Threatened species & ecological communities
Latest news
- Flying-foxes and national environmental law - May 2012
- The Queensland, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory koala populations have been listed as vulnerable under national environment law - April 2012
- Arnhem Plateau Sandstone Heath ecological community Fact sheet - March 2012
- Lowland Rainforest and Landholders - January 2012
- Latest Communities for communities newsletter - December 2011
- Invitation to comment - Western Sydney Dry Rainforest and Moist Woodland on shale in the Sydney Basin Bioregion ecological community (NSW) to be considered for listing under national environment law - comments close 24 May 2012
- 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
- Farming and protecting the critically endangered Peppermint Box Grassy Woodland
- Farming and protecting the critically endangered Iron-grass Natural Temperate Grassland
- Updated guide to the Nationally Threatened Ecological Communities of the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Natural Temperate Grassland & Grassy Eucalypt Woodland - September 2011
- Draft Threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts on northern Australia's biodiversity by the five listed grasses - comments close 21 November 2011
- Recent threatened ecological community listings
- Broad leaf tea-tree (Melaleuca viridiflora) woodlands in high rainfall coastal north Queensland
- 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
- Recent species listings
- Plains death adder listed as vulnerable on 11 May 2012
- Bago leek-orchid and Kiandra greenhood listed as critically endangered on 3 May 2012
- Koala (combined populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory) listed as vulnerable on 2 May 2012
- Black Cod listed as vulnerable on 4 April 2012
- Murray Hardyhead transferred from vulnerable to endangered on 16 March 2012
- Kroombit Tinker Frog transferred from vulnerable to critically endangered on 18 January 2012
-
Extensions to EPBC Act listing assessment and decision timeframes - timeframes for FPAL items that have recently been extended.
- Decision date on Long Lowland Rivers of South-east Queensland and Northern New south Wales extended to 31 December 2012
- 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
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
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
Subscribe
Join the Species information and EPBC Act policy email distribution list
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