Download Biodiversity Hotspots National Biodiversity Hotspots

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Biodiversity Hotspots
Biodiversity hotspots are areas that support natural ecosystems that are largely intact and where
native species and communities associated with these ecosystems are well represented. They are
also areas with a high diversity of locally endemic species, which are species that are not found
or are rarely found outside the hotspot.
Because the natural values of hotspots are largely intact, undertaking action now to maintain
these values has the potential to provide value-for-money in contributing to our efforts in
biodiversity conservation.
(Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts)
National Biodiversity Hotspots
The Australian Government announced 15 national biodiversity hotspots in October 2003.
Whilst international biodiversity hotspots have been identified for some time, this was the
first attempt to identify biodiversity hotspots at the national scale. The national hotspots
were identified by the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee. The
Committee held a workshop and invited biodiversity experts, including representatives from
conservation groups, museums and the states and territories.
The identification of biodiversity hotspots was a two-stage process. The experts first identified
areas with many endemic species. They then assessed each of these areas for current
conservation pressures and the possibility of future threats to biodiversity. Areas with many
endemic species where the levels of stress or future threat were considered to be high were
identified as hotspots.
The hotspots were identified to increase public awareness of the cost-effectiveness of strategic
and timely action to conserve biodiversity. In hotspot areas, timely intervention may prevent
long-term and irreversible loss of their values, and provide high return on our conservation dollar
(Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts). Figure 2 shows the 15 identified
areas showing the locations that contain particularly high levels of biodiversity under threat.
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How are they identified?
Biodiversity hotspots are present in the landscape at a range of scales, from locally important
sites, like riparian forests, to regions, like the North Kimberley of Western Australia, to the
‘megadiverse’ nations of the world, such as Australia.
The national biodiversity hotspot identification focused on areas that met one of the following
criteria:
• Natural ecosystems with largely intact and native species and communities well represented
• The area has high diversity of endemic species
• Current, planned or potential management activities place the natural values at risk, and it is
likely this risk will increase in the future in the absence of active conservation management
• The area has the potential to provide value-for-money in contributing to conservation of
biodiversity.
(Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts).
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Figure 2: Map of Australia showing the location of the 15 identified biodiversity hotspots
Focusing on the Border Rivers–Gwydir region, there are two hotspots identified at the National
Scale that are located close to, and within the region, numbers 2 and 3 shown on the map
above. The following is a summary of National Biodiversity Hotspots numbers 2 and 3:
2–Brigalow North and South (Queensland and New South Wales)
The inland plains of the Brigalow belt originally supported vast vegetation communities
dominated by Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla). On the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range
there are large tracts of eucalypt woodlands and the hotspot is also a stronghold for large
numbers of endemic invertebrates.
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This hotspot includes populations of the endangered Bridled Nail-tail Wallaby and the only
remaining wild population of the endangered Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat, now limited to
around 110 individuals. The area contains important habitat for rare and threatened species
including the Bulloak, the Jewel Butterfly, Brigalow Scaly-foot, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Greater
Long-eared Bat, Large Pied Bat, Eastern Long-eared Bat and the threatened community of semi
evergreen vine thickets The hotspot provides important habitat for star finches and golden tailed
geckos.
Broad-scale clearing for agriculture and unsustainable grazing is fragmenting the original
vegetation, particularly on lowland areas, encouraging weed invasion and putting at risk
woodland and grassland birds and the natural water cycle. Inappropriate fire regimes and
predation by feral animals, in particular pigs, cats and foxes, pose additional threats to local
biodiversity (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts).
3–Border Ranges North and South (Queensland and New South Wales)
This sub-tropical and temperate hotspot is one of Australia’s most diverse areas - and it is the
most biologically diverse area in New South Wales and southern Queensland. It has a variety
of significant habitats: subtropical rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest, mountain headlands, rocky
outcrops and transition zones between forests.
These habitats support a huge variety of bird and macropod species. Many are rare or
threatened: the Richmond Bird-wing Butterfly, Fleay’s Frog, Hastings River Mouse, Longnosed Potoroo, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Eastern Bristle Bird, Rufous Scrub-bird and the critically
endangered Coxen’s Fig parrot. Notable birds such as Albert’s Lyrebird and the Paradise Riflebird
make their home here, and in the south-east Queensland rainforests live a rich variety of
primitive plant species, many of them similar to fossils from Gondwana.
This region’s high population growth, with associated urban and tourist developments along
the coast, is a major cause of habitat loss and fragmentation. Although most remaining natural
areas are protected, they are under considerable threat from weeds, fire and recreational use
(Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts).
Regional Biodiversity Hotspots
Aside from the National biodiversity hotspots that have been identified above, the Border RiversGwydir has numerous areas that should be prioritised for management contained within its
catchment boundaries.
Information provided by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
‘Biodiversity Summary for NRM Regions’ states that the Border Rivers- Gwydir region has the
following characteristics:
• Species restricted to the region–there are 49 species with greater than 50% of their
recorded range in the region. Of these species, 23 species have 100% of their recorded
range in the region.
