Land clearing impact on threatened flora habitat
Key Finding
While the clearing the threatened flora 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 flora 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 flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation slowed by 0.15% relative to the 2015–2016 reporting period.
Despite this slowing, clearing in 2016–2017 represents a 327% 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 flora pre-clear habitat across Queensland. Forestry (timber plantations) and thinning were the second and third highest pressures respectively.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Brigalow Belt
The Brigalow Belt (BRB) bioregion recorded the highest clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation across Queensland in 2016–2017.
There was a 1.1% decrease in clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in BRB in 2016–2017 compared to 2015–2016.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Cape York Peninsula
Clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Cape York Peninsula bioregion increased by 7.5% between 2015–2016 and 2016–2017.
Clearing land for mining was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Central Queensland Coast
Clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Central Queensland Coast bioregion decreased by 66% in 2016–2017, compared to 2015–2016.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Channel Country
There was a 456% increase in clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Channel Country bioregion in 2016–2017 compared to 2015–2016.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Desert Uplands
Clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Desert Uplands bioregion decreased by 19% from 2015–2016 to 2016–2017.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Einasleigh Uplands
There was a 17% increase in clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion between 2015–2016 and 2016–2017.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Gulf Plains
There was a 47% increase in clearing of threated flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Gulf Plains bioregion between 2015–2016 and 2016–2017.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Mitchell Grass Downs
There was a 45% increase in clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Mitchell Grass Downs bioregion between 2015–2016 and 2016–2017.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Mulga Lands
The Mulga Lands (MUL) bioregion recorded the third highest clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation across Queensland in 2016–2017.
Clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in MUL bioregion decreased by 40% between 2015–2016 and 2016–2017.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
New England Tableland
There was a 79% increase in clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the New England Tablelands bioregion between 2015–2016 and 2016–2017.
Clearing land for pasture was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Northwest Highlands
There was a 7.9% increase in clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Northwest Highlands bioregion between 2015–2016 and 2016–2017.
Clearing land for mining was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Southeast Queensland
The South East Queensland (SEQ) bioregion recorded the second highest clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation across Queensland in 2016–2017.
There was a 48% increase in clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in SEQ between 2015–2016 and 2016–2017.
Clearing land for forestry (timber plantations) was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
Wet Tropics
There was a 58% increase in clearing of threatened flora pre-clear habitat within woody vegetation in the Wet Tropics bioregion between 2015–2016 and 2016–2017.
Clearing land for forestry (timber plantations) was the greatest pressure.
Some threatened flora 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 flora in both remnant and non-remnant habitat.
More information:
Relevant Sustainable Development Goals’ targets
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Metadata
An analysis intersecting native vegetation clearing types and habitat for threatened flora. Data is based on Regional Ecosystems (version 11, 2019) and Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) 2016–2017.