christmas island national park -...

Christmas IslandNational Park

D R A F T M A N A G E M E N T P L A N 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 2 2

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RISTMAS ISLAND

NATIONAL PARK

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RP U B L I C

C O M M E N T

M A R C H 2 0 1 2

Christmas IslandNational Park

D R A F T M A N A G E M E N T P L A N 2 0 1 2 – 2 0 2 2

ii Draft Management Plan 2012–2022

© Director of National Parks 2012

This plan is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Director of National Parks. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to:

Director of National Parks GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601

This draft management plan sets out how it is proposed the park will be managed for the next ten years.

A copy of this draft plan is available online at www.environment.gov.au/publications or by contacting the Community Information Unit, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, by emailing [email protected] or calling 1800 803 772.

Credits

Designer and indexer: Biotext

Editor: Elizabeth Hutchings Editing

Photography: Director of National Parks

http://www.environment.gov.au/publications

mailto:[email protected]

Christmas Island National Park iii

Invitation to comment

Under s.368 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Director of National Parks invites comments on the draft Christmas Island National Park Management Plan. This will be the fourth management plan and will direct management of the park for a period of ten years after it is finalised.

All comments received will be carefully considered and this draft plan may be revised accordingly.

To ensure your comments are clear and concise please:

• list your points in order, numbered according to the relevant sections or prescriptions (policies and actions) of the draft plan

• state whether you agree or disagree with statements and give your reasons

• if you disagree, suggest alternatives

• include any matters you may wish to raise that are relevant to the park but not covered by the draft plan.

When comments have been considered and the management plan is finalised it will be submitted to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities for approval together with all public comments received and the views of the Director of National Parks on the comments.

Comments on the draft plan must be sent by 11 May 2012 and may be emailed to [email protected] or posted to:

The Park Manager Christmas Island National Park PO Box 867 Christmas Island INDIAN OCEAN 6798

Comments sent after this date may not be taken into account in finalising the plan.

Further information about Christmas Island National Park can be found at www.parksaustralia.gov.au/christmas

http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/Christmas

iv Draft Management Plan 2012–2022

Foreword

Christmas Island is a spectacular oceanic island that rises steeply from the tropical waters of the eastern Indian Ocean. Its landscape is mostly covered with tropical rainforest and the rugged limestone karst terrain supports ecosystems and species of international conservation and scientific significance. Christmas Island National Park covers approximately 85 square kilometres (64 per cent) of Christmas Island’s land area as well as an important adjacent marine area.

The park provides habitat for endangered, vulnerable, threatened, migratory species as well as endemic species, including seabirds and a diverse array of land crabs. Red crabs (Gecarcoidea natalis) are a keystone species responsible for maintaining the structure and species composition of the island’s rainforest vegetation and are renowned world wide for their annual breeding migration, which begins in the early wet season when millions of crabs migrate from the rainforest down to the sea. The park’s Hosnies Spring and The Dales are Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The marine zone of the park supports over 600 fish species, including migratory whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), and other species such as threatened green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). Like many other oceanic islands, Christmas Island’s ecosystems and native species are of significant conservation value but are also under major threat, particularly from non-native invasive plant and animal species.

Christmas Island’s natural heritage is complemented by the island’s rich, vibrant and living cultural heritage, which is demonstrated by the many cultural and religious festivals and celebrations that are held throughout the year.

Park visitors have opportunities to participate in unique and inspirational nature-based recreational activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling, bushwalking and nature study, including observing sea and land birds, land crabs and marine species.

This management plan sets out how the Christmas Island National Park will be managed over the next ten years to protect and conserve its values. It will help identify actions to address threats to the park’s natural heritage values and support appropriate visitor use of the park. Implementation of this plan will require collaboration with and the support of the Christmas Island community and stakeholders. I look forward to working with the community and stakeholders both on and off the island to support island-wide conservation action to improve the protection and enjoyment of the unique and spectacular island environment.

Peter Cochrane Director of National Parks

Christmas Island National Park v

Acknowledgements

The Director of National Parks is grateful to staff of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and to the many individuals and organisations that contributed to the preparation of this management plan. In particular the Director acknowledges Christmas Island organisations and community members; natural heritage researchers; the Shire of Christmas Island and the Western Australian and Australian Government agencies that provided information and assistance or submitted comments during the development of this management plan.

