Threatened species and ecological communities
Latest news
- Water mouse (Xeromys myoides) - open for public comment
- Call for nominations - now open
- Pristis clavata (Dwarf Sawfish, Queensland Sawfish) - listed as vulnerable 20 October 2009
- Draft recovery plans open for public comment
- Extensions to FPAL timeframes - the assessment timeframes for three nominations have recently been extended: southern bluefin tuna, trawling in the SESSF key threatening process and contemporary fire regimes key threatening process.
- EPBC Act nominations open for public comment
- Finalised priority assessment lists - The FPAL includes a full list of species, ecological communities and key threatening processes listed for assessment for the period beginning 1 October 2009.
- Call for nominations - now open
- Farming and nationally protected grasslands and woodlands of the Victorian volcanic plain - fact sheet
- Alpine sphagnum bogs and associated fens - EPBC Act policy statement 3.16
- Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community - a freecall number (1800 704 520), a questions and answers fact sheet, and EPBC Act policy statement 3.18 is available to farmers and stakeholders wanting more information about the Lowland Native Grasslands of Tasmania ecological community.
- Draft Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan
- Weeping Myall Woodlands - EPBC Act policy statement 3.17
- Finalised priority assessment lists - The FPAL includes a full list of species, ecological communities and key threatening processes listed for assessment for the period beginning 1 October 2009.
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 2008, and the date by which the assessments are to be completed, are set out in the finalised priority assessment list.
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
Email list
News and updates
Join the species information and EPBC Act policy email distribution list
Quick links
Resources and databases
- Species Profile & Threats Database (SPRAT)
- Search conservation advices by NRM region
- Environmental reporting tool - (interactive map)
- Protected matters search tool
EPBC Act
EPBC Act lists