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• Threatened species–total number of threatened species (Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act) in this region which belong to the families covered by this
Biodiversity Summary include 23 species declared as endangered, 35 species declared as
vulnerable, and 1 species declared as conservation dependent (DEWHA).
(The full Biodiversity summary for the Border Rivers- Gwydir can be found here: http://www.
environment.gov.au/heritage/anhat/summaries/nsw/nsw-border-rivers-gwydir.html)
Threatened species information provided by the Department of Environment, Climate Change &
Water states that there are currently 138 species, 2 populations and 13 ecological communities
listed as endangered or vulnerable in the Border Rivers- Gwydir Catchment Management
Authority region (DECC&W).
The Border Rivers–Gwydir contains distinct landform types of tablelands, slopes and plains and
four bioregions - New England tablelands, Brigalow Belt South, Nandewar and Darling Riverine
plains. Within these 4 bioregions, the Border Rivers–Gwydir NRM region can be further broken
into 21 sub–regions.
The figure below shows the Border Rivers–Gwydir catchment broken into sub regions and
the number of threatened species found within each sub–region. Species lists and details are
available for each sub region however for the purpose of identifying hotspots, or prioritised
management zones within the Border Rivers–Gwydir catchment, the numbers of threatened
species are sufficient here (DECC&W).
Figure 3: Map of the Border Rivers–Gwydir catchment broken into 21 sub–regions showing the
number of threatened species present within each sub–region in red (DECC&W).
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These numbers are based on data derived from the NSW Department of Environment, Climate
Change and Water however the numbers of threatened species for each sub- region are still
relatively similar so does not identify specific biodiversity hotspots or prioritised management
zones with the Border Rivers- Gwydir catchment. A more in depth examination of the
threatened species data is required to pinpoint specific locations across the catchment that
should be targeted for priority management.
It is recommended that priority sites for management be identified by considering the following:
a. the distribution and abundance of each threatened vegetation community
b. the distribution and abundance of each threatened fauna species
c. the occurrence of any locations where ‘a’ and ‘b’ may overlap (e.g. a threatened vegetation
community that has >1 threatened fauna species contained within its range)
d. the occurrence of any locations where known populations/ distributions of invasive species
overlap with either ‘a’, ‘b’, or ‘c’.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 on the following pages show the Border Rivers–Gwydir catchment with
threatened vegetation communities, threatened fauna species and both threatened vegetation
communities and threatened fauna species (shown together) respectively.
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Figure 4: Map of the Border Rivers–Gwydir catchment showing threatened vegetation
communities
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Figure 5: Map of the Border Rivers–Gwydir catchment showing threatened fauna species
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Figure 6: Map of the Border Rivers- Gwydir catchment showing threatened vegetation
communities and threatened fauna species
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Identifying biodiversity hotspots or prioritised areas for management within the Border RiversGwydir catchment should be an ongoing and flexible process that can change over time and
consider past, current and future environmental conditions. Additionally, using this information
to help identify invasive species management priority areas should only be one tool of many
and the most beneficial outcome of using such data will be reached by considering all aspects
affecting biodiversity including land use, invasive species presence and biology of species etc.
Teamed with priorities for management, agricultural production requirements and outcomes
of past management, the identification of these priority zones should help to better guide
the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA in future priority setting and setting management goals and
catchment targets.
Landcare Prioritisation Process
It was decided by the steering group that it would be beneficial to consult Landcare groups
within the Border Rivers-Gwydir catchment as landholders are commonly unavailable for
workshops, especially when they need to travel. Two abridged versions of the PestPlan
prioritisation process (Appendix C) were developed between the project officer and Landcare
Officers that could be delivered in short sessions and slotted into existing field days or
workshops. They had similar structure and outcomes and asked landholders, or groups of
landholders to list their pest animal and weed issues. It should be noted however that the
Landcare consultation process is only one part of the methods that have been considered when
formulating the various recommendations presented in this report.
One Landcare Assessment form (assessment A) asked landholders to score each pest animal or
weed for:
a. Production Rank: 6 = High, 1 = Low (the cost to production by each species)
b. Conservation Rank: 6 = can easily become dominant, 1 = no risk (the threat to the
environment- can it dominate or influence biodiversity?)
The other Landcare Assessment form (assessment B) asked landholders to score each pest animal
on their:
a. Invasiveness: score 1-6 on ease of establishment (6 = easily established)
b. Impact: score 1-6 on the impact on production and the environment (6 = largest impact)
c. Potential Range: score 1-6 on how much of its potential range it has realised (1 = full range,
6 = new introduction, limited distribution)
d. Ease of control: consider costs and effectiveness of control (6 = cheap and effective, 1 =
costly and ineffective)
e. Commitment: consider current community attitudes (6 = existing, well developed and
supported programs).
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And assessment B also asked similar questions of nominated weed species:
a. Invasiveness: score 1= low to 10 = highly invasive
b. Impacts: score 1 = low to 10 = major impacts
c. Potential distribution: score 1 = not suited to area at all to 10 = all of the area could be
affected by the weed
d. Control costs: score 1 = cheap to control to 10 = very expensive
e. Persistence: score 1 = low persistence to 10 = very persistent
f. Current distribution: score 0 = unknown to 10 = widespread.
