Transcript The EPA`s function

Biodiversity in South
East Queensland
Carole Rayner
Planning Division
Environmental
Protection Agency
The EPA’s function
Our vision:
A Queensland where everyone values
the Environment
Our role:
Protecting the environment for a
sustainable future
The EPA :
• manages national parks in Queensland
(Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service).
• regulates and monitors industrial
pollution, air quality, water quality,
contamination.
• helps to conserve biodiversity, plant and
animal species, the coast and wetlands.
•has within it the Office of Climate Change.
What is my Role?
• I am a biodiversity planner.
• I prepare strategies, maps
and plans to manage and
conserve biodiversity values.
• I work with local government
and other government
departments and the
community to encourage
nature conservation and the
protection of biodiversity.
What is Biodiversity?
Biological diversity or biodiversity , is
the natural variety of native wildlife,
together with the environmental
conditions necessary for their survival,
and includes:
•the diversity of landscape
components in a region;
•the diversity of different community
types formed by living organisms,
and the relationships between
them;
•the diversity of species; and
•the diversity of genes within each
species.
Nature Conservation Act 1992
Why is it important to
understand Biodiversity?
• We are loosing species and need
to understand why.
• We don’t know everything about
plants, animals and environments
and their complex interactions.
• We need to make decisions about
what habitats are to be retained in
the landscape and balance that
with agriculture and urban
expansion.
• Human health is linked to the
health of our planet and therefore
the health of our ecosystems.
• The natural environment provides
us economic prosperity.
Queensland’s Bioregions
• Queensland has rich and diverse
natural resources, including unique
ecosystems, landscapes and native
plants and animals.
• We use bioregional assessment
and planning to better understand
biodiversity.
• Bioregions are determined by the
underlying geology, land zones,
soils types and vegetation which
occur within them.
• Queensland has 13 bioregions
which describe broad landscapes.
Queensland’s Bioregions
The South East Queensland
Bioregion
• The SEQ Bioregion extends from
Bundaberg, to the border of NSW, west to
the great dividing range, and to the
coastal wetlands (Moreton Bay) in the
east.
• The bioregion is one of the most
ecologically diverse in the world due to
the climate, variety of soils, vegetation,
land types (mountains, lowlands,
coastal), and traditional people’s
management.
• These conditions create unique habitats
including rainforest, wet and dry eucalypt
forests, grasslands, freshwater and tidal
wetlands, riparian waterway vegetation.
• Due to the diversity of habitats there is a
high natural variety of native wildlife (ie.
biodiversity).
The South East Queensland
Bioregion
The South East
Queensland Bioregion
Some Plants in our
Bioregion
QLD Blue Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)
Large eucalyptus tree which occurs along the
Brisbane River. There are a variety of
Eucalyptus trees native to SEQ.
Macadamia integrifolia
Rainforest.
Paperbark trees (Melaluca
quinquinervia)
Wetlands
Mangroves
Coasts, tidal creeks
Large-leaf chain fruit (Alyxia
magnifolia)
Orchids
Some Animals in SEQ
Bioregion
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Koalas
Squirrel gliders
Rock Wallabies
Echidna
Platypus
Glossy Black Cockatoo
Green Thigh Frog
Dolphins
Mary river cod
Some of these species are listed as
threatened, rare or endangered
under the Nature Conservation Act
1992.
Information about plants
and animals
See:
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/wildlife/wildlife_onli
ne/
and create a Wildnet list of species for Brisbane City
Council local government area.
Urbanisation and Population
Growth
The SEQ Bioregion is the most
intensely populated part of
Queensland.
The Brisbane metropolitan
population (including the
Gold Coast and Sunshine
Coast) predicted to increase
in the period 2004-2026 by
100% to 3.7 million.
Urbanisation and Population
Growth Impact on
biodiversity
• Further loss of vegetation,
wetlands, habitats and species.
• Fragmentation and
disconnection of habitats and
fauna populations.
• Increased edge effects around
remaining remnant habitats.
• Introduction of feral animals and
weeds.
• Increased fire regime.
What can we do about it
in Urban Areas?
• Restrict the urban footprint to stop urban
sprawl
• Develop more densely in existing urban
areas, around shopping areas and public
transport hubs
• Design developments to include
conservation areas.
• Identify, protect and manage key wildlife
corridors so animals can move through
the urban landscape safely.
• Keep and plant native trees in our
gardens.
• Restrict the ownership or movement of
dogs and cats.
• Manage the spread of weeds.
In conclusion…
• The environment is our single greatest asset. It
provides the natural resources upon which a large proportion
of Queensland's economy is based: our mineral, agricultural,
fisheries, forest and energy resources, our biodiversity and the
natural and cultural resources that make Queensland such a
great place to live in and visit.
• The environment sustains us by providing the
fundamental ecosystem services upon which life
depends. The quantity and quality of our air, land, water,
coastal zone, biodiversity and natural and cultural heritage are
being placed under increasing pressure.
• Ecologically sustainable development is no longer
just a desirable goal of society, but a necessary
one. Only by ensuring that our actions result in environmental
impacts that are acceptable in the long term can we ensure
that you inherit the same opportunities to prosper as we enjoy
today, or even greater ones.
• Such an approach leads to a genuine long-term
competitive advantage and a profitable economy,
and sustains our way of life both today and in the future.
Changes in the landscape
Observe the following aerial
photographs and note any changes in the
landscape.
Web links for further
information
www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation
www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/wildlife/wildlife_online/
www.mesa.edu.au
www.oum.qld.gov.au
http://www.climatesmart.qld.gov.au/
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/index.html
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/sprat.pl
http://www.nht.gov.au/
Threatening Processes
•
Clearing
Approximately 55% of native vegetation in south-east
Queensland has been cleared for urban development and
agriculture (Queensland & Commonwealth Governments,
1999). Clearing of lowland habitats (wetlands, river and
creek vegetation, grasslands and woodland) has reduced
the diversity of habitat left in SEQ.
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Fragmentation
Species/genetic diversity is likely to be reduced where
small isolated patches of remnant vegetation remain.
Managing small isolated reserves is difficult as a result of
edge effects.
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Pest invasion
The introduction of many exotic weeds and feral animals is
contributing to the displacement of many native species.
Such pests include the feral cat, fox, cane toad, groundsel,
pink lantana, creeping lantana, camphor laurel, Chinese
elm and red natal grass (Sattler & Williams, 1999).
•
Limited areas for reservation
A significant number of ecosystems occur extensively on
private land and therefore cannot be reserved to the
recommended levels on public land. About 4.3 million
hectares within the region are privately owned. The State
Government holds approximately 1.8 million hectares
(Queensland & Commonwealth Governments, 1999).