological communities (TECs). It draws broadly on EPA guidance notes, and standard DBCA practice developed over many years. It is intended to support a consistent, repeatable, rigorous approach to assessing and assigning community types, with a particular focus on floristic community types (FCTs) on the Swan Coastal Plain (SCP). It incorporates and addresses comments received during the public comment period prior to the first listing of TECs under the Biodiversity Conservation Act.

There are many scientific publications and references listed. These are available through library.dbca.wa.gov.au. Some DBCA internal reports will need to be requested through the DBCA library (library@dbca.wa.gov.au).

For TECs that are floristic community types on the Swan Coastal Plain, occurrences will also need to meet the requisites as outlined in Appendix 1.

Email enquiries to communities.data@dbca.wa.gov.au 

Monitoring protocols

Examples of monitoring protocols for a selection of threatened ecological communities are provided below.

Related

Shark Bay Stromatolites - Photo DBCA
Threatened ecological communities

Maintaining functioning ecosystems is often central to conserving the plants and animals within them. 

A Baudin's Cockatoo - large, black bird with white patches on its cheek - perched on a tree branch
Threatened and priority fauna resources

Resources and standard operating procedures to inform monitoring for threatened and priority fauna.

Close up image of a flower with a thin stem and two dark red petals on the far right
Threatened and priority flora resources

Resources and protocols to inform monitoring for threatened and priority flora.

Researchers in the field collecting data from fauna trapping
Threatened species and communities database searches

The department provides a database search service to assist proponents in ascertaining if threatened or priority flora, fauna or ecological communities may be present at a particular location.

Acknowledgement of Country

The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional owners throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present.