The Act requires that a nomination should include a certain minimum amount of information, known legally as 'prescribed information'. Nominations without this information may be rejected as being invalid by the Scientific Advisory Committee.
It was intended by the SAC that the prescribed information requirements be kept to a minimum, and that obstacles should not be placed in the way of the nominator by demanding too much or obscure information. In simple terms, all that is required is:
Identification of the nominator/s - this helps to ensure that the nomination is genuine.
Identification of the nominated item - this is important to ensure that there is no ambiguity or confusion on the subject of the nomination.
Criteria satisfied, and the reasons why - anyone nominating an item for listing must present a case that the item meets the criteria to be listed or 'de-listed' as set down in the Regulations. Brief, specific evidence of decline, or critical information relevant to susceptibility to future threats, should be provided.
These information requirements are not intended to make it difficult for people to make nominations, but rather to prevent delays in processing nominations. Nominators need to put up a reasonable case so that the SAC can quickly and efficiently make a judgment on whether an item is threatened or threatening and should be listed, or whether an item is no longer a problem and can be de-listed. The SAC is not principally an investigating body but a decision-making committee.
It is the task of the nominator to seek out the evidence to back up a nomination for listing. The SAC then weighs up the evidence provided and may supplement the case with information supplied by other experts and from the expert knowledge of the members. A recommendation is made on the basis of available evidence. Information revealed by research carried out after the date a nomination is lodged may be considered at the SAC's discretion.
Schedule 2 of the Regulations is presented below.
Schedule 2 - Regulation 6
Information which must be provided in a nomination under the Section 12(2) of the Act
1. In all cases
(1) The name, address, and if available the telephone number of the nominator.
(2) The signature of each person making the nomination or the appointed representative of the nominator.
2. In the case of a nomination associated with an unincorporated body
The name and, if it is different from the address of the nominator, the address of the unincorporated body.
3. In the case of any taxon
(1) A statement identifying the taxon.
(2) The statement must -
(a) include either -
(i) the scientific name and must specify the taxon in accordance with a relevant text or reference; or
(ii) a common name and a description of the taxon which, when taken together, unambiguously distinguish the taxon from all other taxa; and
(b) indicate whether the taxon is a vascular or a non-vascular plant or a vertebrate or invertebrate animal or some other form of life.
4. In the case of any taxon nominated for addition to the Threatened List
(1) In the case of a conventionally accepted taxon, evidence showing that the taxon is conventionally accepted and the sources of that evidence.
(2) In the case of a taxon that is not conventionally accepted -
(a) a manuscript quality taxonomic description of the taxon; and
(b) evidence showing that at least one voucher specimen is lodged with a relevant scientific institution.
(3) In either case referred to in sub-clause (1) or (2), evidence showing that primary criterion 1.1 or 1.2 in Schedule 1 is satisfied by the taxon.
5. In the case of a taxon below the level of sub-species nominated for addition to the Threatened List
In addition to the information required by clause 4, evidence showing that primary criterion 3.1 in Schedule 1 is satisfied by the taxon.
6. In the case of any taxon nominated for repeal from the Threatened List
Evidence showing that primary criterion 7.1 in Schedule 1 is satisfied by the taxon.
7. In the case of any community
(1) A statement identifying the community.
(2) The statement must -
(a) specify the community in accordance with a relevant text or reference; or
(b) describe the community in such a way that it is distinguished from all other communities.
(3) The community must be described with reference to -
(a) the biological components by which it can be identified and, if relevant to the identification, its non-biological components or environmental features; and
(b) if known to the nominator, the determining biological or non-biological components, environmental features or processes.
8. In the case of any community nominated for addition to the Threatened List
Evidence showing that primary criterion 2.1 or 2.2 in Schedule 1 is satisfied by the community.
9. In the case of a narrowly defined community nominated for addition to the Threatened List
In addition to the information required by clause 8 for communities, evidence showing that primary criterion 4.1 in Schedule 1 is satisfied by the community.
10. In the case of any community nominated for repeal from the Threatened List
Evidence showing that primary criterion 7.1 in Schedule 1 is satisfied by the community.
11. In the case of any potentially threatening process
(1) A statement identifying the potentially threatening process.
(2) The statement must -
(a) specify the potentially threatening process in accordance with a relevant text or reference; or
(b) describe the potentially threatening process in such a way that it is distinguishable from all other potentially threatening processes.
(3) The potentially threatening process must be described as a process and not as a cause or a symptom of a process.
12. In the case of a potentially threatening process nominated for addition to the Processes List
(1) Evidence showing that primary criterion 5.1 or 5.2 in Schedule 1 is satisfied by the potentially threatening process.
(2) The evidence must indicate -
(a) the range of flora or fauna affected or potentially affected; and
(b) the significance of the threat which the potentially threatening process poses or has the potential to pose.
13. In the case of a potentially threatening process nominated for repeal from the Processes List
Evidence showing that primary criterion 7.1 in Schedule 1 is satisfied by the potentially threatening process.
14. In the case of a specifically defined item which shares subject matter with a generally defined item that is already listed and which is nominated for addition to the Threatened List or the Processes List
In addition to any other information required by this Schedule for the item, evidence showing that primary criterion 6.1 in Schedule 1 is also satisfied by the item.
15. In the case of a specifically defined item which shares subject matter with a generally defined item that is already listed and which is nominated for repeal from the Threatened List or the Processes List
Evidence showing that primary criterion 7.1 in Schedule 1 is satisfied by the item.
16. In any case where a nomination relies on the satisfaction of a sub-criterion to show that a primary criterion is satisfied
(1) Evidence known to the nominator which supports or negates the conclusion that the satisfaction of the sub-criterion can be relied upon as proof of the satisfaction of its primary criterion.
(2) Evidence indicating how significantly that evidence supports or negates that conclusion.
Page last updated: 02/03/20