Threatened flora species habitat
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Key finding
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.
Queensland
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 702 currently threatened flora species was modelled for Queensland. Prior to land clearing, habitat was widespread in Queensland for:
- 194 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 334 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 26 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 52 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 17 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 79 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
The largest extent of pre-clearing habitat for all threatened flora groups was found in the Brigalow Belt. Large extents of pre-clearing habitat were also found in the South East Queensland bioregion for all flora groups except threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland, for which pre-clearing habitat was most extensive in the Mitchell Grass Downs and Mulga Lands bioregions.
Although most habitat loss for Queensland’s threatened flora occurred prior to 1997, habitat for threatened flora sustained ongoing loss to 2015. Habitat loss slowed after 2005-2007, but accelerated between 2013 and 2015.
- Between 56% and 72% of the pre-clearing habitat for most threatened flora remains uncleared.
- Threatened grassland and forbland flora is the exception, with 66% of habitat cleared prior to 2015.
Land clearing in Queensland between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Brigalow Belt
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 190 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the Brigalow Belt (BRB) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, BRB provided habitat for:
- 105 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 36 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 13 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 9 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 11 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 16 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
BRB has experienced ongoing loss of habitat for all threatened flora groups since 1997. While habitat loss slowed for all flora groups between 2005-2007 and 2013, losses accelerated between 2013 and 2015.
- 58% of the pre-clearing habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species remained in 2015.
- 34% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened rainforest and scrub flora was intact in 2015.
- Only 20% of pre-clearing threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora habitat remained uncleared in 2015.
- 60% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species remained.
- 30% of the pre-clearing habitat for threatened grassland and forbland flora remained uncleared in 2015.
- 71% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened heath and other coastal community flora remained uncleared.
BRB land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Cape York Peninsula
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 133 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the Cape York Peninsular (CYP) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, CYP provided habitat for:
- 18 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 92 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 17 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 1 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 5 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
CYP has experienced ongoing loss of threatened flora habitat since 1997 for all except 2 threatened groups: threatened grassland and forbland flora and threatened heath and other coastal community flora have remained uncleared since 1997.
- 99% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora remained in 2015, but habitat loss accelerated between 2013 and 2015.
- 89% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened rainforest and scrub flora remains intact, however, habitat loss has continued unabated since 1997, accelerating between 2011 and 2015.
- 99% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland flora remained uncleared in 2015.
- Although habitat loss for threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland flora had slowed since 2009, habitat loss accelerated between 2013 and 2015.
- 83% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened grassland and forbland flora has remained uncleared since 1997.
- 94% of the pre-clearing habitat for threatened heath and other coastal community flora has remained uncleared since 1997.
CYP land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development and mining.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Central Queensland Coast
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 57 currently threatened flora species was modelled for Central Queensland Coast (CQC) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, CQC provided habitat for:
- 21 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 26 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 2 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 2 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 1 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 5 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
CQC has experienced ongoing loss of habitat since 1997 in all but 1 flora group: threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora has remained largely uncleared since 1997.
- 85% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora remained in 2015.
- 87% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened rainforest and scrub flora habitat was uncleared in 2015.
- Habitat loss for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora and threatened rainforest and scrub flora slowed from 2007 to 2011 but accelerated between 2011 and 2015.
- 74% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora was remnant in 2015 with no further habitat loss since 1997.
- 82% of pre-clearing threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland flora remained in 2015. Habitat loss slowed from 2009 to 2013 only to accelerate between 2013 and 2015.
- One-third of the pre-clearing habitat for threatened grassland and forbland flora had been cleared by 2009 with no further habitat loss between 2009 and 2015.
- Only 1% of pre-clearing habitat for threatened heath and other coastal community flora had been cleared prior to 2006 with no further habitat loss between 2006 and 2015.
CQC land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Channel Country
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 11 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the Channel Country (CHC) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, CHC provided habitat for:
- 2 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 7 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 2 threatened grassland and forbland species.
Habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora and threatened grassland and forbland flora has remained uncleared since 1997. Small losses of habitat for Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora occurred in 2003 and 2009 prior to accelerated habitat loss between 2013 and 2015.