vi Draft Management Plan 2012–2022

Contents

Invitation to comment iii

Foreword iv

Acknowledgements v

Vision and executive summary 1

Vision and executive summary 2

Vision and executive summary in Bahasa Malay 6

Vision and executive summary in Mandarin 10

A description of Christmas Island 13

Location and area 14

Climate 14

Governance 15

People 15

History of Christmas Island 15

History of Christmas Island National Park 18

Park values 18

Management plan for Christmas Island National Park 23

Part 1 — Introduction 24

1. Background 24

1.1 Previous management plans 24

1.2 Structure of this management plan 24

1.3 Planning process 24

2. Introductory provisions 25

2.1 Short title 25

2.2 Commencement and termination 25

2.3 Interpretation (including acronyms) 25

2.4 Legislative context 28

2.5 Purpose, content and matters to be taken into account in a management plan 32

2.6 IUCN category and zoning 33

2.7 International agreements 34

Christmas Island National Park vii

Part 2 — How Christmas Island National Park will be managed 36

3. IUCN category 36

3.1 Assigning the park to an IUCN category 36

4. Natural heritage management 37

4.1 Landscape 37

4.2 Terrestrial vegetation 41

4.3 Terrestrial animals 47

4.4 Ramsar wetlands and other freshwater wetlands 51

4.5 Marine and coastal ecosystems and species 55

4.6 Climate change 57

5. Cultural heritage management 59

5.1 Cultural heritage site management 59

6. Visitor and park use management 60

6.1 Tourism 60

6.2 Visitor experiences, activities and access 62

6.3 Commercial operations 67

6.4 Visitor information, education and interpretation 68

7. Stakeholders and partnerships 70

7.1 Community, stakeholders and partnerships 70

8. Business management 72

8.1 Decision making and assessment of proposals 72

8.2 Capital works and infrastructure 76

8.3 Compliance and enforcement 78

8.4 Incident management 79

8.5 Leases, licences and associated occupancy issues 80

8.6 Resource use in park operations 81

8.7 Research and monitoring 82

8.8 New activities not otherwise specified in this plan 86

8.9 Management plan implementation and evaluation 87

viii Draft Management Plan 2012–2022

Appendices

A Australian IUCN reserve management principles in the EPBC Regulations relevant to Christmas Island National Park 92

B Key result area outcomes relevant to Christmas Island National Park 95

C EPBC Act listed threatened species occurring in Christmas Island National Park 96

D EPBC Act listed marine and migratory species occurring in Christmas Island National Park 97

E Ramsar information sheets from the Australian Wetlands Database 101

F Commonwealth Heritage values of Christmas Island Natural Areas 135

Maps

1 Location of Christmas Island 14

2 Land tenure and park boundaries 16

3 Native vegetation 42

4 Ramsar wetlands 52

5 Visitor sites 66

Tables

1 Decision-making processes and impact assessment procedures 74

2 Impact assessment procedures: matters and considerations 75

3 Key features of the EPBC Regulations on bioprospecting as they concern the park 84

Bibliography 141

Index 145

Vision and executive summary

2 Draft Management Plan 2012–2022

Vision and executive summary

Vision

Christmas Island National Park is internationally recognised for its conservation, scientific and nature-based tourism values as a place where:

• natural environments and native species are protected, conserved and restored

• visitors have inspirational, unique and rewarding experiences

• stakeholders and the community are engaged in and value the park’s conservation.

Executive summary

Introduction

Christmas Island is an isolated oceanic island, approximately 135 square kilometres in area, located in the eastern Indian Ocean. It rises steeply from the sea floor which reaches depths of 5,000 metres. The island geology consists of porous limestone derived from ancient coral reefs overlaying volcanic basaltic rock. A uniquely structured tropical rainforest covers most of the island. About one quarter of the island has been cleared for mining and settlement purposes since 1888. Many endemic species and sub-species are found on Christmas Island.

Christmas Island National Park covers approximately 85 square kilometres (64 per cent) of the island’s land area. In addition to this terrestrial zone the park includes a marine zone extending 50 metres seaward of the low water mark and incorporates much of the island’s fringing coral reef system. The park also includes subterranean/cave and wetland ecosystems.

The park is established for the following purposes:

• the preservation of the area in its natural condition

• the appropriate use, appreciation and enjoyment of the area by the public.

Natural, scientific, and recreational values of the park

Christmas Island National Park is the only declared nature conservation area on Christmas Island, and performs an important role preserving examples of the natural features of the island. These features include:

• an area of uniquely structured tropical rainforest

• unique wildlife, including 254 endemic taxa and 165 taxa occurring nowhere else in Australia, and 110 species listed as threatened, migratory or marine under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)

• nesting colonies of large populations of diverse Indian Ocean seabirds

• diverse and abundant populations of land crabs

Christmas Island National Park 3

• relatively simple but largely intact fringing coral reefs and waters which support a number of marine species with over 600 fish species, including hybrid species

• significant geomorphological features including the island’s terraces and cave systems

• a scenic landscape

• The Dales and Hosnies Spring wetlands which are listed as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention

• opportunities for ecological studies of the long-term processes of dispersal, immigration, adaptation, colonisation, predation, extinction, and how these events influence species

• the park also contributes to the island’s economy by helping to support commercial tourism activities and businesses, and

• provides environmental services and products such as filtering and provision of drinking water for human use.

Management of the park

The Director of National Parks is responsible for managing Commonwealth reserves including Christmas Island National Park, that are established under the EPBC Act, and does so in accordance with management plans that are also prepared under the Act.

This plan sets outs how the park and its natural and cultural values will be managed, protected and conserved for a period of ten years. The park is assigned by this plan to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) category II (national park) and will be managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation in accordance with relevant Australian IUCN reserve management principles (Appendix A).

Natural heritage management

Park management will focus on maintaining landscapes and seascapes and their associated ecosystems and natural processes as near as possible to their natural state. However, as an isolated oceanic island, Christmas Island is particularly vulnerable to invasive species such as yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes). A major focus of this plan is to identify and manage the impacts of threatening processes to minimise impacts on ecosystem functions, processes and services and on native species.

Significant efforts will continue to be made to monitor the park environment including population trends for threatened, significant and keystone native species.

Ecosystem rehabilitation will continue, particularly within areas previously subject to phosphate mining, in order to increase viable habitat for native flora and fauna.

There may be an opportunity to expand the area of land and sea that is included within the park. Subject to public consultation and Australian Government priorities, the Director will seek to extend the area of the park to include other areas of high conservation value and possibly remove areas of low conservation value. If areas are added to the park they will be managed in accordance with relevant provisions of this plan.

Two wetlands within the park, The Dales and Hosnies Spring, are listed on the Ramsar Convention and are managed consistently with the Ramsar requirements for Wetlands of International


Importance. The park and adjacent areas are listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List and are managed consistently with the relevant management principles under the EPBC Act (s. 341Y).

Environmental research provides a better understanding of the island’s natural environment and information for environmental management. This plan includes research priorities that will help increase understanding and conservation of the island’s land and marine environments.

