Development of a non-destructive rapid assessment methodology for saltmarsh in urban areas, as tested in Sydney Harbour, NSW, Australia

Abstract

Saltmarsh in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions has recently received final determination as an Endangered Ecological Community under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. This listing recognises the significant decline in the area of saltmarsh along the NSW coast over the last two hundred years and highlights the need for a method of rapidly assessing and setting management priorities for saltmarsh sites. This study has developed a quantitative and non-destructive rapid assessment for saltmarsh in urban areas which aims to allow comparisons between sites and at the same site over time. The methodology was tested in Sydney Harbour, NSW and appears to be successful at identifying differences between sites with larger, more complex and better managed sites receiving higher scores. It was also possible to identify where a site would benefit from management intervention and use the qualitative information to develop an initial management strategy. Further testing is required but it would appear that this technique is an effective way of assessing and comparing saltmarsh sites in an urban environment.