- Less than 1% of habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora, threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora and threatened grassland and forbland flora had been cleared in CHC by 2015.
CHC land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Desert Uplands
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 34 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the Desert Uplands (DEU) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, DEU provided habitat for:
- 7 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 1 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 6 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 14 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 4 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 2 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
The trend in flora habitat extent between 1997 and 2015 in DEU is one of slowing habitat loss for threatened eucalypt forests and woodland flora and threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora since 2006, and slowing habitat loss for threatened rainforest and scrub flora and threatened grassland and forbland flora habitat since 2001. Habitat loss for threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland flora slowed from 2005 to 2009 but has increased to 2015.
- 37% of threatened rainforest and scrub flora habitat had been cleared by 2015.
- Between 83% and 100% of pre-clearing habitat for all other threatened flora groups remained uncleared by 2015.
- Habitat for threatened heath and other coastal community flora has remained uncleared since 1997.
- Habitat for threatened grassland and forbland flora has remained uncleared since 2001.
DEU land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Einasleigh Uplands
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 80 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the Einasleigh Uplands (EIU) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, EIU provided habitat for:
- 32 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 27 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 5 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 7 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 1 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 8 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
EIU has experienced ongoing loss of habitat since 1997 for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora and threatened rainforest and scrub flora, slowing between 2007 and 2011. Habitat loss accelerated between 2011 and 2015.
- At least 93% of pre-clearing habitat for all threatened flora groups remained uncleared by 2015.
- Habitat for threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora remained uncleared between 2006 and 2013 but habitat loss accelerated between 2013 and 2015.
- Habitat for threatened grassland and forbland flora has remained uncleared since 2006.
- Habitat for threatened heath and other coastal community flora remained uncleared between 2007 and 2013 but habitat loss accelerated between 2013 and 2015.
- Habitat loss slowed for wetlands and Melaleuca open woodland from 2007 but accelerated between 2013 and 2015.
EIU land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Gulf Plains
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 26 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the Gulf Plains (GUP) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, GUP provided habitat for:
- 8 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 6 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 3 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 7 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 2 threatened grassland and forbland species.
Habitat loss for all threatened flora groups in the Gulf Plains bioregion slowed after 2005-2007.
- 98-100% of pre-clearing habitat for all threatened flora groups remained uncleared in GUP in 2015.
- Habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora and threatened grassland and forbland flora has remained uncleared since 2005.
- Clearing of Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora accelerated between 2013 and 2015.
GUP land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Mitchell Grass Downs
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 39 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, MGD provided habitat for:
- 7 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 2 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 12 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 13 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 5 threatened grassland and forbland species.
MGD has experienced ongoing loss of habitat since 1997 for most threatened flora groups.
There was no habitat loss between 2013 and 2015 for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora or between 2011 and 2015 for threatened wetland and Melaleuca open forest flora.
- While at least 87% of pre-clearing habitat for most threatened flora groups in MGD remained uncleared by 2015, one-third of the pre-clearing habitat for threatened rainforest and scrub flora had been cleared by 2015.
- Habitat loss slowed for threatened rainforest and scrub flora from 2005, but accelerated between 2011 and 2015.
- Habitat loss for threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora slowed from 2006 to 2013 but accelerated between 2013 and 2015.
- Habitat loss for threatened grassland and forbland flora slowed between 2013 and 2015.
MGD land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Mulga Lands
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 21 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the Mulga Lands (MUL) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, MUL provided habitat for:
- 7 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 1 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 6 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 5 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 1 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 1 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
MUL has experienced ongoing habitat loss for threatened rainforest and scrub flora, threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora, threatened wetland and Melaleuca open forest flora and threatened grassland and forbland flora since 1997 although clearing slowed considerably for most threatened flora groups from 2005-2006.
- Loss of threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora habitat slowed earlier, from 2003.
- Threatened heath and other coastal community flora habitat has remained uncleared in MUL since 2005.
- Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora habitat remained largely intact (93%) by 2015.
- 87% of the pre-clearing habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora and 57% of the pre-clearing habitat for threatened wetlands and Melaleuca open woodland flora was uncleared by 2015.
- 62% of threatened grassland and forbland flora was remnant vegetation in 2015.
