Back on Track species prioritisation framework applications

• The benefits of Back on Track
• Actions for Biodiversity documents
• Recovery Actions Database (RAD)
• Cross-regional projects
• Identifying research priorities
• Informing Recovery Plans
• Informing the assessment of legislative listings
• Assessing scientific permits

The benefits of Back on Track

The Back on Track species prioritisation framework (Back on Track) highlights priority threatened species for conservation, and recovery actions that will deliver the greatest benefits for invested resources. In doing so it provides the following key benefits:

• The identification of species in trouble, allowing for early action and prevention strategies.
• More effective and efficient use of conservation effort and limited resources.
• Greater direction to stakeholders in targeting investment and focusing conservation and recovery efforts.
• The encouragement of multi-species and landscape management approaches, as well as opportunities for cross-regional projects.
• Increased awareness and interest in a broader range of threatened species, such as insects, marine species, and grasses.
• Clear research priorities for conservation and management purposes.

Actions for Biodiversity documents

The main outputs of Back on Track are the Back on Track Actions for Biodiversity documents. These documents have been produced for all of Queensland’s 14 Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions, and highlight the priority species and suggested recovery actions in each region. The Actions for Biodiversity documents have been produced to help guide investments supported by NRM bodies, the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM), and partners in the recovery of threatened species.

Recovery Actions Database (RAD)

All of the information in the 14 Actions for Biodiversity documents will be made publically accessible in the Recovery Actions Database (RAD). The RAD is an interactive, web-based information system that will allow users to search for information on species, threats and recovery actions, and also to share information on the success of implemented projects.

Cross-regional projects

Back on Track has been used to help develop the following cross-regional projects:

• The 'Enhancing Biodiversity Hotspots along Western Queensland Stock Routes' project was a joint initiative between four NRM bodies (South West NRM, Desert Channels Queensland Southern Gulf Catchments, and the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee) and DERM. The project identified biodiversity hotspots across approximately 1,844,000 hectares (approx. 75,000 kilometres) of stock routes in western Queensland, and suggested actions for their management. The final report of the 'Enhancing Biodiversity Hotspots along Western Queensland Stock Routes' (PDF, 4.4M)* project is available for download.
• The 'Bringing Back the Beach Scrub' project was a joint initiative between three NRM bodies (Reef Catchments, Fitzroy Basin Association, and NQ Dry Tropics) and DERM. The project mapped beach scrub (Microphyll/Notophyll vine forest) habitat along the central Queensland coast, prioritised sites for management, and delivered on-ground management actions at 11 sites.

Identifying research priorities

Through Back on Track, research priorities are being identified for:

• Priorities species, with research and monitoring actions in the Back on Track Actions for Biodiversity documents focused on the information required to improve the recovery of these species.
• Data deficient species, which could not be assessed by species experts due to lack of information, and which require information identified to assist effective management.

Informing Recovery Plans

The Australian Government may make or adopt recovery plans for species listed as threatened under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC). These plans identify the key threats for a species (or group of species), and methods used to mitigate these threats. Back on Track is being used to identify actions to mitigate key threats impacting on both EPBC listed and priority threatened species thereby reflecting overall biodiversity benefits.

Informing the assessment of legislative listings

Following amendments to the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA), the category Rare will no longer be valid after June 2010. Consequently 843 'Rare' species have been prioritised for review using their ranking from Back on Track species technical workshops. Some of these species may be subsequently listed as Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened or Least Concern.

Assessing scientific permits

All species require a permit for scientific studies under the NCA to regulate the impacts on populations, but only the permit applications for species listed under the NCA are further scrutinised and permits restricted to protect sensitive populations. However, there are some species that are threatened even though they are not listed under the NCA. Back on Track can identify these species, and has already been used to limit the collection of specimens and put conditions on permits on non-listed threatened species as part of assessing sustainability.

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Last reviewed 15 November 2011
Last updated 13 May 2011

Species prioritisation framework

• Actions for Biodiversity
• Back on Track species prioritisation framework - Links
• Back on Track species prioritisation framework approach
• Back on Track species prioritisation framework criteria
• Back on Track species prioritisation framework applications
• Recovery Action Database
• Research priorities