Climate change may affect all aspects of the park including the park’s natural environment, visitor use, and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure. Based on the latest scientific information available, management activities will be adapted where possible to help reduce the impacts of climate change on park values.

Cultural heritage management

There are some places of historic and cultural heritage significance within the park including Chinese temples and other sites used by island residents. It is important to recognise the values of historic and cultural sites and to enable visitor and cultural use of the park while minimising impacts on the park environment.

Use and appreciation of the park

The park’s terrestrial and marine environments and the diverse range of species they support are major attractions for visitors to the island. Visitors to the park can participate in a range of nature-based recreational activities including observing wildlife, scuba diving, snorkelling, bushwalking and scenic walks and drives.

This plan encourages and supports visitor use and appreciation of the park that does not impact on the park’s natural environment or visitor safety. Increasing visitor understanding and appreciation of the park’s environment is an important part of improving the visitor experience.

Park facilities and infrastructure will help manage visitor impacts on the park environment while enabling visitors to enjoy and safely use the park. Incidents that may affect people’s safety and protection of the park’s natural environment will be managed using standard emergency management procedures.

Commercial tourism activities that have minimal impacts on the park are encouraged. People wishing to conduct commercial activities in the park require a permit.

Stakeholders and partnerships

Developing and maintaining good working relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders—including the community, non-government organisations, private industry, research institutions and governments—will be critical in the implementation of this plan. Where possible, the Director of National Parks (the Director) will engage in effective partnerships that support island-wide conservation, natural heritage research and nature-based tourism initiatives which provide benefits to the park as well as socio-economic and scientific benefits for partners, stakeholders and residents.


Business management

The EPBC Act prohibits certain activities being undertaken in the park except in accordance with a management plan. New activities not described or foreseen in this plan need to be assessed to determine whether they will impact on the park. Provision has been made in the plan to enable the Director to take or authorise action in response to proposed new activities and issues not currently specified in the plan.

Before the next management plan is prepared, this plan will be evaluated to determine how effective and efficient it was in achieving its intended aims.


Vision and executive summary in Bahasa Malay

Visi dan ringkasan eksekutif

Visi

Taman Negara Christmas Island adalah diiktiraf di peringkat antarabangsa untuk nilai pemuliharaan, saintifik dan pelancongan berasaskan alam sekitarnya sebagai tempat di mana:

• persekitaran semula jadi dan spesis asli dilindungi, dipulihara dan dipulihkan

• pelawat mempunyai pengalaman yang memberikan inspirasi, unik dan mendatangkan kepuasan

• pemegang kepentingan dan komuniti terlibat dan menghargai pemuliharaan taman.

Ringkasan eksekutif

Pengenalan

Christmas Island adalah pulau lautan yang terpencil, anggaran kawasan dalam 135 kilometer persegi, terletak di Lautan Hindi barat. Ia timbul secara mencuram dari dasar laut yang mencapai kedalaman 5,000 meter. Geologi pulau terdiri daripada batu kapur berliang terbit dari terumbu karang yang melapisi batuan basalt berapi. Hutan hujan tropika dengan struktur unik meliputi hampir keseluruhan pulau. Kira-kira satu perempat pulau telah dibersihkan untuk tujuan perlombongan dan penempatan sejak tahun 1888. Banyak spesis dan subspesis endemik ditemui di Christmas Island.

Taman Negara Christmas Island meliputi dalam anggaran 85 kilometer persegi (64 peratus) luas tanah pulau. Selain daripada zon daratan ini, taman termasuk zon marin sejauh 50 meter ke arah laut tikas surut perbani dan menggabungkan kebanyakkan sistem terumbu karang pinggir. Taman juga termasuk ekosistem bawah tanah/gua dan tanah lembap.

Taman diwujudkan untuk tujuan berikut:

• pemeliharaan kawasan dalam keadaan semula jadinya

• penggunaan bersesuaian, penghargaan dan keseronokan kawasan oleh orang awam.

Nilai semula jadi, saintifik dan rekreasi taman

Taman Negara Christmas Island adalah satu-satunya kawasan pemuliharaan semula jadi yang diiktiraf di Christmas Island, dan memegang peranan penting dalam pemuliharaan contoh ciri semula jadi pulau.


Ciri ini termasuk:

• kawasan hutan hujan tropika dengan struktur unik

• hidupan liar yang unik, termasuk 254 taksa endemik dan 165 taksa yang tiada di tempat-tempat lain di Australia dan 110 spesis yang disenaraikan sebagai terancam, berhijrah atau marin di bawah Akta EPBC

• koloni sarang burung populasi yang besar bagi pelbagai burung laut Lautan Hindi

• populasi kertah yang pelbagai dan banyak

• terumbu karang pinggir yang agak ringkas tetapi kebanyakkan tidak rosak dan air yang menyokong sejumlah spesis marin yang lebih daripada 600 spesis ikan, termasuk spesis kacukan

• ciri geomorfologi yang jelas termasuk sistem teres dan gua

• landskap yang indah

• Tanah lembap Dales dan Hosnies Spring yang disenaraikan sebagai Tanah Lembap Berkepentingan Antarabangsa di bawah Konvensyen Ramsar

• peluang untuk kajian ekologi proses jangka masa panjang penyerakan, imigrasi, adaptasi, pengkolonian, pemangsaan, kepupusan dan bagaimana peristiwa ini mempengaruhi spesis

• taman juga menyumbang kepada ekonomi pulau dengan membantu untuk menyokong aktiviti pelancongan komersial dan perniagaan dan

• memberikan khidmat dan produk alam sekitar seperti penapisan dan peruntukan air minuman untuk penggunaan manusia.

