Land clearing impact on threatened fauna habitat
Key Finding
While the clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation has slowed, it remains 3 times higher than in 2009–2010.
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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 modelled extent of species habitat, prior to European settlement.
Across Queensland, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation slowed by 11% relative to the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Despite this, the rate of clearing represents a 362% increase from 2009–2010, when clearing rates were at their lowest since annual reporting began in 1999–2000.
Clearing for pasture was the greatest pressure for threatened fauna pre-clear habitat across Queensland. Forestry (timber plantations) and thinning were the second and third highest pressures respectively.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Brigalow Belt
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Brigalow Belt (BRB) bioregion decreased by 11% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
The BRB bioregion recorded the highest clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation across Queensland in 2016–2017.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Cape York Peninsula
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Cape York Peninsula bioregion increased by 55% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Clearing land for mining was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Central Queensland Coast
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion decreased by 65% compared to the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Channel Country
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Channel Country bioregion increased by 493% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Desert Uplands
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Desert Uplands bioregion decreased by 6% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Einasleigh Uplands
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion increased by 13% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Gulf Plains
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Gulf Plains bioregion decreased by 77% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Mitchell Grass Downs
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion increased by 13% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Mulga Lands
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Mulga Lands (MUL) bioregion decreased by 23% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
The MUL bioregion recorded the second highest clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation across Queensland in 2016–2017.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
New England Tableland
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the New England Tablelands bioregion increased by 79% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Northwest Highlands
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Northwest Highlands bioregion decreased by 21% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Southeast Queensland
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the South East Queensland (SEQ) bioregion increased 47% from the 2015–2016 reporting period.
The SEQ bioregion recorded the third highest clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation across Queensland in 2016–2017.
Clearing land for forestry (timber plantations) was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Wet Tropics
In 2016–2017, clearing of threatened fauna pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Wet Tropics bioregion increased 57% from the 2015–2016 reporting period
Clearing land for forestry (timber plantations) was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened fauna species may be unable to utilise woody regrowth vegetation as habitat. Threatening processes such as habitat degradation, loss of habitat connectivity, disease, predation, invasive species, grazing and inappropriate fire management place significant additional pressure on threatened fauna in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
More information:
Relevant Sustainable Development Goals’ targets
Download data from Queensland Government data
Metadata
An analysis intersecting native vegetation clearing types and habitat for threatened fauna. Data is based on Regional Ecosystems (version 11, 2019) and Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) 2016–2017.