Survey methods
It was important to establish a set process at the start of the survey. The initial task was to collect as much as possible of the existing information on the species and landscapes of the Cumberland Plain.
Reports from local government areas, species lists, and records of rare or threatened species were reviewed. Much of the material was obtained from the National Herbarium, the Australian Museum and the Atlas of NSW Wildlife. The reviewed material provided the parameters for the survey and established the criteria on which to commence fieldwork.
Fieldwork was a major component of the survey. A comprehensive survey of bushland remnants in western Sydney was not possible in the limited time available, so sites were prioritised. The larger, more intact areas of native vegetation, or remnant vegetation, were given priority.
In addition, if a particular ecological community was rare or if a threatened species was likely to occur at a particular site, these areas were also given priority. In total, over 220 areas of remnant vegetation were surveyed. The sizes of remnant areas varied in order to compare differences in the number of species present and degree of disturbance. Smaller sites were selected due to their important role in maintaining biodiversity in local areas.
Apart from NPWS officers, a number of specialist flora and fauna consultants were engaged to conduct the field work. Volunteers, students and NPWS staff with local knowledge were also involved at various stages of the survey. All field workers were provided with pro-forma sheets in order to ensure consistency of information recorded. They were also provided with lists of priority species and their likely habitat.
Page last updated: 15 March 2012