Pengurusan taman

Pengarah Taman Negara bertanggungjawab untuk menguruskan rezab Komanwel termasuk Taman Negara Christmas Island, yang diwujudkan di bawah Akta Perlindungan Alam Sekitar dan Pemuliharaan Biodiversiti 1999 (Akta EPBC), dan berbuat demikian mengikut pelan pengurusan yang juga disediakan di bawah Akta.

Pelan ini menunjukkan cara taman dan nilai semula jadi dan nilai budayanya akan diuruskan, dilindungi dan dipulihara untuk tempoh masa 10 tahun. Taman juga diberikan tanggungjawab mengikut pelan ini terhadap Kesatuan Antarabangsa untuk kategori II Pemuliharaan Alam Sekitar (IUCN) (taman negara) dan terutamanya akan diuruskan untuk perlindungan ekosistem dan rekreasi mengikut prisip pengurusan rezab IUCN Australia yang berkaitan (Lampiran A).

Pengurusan warisan semula jadi

Pengurusan taman yang menumpukan untuk mengekalkan landskap dan pandangan laut dan ekosistemnya yang berkaitan dan proses semula jadi yang hampir seperti keadaan semula jadinya. Bagaimanapun, sebagai pulau lautan yang terpencil, Christmas Island adalah sangat mudah terjejas terhadap spesis invasif seperti semut gila kuning (Anoplolepis gracilipes). Tumpuan utama pelan ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti dan menguruskan impak proses yang mengancam untuk meminimumkan impak terhadap fungsi , proses dan khidmat ekosistem dan terhadap spesis asli.


Usaha jelas akan terus dibuat untuk mengawasi persekitaran taman termasuk trend populasi untuk spesis asli yang terancam, jelas dan asas.

Pemulihan ekosistem akan diteruskan, terutamanya dalam kawasan yang sebelum ini terdedah kepada perlombongan fosfat, untuk meningkatkan habitat hidup untuk flora dan fauna asli.

Mungkin terdapat peluang untuk membesarkan kawasan tanah dan laut yang termasuk dalam taman. Tertakluk kepada rundingan awam dan keutamaan Kerajaan Australia, Pengarah akan cuba untuk membesarkan kawasan taman untuk memasukkan kawasan lain dengan nilai pemuliharaan yang tinggi dan mungkin mengeluarkan kawasan dengan nilai pemuliharaan yang rendah. Jika kawasan ditambah ke taman, ia akan diuruskan mengikut peruntukan pelan ini yang relevan.

Dua tanah lembap dalam taman, The Dales dan Hosnies Spring, disenaraikan pada Konvensyen Ramsar dan diuruskan secara konsisten dengan keperluan Ramsar untuk Tanah Lembap Berkepentingan Antarabangsa. Taman dan kawasan bersebelahan adalah disenaraikan pada Senarai Warisan Komenwel dan diuruskan secara konsisten dengan prisip pengurusan yang relevan di bawah Akta EPBC (Seksyen 341Y).

Kajian alam sekitar memberikan pemahaman yang lebih baik mengenai persekitaran semula jadi pulau dan maklumat untuk pengurusan alam sekitar. Pelan ini termasuk keutamaan kajian yang akan membantu meningkatkan pemahaman dan pemuliharaan persekitaran daratan dan marin pulau.

Perubahan cuaca mungkin menjejaskan semua aspek taman termasuk persekitaran semula jadi taman, penggunaan pelawat dan penyelenggaraan kemudahan dan infrastruktur. Berdasarkan maklumat saintifik terbaru yang tersedia, aktiviti pengurusan akan disesuaikan di mana yang mungkin untuk membantu mengurangkan impak perubahan cuaca terhadap nilai taman.

Pengurusan warisan budaya

Terdapat beberapa tempat bersejarah dan warisan budaya yang jelas dalam taman termasuk kuil Cina dan tapak lain yang digunakan oleh penduduk pulau. Adalah penting untuk mengiktiraf nilai sejarah dan tapak budaya dan untuk membolehkan pelawat dan penggunaan budaya taman sementara meminimunkan impak terhadap persekitaran taman.

Penggunaan dan penghargaan taman

Persekitaran daratan dan marin taman dan pelbagai spesis yang ia sokong adalah tarikan utama untuk pengunjung ke pulau. Pengunjung ke taman boleh menyertai pelbagai aktiviti rekreasi berasaskan semula jadi termasuk pemerhatian hidupan liar, penyelaman skuba, snorkel, berjalan di belukar dan berjalan dan pemanduan dengan pandangan indah.

Pelan ini menggalakkan dan menyokong penggunaan pengunjung dan penghargaan terhadap taman yang tidak membawa kesan kepada persekitaran semula jadi taman dan keselamatan pengunjung. Meningkatkan pemahaman dan penghargaan pengunjung terhadap persekitaran taman adalah bahagian penting dalam meningkatkan pengalaman pengunjung.


Kemudahan dan infrastruktur taman akan membantu menguruskan impak pengunjung terhadap persekitaran taman sementara membenarkan pengunjung untuk menikmati dan menggunakan taman dengan selamat. Kejadian yang mungkin menjejaskan keselamatan dan perlindungan pada persekitaran semula jadi taman akan diuruskan menggunakan prosedur pengurusan kecemasan standard.

Aktiviti pelancongan komersial yang mempunyai impak minimum terhadap taman adalah digalakkan. Mereka yang mahu melakukan aktiviti komersial dalam taman memerlukan permit.

