1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2009–10  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 04/06/2010   
   Page tools: Print Print Page  
Contents >> Land, biodiversity, water and air >> Land and biodiversity

LAND AND BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity (or biological diversity) is the variety of all life forms on earth - the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems of which they form a part. Biodiversity is constantly changing. It is increased by genetic change and evolution and is reduced by processes such as habitat degradation and species extinction.

Australia's biodiversity is unique and globally significant, with Australia being home to many endemic plants and animals, that is, they are found nowhere else in the world. Australia is recognised as one of only 17 'mega-diverse' countries, with ecosystems of exceptional variety and uniqueness. This group of mega-diverse countries covers less than 10% of the global surface, but supports more than 70% of the earth's biological diversity.

Loss of biodiversity is considered by some as Australia's most serious environmental problem. Habitat degradation resulting from human activity has put many unique species at risk. The clearance of native vegetation is a significant threat to terrestrial biodiversity. Other threats to biodiversity include deterioration of soil and water quality, increased dryland salinity, the spread of weeds and feral pests and climate change. Although land clearing has continued since 1990, the rate of forest land conversion decreased by more than one-third or 182.6 thousand hectares (graph 3.1). The figures do not distinguish between the clearance of native or non-native vegetation.

3.1 Land use change: Forest conversion and reclearing
Graph: 3.1 Land use change: Forest conversion and reclearing



Threatened species

The Australian Government administers biodiversity conservation through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth) (EPBC Act). This environmental legislation provides a framework and advice to protect and manage important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places. The EPBC Act classifies listed threatened species into six categories: extinct; extinct in the wild; critically endangered; endangered; vulnerable; and conservation dependent.

Since the introduction of the EPBC Act, the number of listed threatened fauna has increased by 35% from 315 to 426. In September 2009, nearly half of the 120 mammals listed as threatened were classified as vulnerable, almost a third were more seriously threatened (endangered and critically endangered) and the remainder were presumed extinct. The number of endangered fauna species rose by 41% between 2000 and 2009 and the number of vulnerable fauna species increased by 20% over this period (graph 3.2). However, these increases may reflect taxonomic revisions and improved reporting in conservation status and do not necessarily mean a change in the conservation status of the fauna.

3.2 Threatened Fauna Species
Graph: 3.2 Threatened Fauna Species


Table 3.3 shows that in 2009, 104 species of Australian flora and fauna were listed as extinct, and 1,643 species and 46 ecological communities were listed as endangered or vulnerable under the EPBC Act. An ecological community is a naturally occurring and unique group of plants and animals.

3.3 THREATENED SPECIES AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES, AUSTRALIA - -2009

Extinct
Extinct in
the wild
Critically
endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Conservation
dependent
Total
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.

Native species
Fauna
Fishes
-
1
3
16
25
3
48
Frogs
4
-
2
14
12
-
32
Reptiles
-
-
2
14
38
-
54
Birds
23
-
6
41
61
-
131
Mammals
27
-
4
35
54
-
120
Other animals
1
-
19
14
7
-
41
Total Fauna
55
1
36
134
197
3
426
Flora
48
-
89
523
664
-
1 324
Total species
103
1
125
657
861
3
1 750
Ecological communities
-
-
15
30
1
-
46

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
Source: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, <http://environment.gov.au/biodiversity>, last viewed September 2009.



Parks and protected areas

Although Australia's biodiversity continues to be threatened by many factors, measures have been put in place to protect native flora and fauna. One such measure is a system of protected areas (the Natural Reserve System) that is dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity and of natural and cultural resources. The development of a comprehensive, adequate and representative National Reserve System is the responsibility of the Commonwealth, state and territory governments as part of Australia's obligation under the United Nations Biodiversity Convention established in 1993.

Most national parks and other protected areas in Australia are declared and managed by state and territory governments, although some protected areas are managed by conservation or other groups. Declaration and management of Indigenous Protected Areas - Indigenous-owned land that is managed to protect its natural and associated cultural values - began in 1998.

The area of conservation reserves in each state and territory is recorded in the Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) using the World Conservation Union (IUCN) classification system of protected areas. The classification system comprises seven categories based on the main (or primary) management intent of protected areas.

From 2004 to 2006, Australia's terrestrial protected areas increased by more than 8.6 million hectares and now extend across 89.5 million hectares or 12% of Australia. Table 3.4 shows the area of protected land in each category in 2006. Included in the 89.5 million hectares is 14.6 million hectares of Indigenous Protected Areas. These areas are actively managed by the Indigenous owners and rangers also work to protect biodiversity by controlling weeds, feral animals and bushfires along with visitor impacts, for all Australians.
3.4 TERRESTRIAL PROTECTED AREAS, AUSTRALIA-2006

Area
Proportion(a)
IUCN Category
Primary management intent
no.
'000 ha
%

IA Strict nature reserve: managed mainly for science
2 200.0
18 515.0
2.4
IB Wilderness area
44.0
4 786.0
0.6
II National Park: ecosystem conservation and recreation
828.0
36 148.0
4.7
III National Monument: conservation of specific natural features
2 312.0
1 104.0
-
IV Habitat/species management
2 149.0
2 926.0
-
V Protected landscape/seascape
203.0
850.0
-
VI Managed resource protected area
1 044.0
25 198.0
3.3
Total
8 780.0(b)
89 529.0(c)
11.6

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Proportion of the total land area of Australia, 768,826,956 ha
(b) Includes 20 Indigenous Protected Areas
(c) Includes Indigenous Protected Areas of 14,594,415 ha
Source: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, CAPAD, last viewed September 2009


The area protected for National Parks (category II) has increased by over 7 million hectares between 2002 and 2006 and now encompasses almost 5% of the total land area of Australia. (graph 3.5).

