Conserving biodiversity
Queensland has a remarkably varied climate. This wide climatic variation is reflected in our wildlife and landscapes. Queensland has the greatest variety of plant groupings, animals and landscapes in Australia and is one of the most biologically diverse places on earth.Queensland is home to 70 percent of Australia’s native mammals (210 species), 80 percent of native birds (594 species), just over half of the nation’s native reptiles (429) and native frogs (114), and 11 074 native plant species.
National parks sample and protect this vast natural diversity of animals, plants and landscapes.
Once national parks were declared to protect the most scenic places in the world. Today, protecting biodiversity is the main goal of establishing national parks.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety among and within living things (plants and animals) and the ecological systems where they live. In Queensland, biodiversity is recognised at four levels — landscape, ecosystem, species and genome (the complete genetic material for any cell).
Recognising the landscape level underpins the importance of understanding the bioregional context and the abiotic (non-living) factors that determine where species and assemblages occur.
Why protect biodiversity?
Protecting and keeping variety in the natural world is important. Species can become extinct if they lose their genetic variety.
We are part of the natural world and depend on nature for our survival. The air we breathe, the water we drink and many other life-sustaining processes come from nature. Pollution of our environment affects us directly.
Scientists hope chemicals in plants might provide a cure for AIDS. Corals might give us our best protection from the damaging effects of the sun. Who knows what untapped riches a particular species could provide? So we must protect biodiversity.
How do we protect biodiversity?
National parks and other protected areas sample Queensland’s natural diversity.
Queensland can be divided into 19 terrestrial biogeographic regions. Some are shared with other states and territories.
Each biogeographic region has distinctive environmental attributes related to climate, vegetation, soil, landform and geology. There is even considerable diversity within each biogeographic region.
The ultimate goal is to have complete and ecologically viable examples of every biogeographic region and every major vegetation community in the protected area estate. Protecting rare and threatened species and ecosystems is particularly important.
The mainland biogeographic regions are:
Cape York Peninsula
Gulf Plains
Einasleigh Uplands
Wet Tropical Rainforest
Mount Isa Inlier
Gulf Fall Uplands
Mitchell Grass Downs
Brigalow Belt North
Central Mackay Coast
Desert Uplands
Brigalow Belt South
South-east Queensland
Simpson–Strzelecki Dunefields
New South Wales North Coast
Darling-Riverine Plain
New England Tableland
Nandewar
Channel Country
Mulga Lands
Other regions cover Queensland’s coastal waters.
In planning for biodiversity conservation, the Environmental Protection Agency aims to:
- protect wildlife, especially rare and threatened species;
- prevent individual species from becoming extinct;
- protect the biodiversity in each biogeographic region;
- ensure all ecosystems are included in the protected area estate; and
- protect enough of each major ecosystem to withstand threatening processes in future.
Every new park proposal is assessed to determine what it contributes to biodiversity conservation.
In protecting biodiversity, we need to protect species across the full extent of their latitudinal and altitudinal ranges. This will ensure we preserve the greatest possible genetic variety. Where a species exists solely as a single population, its chances of survival are slim.
Managing for biodiversity
Once, 'let nature take its course' was the catchcry. Now, parks are managed to protect biodiversity:
- The Cooloola wildflower heaths are burnt periodically to preserve species variety and particular ecosystems. So are other forest types.
- Degraded areas are now revegetated only with plants from locally collected seed.
- Fencing and feral animal control programs protect endangered animals from predators and competition from introduced and domestic animals.
- Weeds which compete with natives are removed.
- Human impacts are minimised so that wildlife is protected.
- Domestic grazing stock are removed to ensure species regeneration and richness and to maximise wildlife habitat.
Biodiversity on private lands can also be protected provided landholders manage their properties in an ecologically sustainable way.
Biodiversity means a better future
The dinosaurs disappeared at a rate of one species every 1000 years. Today, the world is losing species at the rate of about one a day. More mammals are threatened with extinction in Australia than anywhere else.
Can we afford to lose potential sources of food, medicine, fibre, energy or industry? Keeping the widest variety of plants and animals is essential. Our future could depend on biodiversity.
Last updated: 29 January 2007
