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Indicator: BD-02 Conservation status of nationally significant species and ecological communities, compared with previous years

Data

Total number of listed extinct (EX), critically endangered (CE), endangered (EN), vulnerable (VU) and conservation dependent (CD) species in 2004, 2001 and 1993

	EX			CE	EN			VU			CD
	2004	2001	1993	2004	2004	2001	1993	2004	2001	1993	2004
Ecological Communities		-	-	3	28	27	-	1	-	-
Frogs	4	4	-		15	15	7	12	12	2
Birds	23	23	20	5	37	33	26	64	61	25
Mammals	27	27	21	2	34	29	28	52	45	18	1
Fish	1	-	-	2	16	13	7	20	17	6
Reptiles		-	-	1	11	11	6	38	38	15
Invertebrates		-	-	4	5	-	-	6	4	-
Plants	61	63	74	57	509	518	226	676	655	661
Total species	116	117	115	71	627	619	300	868	832	727	1

Source: The Department of the Environment and Heritage 2005, Threatened species and ecological communities, viewed 21 Jul 2005, http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html.

What the data mean

There has been a slight increase in the number of species listed under Australian government legislation as either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered for all groups. Plants and birds are the most threatened groups.

Data Limitations

The indicator reports only species that have been listed as threatened and reflects the state of knowledge rather than the state of species.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 lists species or ecological communities of national importance whereas State and Territory lists may not be the same as the national lists.

Issues for which this is an indicator and why

Biodiversity - Species, habitats and ecological communities - Species diversity 

The number of species that are threatened or endangered is a surrogate indicator for decline in species richness more generally.

Other indicators for this issue:

• BD-01 The number of fauna and flora species described in Australia compared with previous years and estimated total number of species 

Biodiversity - Species, habitats and ecological communities - Conservation status of species and ecological communities 

While changes in the conservation status of species and ecological communities tells us more about changes in the state of our knowledge, and community concerns than it does about the condition of species more broadly, it does provide some insight which particular species that are believe to be threatened, and allows us to focus on trends in those species as a surrogate indicator for trends in the condition of biodiversity more broadly. It should also be noted that conservation status may also change without any underlying change in the number or distribution of individuals or in the processes affecting them. This occurs when new observations result in a reassessment of area of occupancy, extent of occurrence, population size, threat status, trends in population size or other factors contributing to assessment of conservation status.

The number and conservation status of species provides information for management and research needs and options. Lack of knowledge of biological and ecological requirements of species and communities is an impediment to sustainable management. Identification of species is a prerequisite to an understanding of their requirements.

Other indicators for this issue:

• BD-04 Listed threatened species or ecological communities for which recovery action is showing stable or increasing populations 
• IW-30 Macroinvertebrate condition 
• IW-31 Fish - Abundance and distribution 
• IW-32 Frogs - Abundance and distribution 
• IW-33 Abundance and distribution of waterbirds 
• CO-01 Trends in selected groups of coastal and marine species and habitats 
• CO-02 Number of marine species that are endangered or threatened and changes in population/ distribution of selected threatened species 
• CO-16 Status of Australian fisheries 
• LD-01 The proportion and area of native vegetation and changes over time 
• AAT-08 Plankton populations 
• AAT-09 Seabird populations 
• AAT-10 seal populations 
• AAT-11 Whale populations 
• AAT-12 Changes in colonies of plants on Heard Island 

Biodiversity - Species, habitats and ecological communities - Condition of marine biodiversity: Condition of species, habitat and ecological communities 

Conservation status of species may be broadly indicative of changes in the condition of marine biodiversity.

Other indicators for this issue:

• CO-01 Trends in selected groups of coastal and marine species and habitats 
• CO-02 Number of marine species that are endangered or threatened and changes in population/ distribution of selected threatened species 
• BD-04 Listed threatened species or ecological communities for which recovery action is showing stable or increasing populations 
• AAT-08 Plankton populations 
• AAT-09 Seabird populations 
• AAT-10 seal populations 
• AAT-11 Whale populations 
• AAT-12 Changes in colonies of plants on Heard Island 

Biodiversity - Species, habitats and ecological communities - Government action on species and ecological communities 

The Australian government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 provides for identification and listing of threatened species and threatened ecological communities. By tracking the overall status of species and ecological communities over time this provides an indication of how successful the range of management and conservation measures in place to conserve biodiversity have been.

