Land clearing impact on threatened fauna habitat
You are viewing the archived 2015 report.
Key finding
Land use clearing for pasture is the greatest pressure on threatened fauna pre-clear habitat affecting the eastern coastal bioregions at a higher rate. Clearing has almost doubled since 2011-2012.
Queensland
Land use associated with clearing is monitored by the Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) annual reporting program. The analysis of land clearing pressure for threatened fauna pre-clear habitat refers to SLATS woody vegetation replacement landcover. Pre-clear habitat refers to the original extent of species habitat, prior to European settlement.
Across Queensland, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation increased 79% between 2011-2012 and 2014-2015. Eastern bioregions, particularly Brigalow Belt and Mulga Lands, recorded the highest clearing rates.
Clearing for pasture was the greatest pressure for threatened fauna pre-clear habitat across Queensland. Forestry was the second highest pressure, particularly in the eastern bioregions, where there is a greater population.
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Brigalow Belt
In 2014-2015, the Brigalow Belt bioregion recorded the highest clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation across Queensland, an increase of 46% from the 2011-2012 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
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Cape York Peninsula
In 2014-2015, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Cape York Peninsula bioregion increased by 400% from the 2011-2012 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure, infrastructure was another pressure.
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Central Queensland Coast
In 2014-2015, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion increased by 50% since the previous reporting period of 2013-2014, and doubled from 2011-2012.
Pasture and forestry were the dominant clearing pressures.
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Channel Country
In 2014-2015, there was a 1270% increase in clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Channel Country bioregion from 2011-2012. This was a 539% increase from the previous reporting period of 2013-2014. Although, compared to other bioregions, the clearing was relatively low.
Clearing land for pasture was the only pressure.
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Desert Uplands
In 2014-2015, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Desert Uplands bioregion increased by 202% from the 2011-2012 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
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Einasleigh Uplands
In 2014-2015, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion decreased by 10% since the previous reporting period of 2013-2014. However, this was a 59% increase from 2011-2012.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure, cropping was another pressure.
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Gulf Plains
In 2014-2015, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Gulf Plains bioregion increased by 70% from the previous reporting period of 2013-2014. This was a 30% increase from 2011-2012.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
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Mitchell Grass Downs
In 2013-2014, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion doubled from 2011-2012. In 2014-2015, clearing remained the same from the previous reporting period of 2013-2014.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
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Mulga Lands
The Mulga Lands bioregion recorded the second highest clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation across Queensland in 2014-2015. There was a 190% increase from the reporting period of 2011-2012, however this was a 24% decrease from 2013-2014.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
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New England Tableland
In 2014-2015, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the New England Tableland bioregion continued to slightly increase from previous reporting periods since 2011-2012. Although, compared to other bioregions, the clearing was relatively low.
Clearing land for forestry and pasture were the greatest pressures.
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Northwest Highlands
In 2014-2015, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the North West Highlands bioregion decreased by 70% since the previous reporting period of 2013-2014. This was a 79% decrease from 2011-2012.
Clearing land for mining was the greatest pressure.
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Southeast Queensland
In 2014-2015, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the South East Queensland bioregion increased by 70% since the previous reporting period of 2013-2014, and doubled from 2011-2012.
Clearing land for forestry and pasture were the greatest pressures.
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Wet Tropics
In 2014-2015, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Wet Tropics bioregion continued to slightly decrease from the 2011-2012 reporting period.
Forestry continued to be the greatest clearing pressure. There has been a decrease in clearing land for pasture since 2013-2014.
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Indicator: Land use resulting in clearing and its impact on threatened fauna habitat
An analysis between native vegetation clearing types and habitat for threatened fauna. Data is based on the latest Regional Ecosystems (Version 9, 2013) and Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) 2014-2015. Data is current as at July-October 2015.