The results show the species that are considered to be having a high and low impact and which
species are able to be controlled easily. The figures here show which species have been identified
as a high priority by the Landcare groups. These results also support the outcomes from the
major community workshops that were held across the catchment.
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Figure 7: Graph showing the pest animal prioritisation results from Landcare consultation
process A
Rabbit
Fox
Wild dog (incl. dingo)
Crow
SPECIES
Pig
Deer
Goat
Hare
Cat
Kangaroo
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
RANK 1 = low value 6 = high
IMPACT ON PRODUCTION
IMPACT ON CONSERVATION
TOTAL (production + conservation)
Figure 8: Graph showing the weed prioritisation results from Landcare consultation process A
Needle grass
Love grass
Coolatai grass
Surrated tussock
SPECIES
Honey locust
Vulpia
Nodding Thistle
Saffron Thistle
Blackberry
St Johns Wort
Other thistles count <10
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
RANK 1 = low value 6 = high
IMPACT ON PRODUCTION
IMPACT ON CONSERVATION
TOTAL (production + conservation)
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Figure 9: Graph showing the pest animal prioritisation results from Landcare consultation
process B (invasiveness, impacts, potential range, ease of control and commitment)
Wild dog (incl
dingo)
SPECIES
Rabbit
Fox
Pig
Kangaroo
Duck
0
1
2
3
4
5
RANK 1 = low value 6 = high
INVASIVENESS
EASE OF CONTROL
IMPACT
COMMITMENT
6
POTENTIAL RANGE
Figure 10: Graph showing the weed prioritisation results (invasiveness, impacts and potential
range) from Landcare consultation process B
Love Grass
Coolatai Grass
Giant Parramatta Grass
Fireweed
SPECIES
Thistles
Blackberry
Matrush
Whisky Grass
Blady Grass
Bracken
0
5
10
15
RANK 1 = low
INVASIVENESS
IMPACT
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20
25
30
value 10 = high
POTENTIAL RANGE
SCORE
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Figure 11: Graph showing the weed prioritisation results (control costs, persistence and current
distribution) from Landcare consultation process B
Lovegrass
Coolatai Grass
Giant Parramatta grass
Mat rush
SPECIES
Thistles
Blackberry
Fireweed
Blady grass
Bracken
Whisky Grass
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
RANK 1 = low value 10 = high
CONTROL COSTS
PERSISTENCE
CURRENT DISTRIBUTION
SCORE
These figures illustrate that the pest animals with a high priority for control include wild dogs,
rabbits, foxes, and pigs. The weed species that have been recognised as a high priority are the
grasses; Coolatai, Lovegrass, and Giant Parramatta grass, thistle species and blackberry. Some
of the species of weeds and pest animals are native which requires different legislation and
licensing requirements which should be addressed individually at any time. In the context of this
plan, the presence of some weed species in particular (eg. Matrush, blady grass, bracken) can
indicate poor management of a system and could be used as a signal to change management
practices.
This information has assisted with identifying issues within the whole catchment however on a
more localised scale, Landcare groups will be able to utilise this data to help direct their planning
and funding in the future. A list of all species identified as part of the Landcare consultation
process is available in Appendix D.
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Invasive Species Management Recommendations for the Border Rivers–
Gwydir Catchment
The issues and motivations of landholders, Landcare groups, land managers and agency staff
varied slightly across the Border Rivers–Gwydir catchment however there were also definite
commonalities concerning invasive species across the region. It is recognised that most
landholders have limited resources, particularly after encountering several years of unpredictable
seasons and drought. Unfortunately, some invasive species thrive in poor conditions, usually
taking over native vegetation and increasing their hold on landscapes. However, in some cases,
poor conditions lead to beneficial circumstances for control and management as numbers of
pests can naturally decrease which, when combined with appropriate control techniques, results
in lower invasive species density.
During the past four years the BR-G CMA has contributed to improvements in biodiversity by
delivering incentives that minimise the impact of weeds and feral animals over 200,000 hectares.
It should be recognised that the outcomes sought within these activities have been achieved
through incentive management agreements and collaboration with strategic organisations
including LHPA’s, Local Government, regional advisory bodies and landholders that require
assistance to address invasive species. Currently, the BR-G CMA has been utilising Caring for
our Country (CfoC) funding to control weeds of national significance (WoNS) including Gorse,
Serrated Tussock and Chilean Needle Grass. It is hoped that the BR-G CMA will obtain more
funding to continue controlling the WoNS by containing their spread and prioritising core areas
for management.
In addition to the work already being done by the BR-G CMA, there are numerous existing
projects and management activities running throughout the catchment by individuals, small
groups, local councils, Landcare and the CMA. These were identified at the community
workshops and can be seen in Figure 14 in this report.
It is recommended that before any new work regarding invasive species management begins,
these existing projects should be considered, and where possible, coordinated with any new
or ongoing work. There are many benefits of utilising these existing projects and groups and
in some cases, utilising the historical knowledge regarding invasive species can assist with
management choices and save significant amounts of time and resources.
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