Pemegang saham dan perkongsian

Membangunkan dan mengekalkan hubungan kerja yang baik dengan pemegang saham dan perkongsian utama—termasuk komuniti, organisasi bukan kerajaan, industri swasta, institusi penyelidikan dan kerajaan—akan menjadi kritikal dalam pelaksanaan pelan ini. Pengarah Taman Negara (Pengarah) akan terlibat dalam perkongsian yang berkesan yang menyokong pemuliharaan seluruh pulau, kajian warisan semula jadi dan inisiatif berasaskan semula jadi yang memberikan manfaat kepada taman dan juga manfaat sosioekonomi dan saintifik untuk rakan kongsi, pemegang saham dan penduduk, di mana yang mungkin.

Pengurusan perniagaan

Akta EPBC melarang sesetengah aktiviti yang dilakukan dalam taman kecuali yang mengikut pelan pengurusan. Aktiviti baru yang tidak diterangkan atau diramalkan dalan pelan ini perlu dinilai untuk menentukan sama ada ia akan memberi impak kepada taman. Peruntukan telah dibuat dalam pelan untuk membolehkan Pengarah mengambil atau membenarkan tindakan sebagai respons terhadap aktiviti baru yang diusulkan dan isu tidak dinyatakan dalam pelan buat masa ini.

Sebelum pelan pengurusan seterusnya disediakan, pelan ini akan dinilai untuk menentukan betapa berkesan dan cekapnya untuk mencapai sasaran yang ia maksudkan.


