'Back on Track' species prioritisation framework
A framework for prioritising species conservation and recovery in Queensland
- What is 'Back on Track'?
- How have decisions been made previously?
- How does it work?
- A summary of the 'Back on Track' criteria
- What are the benefits?
- How is 'Back on Track' funded?
- Find out more
What is 'Back on Track'?
Orange thighed green frog
© Environmental Protection Agency
'Back on Track' is an initiative of the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that aims to prioritise Queensland's native species to guide species conservation and recovery.
The 'Back on Track' framework is designed to prioritise all species, regardless of their current classification under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, to better reflect the level of management required for conservation and recovery. The framework is used to score plant and animal species from marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Multiple criteria are used to identify those species which are most in need of conservation action and have the greatest chance of recovery.
The process starts by identifying priority species, and then uses this information to identify the common threats and actions where invested resources will give the greatest conservation benefit. In this way, 'Back on Track' encourages a multi-species/ecosystem approach to conservation.
Angelfish © Environmental Protection
Agency
The 'Back on Track' framework increases the capacity of government, Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies and communities to make decisions about where to focus on-ground action and investment to deal with threatened species and communities.
For further information, read our other pages on
- The 'Back on Track' method
- A full explanation of the 'Back on Track' criteria
- Taxonomic groups assessed to date
- How 'Back on Track' is being applied
- Links
How have decisions been made previously?
Previous efforts in wildlife conservation focussed on highly threatened, or well-known species, and in particular, species listed as 'Critically Endangered', 'Endangered,' 'Vulnerable' or 'Rare'. As a result, resources have been focussed on these species, often with little assessment of success.
The previous system encouraged a single-species approach and had a tendency to focus on well-known or iconic species. Sometimes resources have been used to protect a species which may not have a high chance of recovery or in other cases may be regionally threatened but are largely secure elsewhere.
How does it work?
Yellow-footed rock wallaby
© EnvironmentalProtection Agency
'Back on Track' uses a technical assessment of species against three major sets of criteria (Probability of Extinction, Consequences of Extinction, and Potential for Successful Recovery).
A panel of technical experts scores each species against the criteria. Senior managers also weight each criterion. When both the 'criteria weighting' and 'species assessment' stages of the prioritisation process have been completed, the final species priority list is generated.
Species are ranked as 'Critical Priority', 'High Priority', 'Medium Priority', 'Low Priority' or 'Poorly Known' (data deficient). Research priorities for poorly known species are identified to focus research.
The ranking of priority species is the first step towards the implementation of multi-species actions (that will be developed through the identification of common threats and actions in regional workshops), which will form a more integrated approach to species recovery and conservation management.
For more details, read a full explanation of the 'Back on Track' method.
A summary of the 'Back on Track' criteria
Lawn Hill Creek © Environmental
Protection Agency
The following sets of criteria are used to assign a value to each species:
- Probability of extinction. This is determined by expert assessment using IUCN* criteria
- Consequences of extinction. This includes the species' endemicity; the importance of its interactions within the ecosystem, and its social value (importance to people).
- Potential for successful recovery. This incorporates the knowledge of threatening processes, the capacity to affect recovery, and the need for ongoing management.
For more details, read a full explanation of the 'Back on Track' criteria.
* IUCN = The World Conservation Union
What are the benefits?
- The identification of species requiring conservation action, allowing for early action and prevention strategies.
- The focus of conservation effort and limited available resources on priorities for management and research.
- Greater direction to NRM Regional Bodies and government agencies in targeting investment and focussing conservation and recovery efforts.
- The identification of threatening processes that affect a range of species, encouraging multi-species and ecosystem management approaches, as well as opportunities for cross-regional projects.
- Increased awareness and interest in a broader range of threatened species (e.g. insects, marine species, grasses etc.).
How is 'Back on Track' funded?
'Back on Track' is funded by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency and the Australian Government through the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT).
Find out more
Angle-stemmed myrtle
© Environmental Protection
Agency
Contact the 'Back on Track' Coordinator to find out more about this initiative:
Back on Track
Threatened Species and Ecosystems Unit
Queensland Environmental Protection Agency
PO Box 15155
City East QLD 4002
Phone: (07) 3225 1295
Fax: (07) 3227 6386
Email: sara.williams@epa.qld.gov.au
Last updated: 07 September 2007
