Biodiversity in the SEQ Bioregion
Biological diversity, or biodiversity , is the natural variety of native wildlife, together with the environmental conditions necessary for their survival, and includes:
- the diversity of landscape components in a region;
- the diversity of different community types formed by living organisms, and the relationships between them;
- the diversity of species; and
- the diversity of genes within each species.
The South East Queensland Bioregion (PDF, 711K)* is the most intensely populated part of Queensland, with the Brisbane metropolitan population (including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast) predicted to increase in the period 2004-2026 by 100% to 3.7 million (Office of Urban Management, 2004). This population expansion has influenced the following impacts on biodiversity in south-east Queensland:
| Rapid clearing | Approximately 55% of native vegetation in south-east Queensland has been cleared for urban development and agriculture (Queensland & Commonwealth Governments, 1999). |
| Fragmentation | Species/genetic diversity is likely to be reduced where small isolated patches of remnant vegetation remain. Managing small isolated reserves is difficult as a result of edge effects. |
| Pest invasion | The introduction of many exotic weeds and feral animals is contributing to the displacement of many native species. Such pests include the feral cat, fox, cane toad, groundsel, pink lantana, creeping lantana, camphor laurel, Chinese elm and red natal grass (Sattler & Williams, 1999). |
| Limited areas for reservation | A significant number of ecosystems occur extensively on private land and therefore cannot be reserved to the recommended levels on public land. About 4.3 million hectares within the region are privately owned. The State Government holds approximately 1.8 million hectares (Queensland & Commonwealth Governments, 1999). |
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Last updated: 05 June 2006