- Only 26% of threatened rainforest and scrub species remained in 2015.
- Only 14% of threatened heath flora habitat remained uncleared in 2015.
MUL land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
New England Tableland
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 59 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the New England Tablelands (NET) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, NET provided habitat for:
- 36 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 8 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 1 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 1 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 4 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 9 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
All threatened flora groups in NET faced ongoing loss of habitat between 1997 and 2015.
Habitat loss accelerated between 2011 and 2015 for all flora groups except threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora and threatened heath and other coastal flora where habitat loss increased between 2013 and 2015.
- Although clearing initially slowed for all groups after 2003-2005, habitat loss has increased for all threatened flora groups between 2011-2013 and 2015.
- By 2015, only threatened heath and other coastal community flora retained more than half (57%) of its pre-clearing habitat extent.
- More than half of the pre-clearing habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora (62%), rainforest and scrub flora (59%), wetland and Melaleuca open woodland flora (62%) and grassland and forbland flora (64%) had been cleared prior to 2015.
- Only 13% of habitat for threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora remained uncleared by 2015.
NET land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Northwest Highlands
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 4 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the Northwest Highlands (NWH) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, NWH provided habitat for:
- 3 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 1 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species.
Threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora habitat has remained largely uncleared since 1999 apart from some habitat loss between 2011 and 2013. There was no loss of habitat for threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora between 1997 and 2015.
- More than 98% of pre-clear habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora remained in 2015.
- No pre-clearing habitat for threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland had been cleared by 2015.
NWH land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
South East Queensland
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 227 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the South East Queensland (SEQ) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, SEQ provided habitat for:
- 79 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 90 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 2 threatened Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland species
- 12 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 4 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 40 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
All threatened flora groups in SEQ experienced ongoing loss of habitat between 1997 and 2015.
- Half of the pre-clearing habitat for threatened heath and other coastal community flora was cleared by 2015.
- 55% of the pre-clearing habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora was cleared prior to 2015.
- 53% of rainforest and scrub flora, 64% of Acacia forest, woodland and shrubland flora, and 59% of wetland and Melaleuca open woodland flora was cleared.
- Almost three-quarters (72%) of threatened grassland and forbland flora habitat was cleared by 2015.
SEQ land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development, settlement and forestry.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Wet Tropics
Pre-clearing habitat extent for 204 currently threatened flora species was modelled for the Wet Tropics Queensland (WET) bioregion. Prior to land clearing, WET provided habitat for:
- 27 threatened eucalypt forest and woodland species
- 155 threatened rainforest and scrub species
- 12 threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland species
- 1 threatened grassland and forbland species
- 9 threatened heath and other coastal community species.
The trend in flora habitat extent between 1997 and 2015 in WET is one of ongoing, incremental loss of habitat for all threatened flora groups except threatened grassland and forbland flora habitat which has remained uncleared since 1999. Habitat loss for all flora groups apart from threatened grassland and forbland and heath and other coastal community flora has accelerated between 2011-2013 and 2015.
- Pre-clearing habitat for threatened eucalypt forest and woodland flora (80%), rainforest and scrub flora (76%) and heath and other coastal community flora (95%) remained largely uncleared by 2015.
- 62% of threatened wetland and Melaleuca open woodland flora habitat remained uncleared.
- More than two-thirds (70%) of the habitat for threatened grassland and forbland flora was cleared prior to 1999.
WET land clearing between 1997 and 2015 was primarily for pasture development and forestry.
It should be noted that some threatened flora species may be able to utilise non-remnant vegetation and that threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, herbivory, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
More information:
Indicator: Proportion of pre-clear threatened flora habitat that is remnant vegetation
Hectares of threatened terrestrial flora habitat predicted to have occurred across Queensland and per bioregion prior to land clearing and remaining as remnant vegetation between 1997 and 2015. Potential habitat has been created using both MAXENT which uses species presence records combined with 7 environmental layers (annual mean temperature, temperature seasonality, annual precipitation, mean moisture index of the lowest quarter moisture index, pre-clearing broad vegetation group, land zone and topographic ruggedness) and buffered species records. Habitat is refined using the latest Regional Ecosystems mapping (version 10, 2016).