Threatened species & ecological communities
Latest news
- Lowland Rainforest and Landholders - January 2012
- Latest Communities for communities newsletter - December 2011
- Invitation to comment - Draft preliminary description of the Long Lowland Floodplain Rivers of the Macleay/MacPherson Overlap ecological community (SE Qld / NE NSW) to be considered for listing under national environment law - comments close 9 February 2012
- Nominations invited for the assessment period commencing 1 October 2012, for any species, ecological communities or key threatening processes to be considered for listing under national environment law
- Comment on nominations - northern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi) and southern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne corroboree)
- Comment on nominations - Australian painted snipe (Rostratula australis)
- Draft description of the Giant Kelp Forests of South East Australia Ecological Community - comments close 18 January 2012
- The Minister has approved the listing of three new threatened ecological communities. These are: Arnhem Plateau Sandstone Shrubland Complex, Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia and Upland Basalt Eucalypt Forests of the Sydney Basin Bioregion.
- Draft description of the Murray Valley Natural Grasslands of the southern Riverina Bioregion - comments close 23 December 2011
- Farming and protecting the critically endangered Peppermint Box Grassy Woodland
- Farming and protecting the critically endangered Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland
- Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - September 2011
- Announcement of the Finalised Priority Assessment List for the period commencing 1 October 2011
- New Chair for Threatened Species Scientific Committee - 9 August 2011
- Draft Threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts on northern Australia's biodiversity by the five listed grasses - comments close 21 November 2011
- Draft Listing Advice Extract—Broad leaf tea–tree (Melaleuca viridiflora) woodlands in high rainfall coastal north Queensland ecological community - comments closed 15 August 2011
- Recent threatened ecological community listings
- Arnhem Plateau Sandstone Shrubland Complex
- Lowland Rainforest of Subtropical Australia
- Upland Basalt Eucalypt Forests of the Sydney Basin Bioregion
- Coolibah - Black Box Woodlands of the Darling Riverine Plains and the Brigalow Belt South Bioregions
- New England Peppermint (Eucalyptus nova-anglica) Grassy Woodlands
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Extensions to EPBC Act listing assessment and decision timeframes - timeframes for FPAL items that have recently been extended.
- Decision date on River Murray and associated wetlands, floodplains and groundwater systems, from the junction of the Darling River to the sea extended to 30 September 2012
- Decision date on Wetland Complexes of the upper Darling Riverine Plains Biogregion extended to 30 September 2012
- Decision date on Harrison's and Southern dogfish and 'Damage to marine ecosystems by trawling in the area of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery' assessments extended until 31 July 2012
- Decision date on koala threatened species listing extended until 17 February 2012
- Recent species listings
- Tuncurry Midge Orchid and Wimmera Bottlebrush listed as critically endangered
- Australasian Bittern, Guthega Skink and Alpine Stonefly listed as endangered
- Fairy Tern, Simson's Stag Beetle, Vanderschoor's Stag Beetle and Marrawah Skipper listed as vulnerable
Australia is home to between 600,000 and 700,000 species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. About 84 per cent of plants, 83 per cent of mammals, and 45 per cent of birds are only found in Australia.
Changes to the landscape and native habitat as a result of human activity have put many of these unique species at risk. Over the last two hundred years many species of plants and animals have become extinct. For the other species of plants and animals whose survival is threatened, a range of management and conservation measures are in place.
Ecological communities are unique and naturally occurring groups of plants and animals. Their presence can be determined by factors such as soil type, position in the landscape, climate and water availability.
The Australian Government is working in partnership with state, territory and local governments, non-government organisations, tertiary institutions and community groups to ensure the protection of our native species.
Protecting threatened species and ecological communities
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government's principal piece of environment legislation.
The EPBC Act protects Australia's native species and ecological communities by providing for:
- identification and listing of species and ecological communities as threatened
- development of conservation advice and recovery plans for listed species and ecological communities
- development of a register of critical habitat
- recognition of key threatening processes
- where appropriate, reducing the impacts of these processes through threat abatement plans
Finalised priority assessment list
Nominations that will be assessed in the assessment period commencing on 1 October 2010, and the date by which the assessments are to be completed by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee, are set out in the finalised priority assessment list. The Minister must decide whether a species, ecological community or key threatening process is eligible for listing under the EPBC Act within 90 business days of receiving the advice of the TSSC.
For further information on the finalised priority assessment list please email epbc.nominations@environment.gov.au
Nominations
Any person may nominate a native species, ecological community or threatening process for listing under the EPBC Act. For more information on threatened species, ecological communities and key threatening processes, or making a nomination read more about:
- nomination and listing process
- threatened species
- threatened ecological communities
- key threatening processes
See also
Public notices
Open for public comment under the EPBC Act:
- Comment on nominations
- Permits
- Recovery plans
- Referrals and assessments
- Threat abatement plans
- Wildlife trade applications
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Communities for communities newsletter
EPBC Act lists
- About the EPBC Act
- Critical habitat
- Key threatening processes
- Migratory species
- Recovery plans
- Species and communities under the EPBC Act
- Threat abatement plans
- Threatened ecological communities
- Threatened fauna
- Threatened flora
- Listings since commencement of the EPBC Act