Species and habitat
You are viewing an archived copy of the 2017 report.
Key messages
Key Findings — Fauna
State
- Threatened fauna species numbers
The number of fauna species listed as threatened (‘vulnerable’, ‘endangered’ or ‘extinct in the wild’) in Queensland increased by 79 between 2007 and 2017. Notably, three frog species and one mammal, Bramble Cay melomy (Melomys rubicola) have been listed as ‘extinct in the wild’ since 2007.
- Density of threatened fauna species habitat
The highest densities of terrestrial threatened fauna species habitat are found in the South East Queensland, Wet Tropics, Brigalow Belt and New England Tablelands bioregions.
- Threatened fauna species habitat
A large proportion of pre-clear threatened fauna habitat remained in Queensland in 2015, however, the proportion varies greatly among bioregions and among fauna groups. Threatened fauna habitat loss in Queensland is ongoing and accelerated for all fauna groups between 2013 and 2015.
Pressure
- Major threats to fauna species
Sixty-eight major threats have been identified that impact on Queensland threatened fauna. The threats affecting the most species are ‘inappropriate fire regimes’, ‘clearing of vegetation’ and ‘inappropriate grazing regimes’.
- Land clearing impact on threatened fauna habitat
Land use clearing for pasture is the greatest pressure on threatened fauna pre-clear habitat, increasing by 29% from the 2014-2015 reporting period and 376% from 2009-2010, when clearing rates were at their lowest since annual reporting began in 1999-2010.
Programs
| Back on Track | The Back on Track species prioritisation framework prioritises Queensland's native species to guide conservation management and recovery, enables strategic allocation of resources for achieving greatest biodiversity outcomes, and increases the capacity of government, natural resource management bodies and communities to make informed decisions by making information widely accessible. |
| The Spring | The Species Recovery Information Gateway (Spring) provides information about the conservation and recovery of Queensland’s native plant and animal species, particularly those at risk of extinction. |
| Modelled Potential Habitat | The Modelled Potential Habitat is a database for selected threatened and priority species in Queensland, based on environmental factors. |
| Wildnet | The Wildnet database contains records of wildlife sightings and listings of plants (including fungi and protists), mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, freshwater fish, sharks and rays, butterflies and other priority invertebrates in Queensland. Wildnet also contains information on species’ national and state conservation status. The wildlife lists are based on collated species lists and wildlife records from Queensland Government departments and external organisations. |
Key Findings — Flora
State
- Threatened flora species numbers
The number of flora species listed as threatened (‘vulnerable’, ‘endangered’ or ‘extinct in the wild’) in Queensland increased by 275 between 2007 and 2017. The total number of flora species listed as ‘extinct in the wild’ has reduced by 6 since 2007.
- Density of threatened flora species habitat
The highest densities of terrestrial threatened flora habitat are found in the South East Queensland, Wet Tropics, Brigalow Belt and New England Tableland bioregions.
- Threatened flora species habitat
Although a large proportion of pre-clear threatened flora habitat remained in Queensland in 2015, the proportion varied greatly among bioregions and among flora groups. Threatened flora habitat loss in Queensland is ongoing and accelerated for all flora groups between 2013 and 2015.
Pressure
- Major threats to flora species
Thirty-four major threats have been identified that impact on Queensland threatened flora. The threats affecting the most species are ‘inappropriate fire regimes’, ’weeds’ and ‘clearing of vegetation’.
- Land clearing impact on threatened flora habitat
Land use clearing for pasture is the greatest pressure on threatened flora pre-clear habitat, increasing by 34% from the 2014-2015 reporting period and 357% from 2010-2011, when clearing rates were at their lowest since annual reporting began in 1999-2010.
Programs
| Back on Track | The Back on Track species prioritisation framework prioritises Queensland's native species to guide conservation management and recovery, enables strategic allocation of resources for achieving greatest biodiversity outcomes, and increases the capacity of government, natural resource management bodies and communities to make informed decisions by making information widely accessible. |
| The Spring | The Species Recovery Information Gateway (Spring) provides information about the conservation and recovery of Queensland’s native plant and animal species, particularly those at risk of extinction. |
| Modelled Potential Habitat | The Modelled Potential Habitat is a database for selected threatened and priority species in Queensland, based on environmental factors. |
| Wildnet | The Wildnet database contains records of wildlife sightings and listings of plants (including fungi and protists), mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, freshwater fish, sharks and rays, butterflies and other priority invertebrates in Queensland. Wildnet also contains information on species’ national and state conservation status. The wildlife lists are based on collated species lists and wildlife records from Queensland Government departments and external organisations. |
| CORVEG | CORVEG is a database containing flora sightings and study site descriptions. It contains data on physical and vegetation features, structural and floristic attributes, and descriptions of landscape, soil and geologic features. The CORVEG study locations are primarily used for ground-truthing and validating of Regional Ecosystems mapping, and describing and classifying vegetation mapping units. |