Tanami Regional Biodiversity Monitoring (2005, 2009, 2012), Central Land Council 

The dataset contains biological data collected 2005, 2012 as part of the Tanami Regional Biodiversity Monitoring (Tanami RBM) program. The Tanami RBM program uses 89 sites across the Tanami region, central-west Northern Territory. At these sites, flora and fauna are surveyed during the late-dry (usually November-December) or late-wet (usually February-March) seasons. Each site comprises a 200 m x 300 m survey plot from which the data are recorded using various survey methods: site descriptions, vegetation transects, bird surveys, small vertebrate trapping, and tracking surveys. This dataset contains the data from eight surveys undertaken between 2005 and 2012: six in the late-dry and two in the late-wet seasons. The precision of site locations has been reduced to 0.1 decimal degree, which is approximately 10 km at the study region. This denaturing is because some sites contain threatened and/or sensitive species that might be at risk from collection or disturbance. The dataset contains species information from vegetation surveys and fauna species captures and observations. The data can be used to: [1] Review the outcomes of the survey methodologies [2] Presence data of the species recorded [3] Impacts of mining on the region's flora and fauna e.g. what is the spatial and temporal impact of mining activities on biota? [4] Conservation and biodiversity e.g. what are the spatial and temporal trends in the occurrence of key/threatened species? How do land units/systems change over time? 

We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. The project was developed and implemented through a collaboration between Central Land Council (CLC), Low Ecological Services (LES) and Newmont Tanami Operations (NTO). Traditional owners for the region played a prominent role in the project. This included approval of access to sites, logistical guidance, data collection, and cyber tracker data entry. The traditional owners recognised and supported the importance and value of this scientific research and wished to see increasing involvement of Yapa (Warlpiri people) in this sort of work as well as recognition of Indigenous knowledge within the region by the wider scientific and Australian community. The South Tanami IPA management committee provided advice on sensitive data management and data sharing. Metadata development and data quality and validation for this dataset was undertaken by Thalie Partridge (CLC) and Claire Treilibs (LES) with assistance from Bill Low (LES). Newmont Tanami Operations provided significant funding and logistical support for both the field surveys and preparation of the dataset for online publication. Additional support for field surveys was provided by Tanami Gold, ABM Resources, Northern Minerals, and ERO mining. CLC Warlpiri Rangers and North Tanami Rangers and other CLC staff undertook significant fieldwork to survey fauna and flora. Fieldwork, equipment and logistics was funded through the Australian Government, Working on Country program, the North and South Tanami Indigenous Protected Areas, and Newmont Tanami Operations. Database support and maintenance was funded through the Aboriginal Benefits Account, the Indigenous Protected Areas program and Newmont Tanami Operations. CLC and LES staff managed logistics and stakeholder coordination. Low Ecological Services coordinated collection of biodiversity data, transcribed the data, and compiled summaries of each survey, as well as an early statistical review of the project by T. Newsome, R. Cunningham and C. Donnelly (2009). These unpublished reports can be made available on request through CLC. 

Newmont Tanami Pty Ltd (Newmont), in conjunction with the Central Land Council (CLC) in 2004 established the Tanami Regional Biodiversity Monitoring (Tanami RBM) program for the central and northern Tanami, Northern Territory. The program's framework was developed in consultation with a diverse range of stakeholders, and with the primary aim of assessing the impacts of current or proposed mining activity on the region's biota. Original objectives of the program were to: [1] Establish a biological and landscape information base from which to assess the impact of current and/or proposed mining activity, which will also assist in the future planning of Indigenous and industrial land management of the Tanami desert; [2] Monitor the distribution and abundance of selected wildlife within the vicinity of mining activity in the central and northern Tanami; [3] Enhance training, employment and enterprise development opportunities for traditional Aboriginal landowners within the Tanami region's indigenous communities. This dataset supports objectives 1 and 2. 

Data not provided.