3.5 Protected Areas, as a percentage of Australia - 2002-2006
Graph: 3.5 Protected Areas, as a percentage of Australia—2002–2006


The Australian Government's Caring for our Country program aims to expand the area protected within the National Reserve System to at least 125 million hectares by 2013 and expand Indigenous Protected Areas by between 8 and 16 million hectares. In addition, the programs aim to increase native habitat by at least one million hectares and reduce the impact of cane toads, camels, rodents, rabbits and weeds.

3.6 Farm expenditure on natural resource management - 2006-07
Graph: 3.6 Farm expenditure on natural resource management—2006–07

3.7 WEEDS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Common name
State/territory weed found

Alligator Weed
ACT, NSW, Qld, Vic.
Athel Pine
NSW, Qld, NT, WA, SA, Vic.
Bitou bush/Boneseed(a)
NSW, Vic., Tas., SA, WA, Qld
Blackberry
ACT, NSW, Vic., Tas., SA, WA, Qld
Bridal Creeper
NSW, Vic., Tas., SA, WA, Qld
Cabomba
NT, NSW, Vic., Qld
Chilean Needle Grass
ACT, NSW, Vic., SA, Qld
Gorse
WA, SA, Qld, NSW, Vic., Tas.
Hymenachne
NT, Qld
Lantana
Qld, NSW, NT, SA, WA, Vic.
Mesquite
WA, NT, Qld, NSW, SA
Mimosa
NT, WA
Parkinsonia
NT, NSW, SA, WA, Qld
Parthenium weed
NT, Qld, NSW
Pond Apple
Qld
Prickly Acacia
Qld, SA, NT, WA
Rubber Vine
WA, Qld
Salvinia
NT, NSW, Vic. SA, WA, Qld
Serrated Tussock
ACT, NSW, Vic., Tas.
Willows(b)
Qld, NSW, ACT, Vic., Tas., SA

(a) For the purposes of this list, the two taxa are treated as one.
(b) Willows except Weeping Willow, Pussy Willow and Sterile Pussy Willow.
Source: <http:/www.weeds.gov.au/weeds/lists/wons.html> last viewed September, 2009.

Invasive species

An invasive species is a non-indigenous species with an adverse impact on the habitats that it invades. Invasive species threaten valued environmental, agricultural or other social resources through the damage they cause. Invasive species include feral animals, marine pests, weeds, non-native insects and other invertebrates, and diseases and parasites. These species can threaten native species, contribute to land degradation and reduce agricultural productivity.

The cost of weeds to Australian agriculture (impact and control costs) has been estimated at more than $3.4 billion (b) annually (Caring for our Country, Business Plan 2009-2010). ABS data for 2006-07 show that farmers spent $1.6 b controlling and preventing weeds, which was more than for pests ($768 million (m)) and land and soil problems ($649 m) combined (see graph 3.6). Weed management activities also proved the most time consuming with agricultural businesses undertaking, on average, 31 person days of effort on these activities. In comparison, 26 and 23 days were spent on managing pests and land and soil problems, respectively.

Weeds of National Significance is an agreed list of 20 problem weeds used as a guide for a coordinated national effort for addressing weed problems (see table 3.7). Selection of these species was made by the Australian government and all state and territory governments in 1999 based on environmental damage and economic impacts.

In Australia, the annual cost of pest species has been estimated at around $720 million (Counting the Cost, 2004). Some invasive animals or pests were deliberately introduced to Australia, while others were accidentally imported. Table 3.8 lists the major pest species of concern which have been introduced into Australia.

The cane toad is an example of an introduced feral animal. It was introduced into Australia as a biological control against cane beetles that destroy sugarcane crops, but failed to control the cane beetles and became a major pest itself. Cane toads eat mainly insects, but also frogs, small mammals and snakes. Additionally, because they are poisonous, cane toads kill many animals that prey on them including goannas, quolls and birds. They are still spreading across Australia, continuing to migrate both west and south.

3.8 INVASIVE INTRODUCED PESTS OF CONCERN

Invasive species

Common name Scientific name

Category
Diseases, fungi, and parasites
Beak and feather disease Psittacine circoviral
Chytrid fungus of amphibian Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Mundulla Yellows
Root-rot fungus Phytopthora cinnamomi
Feral animals
Cane toad Bufo marinus
European wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
European red fox Vulpes vulpes
Feral camel Camelus dromedarius
Feral cat Felis catus
Feral goat Capra hircus
Feral horse Equus caballus
Feral donkey Equus asinus
Feral pig Sus scrofa
Feral water buffalo Bubalus bubalis
Insects and other vertebrates
European wasps Vespula germanica
Honeybees Apis mellifera
Red Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta
Yellow Crazy Ant Anoplolepis gracilipes

Source: <http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/index.html>, last viewed September, 2009.







Previous PageNext Page