Wildlife trade and conservation

The terms of reference set out below outline the reporting requirements for assessing the potential impact on the environment * of amending the 'List of Specimens Suitable for Live Import' for the purposes of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, to include Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps).

1. Provide a summary of the proposed activity, including the intended use of the species (e.g. pet, commercial, scientific).
2. Provide detailed guidelines on the way in which the species should be kept, transported and disposed of in accordance with the proposed activity.
3. Provide information on the taxonomy of the species.
4. Provide information on the status of the species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). For example, is the species listed on CITES Appendix I, II or III, and if so, are there any specific restrictions on the movement of this species?
5. Provide information about the ecology of the species. Include, but do not restrict your response to:
   • the natural geographic range;
   • habitat;
   • what it eats;
   • social behaviour and groupings; and
   • ability to hibernate or aestivate.
6. Provide information on the reproductive biology of the species, including:
   • the age at maturity (first breeding) and life span of the species;
   • how frequently breeding occurs;
   • if the female can store sperm; and
   • how many eggs or live-born young are produced at each breeding event if the species.
7. Provide information on whether this species has established feral populations, and if so, where those populations are.
8. Provide information on, and the results of, any other environmental risk assessments undertaken on the species both in Australia and overseas.
9. Provide information on all other Commonwealth, State and Territory legislative controls on the species.
10. Assess the likelihood that the species could establish a breeding population in the Australian environment should it ever be released from effective human control.
11. Provide a comprehensive assessment of the potential impact of the species should it establish feral population/s in Australia. Include, but do not restrict your assessment to the impact of this species on:
    • similar niche species (i.e. Competition with other species for food, shelter etc.);
    • probable prey/food sources; and
    • habitat and local environmental conditions
12. What conditions or restrictions, if any, could be applied to the import of the species to reduce any potential for negative environmental impacts (e.g. single sex imports).

Invitation to comment closed Thursday 15 September 2005.

* Environment as defined in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 includes:

1. ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and communities; and
2. natural and physical resources; and
3. the qualities and characteristics of locations, places and areas; and
4. heritage values of places; and
5. the social, economic and cultural aspects of a thing mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).