Executive summary: biodiversity
Status 2007
Queensland supports a greater array of biodiversity than any other state in Australia. Almost half of the species living in Queensland are not found anywhere else in the world. However, biodiversity has suffered losses since European settlement and many ecosystems and species are under threat from human activities.
While the major part of Queensland has relatively continuous native vegetation cover, recorded as 82% remnant native vegetation in 2003, more fertile landscapes in wetter parts of the state have been reduced to less than 30% of native vegetation cover. Clearing has been expanding into semi-arid areas in recent years. The condition of native vegetation is variable, as reflected in the variation in biodiversity status across the bioregions. Intact areas tend to be in better condition than fragmented areas. Of the 1351 regional ecosystems in Queensland, 92 are presently classified as endangered, 516 are classified as vulnerable and 743 are classified as not of concern at present.
About 4.6% of Queensland is contained within formal conservation reserves that protect a wide range of habitats and support much of the state's inland and coastal biodiversity. Many off-reserve conservation initiatives in Queensland have gathered momentum since 2001. For example, since the last reporting period, the number of nature refuges in the state has grown to 252, increasing in area from 33 209 hectares to 561 871 hectares.
Increases in native vegetation extent can occur through revegetation. In most regions, the total area of regrowth is very small compared with the amount of clearing, and the revegetated areas are often not like the communities that were previously cleared and may have limited capacity to support native populations.
The number of rare and threatened species has increased slightly with improved knowledge of the state's biodiversity. There has been a decline in the number of presumed extinct species with the rediscovery of two species. Significant recovery in the population of the northern hairy-nosed wombat has been observed due to the absence of predators and the provision of supplementary feed and water. The introduction of turtle exclusion devices in 2001 has minimised accidental capture of sea turtles in the east coast trawl fishery. The nesting population of loggerhead turtles has stabilised, but total numbers are still well below those previously recorded. The koala population in south-east Queensland is declining because of losses from the urban zone, and around half the state's cycads are still under threat as a result of habitat losses, harvesting and a decline in insect pollinator populations.
Major contributing factors
Habitat destruction resulting from changed land use practices and habitat degradation caused by inappropriate fire regimes, increased grazing pressures, invasion by weeds and pests, and impacts associated with fragmentation and climate change adversely affect biodiversity. The impact of feral animals on terrestrial biodiversity is substantial. Cats, foxes, wild dogs, rabbits, goats, cane toads and pigs have caused the decline and, in some cases, extinction of native animals through predation and competition. Similarly, the spread of tilapia and other exotic species of fish is seriously threatening freshwater biodiversity.
Policy response
Key habitat protection measures include the protection of remnant vegetation under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 and the banning of broadscale remnant vegetation clearing from the end of 2006. The protected area estate and the Vegetation Management Act 1999 are effective in protecting most wildlife habitat (except grasslands) but are of limited effectiveness in protecting endangered, vulnerable or rare species across the state, urban areas, wildlife corridors, and non-remnant vegetation. The Integrated Planning Act 1997 will be amended to tackle this issue.
The Reserve Network performs well for criteria of comprehensiveness, a measure of the extent to which biodiversity is captured or represented. The ongoing reserve acquisition program continues to expand the protected area estate and aims to ensure that Queensland's reserve and off-reserve protected areas are representative of all biogeographic regions across the state, with the long-term aim of increasing our national park estate to 5%.
The Nature Refuge Program continues to rebuild the state's natural capital by protecting biodiversity and maintaining healthy ecosystem processes. The program is focused on sustainable land management, targeting particular species and ecosystems for protection and, in some cases, enhancement. It is achieved through a voluntary conservation agreement between a landholder and the Queensland Government that leads to the establishment of a nature refuge. Many local governments have protected significant conservation areas, and are proactive in developing partnerships or acquiring land for local conservation purposes and planning to protect natural values, including wildlife corridors.
Knowledge of Queensland's biodiversity is improving for some species and ecosystems, but for many species little or nothing is known. Queensland's biodiversity is still being discovered. The state's detailed regional ecosystem mapping program continues to define and monitor plant communities across the state. Over 50 plant species new to science are being described every year. Of the 590 endangered and vulnerable plants and animals listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, recovery plans have been prepared and/or approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for 15% of the species. Close to half of the listed threatened animals and 6% of threatened plants have recovery plans. Back on Track, an Environmental Protection Agency initiative that prioritises Queensland's native species to guide species conservation and recovery, is used to guide the development of recovery plans. More recent efforts have been aimed at developing multi-species plans and ecological community-based recovery plans to encompass a suite of threatened plants and animals. The Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016 will deal with the key threats facing koalas in the Southeast Queensland bioregion.
The State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy under the Land Act 1994 will provide a framework for improved sustainable management and use of more than half of the state's total land area, by adopting a balanced mix of regulation and lessee incentives. Furthermore, the ClimateSmart Adaptation Plan includes actions to improve the resilience of Queensland's biodiversity.
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Last reviewed 12 May 2011
Last updated 9 February 2009