Vision and executive summary in Mandarin

愿景和执行摘要

愿景

圣诞岛国家公园因其环境保护、科学和自然旅游价值得到全世界的公认，在这个

地方：

•自然环境和本地物种得到保护、保存和恢复

•游客从独一无二的经历中得到启发和收获

•利益相关方和社区参与并重视公园的保护。

执行摘要

引言

圣诞岛是一座位于东印度洋中的孤立大洋洲岛屿，面积约135平方公里。圣诞岛从深达

5000米的海底陡然而起。岛屿的地质情况由多孔石灰岩组成，其源自覆盖在火山玄武岩

上的古珊瑚礁。岛上大部分由结构独特的热带雨林覆盖。自1888年起，岛上已有大约

四分之一被开辟出来，供采矿和定居的用途。人们在圣诞岛上找到了很多特有的物种和

亚种。

圣诞岛国家公园占全岛约85平方公里(64%)的陆地面积。除了这片陆地区域外，公园还

包括向海上延伸50米的低潮位海洋区域，包括岛屿的很多外围珊瑚礁系统。公园还包括

地下/洞穴和湿地生态系统。

公园的建立出于以下目的：

•该地区的自然条件保护

•公众对该地区的适当使用、欣赏和享受。

公园的自然、科学和休闲价值

圣诞岛国家公园是圣诞岛上唯一通过申报的自然保护区，起到保留圣诞岛自然特征样本

的重要作用。这些特征包括：

•结构独特的热带雨林地区

•独一无二的野生动植物，包括254个在澳大利亚其他地方见不到的特有类群和110个根

据EPBC法案所列的濒危、迁徙或海洋物种

•大量各种各样印度洋海鸟的栖息地


•各种各样为数众多的地蟹

•相对简单但是很大程度上保持完整的外围珊瑚礁和海域，这里支持着大量海洋物种，

有超过600种鱼类，其中包括杂交物种

•重要的地貌特征，包括岛屿的地形和洞穴系统

•风景名胜

•Dals和HosniesSpring湿地，根据国际湿地公约被列为国际重要湿地

•有机会对分布、迁入、适应、移居、捕食、灭绝以及这些事件如何对物种造成影响的

长期过程进行生态学研究

•公园还通过帮助支持商业旅游活动和业务对岛上的经济作出贡献，

•提供环境服务和产品，如供人员使用的饮用水的过滤和供应。

公园的管理

国家公园的园长负责管理包括圣诞岛国家公园在内的联邦保护区，保护区根据1999年环

境保护和生物多样性保护法(EPBC法案)建立，同时依照的还有同样根据该法案编制的管

理计划。

本计划列明了为期10年中如何管理、保护和保持公园及其自然和文化价值。公园由本计

划指定为国际自然保护联盟(IUCN)的II类(国家公园)，将按照相关的澳大利亚IUCN保护

管理原则(附录A)主要为生态系统保护和娱乐进行管理。

自然遗产管理

公园管理的重点将会是尽可能接近其自然状态地保持陆地和海洋景观及其相关联的生

态系统和自然过程。但是，作为一座孤立的大洋洲岛屿，圣诞岛对于黄疯蚁(长足捷

蚁，Anoplolepisgracilipes)等入侵物种来说尤其脆弱。本计划的主要重点是识别并

管理威胁过程的影响，尽可能降低对生态系统功能、过程和服务以及对本地物种的影

响。

公园管理将继续尽大量的努力监控公园环境，其中包括监控濒危、重要和关键本地物种

的数量趋势。

生态系统修复将得到继续，在之前的磷矿开采区尤其如此，以便增加可供本地动植物生

存的栖息地。

公园的陆地和海洋面积有拓展的机会。园长将在征询公众意见和澳大利亚政府重点的前

提下寻求扩大公园的面积，将其他保护价值高的区域包括在内，也有可能将保护价值低

的区域排除。如果有区域被纳入公园，将根据本计划的相关规定进行管理。

公园内的两块湿地Dales和HosniesSpring在国际湿地公约上被列为国际重要湿地，完全

按照对于国际重要湿地的要求进行管理。公园和邻近地区列在联邦遗产名录中，根据

EPBC法案(341Y条款)完全按照相关管理方针进行管理。

环境研究提供了对岛屿天然环境和环境管理信息的更好了解。本计划包括的研究重点将

会有助于增进对岛屿的陆地和海洋环境了解和保护。


其后变化可能影响公园的所有各方面，其中包括公园的自然环境、游客使用以及场所和

基础设施的维护。根据最新可供利用的科学信息，只要有可能，将对管理活动作出修

改，帮助减少气候变化对公园价值的影响。

文化遗产管理

公园内有几处具有重要历史和文化遗产意义的地点，包括中式庙宇和其他岛上居民使用

的其他场所。判断历史和文化遗址的价值以及在尽可能减少对公园环境影响的同时实现

游客和文化对公园的使用都非常重要。

公园的使用和欣赏

公园的陆地和海洋环境以及所支持的各种各样物种范围是吸引岛上游客的主要亮点。公

园的游客可以参与一系列基于自然的休闲活动，其中包括观察野生动植物、水肺潜水、

浅海观鱼、丛林漫步以及景区步行和自驾游。

本计划鼓励和支持游客在不影响公园自然环境或游客安全的情况下对公园的使用和欣

赏。增进游客对公园环境的了解和欣赏是提升游客体验的重要部分。

公园场所和基础设施将有助于在使游客欣赏和安全使用公园的同时管理游客对公园环境

的影响。可能影响人员安全和公园自然环境保护的意外事件将采用标准应急管理程序进

行管理。

鼓励对公园影响很小的商业旅游活动。有意在公园进行商业活动的人需要得到许可。

利益相关方和合作关系

发展和保持同重要利益相关方(包括社区、非政府组织、私营行业、研究机构和政府)的

良好合作和伙伴关系对于本计划的实施来说将会至关重要。只要可能，国家公园的园长

(园长)将开展有效的合作，对全岛保护、自然遗产研究和自然旅游项目提供支持，为公

园造福，并为合作方、利益相关方和居民带来社会经济和科学上的益处。

商业管理

除非符合管理计划，EPBC法案禁止在公园中进行某些活动。在本计划中未说明或预见的

新活动需要受到评估，以确定是否对公园造成影响。计划中已作出规定，使园长能够响

应当前未在计划中规定的新活动和问题而采取或授权行动。

在制定出下一个管理计划前，将对本计划进行评价，以确定其在实现预期目标方面的效

果和效率如何。

A description of Christmas Island


A description of Christmas Island

Location and area

The Territory of Christmas Island is located in the Indian Ocean approximately 2,800 kilometres west of Darwin, 2,600 kilometres north-west of Perth and 500 kilometres south of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia (Map 1).

The island covers an area of approximately 135 square kilometres and has 73 kilometres of coastline; Christmas Island National Park covers approximately 85 square kilometres (64 per cent) of its land mass (Map 2). The park includes a marine area where the terrestrial area of the park adjoins the sea; the marine area extends 50 metres beyond the low water line. The park’s marine area covers approximately 2.1 square kilometres and the Territory of Christmas Island waters extend 12 nautical miles from the island’s shore.

Map 1: Location of Christmas Island

Climate

Christmas Island lies at the southern edge of the equatorial low pressure belt that moves north and south of the equator during the year, which provides a tropical, equatorial, oceanic climate with wet and dry seasons. The wet season is generally from December to April when the north-west monsoon blows. Passing cyclones and high ocean swells arising from low pressure systems from the north sometimes affect the island during the wet season. For the rest of the year south-east trade winds bring slightly lower temperatures and humidity with less rain.


Mean annual rainfall is approximately 2,000 millimetres. The daytime temperature is generally between 27 and 29ºC and the overnight temperature approximately 24ºC with little temperature variation throughout the year. Relative humidity is generally constant at 80 per cent to 90 per cent throughout the year.

Governance

Christmas Island has been an external Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia since 1958. The Christmas Island Act 1958 provides the basis for the Territory of Christmas Island’s (the Territory) administrative and legislative systems including, from 1992, the application of a range of laws of Western Australia.

Administration of the Territory is the responsibility of the Australian Government department that administers the Christmas Island Act (at the time of preparation of this plan the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport). This includes provision of state government-type services. Some services are provided through service delivery arrangements between the Australian and Western Australian governments. Other on-island Australian Government agencies and departments include the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Australian Federal Police and Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

The Shire of Christmas Island was formed in 1993 and has similar responsibilities to local governments on mainland Australia.

People

Most Christmas Island residents were born in Australia or Malaysia and are of Chinese, Australian/European or Malaysian decent. English is widely spoken but many residents speak Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese or other languages. Religious diversity is evident through the presence of Chinese temples (Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian), a Christian church, a Muslim mosque and a Baha’i centre. Many religious and cultural festivals are observed during the year.

In 2006 the resident population of Christmas Island was recorded as 1,350 people. The population at the time of preparing this plan is considered to be significantly higher due to substantial but fluctuating numbers of asylum seekers and people employed in detention management activities. The effect of an increased population on the island may have an ongoing impact on the values of the park if the impacts of an increased population are not effectively mitigated.

History of Christmas Island

The first recorded sighting of Christmas Island was made by John Milward on board the Thomas in 1615. It was named on 25 December 1643 by Captain William Mynors of the Royal Mary. Mynors could not find an anchorage and so did not land. The first recorded landing was in 1688 by a crew from the British buccaneer vessel, Cygnet, who were sent ashore by William Dampier for water and timber. From Dampier’s description it seems that this landing was near the Dales. Although several landings were made over the next 69 years, it was not until 1857 that an attempt was made by the crew of the Amethyst to explore the island. Their venture was limited by the inland cliffs and dense jungle.


Map 2: Land tenure and park boundaries


The first extensive exploration was in 1887, when a small party from HMS Egeria reached the

summit of Murray Hill. It was this party that collected the phosphate rock specimens that were to

determine the future of the island over the next century. The naturalist J.J. Lister was onboard the

Egeria and made extensive collections of plants, animals and minerals. The subsequent analysis

of some of these samples by John Murray, a Scottish scientist found rock comprising almost pure

phosphate of lime.