Other indicators for this issue:

• BD-03 Summary of measures being implemented to respond to threats to biodiversity from invasive species 
• BD-04 Listed threatened species or ecological communities for which recovery action is showing stable or increasing populations 
• BD-05 Alignment of State/Territory and Australian Government listing processes 
• BD-24 Government investments to protect biodiversity for public good purposes 
• CO-02 Number of marine species that are endangered or threatened and changes in population/ distribution of selected threatened species 
• CO-33 Number of species legislatively protected, number with management plans or where management actions have been taken 
• CO-34 Number and extent of Marine Protected Areas 

Biodiversity - Species, habitats and ecological communities - Community action on species and ecological communities 

The community as well as governments are able to participate in conservation of species and ecological communities. By tracking the overall status of species and ecological communities over time this provides an indication of how successful the range of measures have been.

Other indicators for this issue:

• BD-06 Measures taken to conserve species or ecological communities on land that is not part of the national reserve system 
• BD-07 Examples of Indigenous knowledge of species and ecological communities and their utilisation for management by Indigenous and non-Indigenous managers and for other purposes by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people 
• IW-36 Willow removal 

Land - Land condition - Condition of terrestrial species and ecological communities 

Changes to the landscape and native habitat as a result of human activity has put many of Australia’s unique species at risk. Although conservation status does not provide a measure of condition of species or ecological communities, it could, with other parameters, be used to indicate condition.

Other indicators for this issue:

• LD-01 The proportion and area of native vegetation and changes over time 
• LD-03 Change in extent and proportion of woody vegetation, clearing and regrowth 
• LD-17 Fragmentation of remnant vegetation 

Coasts and Oceans - Condition of the ocean and coastal waters - Condition of species, habitats and ecosystems 

Pressures on the coasts and oceans as a result of human activity has put many of Australia’s unique species at risk. Although conservation status does not provide a measure of condition of species or ecological communities, it could, with other parameters, be used to indicate condition.

Other indicators for this issue:

• CO-01 Trends in selected groups of coastal and marine species and habitats 
• CO-02 Number of marine species that are endangered or threatened and changes in population/ distribution of selected threatened species 
• BD-04 Listed threatened species or ecological communities for which recovery action is showing stable or increasing populations 
• AAT-08 Plankton populations 
• AAT-09 Seabird populations 
• AAT-10 seal populations 
• AAT-11 Whale populations 

Natural and Cultural Heritage - Knowledge of heritage - Listing processes, number and distribution of identified heritage items (places and objects) 

Species and ecological communities form part of our natural heritage. Listing of threatened species is a measure that can also be seen as a measure for protecting natural heritage.

Other indicators for this issue:

• NCH-01 Process of listing, area and distribution of identified natural heritage places 
• NCH-02 Process of listing, area and distribution of Indigenous heritage listings 
• NCH-03 Process of listing, area and distribution of identified historic heritage places 
• NCH-04 Process of listing, area and distribution of significant heritage objects 
• IW-34 Examples of deterioration of condition of wetland vegetation 
• BD-04 Listed threatened species or ecological communities for which recovery action is showing stable or increasing populations 
• BD-07 Examples of Indigenous knowledge of species and ecological communities and their utilisation for management by Indigenous and non-Indigenous managers and for other purposes by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people 
• IW-10 Assessment of river condition indices 

Australian Antarctic Territory - Environment - Marine ecosystems 

Pressures on the oceans as a result of human activity have put many Australian and Antarctic marine species at risk. Although conservation status does not provide a measure of condition of species or ecological communities, it could, with other parameters, be used to indicate condition.

Other indicators for this issue:

• AAT-08 Plankton populations 
• AAT-09 Seabird populations 
• AAT-10 seal populations 
• AAT-11 Whale populations 
• CO-02 Number of marine species that are endangered or threatened and changes in population/ distribution of selected threatened species 
• BD-04 Listed threatened species or ecological communities for which recovery action is showing stable or increasing populations 

Further Information

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - List of Threatened Fauna
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - List of Threatened Ecological Communities

Biodiversity hotspots

• $36 million to maintain Australia's biodiversity hotspots (Media Release 20 August 2004) 
• Maintaining Australia's Biodiversity Hotspots Programme (2004-2005 to 2006-2007)
• Australian terrestrial biodiversity assessment 2002 

Changes to this document since December 2006

The date heading in the table has been changed from 2005 to 2004. The date had been incorrectly transcribed.