Christmas Island Minesite to Forest Rehabilitation Program Review

The Christmas Island Minesite to Forest Rehabilitation (CIMFR) program conducts ecological restoration works on identified phosphate minefields relinquished by the mining company, Phosphate Resources Limited (PRL).

The program’s aim is to restore rainforest on relinquished mine sites to create biodiverse, resilient and self-sustaining ecosystems that provide or enhance habitat for native flora and fauna, particularly the Abbott’s Booby. It is funded by a conservation levy paid by PRL to the Customer who administers these funds. The Customer issues annually agreed funding to the Director of National Parks (DNP) to undertake the CIMFR program.

The Christmas Island National Park Management Plan 2014–2024, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, recovery plans and various documents and research reports also guide implementation of the CIMFR program.

The CIMFR program has been implemented under its current methodologies since 2004–05, with reports prepared annually on the CIMFR program. These reports include an overview of operations; areas planted and maintained; results of biophysical monitoring and expenditure.

The Customer wishes to review and evaluate the CIMFR program to determine its effectiveness at achieving its aims and to determine if any changes are needed to the program.

The CIMFR program currently manages about 113 hectares of rehabilitation fields at various stages of completion.

To date, PRL has relinquished approximately 335.5 hectares (40 sites) from Mining leases MCI 70/1 or MCI 70/1A. Of these, 27 sites have not been rehabilitated.

The purpose of the Review is:

• To determine the effectiveness of the CIMFR program in relation to achieving its aims and meeting performance indicators set out in the CIMFR program 2012–2020 Plan.
• To identify improvements and recommend any changes in the operation of the CIMFR program, consistent with ‘Criteria’ below.