Christmas Island was annexed by the British Crown in 1888 and George Clunies-Ross from Cocos

(Keeling) Islands established a settlement at Flying Fish Cove in November 1888. In 1891 Clunies-

Ross and Murray negotiated a joint lease to export timber, phosphate and other minerals and in

1897 formed the Christmas Island Phosphate Company. C.W. Andrews of the British Museum was

commissioned by Murray to undertake a ten-month study of the island’s natural history. Such a

study, conducted prior to the commencement of phosphate mining, provided a rare opportunity

to assess the flora, fauna and geology of the island providing a scientific baseline. Andrews did a

comprehensive study when he returned in 1908, providing the opportunity to assess the impact

of ten years of settlement. At this time significant detrimental impacts were noted (Gray 1981).

Andrews’ monograph remains the classic scientific reference on the island’s natural history.

Mining commenced in 1898 and in 1900 the first phosphate shipments were made. Mining

continued up until World War II, ceased during the war, and resumed in 1946—it has continued

since except for 1988 to 1989. After the war, the lease and assets of the Christmas Island

Phosphate Company were sold to the Australian and New Zealand governments. In 1949 the

Christmas Island Phosphate Commission was formed by the governments. More mine workers

were employed from Malaysia, Singapore and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and established strong

religious and cultural practices which continue today. Mining was increasingly mechanised, but

working conditions remained poor. This led to the formation in 1975 of the Union of Christmas

Island Workers, which successfully campaigned for improved working conditions.

On 1 January 1958, Christmas Island, which had until then been administered as part of the

Colony of Singapore, became a separate colony of Great Britain. On 1 October 1958, sovereignty

was transferred to Australia.

In 1967 the British Phosphate Commission sponsored Dr B. Nelson, an ornithologist, to study

the status of Abbott’s booby. The report he produced triggered world wide interest in the

conservation of the species (Gray 1981).

In 1980, Mr W.W. Sweetland was commissioned to investigate the future of phosphate mining.

From 1981 to 1987 mining was conducted by the government owned Phosphate Mining

Company of Christmas Island and Phosphate Mining Corporation of Christmas Island. In 1987 the

Australian government ceased mining and began winding up the corporation. Mining resumed

in 1990 when a mining lease was issued to a private company, Phosphate Resources Limited,

trading as Christmas Island Phosphates. In 1997 Phosphate Resources Limited was granted a

21-year lease which restricts mining to previously mined areas. The company’s current mine lease

expires in 2019.


History of Christmas Island National Park

Environmental impacts of mining became of concern in the 1970s with a particular focus on the

Abbott’s booby (Papasula abbotti), a rare seabird that only nests on Christmas Island (and which

is now listed as endangered under the EPBC Act). In 1974, the House of Representatives Standing

Committee on Environment and Conservation examined impacts of mining and other activities

on the island’s flora and fauna, to examine the adequacy of attempts to rehabilitate the forest

post-mining, and to advise on further measures required to protect the environment. One of the

Committee’s recommendations was that a conservation area be reserved. On 21 February 1980

Christmas Island National Park was proclaimed under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation

Act 1975. The park at that time comprised the entire south-west corner of the island.

The 1983 Senate inquiry, The Preservation of the Abbott’s Booby on Christmas Island,

recommended investigating extending the park. Stages two and three of Christmas Island

National Park were proclaimed on 31 January 1986.

On 20 December 1989 the three areas were incorporated into Christmas Island National Park.

The combined area also included additional areas of freshwater mangroves and other unique

vegetation; much of the island’s remaining undisturbed rainforest; crucial habitat for species such

as Abbott’s booby, Christmas Island frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi), blue crab (Discoplax hirtipes)

and red crab (Gecarcoidea natalis); and the sea area extending 50 metres offshore from the

park’s boundaries.

Park values

Natural heritage values

Christmas Island has a number of unique ecological characteristics, as well as other features

common to other oceanic islands. Characteristics of Christmas Island’s ecosystems include:

less species than comparable areas of land on continents or islands near continents but

with a relatively higher proportion of endemic terrestrial species; evolutionary isolation for

thousands or millions of years until recent human arrival; native species that have evolved with

few competitors; and many species with small population sizes. These characteristics make

the island’s ecosystems and species of high conservation value but also highly vulnerable to

environmental change, particularly from invasive species, climate change and habitat clearing,

fragmentation and degradation.

Landscape

Christmas Island’s naturally stepped terraced landscape rises from the ocean to a height of 361

metres. The island is composed of rugged karst limestone and largely covered with rainforest on

the peak of a basaltic volcanic seamount that formed about 60 million years ago. The island has

significant subterranean cave systems and its geological features are significant for illustrating

geological and evolutionary processes.


Terrestrial vegetation

The island’s remoteness, climate and the influence of land crabs have resulted in the development of distinct tropical rainforest vegetation, including some species that have evolved to be taller and larger than examples of the same species found elsewhere.

There are at least 20 endemic plant species, including a rare fern, Asplenium listeri, a tall tree-like pandanus, Pandanus elatus, and a palm, Arenga listeri. There are also relict populations of mangrove species and cycads which have been left isolated by the island’s tectonic uplift. A number of these species are listed as threatened under the EPBC Act.

Many of the world’s tropical rainforests, particularly on islands in the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and South-East Asian regions, are under threat from human activities. This makes the park’s and the island’s rainforest ecosystems of increasingly significant conservation value.

Terrestrial fauna

The island’s terrestrial fauna is dominated by ecologically important and diverse land crabs. Red crabs are the island’s keystone species as they dominate and scavenge the forest floor, influencing the structure and species composition of the island’s rainforest vegetation. Their annual breeding migration from the rainforest to the sea, begins in the early wet season and is one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife events. The island also supports the world’s largest population of the world’s biggest land crab, the robber crab (Birgus latro).

Christmas Island is one of the world’s significant seabird islands. More than 100 seabird species have been recorded, including eight endemic species and one endemic subspecies that breed on the island. The Abbott’s booby, listed as endangered under the EPBC Act, and Christmas Island frigatebird have their only extant nesting habitat in the world on Christmas Island. There are seven endemic land birds, including the threatened Christmas Island hawk owl ( Ninox natalis), Christmas Island thrush (Turdus poliocaphalus erythropleurus), Christmas Island goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus natalis) and Christmas Island emerald dove (Chalcophaps indica natalis).

The island is also important for other terrestrial fauna species. Of the six recorded native reptile species five are endemic, although these have declined to the point of near extinction. Five native endemic land mammals have been recorded. The bulldog rat (Rattus nativitatus) and Maclear’s rat (Rattus macleari) are extinct and the Christmas Island shrew (Crocidura attenuata trichura) is likely to be extinct. Murray’s pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus murrayi) was once widespread but is now presumed extinct. This endemism highlights the importance of the island but also the vulnerability of endemic island species.

The cave fauna is of international significance due to the presence of a number of rare and endemic species that also provide evidence of evolutionary processes on the island.

Due to recent population declines a number of Christmas Island’s endemic and migratory fauna and bird species are listed as threatened under the EPBC Act and are the subject of recovery plans. At the time of preparing this plan, a regional recovery plan was being prepared for Christmas Island which will consider threats and recovery actions relevant to all listed, as well as many other significant, species on the island.


Marine and coastal ecosystems and species

The island’s relatively simple but largely intact fringing coral reefs and waters support a number of marine species typical of Indian Ocean tropical reefs. The recorded marine species diversity includes 88 coral species and over 600 fish species, including the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and several other shark species. Two marine turtles listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act, the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), are found in the park’s waters and green turtles occasionally nest on Dolly Beach.

International conservation value

Australia is a signatory to several international agreements for the conservation of migratory species and their habitats. Agreements that are relevant to Christmas Island are the Convention on Biological Diversity, the China, Japan and Republic of Korea Migratory Birds Agreements with Australia (CAMBA, JAMBA and ROKAMBA), the Migratory Species (Bonn) Convention and listed migratory species under the EPBC Act.

In recognition of the island’s contribution to world biodiversity, the island has been declared an Endemic Bird Area by Birdlife International.

The Dales and Hosnies Spring are listed under the Ramsar Convention as Wetlands of International Importance and therefore protected by the EPBC Act from significant impacts. The Dales is a system of seven watercourses that contain a number of wetland types. It also exhibits unusual water-related limestone deposition features, including a ‘flowstone’ formation that is usually found underground. Hosnies Spring is an area of shallow freshwater springs on a shore terrace that is 24 to 37 metres above sea level. It contains a unique stand of mangroves estimated to be 120,000 years old.

The park’s natural heritage values may potentially meet some World Heritage criteria. The Australian Government has the role of assessing if a place has values—defined as ‘outstanding universal value’—that warrant nomination for World Heritage listing.

Scientific values

A considerable amount of scientific work has been conducted on the island primarily in the fields of biology, speleology and geology. Island ecosystems have been critical in the development of evolutionary theory as they provide key insights into ecological processes of natural selection, species evolution and niche filling. The island’s unique ecology and species present opportunities to study species evolution and ecological interactions in relative isolation, including endemic species such as sea and land birds and ecological processes such as the role of land crabs and impacts of invasive species.

Some of the park’s conservation programs, including the rainforest rehabilitation and crazy ant management programs, are also of scientific and technical interest and value in their own right.

Cultural and community values

Christmas Island residents use the park for a range of purposes. Residents participate in activities such as walking and running events (as well as the visitor activities described below). Some


residents fish or collect introduced food plants (such as chilli, lime, papaya and pumpkin), which were planted or spread following the island’s settlement.

There are two Chinese temples and other sites in the park where religious ceremonies are held. These buildings, buildings at Grants Well, and the building known as The Pink House may have heritage value that warrants specific protection.

Visitor use and educational values

The island’s unique natural heritage and species provide opportunities for a range of nature-based recreational and educational activities and experiences. These include observing and studying the red crab migration, other land crabs, sea and land birds, and marine life such as coral reef systems and whale sharks. Spectacular landscapes and seascapes provide opportunities for wilderness-type experiences, sightseeing and quiet use and enjoyment.

Professional photographers and film makers regularly visit to produce wildlife publications and documentaries, which promote the park’s natural and educational value.

Bird week has become a significant annual event attracting bird watchers from around the world.

Economic value

Many nature-based tourist and visitor attractions on Christmas Island are centred on the park. The park helps support on- and off-island tour businesses including diving/boating, land-based tours and bird watching tours. Other businesses provide tourists and other visitors, including researchers, with services and products such as accommodation, hire vehicles and food. Parks Australia directly employs a number of island residents and purchases goods and services from local businesses.

Ecosystem services

The park’s landscape and marine ecosystems provide a number of ecosystem services and products that benefit the Christmas Island community and visitors. Key ecosystem services include filtration and provision of much of the island’s water supply; regulation of the local climate; spiritual and well-being benefits from recreational activities; and protection of fish habitat, enabling fish to be caught for human consumption.


Red crabs gather at Ethel Beach annually to release their eggs to the sea

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